Chattanooga to Cape Coral

carterchapman

Well-Known Member
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TECHNICAL Contributor
Mar 25, 2008
5,498
Lake Chickamauga/Marietta, GA/Ft. Myers, FL
Boat Info
2006 Sea Ray 58 DB
Engines
MAN CRM V8-900s, Twin Disc Drives; Onan 21.5 Generator
We departed last Sunday and have had 7 smooth running days.
Day 1: Chattanooga to Scottsboro, AL. Alred Marina
113 SM/11.5 Hrs/2 Locks (River Miles are measured in Statute Miles)
Day 2: Alred to Florence Marina
101 SM/12.3/4 Hrs/3 Locks
Day 3: Florence to Midway Marina, Fulton MS on the Tombigbee
98 SM/11 1/2 Hrs/3 Locks
These were long days as cruise was slow due to river debris
Day 4: Short day to Columbus, MS Marina
59 Miles/8 Hrs/4 Locks
We met Keith Z and his new 47 Sedan Bridge. in our 2nd lock. We traveled with them for the next 4 days to Mobile.
Day 5: Columbus to Demopolis Kingfisher Marina. Bad day for locks and tows
119 miles/12 hrs/3 locks
Day 6 Demopolis to Bobby's Fish Camp
99 SM/9 Hrs/1 Lock
Day 7: Bobby's to Mobile Dog River Marina
136 SM/10 1/2 Hrs/1 Lock (17 Total - this was the last one)
Leaving Bobby's we got the update about the Gulf storm called Invest 91L (Thanks FootballFan!)
Cell service is poor in "LA" (Lower Alabama)!
Had a great dinner with Keith and Kimberly at the Mobile Yacht Club.
Day 8: Invest 91L is now a TD. Sitting in Mobile watching which way TD 14 is going to go. Our 3 options right now are:
1. Sit here for 4-5 days
2. Go west to New Orleans
3. Go North back up the river system

We said goodbye to Keith and Kimberly as they departed for their New Orleans Marina.

Day 8/9/10/11/12
Slipped at Dog River Marina due to Hurricane Michael. On Wed when Michael came ashore, we had N winds 15-20 gusts to 30. We were alongside with a 7 point tie heading 330 so the winds held us nicely off the dock.

Day 13 (Oct 12)
0740 Depart Dog River
1500 Enter Gulf at Pensacola Cut
Oct 13
0001 Taking 4’ swells abeam - Terrible Ride - not forecasted
Oct 14
0600 Abeam swells finally end - 36 HRs of terrible ride
0730 Enter Boca Grande Cut
1120 Arrived in Slip Tarpon Point Marina

440 nm/52 HRs

Ran at 8.5 KTs for timing arrival at Boca Grande after dawn. My MAN‘s got pretty good economy there as well started out at 7 GPH and ended up at 4 GPH as we got lighter. 375 gallons for 440 Miles. We did run at 80% load at the end for a while to clean out any soot. We use 62 GPH there, so we could not have crossed the Gulf from Mobile/Pensacola at that speed - 700 gallon capacity. We normally run 9 hrs Panama City to Clearwater on 560 gallons with a 20% reserve.
 
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Don't over react. The storm hasn't passed the Yucatan peninsula yet so forecast strength/direction and eventual path is a wild guess until it get in to the Gulf of Mexico. You know our situation...in a protected lagoon about a mile from the Gulf and we typically ride out a Cat 1 storm in the slips.past a Cat one, the marina hauls all the boats out and blocks them up in the yard.
 
Just planning, watching and waiting- it's the pilot in me! As the Admiral said in Hunt for Red October: "Russians, son, don't take a dump without a plan"!!
 
Carter

Looking at this just now on the NHC website. It is currently off the Yucatan, and model shows this moving almost due north, and becoming a hurricane sometime Tuesday into Wednesday morning, and coming ashore Wednesday, Mobile to Apalachicola. Basically going the same places you need to go.

Being transient, your options might be more limited. If it were me (and I admit to being excessively conservative), I think I would find a place to wait this one out.

Not sure what you have for internet, but latest from the NHC.

Capture.PNG
 
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Yes. A member has been kind enough to send me some Crown Weather updates as well. We are tired of the Weather Channel reruns, so we will turn it back on this evening.

I'll see if Treasure Island loses power - I'll need fuel there when we can finally cross...
 
Carter, no matter how this hurricane comes out and affects your cruise, just think of the great stories you'll have to regale your friends with when you get back home.

Boat safe.
 
Latest track look to be turning more to the east...maybe just a wind event in Mobile. Lets hope so, but also look like a CAT2 and another big rain event. Thoughts and prayer to those in the path.
 
Good luck to all in the path. It is a bit premature to predict CAT2 I think so hopefully they are wrong!!! Models show the remnants swinging up through the Chesapeake here so I'll keep an eye on it. Looks like it might hit the western Carolinas causing more pain for all down there...
 
Carter & Susan,

Great trip so far. Keep us posted and stay safe.
 
Day 8 and 9 (Sunday and Monday): Still in Mobile. Enjoyed coffee in the cockpit this morning. Will be watching Micheal all day.
 

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Be safe Frank, wow that thing is moving fast.
 
Hey guys! Just watching and waiting with you. Not sure where you are exactly but we were in Orange Beach in May/June. The Wharf is a good option. There is a member here who keeps his boats there and it's a safe bet. Call or PM me if you want to chat more about that.

Also, let me know if I can do anything at all... you're 8 hours drive so I'll come if you need assistance.

Josh
 
Thanks Josh,

A couple of boats left this morning for the Wharf. We've decided to stay here at Dog River in Mobile. Right now, Wednesday looks like 17 kts of wind out of the north. The Gulf calms down by Friday, so if we can get fuel in Panama City, we should be in Cape Coral by Sunday...
 
Good luck Carter! Will be saying a prayer for you guys. GOD bless. JC
 
You probably have full fuel now but the caribe marina right inside Perdido pass had really inexpensive fuel when we were there.
 

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