River Boating???????????????

[thompsdw]

That dreaded day has come. We are being relocated to a rural part of ohio along the ohio river. No great lakes are really close (>2 hrs) and I am hearing negatives about river boating. We like to anchor the boat and do watersports off of the jet ski when we boat. I am not sure that I can do this type of boating on a barge laden river (granted there are some tributaries that might be better).<br /><br />Can people here offer an opinion please? Should I put the boat up for sale based on ~4 months of use out of the year (versus current 8 months)? Combine that with a change in boating style and am I sunk? Please help me decide ......

 

[RatFish]

Re: River Boating???????????????

River/Tidal boating is all I have ever done. It's not bad. Somebody is filling your head with some tall stories. You can do everything you do on the lake. It just takes a little getting used too. <br /><br />Sell the boat??? What are you crazy!<br /><br />EDIT: Brush up on your skills and take a boating course. They will give you some tips for tidal boating.

 

[cajun555]

Re: River Boating???????????????

Really its great on a river. Thats the only thing I miss about Ar. is the river. The sky is the limit. I don't know much about the Ohio, but if the level is maintained by dams then thats better.<br /><br />Don't sell your boat, you'll regrett it.

 

[Bert1]

Re: River Boating???????????????

We are on a river all the time. Ours, the Saint-John River is fully marked for navigation so the chanels are easily identifiable. Once you get used to the effects of currents you will fully enjoy river boating. Keep the boat and enjoy it. We also have lakes close by, but after a while when we need excitement we end up on the river.

 

[ziggy]

Re: River Boating???????????????

txboatboy, i wouldn't sell either. boating is too much fun. i'm come from mostly lake boating, small lake boating which i like. but i am a hour from the river (the missouri) and wow, that is exciting. current, motoryahts, barge's, high speed tunnel hulls, bow riders, fishing boats. what a variety. plus ya get river debree, logs, branches and who knows what. true it's a different kind of boating than the lake but ya can have just as much fun. and yep, ya can anchor on the river too, just use a long rode for sure. i do both, anchor the boat in the river or the jetski on the bank. i think it has more danger than the lake because of the current, but if your carefull and safe you can have a great time on the river. keep them lifejackets handy. jim

 

[jollymon]

Re: River Boating???????????????

Txboatboy,<br /><br />Having almost never boated on a lake, okay a rowboat as a kid, and 20 minute sea trial, when I bought my boat, I can not see your concern. I have a 25' pontoon boat that I have put 300 hours on between the Delaware River and the St Lawrence Seaway. There are barges and ocean going freighters on the Delaware and frieghters on the St Lawrence. <br /><br />The only problem I have had was having a tug pass a loaded barge and he pushed up a 6' wake, that landed on my boat. Minor damage lots of brown stains in the shorts, but looking back, more shock than anything. <br /><br />Give the big guys plenty of room, and enjoy the river. <br /><br />I do not think you will find it any better or worse then the lake you go to now, just different. Find someone local to hang out with and learn the tricks of your river. <br /><br />PS carry a spare prop, you are sure to find lots of river gators that love to eat props!!!

 

[sergioy]

Re: River Boating???????????????

anyone out there ever been boating on the Missourri river around the Kansas City area. I have been avoiding it for years, for the same reasons as stated above. I would think that the fishing would be much better than the lakes around me (they suck). I have been stuck to pleasure boating, but I love to fish. I have an 18' I/O.

 

[eeboater]

Re: River Boating???????????????

I grew up boating on a river and to be honest with you it was a lot nicer than the unfrequent times I went out on the bay. True, I was somewhat of a novice to boating at the time so I was a little unsure of myself, but still -- the rivers always just seemed a bit easier. <br /><br />Although, I will say this -- we didn't have barges flying up and down the river. But really, are there so many barges that you'll be dodging them like potholes in a Wisconsin Highway?<br /><br />Sean

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: River Boating???????????????

I fish a river 10 minutes from my house all the time. You do have to learn the river's spots to avoid. This little river varies in depth from 90 feet to barely a foot or two! I've been fishing it for years and now in the last two years started tubing and knee boarding on it.<br /><br />Make sure your sonar/depth sounder is working and don't be afraid to talk to fellow boaters at the ramp about the river. Most boaters love to chat about their boats and their boating experience.<br /><br />Us northern folks are used to shorter boating seasons. Do you see us selling our boats? We're just happier to be out there during the season where we can actually be on the water!

 

[cg2er410]

Re: River Boating???????????????

I am a River Rat. I boat on the Ohio river in the upper pool of McAlpine river miles 570 to 606 (Louisville KY area). The big rivers are just a little bit different than boating on the lakes. Some things to consider. First think of the Ohio as an interstate highway, which it is. You won't usually use your compass to plot a course, you will learn to use the mile markers and learn to use "upbound" and "downbound," left and right descending banks, two whistle and one whistle sides etc. The commercial traffic has priority they are the "semis" on this interstate and the river is maintained for them with the rec boats secondary. The barge traffic has the right of way by virtue of weight and size, much less the rules of the road. Just stay out of their way and you will be fine. Another very important safety issue about barges. The pilot will have a blind spot directly in front of his tow. How big of a blind spot is dependent upon how high his wheel house is. Do to the geometry of the situation, if you are on a PWC or any small boat and directly in front of a tow, don't assume he can see you. Most likely he can not and this may be a couple of hundred yards in front he is blind. You should not be anchored or stopped in the channel anyway. I recommend you purchase a VHF marine band, this way you can communicate with the tows (ch 13) or with USCG Group Ohio Valley on Ch 16. The USCG monitors radio traffic along the Ohio river and can render assistance via the USCG Aux (the only SAR assests the USCG has on the inland rivers) or local rescue which may or may not have marine assets. I also recommend you contact the US Army Corps of Engineers and buy a river chart for your area. This will show you the sailing lines, Aids to Navigation and marinas, etc on the River. Unfortunately the upped their price on these from $13 in the past to $50 now. Still well worth the price.<br /><br />The river is great, best times are weekdays in the morning when not a lot of rec boat traffic. You will learn to love it. Oh yeah wakes can be bad too especially around barge fleeting areas due to the fact there is no place for them to dissapate to like on a lake. The will kick back at you from the bank/moored barges and come back at ya! All in all i love it. If you want more information contact me at cg2er410@aol.com.<br /><br />John<br />USCG Aux<br />OPSBOSS 8ER

 

[Baldguy]

Re: River Boating???????????????

I've done the majority of our boating on the Sacramento River. Now it's not as big a river as some of the others have spoken of....but it's close, convenient, and really not that much different than going to a lake except for the fact that you're moving even if you're not underway. Get yourself disabled without an anchor and you'll find yourself in San Fransisco before ya know it. <br /><br />The thing I find I enjoy is that I can float along the river and move without having to use any gas!!! The other thing is that the current tends to smooth out the water even if there is some traffic...unlike a lake that will tend to remain chopped up....IMHO.<br /><br />As others have stated, watch out for "floaties." There can be some large logs and debris that is washing down the river. But other than that....there really isn't that much difference.

 

[Capn Mike]

Re: River Boating???????????????

My boat is moored 5 minutes from my house on the Columbia River. Except for small lakes....and, of course, Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean, almost all our boating is done on rivers or bays fed by rivers. Yeah, the posts above are right...you have to be careful of currents, wing dams, channel markers and barges, but, what's your alternative? No boat at all....ugh! <br /><br />I will say that my experience has been enhanced by the chart GPS I bought a few years ago. Here...and I'm sure the Ohio is the same way...the consequences of missing the channel in some places is fairly serious..