Chinook's Great Loop

[Chinook]

Not my prettiest dock approach. I couldn't figure out why the boat was behaving like it did, until I left the fuel dock and headed for our slip. I'd had the rudders down, but had failed to lower the centerboard for docking. You get a classic view of how the boat slides sideways through the water without a centerboard down. It was great meeting up with Dave, after exchanging posts here for so long. He's a great harbor host, and gave us some excellent tips on the area. We really enjoyed the lighthouse museum. On to Chicago tomorrow.

[Herschel]

After hearing about your rough first couple of days on Lake Michigan, I was curious why you chose to start the Great Loop on a large body of water. Wouldn't it be easier to start on one of the rivers and gain experience with the larger bodies later on as you got into the loop more? Just curious, not being critical. I am also curious how the inflatable tows under power at cruising speeds. I have only pulled a fiberglass dinghy myself, but I just bought an inflatable. Haven't towed it, yet. Anyway, best of luck.

[dlandersson]

FYI, it's not a nuclear plant, it's coal-fired.

Not my prettiest dock approach. I couldn't figure out why the boat was behaving like it did, until I left the fuel dock and headed for our slip. I'd had the rudders down, but had failed to lower the centerboard for docking. You get a classic view of how the boat slides sideways through the water without a centerboard down. It was great meeting up with Dave, after exchanging posts here for so long. He's a great harbor host, and gave us some excellent tips on the area. We really enjoyed the lighthouse museum. On to Chicago tomorrow.

[Sumner]

... Wouldn't it be easier to start on one of the rivers and gain experience with the larger bodies later on as you got into the loop more? ...

Since Mike hasn't been able to reply I'll just say they have quite a bit of experience behind them on large bodies of water having taken the boat to Alaska and back, the Sea of Cortez and to the Bahamas twice (once over 300 miles from the coast of Florida to the far eastern side of the Bahamas). They are still going to have to deal with the Great Lakes at the end of the trip so getting their feet (boat) wet there now is probably a good idea and I'm sure they want to work south as we go into fall,

Sumner

============================
1300 miles to the Bahamas and back -- 2015

The MacGregor 26-S

The Endeavour 37

Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[Herschel]

Since Mike hasn't been able to reply I'll just say they have quite a bit of experience behind them on large bodies of water having taken the boat to Alaska and back, the Sea of Cortez and to the Bahamas twice (once over 300 miles from the coast of Florida to the far eastern side of the Bahamas). They are still going to have to deal with the Great Lakes at the end of the trip so getting their feet (boat) wet there now is probably a good idea and I'm sure they want to work south as we go into fall,

Definitely a good answer! More power to them. Thanks. For us less adventurous types, though, I would start with a river.

[Chinook]

Haven't been able to reply for the past several days. We're in Chicago and dropped the laptop off at Staples to get a couple of issues addressed. Back in business now. We started at Grand Haven because we have a good friend living there, who kindly consented to allow us to park our truck and trailer there for the 1 year + we'll be gone. As Sum said, we have to do Lake Michigan at some point. We started the trip when we did because it worked out for us in terms of getting things ready, (boat, house, personal affairs). Conventional loop wisdom suggests getting to Chicago by Labor Day and so that's what we did. It's all worked out ok. The simple fact is that Lake Michigan is a challenging body of water, with by far the most number of shipwrecks of all the Great Lakes. One simply can't rush or force things here. Thankfully, tomorrow we go through the Chicago Lock and begin our cruise down the rivers, with destination being Mobile AL on the Gulf of Mexico sometime in late October. We'll leave the rest of Lake Michigan for the home stretch, next August/September.

[dlandersson]

Thhhppppp.... for all folks who think the Great Lakes are a piece of cake.

The simple fact is that Lake Michigan is a challenging body of water, with by far the most number of shipwrecks of all the Great Lakes. One simply can't rush or force things here.

[Obelix]

Hi Mike, I'm sorry to learn about your charging problems.
Hopefully it won't be anything mayor and you can continue in good time.
We're really enjoying your blog and wish you the very best for your ongoing endeavor.

