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Cruising America's Great Loop and other inland routes
View all threadsBlack Warrior, Birmingport, AL to Mobile Bay to Orange Beach, AL
Has anyone made the trip from Birmingport to Mobile? I know many have run
the Tenn-Tom, connecting with the Black Warrior at Demopolis on your way to
Mobile. I have a 24' Pontoon boat with a 70 Evinrude. I want to make the
trip in July. I plan to put a tarp over the boat on a PVC frame to keep us
dry. I need advice on length of time to run it, total distance, I have no
idea what kind of gas mileage I get, I can only run about 15mph. I also
need advice about purchasing a marine VHF radio - handheld or mounted???
Anyone have maps/charts they would be willing to part with? Any advice/help
anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated.
Thx
Marty
205-586-8783
Only thing to remember: the river is narrow, the tows are wide, and THEY RULE! Always operate as if these things are the most dangerous objects on the water! They Are!
You will need a handheld marine radio, and binoculars. Always communicate with any towboat you will be passing or following. They usually just talk on ch. 16 for the short contacts you need. The towboat captain wants to know where you are and what your intentions are, and he will tell you exactly what he wants you to do, for safety. Do exactly as he says, he only has limited maneuverability, especially in bends.
Tow speeds are 6-7 mph. Allow for current. Full tow wakes are minimal. But a towboat by itself can throw a 2-3 footer.
Tows can be 3 barges wide. In narrower areas, make sure you can hold position and wait until an approaching tow gets into a good place in the channel for passing.
Never attempt to pass in a bend, they can be tight and the towboat may need every bit of channel he can get.
In the unlikely event that you travel following a period of heavy rains, the current may be quite strong, and you must be able to hold position or back against it if meeting or overtaking a tow. Experiment first to get a feel for how you can avoid being swept into a collision situation. Power and control are greatly reduced going astern. (In high spring currents, towboats sometimes traverse a bend powering full astern just to limit forward speed. Under these conditions, don't assume they or you can stop in time to avoid trouble.)
The downbound tow always has the right of way. In narrow spots and higher currents, nosing over into the bank to let a large tow go by is prudent.
Bends are shallower on the inside. Tows will therefore favor the outside. Remember they steer from the rear and the lead barge cannot be swung out the way. Stay well clear, usually towards the inside.
One odd but sometimes encountered hazard is a tow carrying freshly chipped wood, which "steams" so heavily that the towboat operator can't see ahead very well. Also, fog is often present. (Yeah, they got radar, but so did that Warrior & Gulf skipper who took the wrong channel and hit the railroad bridge a few years ago!)
Rule: poor visibility, stay tied to the bank!
In general, get the charts, set up a place by the helm to affix them for ready reference, and watch the channel markers religiously. Also watch continuously for snags and floating hazards. Carry a spare prop, and tools to change it, you WILL need it! Count on it!
Finally, you might just get behind a tow (reasonable distance, let the skipper know you're there) and follow the guy down.
Phil Little
Marty Hawkins martybhawk@charter.net wrote:
Has anyone made the trip from Birmingport to Mobile? I know many have run
the Tenn-Tom, connecting with the Black Warrior at Demopolis on your way to
Mobile. I have a 24' Pontoon boat with a 70 Evinrude. I want to make the
trip in July. I plan to put a tarp over the boat on a PVC frame to keep us
dry. I need advice on length of time to run it, total distance, I have no
idea what kind of gas mileage I get, I can only run about 15mph. I also
need advice about purchasing a marine VHF radio - handheld or mounted???
Anyone have maps/charts they would be willing to part with? Any advice/help
anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated.
Thx
Marty
205-586-8783
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To add to what Phil said, we came up on a tow in a bend and did not
know he was coming. He was using local jargon for his locations. We
did not know Chicken Point form Oak tree Bend! These names are mostly
not on charts. When we were facing a wall of steel and had to back off
with haste Bob was able to get us into the shallow part of the bend and
save our boat and possibly our lives. The tow captain announced to his
fellow captains that he almost sent someone to go visit Elvis. Bob got
on the radio and told him that if he would please use mile markers then
we would know where he was. From then on for days they would say things
like "Gator's down bound at Chicken Point, ah.. that's about mile 353
just south of the Ox Bow". That helped a lot. So if you are not sure
where someone is and they are not using mile references then ask. They
do not mind telling. In fact they get a kick out of talking with "the
skippers in the little boats". Also, your ship radio is the most
important piece of equipment while traversing these waters. It will get
out there for miles and you can hear who is coming most of the day.
Don't be shy to use it and make friends with the working boats. They
pulled us off a sand bar once with as little effort as pulling a kid in
a wagon. They would not take a dime but were happy to have a loaf of my
fresh nut bread. They are good people.
Elaine
Skipper Bob Publications
Http://SkipperBob.home.att.net
Elaine wrote:
Also, your ship radio is the most
important piece of equipment while traversing these waters. (endsnip)
And just for that reason, I strongly reccomend a fixed radio for a trip like
that. More reliable, and more range. A handheld for a backup ain't a bad
idea either. I always run with 2 fixed raidio's on the bridge, with a
handheld backup.
