We just did the North Channel to Mobile section of the Loop including the Cumberland and Tennessee. Skipper Bob guides were very helpful and Fred Myers for the Tennessee. Active Captain is a great help if you have Internet access. Corp of Engineer charts were great for the Tennessee. In Michigan I bought a Garmin 440S with the built in Inland and Coastal charts - we used that all the time. I got it at West Marine but went in with my best online quote which saved big bucks. We found that an autopilot was almost essential ( for a single hander I would think it WAS essential) I used SeaClear and the NOAA charts for the Great Lakes and as soon as I got close to Mobile. I brought my car Navigator ( Garmin) and found that handy at any of the marinas with courtesy cars. Bring spare anchor(s) and make sure you can set and retrieve a stern anchor. I picked up a small Fortress in Michigan and it has been a god send ( especially after I lost my Bruce knockoff under HiWay 10 bridge on the TennTom) Jon Isle of Skye> 2. Charts-Cruising Guides Lake Michigan to Mobile (Everett Hopkins)> Message: 2> Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 07:21:45 -0800 (PST)> From: Everett Hopkins <sailor60148@yahoo.com>> > I'm hoping to cast off in early Fall from Lake Michigan - Illinois River to> Mobile Bay> and up East coast of Florida. Probably won't go farther North of Melbourne> until> the following year. Will be on a sail boat with the stick on deck for most of> the> down river ride.> > Looking around for charts-cruising guides it seems that there are many> decisions to> be made. What would you consider to be the "must haves"? Like most of us, I'm> in> worse shape financially than planned on so less would be better. I am a> single-hander> so safety is a top priority as well. Appreciate your input.> Everett> Hopkins> > > _________________________________________________________________ The new Windows Live Messenger. You dont want to miss this. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/products/messenger.aspx