Obelix

[Chinook]

Today we arrived at Green Turtle Bay Marina on Barkley Lake, Cumberland River. The run down from Alton IL to here was long and tiring. About 300 miles in 5 days, averaging 65 miles per day. Longest day was 95 miles on the Mississippi. Thanks to 3 to 4 mph current, we did it in just over 10 hours, making 9.5mph at 2400 rpm most of the time. We held the rpm down because from Hoppies Marina 40 miles south of St. Louis to here, a distance of 250 miles, there is no place on the water to get fuel. I averaged 7.85 mph on the run, usedd 32 gallons and had just over 6 gallons in the tank when we arrived. Wind was on our nose all the way from Hoppies, so even though the mast was up, sailing wasn't an option. The Mississippi was very stressful, big, strong current, tows with up to 25 barges, and with a great amount of driftwood, everything from twigs to small logs and trees. Anchorages were 30 or more miles apart, and even those were marginal. Glad to be off the big water. Kentucky Lake and the Tennessee River above the wide part of the reservoir are supposed to be very nice. I'm still having trouble solving my charging problem, and will tear into things while here at Green Turtle. One way or another, I've got to get it fixed.

[Seapup]

Long boring day of motoring...better than a good day of work

[Sumner]

Hi Mike, been reading the trip report each day and really enjoying it . Wondering if you went up the Cumberland vs. the Tenn. due to less traffic and prettier or something else. Looks like the Barkley Canal connecting the two lakes is tall enough to go under with the mast up??

Also looks like you are getting use out of the AIS . I found that it has a lot of benefits besides easily contacting a boat that you were dealing with for possible course corrections in that it made things more interesting knowing the boat's name and size and destination, etc.. After using it I wouldn't want to be without it now. I'm sure you will get a lot more use out of it the rest of the trip and for the crossing to the Bahamas and back.

Good luck with your charging problems. If your connections are good now and you are having the same problem with both batteries then it looks like the problem is on the outboard side. Are the different batteries being charged with a combiner (ARC)? If so I think I'd disconnect it and only have one or the other set of batteries connected to the outboard and see if you still have the same problem. I'm wondering if you are having rectifier problems in the outboard's charging system. To me it seems like that might be the problem if you have made sure your grounds and positive connections are all good.

Thanks for all the effort you guys are putting into the trip report,

Sumner

============================
1300 miles to the Bahamas and back -- 2015

The MacGregor 26-S

The Endeavour 37

Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[Chinook]

We went up the Cumberland because we had enough fuel to go the extra distance, and comments we've read and heard all say that the Tennessee River lock (Kentucky Lock) carries a lot of commercial traffic, and the Barkley Lock on the Cumberland is quicker and easier to get through. Regarding the charging situation, the engine's system checks out fine. It's putting out the expected voltage. It just isn't getting to the house batteries. I checked things out today and talked with Todd. It looks like the combiner is faulty. I've got a replacement ordered and it should arrive here tomorrow afternoon. I'll put it in on Saturday morning, and will know then whether I've fixed the problem.

[Starscream]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I have a new morning habit when I get to work in the morning: Fix a cup of coffee, and read Chinook's log. If you haven't had a chance to read it, I strongly recommend it.

Mike, I want to thank you for taking the time to write about your adventures each day: I am living vicariously through your experiences. I am becoming a better sailor while sitting in my office reading your log, and developing future plans with our MacX.

I am off to Brockville in the 1000 islands this afternoon for a three or four day trip: not a great-loop for sure, but probably the last big outing of the season.

If you end up coming through Montreal on the closing leg of your trip just contact me and I can set you up with dock-space at our club and transportation if you need it.

[dlandersson]

Ditto

I don't know about the rest of you, but I have a new morning habit when I get to work in the morning: Fix a cup of coffee, and read Chinook's log. If you haven't had a chance to read it, I strongly recommend it.

Mike, I want to thank you for taking the time to write about your adventures each day: I am living vicariously through your experiences. I am becoming a better sailor while sitting in my office reading your log, and developing future plans with our MacX.

I am off to Brockville in the 1000 islands this afternoon for a three or four day trip: not a great-loop for sure, but probably the last big outing of the season.

If you end up coming through Montreal on the closing leg of your trip just contact me and I can set you up with dock-space at our club and transportation if you need it.

[ris]

Get up, start the coffee, get the first cup and sit down to read Chinooks' report. Think about doing the loop as I paint, fix toilets, hang ceiling fans or whatever we are doing that day. Thanks Mike.