I haven't noticed anyone mention whistle signals either. When dealing with
the tow boats, he's not going to say "go around me on the right", he's going
to tell you "see me on one whistle" or "see me on two whistles". There is a
technical way of explaining it out of the "rule books", but the little cheat
sheet I have stuck to my helm that keeps me out of trouble is this. "One
whistle, port to port meeting, I go right" and "two whistles, starboard to
starboard meeting, I go left" Whether you're overtaking or meeting, if he
calls for a "one whistle" pass, you change course to your starboard, or
right. The tow guys have always (almost) been very easy and courteous to
deal with, but they EXPECT you to know what the whistle signals mean.
I welcome anyone to give a better explanation if I haven't made it clear, or
said something wrong.
Brent Hodges
I always think of the one whistle pass as taking the other vessel on my
port side (one whistle for the single syllable side) and two whistle pass
as taking the other vessel on my starboard side (two whistles for the two
syllable side). Hope that helps.
Andy La Stella email andylastella@hotmail.com
From: "Brent Hodges" vbhodges@cableone.net
CC: trawlers-and-trawlering@lists.samurai.com,
great-loop@lists.samurai.com,Marty Hawkins martybhawk@charter.net
Subject: Re: GL: Black Warrior, Birmingport, AL to Mobile Bay to
Orange Beach, AL
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2007 14:48:49 -0600
Elaine wrote:
Also, your ship radio is the most
important piece of equipment while traversing these waters.
(endsnip)
And just for that reason, I strongly reccomend a fixed radio for a
trip like
that. More reliable, and more range. A handheld for a backup ain't a
bad
idea either. I always run with 2 fixed raidio's on the bridge, with
a
handheld backup.
I haven't noticed anyone mention whistle signals either. When
dealing with
the tow boats, he's not going to say "go around me on the right",
he's going
to tell you "see me on one whistle" or "see me on two whistles".
There is a
technical way of explaining it out of the "rule books", but the
little cheat
sheet I have stuck to my helm that keeps me out of trouble is this.
"One
whistle, port to port meeting, I go right" and "two whistles,
starboard to
starboard meeting, I go left" Whether you're overtaking or meeting,
if he
calls for a "one whistle" pass, you change course to your starboard,
or
right. The tow guys have always (almost) been very easy and
courteous to
deal with, but they EXPECT you to know what the whistle signals
mean.
I welcome anyone to give a better explanation if I haven't made it
clear, or
said something wrong.
Brent Hodges
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I had a little different take on that. Coming down the Ten-Tom approaching
a tow going either direction,I would always ask him which side I should pass
on. He would of course reply "Wypasmeonaone(or two)whilse" meaning pass me
on the one whistle, and I would respond, "Roger,I'm passing you on your one
whistle" (or two). I always took him to be describing his vessel side, not
mine, and always responded back to make sure we were both clear. None of
them ever corrected me. Have I been doing it wrong or have they (tow boats)
been doing it wrong?
Henry Wing
Ft Myers Yacht Basin
On 2/28/07, Andy La Stella andylastella@hotmail.com wrote:
I always think of the one whistle pass as taking the other vessel on my
port side (one whistle for the single syllable side) and two whistle pass
as taking the other vessel on my starboard side (two whistles for the two
syllable side). Hope that helps.
Andy La Stella email andylastella@hotmail.com
From: "Brent Hodges" vbhodges@cableone.net
CC: trawlers-and-trawlering@lists.samurai.com,
great-loop@lists.samurai.com,Marty Hawkins martybhawk@charter.net
Subject: Re: GL: Black Warrior, Birmingport, AL to Mobile Bay to
Orange Beach, AL
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2007 14:48:49 -0600
Elaine wrote:
Also, your ship radio is the most
important piece of equipment while traversing these waters.
(endsnip)
And just for that reason, I strongly reccomend a fixed radio for a
trip like
that. More reliable, and more range. A handheld for a backup ain't a
bad
idea either. I always run with 2 fixed raidio's on the bridge, with
a
handheld backup.
I haven't noticed anyone mention whistle signals either. When
dealing with
the tow boats, he's not going to say "go around me on the right",
he's going
to tell you "see me on one whistle" or "see me on two whistles".
There is a
technical way of explaining it out of the "rule books", but the
little cheat
sheet I have stuck to my helm that keeps me out of trouble is this.
"One
whistle, port to port meeting, I go right" and "two whistles,
starboard to
starboard meeting, I go left" Whether you're overtaking or meeting,
if he
calls for a "one whistle" pass, you change course to your starboard,
or
right. The tow guys have always (almost) been very easy and
courteous to
deal with, but they EXPECT you to know what the whistle signals
mean.
I welcome anyone to give a better explanation if I haven't made it
clear, or
said something wrong.
Brent Hodges
http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/great-loop
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address,
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Andy and list,
Yes your rule of a Single Whistle or Horn blast for passing the other
vessel on your Port Side (one blast for a syllable word) and Two
blasts for the Starboard Side (two syllable word) holds true, but it
is for the Vessel Sounding the Whistle or Horn.
