Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Hey all!!!

Been a great week.. Been on the water just about every day for the last 10 days. So me and the better half started talking about taking a cruise up the river about 100 miles. This would be from lake aguntersville to Chattanooga. I am sure there are at least 3 other threads I will need to get started, to make sure we can pull this off, but the first one is just about how to plan. I have a fairly short range right now, and mainly curios how to map out the fuel stations alon the way

All input is appreciated!!!

Thanks!!

Jason

that's a trip i'd be interested, also.... looking forward to input from locals...

Wilson Lake is approximately 200 miles downriver of Chattanooga via water. We're planning on trailering my 24' Bennington tritoon to Chattanooga and come down river--with the current. I'll leave my truck/trailer with a friend close to Chickamaugua Dam.

It just works better to start out by going through the Grand Canyon of Tennessee on Nickajack and locking through that small dam around mid day. Their locks are not open 24 hours a day like the locks on the lower Tennessee River. We should have no problem getting to the Guntersville Hampton Inn dock in time to walk next door to Winzell's Seafood Restaurant for dinner.

Next day, we'll lock through Guntersville Dam into Wheeler Lake and make a run past Huntsville and Decatur to the Shoals area.

It should be a really nice ride, given having good weather.

These trips sound like great fun to me.
I'm jealous!

Thanks for the replies!!! I really think it will be fun! I found a website today that lists out gas stations along the route. I'm a little confused. the last gas I see going north, out of Guntersville is around mile 385. The Skipajack damn is at 424 that is about 40 miles. The first gas on Skipajack is at 425 and says "only gas for 33 miles up stream and 20 miles downstream". Either I am missing a gas station on the chart, or I do not understand how to read it. What do y'all say, and how do I know if I am looking at up to date charts/maps??


I got this info from tnriver.com

Thanks again!!

Jason

I intend on carrying a 14 gallon Gas Buddy tank and 2 5 gallon tanks on my journeys--on top of my boat's tank. I'm good go go without worrying about marina gasoline.

Well, my boat currently only has a 20 gallon tank- and with my old Evenrude 88 SPL - I think I will be doing good to stretch 50 miles. Probably less going up stream. (I will be doing some mileage testing before I go). I may add a 40 gallon tank to the other side if I can find a little extra cash laying around this summer. It will take up some of my storage, but way better than having to fill up every single day we are out and about!!! Even without the addition of permanent tank, I will be taking extra fuel along- so I don't think I will have anything to worry about... That's just one of those things you don't want to be wrong about.

Jason