Niagara River to Nashville

Bresco

Bresco

Member
Jan 3, 2011
161
Niagara River
Boat Info
390 Motoryacht 2003
Engines
Cummins 6CTA-M4
We are being transferred for business and thought we would bring "Conductance" down with us. Any tips on travel on this route would be appreciated. If we do this, she will winter over in Nashville, TN! Anyone done part of this route before? or in Nashville?
 
I am in Nashville. What is your timeframe for heading this way. One of our dock mates did the trip from Lake Michigan and it seemed pretty straight forward.
 
I have done the leg from Kentucky lake through Barkley down to Nashville. Depending on the timing of your trip, the spring rains can bring all types of debris, and large at that, through the Cumberland. We had to bail at Clarksville for a couple of weeks to allow the river to clear up. I can get you more details on fueling and other info if you PM me. When is you trip planned?


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We are looking at a July start time after the kid is out of school. We are thinking that since work will be in Springhill it would be a good idea to leave the boat someplace in Nashville for those weekend getaways. We were thinking of leaving her there till next summer mainly due to the work placement over the next year. Any suggestions on marinas in Nashville, or those to stay away from?
 
Water's a little different down here. I grew up in Buffalo/Amherst and am now between Nashville and Chattanooga. The best place to look for reservoir info is, tva.com/river/lakeinfo . There is also a TVA app for your phone. They both give daily and hourly data on reservoir water height and release as well as marinas fuel and more.


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Plenty of places down this way. Depends on what you are looking for. If it is river access you have a couple of options. If it is lake access, then the options are different. Can suggest a few to check depending on your need.


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We aren't exactly sure what you mean by river or lake access. We would be coming down the Mississippi to Nashville. Can you swim in the river around Nashville? Or is the lake better? We cannot trailer cause she is 44' so the access has to be directly available. We are still in the preliminary stages of finding a slip but we know we will need one.

We know we want a slip with a cover, access to swimable water and areas to spend away from the slip for a night or two on the weekends. We will spend our off time exploring the area in the boat for sure. We saw a transient slip marina in Nashville City Centre and would stop there for sure. Since we will be there for the entire year the slip will have to have all the amenities needed like power, water. etc.
 
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Thanks Docsteder for the link. How much does the reservoir fluctuate? Is it accessible from the main river in?
 
Since there is commercial barge traffic here the, river as far as Nashville is always navigable other than when spring rains clean the river banks of all manner of garbage and sends if floating down stream. Most people prefer the lakes to boating in Cumberland River. The river is subject to muddy run off and water fluctuations, but the lakes in this area are TVA or Corp of Engineer controlled so the levels don't fluctuate a lot other then winter and summer pool when TVA adjusts levels to handle flooding.

Also, this is an arduous trip by boat. I'd sure look into having a 44DA transported and yes, there are travel lifts in the area.
 
We aren't afraid of arduous trips. We've been on long stay trips of 5 weeks through canals with over 100 locks on that trip. Also down the east coast from Boston and up the Erie Canal. Not knowing is the most difficult thing for us. We are coming into Nashville tomorrow until Friday and doing some scoping out of some of the potential marinas we could stay at, areas to visit, etc. Start to work on Monday farther south of Franklin so hopefully I'll have some evenings to go check out more.

Can the boat get to the lakes from the river? Looks like some we can and some we cannot. I appreciate all the info you can through at us.

I remember trying to do as much research as possible for the Boston trip, checking with guys on here, and personal research. Found out a lot of information but the funny thing was that no one mentioned the extreme fog, apparently called "The Sheet" that is there most of May, which was when we were traveling. Being from the Great Lakes area we thought we knew fog. The fog here is unmentionable after seeing the Atlantic fog that they get. It was so commonplace that no one mentioned it to us. So I'll take as much info as you feel like writing.

What are some of the most common favourable marinas? I assume they have hundreds is not a thousand slips in some of them.
 
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If you like taking longer trips you will want to be in Old Hickory lake. It has access to all points from there. The other option would be Priest lake and it is land locked. We are in Cedar Creek Marina in Mt Juliet on Old Hickory. Give a shout if you have the time and we can help answer any questions you may have.
 
Bresco,

We live in Franklin. Our boat is on Old Hickory Lake, and we navigated the Cumberland to get it there. Based on your comments, Old Hickory lake will be the place to spend your time looking at. Percy Priest is land locked, although there is another member here on the forum who moved a 50+ sundancer to that lake. Some marinas to consider are, in no particular order are: anchor high, blue turtle bay (formerly blackjack cove), drakes creek, cedar creek, blue grass golf and yacht club, creekwood, and cedar creek yacht club. Your desire for amenities and appetite for price will be a big factor into which works best for you. You will also want to consider commute times and traffic as you decide which side of the lake you slip on. Anchor high and blue turtle bay are closest to the lock, which is your access to the Cumberland and downtown Nashville. You will come through this same lock on your way to Old Hickory lake.

Happy to discuss more with you if you would like, just send me a PM.....


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Priest Lake would be out if it is land locked.

The Captain is just on the waterfront in Nashville checking out the lay of the land. I'm sure once he figures out some of the area he will have more questions. Thanks for your help as I'm sure he will be in touch at some point between now and July. Any and all information is appreciated.
 
Not to confuse things, but the Nashville area lakes are on the Cumberland River or they are landlocked. If you wish to cruise the boat while in Tennessee, you probably need to look at the Tennessee River System lakes as well. To cruise on Old Hickory means just that. On the Tennessee River system your schedule and pocket book are the only limitations since the river is navigable from above Knoxville to the Mississippi via the Ohio or all the way to the Gulf Coast via the Tombigbee Waterway. Kentucky Lake Pickwick Lake or Wilson Lake are all on the Tennessee River and are easy drives from the Nashville area.
 
We won't be cruising so much as cruising to get down there and then settling in for about a year and a half or so. I think we've narrowed down a couple marinas and finalizing details. Captain visited a few marinas and some well, not what we were looking for. Hopefully I can contact you all again. Thanks for everything. Hope to see you on Old Hickory!
 
Booked at Anchor High for a year. See you all on the Lake. I'm sure we will stand out a bit with our Canadian flag on the stern. If you see us anchored, pop over for a bevy or two.
 
Getting ready for the trip leaving Buffalo NY on June 27 and landing in Old Hickory Lake TN around the end of July.
 
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