C J & I are spending tonight aboard " Sea Jay" & weather permiting, We head South tomorrow on the Illinois River for another jump on the loop.

Roger

Sounds like a great adventure. I wonder how many Marinettes have made it? Has anyone attempted the loup in a 28 express.

John

We, "Tall Timbers" had 3 through this summer, not doing the loop, but going up to Lake Michigan & return from the Tennessee area. They were all gas. I saw one on the return trip & didn't see any extra fuel cans.

Our is diesel so fuel is not a big issue. We have twin Volvo 230 HP & 2 fuel tanks 120 gal each. We like to cruise @ 1500 RPM on one engine. At that speed we burn 2 gal per hour @ 7 to 8 knots. That has been our average over the last 2 summers.

There is a 32 in marina, Mile "120" that has made the trip to Grafton, IL mile "0", but he does take extra gas for the return trip.

Roger & C J

Jim,
Thanks for the advice on the carp. Been there, Not aproblem on , but dangerous, in the dingy!
Hoppies is a definate fuel stop for us.
We are underway! We left Havana on the 24th,(IL River Mile 120) anchored out behind Blue Island, just about 5 miles below I 72 Bridges. Arrived at Grafton 2:00 PM on Sat 25th,(Il River mile 0,Miss River 218.)
I wasn't able to get on line last night. We are staying here Sunday night as well. Going to Mass, explore town. Grafton Harbor is a very nice marina.

Roger

Tell Jan & Joe at Grafton Marina(providing you are there) that Jim Sizemore said hello....I bought this cat from them. That's my little Pearson overnighter/weekender tied up behind it.

Engines are fine - gotta sort out th' flybridge steering and th' horrible electrical mess! Weather getting cool enough now to work on things. Hope to get-er-done before everything freezes up....

This is great it might be the closest I get to the great loop. Keep the pictures comming.

We keep our Marinette at Golconda Mariana aboue Smithland Dam on the Ohio river just above the Comberland. You will not come this way but be close. Have a great time and I will be watching.

John

We don't do anything to the dead shaft, just let it turn; Our Twin Disc transmissions are over full due to oil cooler so lube to input shaft isn't a problem. We arrived at Green Turtle Bay today about 5:00 PM. Went out to dinner with 4 couples of new Looper friends. We have travled 158 down the mississippi, up the Ohio 58 miles + 30 miles up the Cumberland, for atotal of 246 miles. We fueled up tonight, 124.40 gallons and that includes about 20 hours of running the genset. We had a "little" push down the Miss, as we did 12.5 -14 Knots GPS. 7.5 Knots up Ohio & Cumberland, all at about 1600 RPM. allowing 10 gal for gen set. 246 mile 114 gal = 2.15 miles/ gal.

Roger

Roger,
Great trip, we've circumnavigated Mississippi in our 32' FBS. Gas is a real problem from Cairo to NOLA on the Mississippi, but your trip from Perryville to Mobile on the TN, TennTom and below won't be a problem. There are marinas at most every lock and dam on the TennTom. Bobby's Fish Camp is about half way between Demopolis Yacht Basin and marinas on west bank of Mobile Bay. Anchorages on the TennTom can be difficult, entrances to off channel harbors are subject to shoaling. If you can get over the shallow entrances there are some beautiful places to swing on the hook. Your best friend will be a Quimbys waterway marina guide. They show all marinas and mile markers. Also, if you have 3G internet look at Active Captain on the Water; another great long-range cruising resource. Don't leave a wake in South Alabama; the good ole boys will shoot you.
Jim