Three Short blasts (three words) equals I'm In Reverse.
One Long blast (Leaving)
One Short blast and One Long blast (Open Bridge)
Five Short blasts (I disagree with your signal OR We have a dangerous
situation)
John Gill
Two J's V
AGLCA Loopers
---====
On Feb 28, 2007, at 4:21 PM, Andy La Stella wrote:
I always think of the one whistle pass as taking the other vessel
on my
port side (one whistle for the single syllable side) and two
whistle pass
as taking the other vessel on my starboard side (two whistles for
the two
syllable side). Hope that helps.
Andy La Stella email andylastella@hotmail.com
From: "Brent Hodges" vbhodges@cableone.net
CC: trawlers-and-trawlering@lists.samurai.com,
great-loop@lists.samurai.com,Marty Hawkins martybhawk@charter.net
Subject: Re: GL: Black Warrior, Birmingport, AL to Mobile Bay to
Orange Beach, AL
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2007 14:48:49 -0600
Elaine wrote:
Also, your ship radio is the most
important piece of equipment while traversing these waters.
(endsnip)
And just for that reason, I strongly reccomend a fixed radio for a
trip like
that. More reliable, and more range. A handheld for a backup ain't a
bad
idea either. I always run with 2 fixed raidio's on the bridge, with
a
handheld backup.
I haven't noticed anyone mention whistle signals either. When
dealing with
the tow boats, he's not going to say "go around me on the right",
he's going
to tell you "see me on one whistle" or "see me on two whistles".
There is a
technical way of explaining it out of the "rule books", but the
little cheat
sheet I have stuck to my helm that keeps me out of trouble is this.
"One
whistle, port to port meeting, I go right" and "two whistles,
starboard to
starboard meeting, I go left" Whether you're overtaking or meeting,
if he
calls for a "one whistle" pass, you change course to your starboard,
or
right. The tow guys have always (almost) been very easy and
courteous to
deal with, but they EXPECT you to know what the whistle signals
mean.
I welcome anyone to give a better explanation if I haven't made it
clear, or
said something wrong.
Brent Hodges
http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/great-loop
To modify your Great-Loop subscription options (change email
address,
unsubscribe, etc.) go to:
http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/options/great-loop
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great-loop
Personally, I prefer to respond to the "Pasmeonaone(ortwo)whilse" by
confirming that I'll be passing on the commercial vessel's port or
starboard side. There's no reason to repeat what might be confusing when
there is an easy response that both parties to the conversation
understand. Why talk in code at the risk of misinterpretation! The "one
whistle" or "two whistle" refers to the Inland Rules section for sound
signals when meeting or overtaking another vessel
BTW, some people responding to this thread are sending copies to
everyone, including all the past posters, some of whom have added the
T&T List. The discussion is taking place here on the GL List, not on T&T
List, and everyone on the GL List gets a copy automatically - they
probably don't need two.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><>Mozilla Thunderbird<><><><><><><><><><><><>
Bob McLeran and Judy Young Manatee Cove Marina
M/V Sanderling Patrick Air Force Base
Hampton 35 Trawler Melbourne, Florida
On 2/28/2007 4:54 PM, Henry Wing wrote:
I had a little different take on that. Coming down the Ten-Tom approaching
a tow going either direction,I would always ask him which side I should pass
on. He would of course reply "Wypasmeonaone(or two)whilse" meaning pass me
on the one whistle, and I would respond, "Roger,I'm passing you on your one
whistle" (or two). I always took him to be describing his vessel side, not
mine, and always responded back to make sure we were both clear. None of
them ever corrected me. Have I been doing it wrong or have they (tow boats)
been doing it wrong?
Henry Wing
Ft Myers Yacht Basin
Don't want to seem argumentative, but the whole idea of the whistle signal
protocol is exactly to prevent any confusion. It is like "starboard" and
"port", there is no confusion to what that means as there might be with
"left" and "right".
There are no options about what a "one whistle pass" means, and there is no
such thing as "my one whistle" or "your one whistle" --- it is simply pass
"one whistle (on the one)" or "two whistles (on the two)" period, full stop.
Once stated, anyone who understands the navigation rules has no doubt about
what to do. Surely, none of use would use the waterways without at least
understanding the core waterway rules (fingers crossed).
Ken Bloomfield
MTOA 2062
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob McLeran" rmcleran@ix.netcom.com
To: great-loop@lists.samurai.com
Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2007 5:36 PM
Subject: Re: GL: Black Warrior, Birmingport, AL to Mobile Bay to Orange
Beach, AL
Personally, I prefer to respond to the "Pasmeonaone(ortwo)whilse" by
confirming that I'll be passing on the commercial vessel's port or
starboard side. There's no reason to repeat what might be confusing when
there is an easy response that both parties to the conversation
understand. Why talk in code at the risk of misinterpretation! The "one
whistle" or "two whistle" refers to the Inland Rules section for sound
signals when meeting or overtaking another vessel