Catalina - Capri - 25s International Assocaition Logo(2006)  
Assn Members Area · Join
h.jpg Home.
a.jpg Association Forum
s.jpg Ships Store
c.jpg Cruising
r.jpg Racing
t.jpg Technical Tips
g.jpg Photo Gallery - New
o.jpg Boat Search - Updated
m.jpg Manuals & Brochures
3rdrpt.jpg Swap Meet
l.jpg Links
f.jpg Officer Flag Line & Staff
b.jpg Bylaws & Constitution
 
1.jpg Members Area
1.jpg Join the Association
 
Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.
 
Association Forum
Association Forum
Home | Profile | Register | Active Topics | Forum Users | Search | FAQ
Username:
 Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

 All Forums
 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
 Catalina 25 Specific Forum
 Sailing the Ohio River		  New Topic  Topic Locked
 Printer Friendly
Author Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  

rustybucket
Deckhand

Member Avatar

7 Posts
Initially Posted - 01/07/2012 :  14:22:05  Show Profile
Sometime in the future, I would like to sail part of, or the whole length of the Ohio River. The part that interest me the most would
be the stretch from Louisville to Pittsburgh. Have any of you done so? If you were going, how would you go; east to west (direction of
the current), or west to east (if there were such as thing as a
prevailing wind, it blows from the southwest). Also, have any of you
had any experience with the locks at the dams?

Thanks Rusty Bucket Cat 25 TR SK
Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
4382 Posts
Response Posted - 01/07/2012 :  15:10:09  Show Profile
Rusty, shoot me an e-mail when you arrive in Pittsburgh and I'll treat you to dinner on Mt. Washington - where there's a birdseye view of the Allegheny and Monongahela flowing into the Ohio.

http://www.google.com/search?q=mount+washington+pittsburgh&hl=en&site=webhp&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=2cIIT8L2AurL0QHt35HVAw&sqi=2&ved=0CEYQsAQ&biw=1680&bih=904
Edited by - OJ on 01/07/2012 15:20:26
Go to Top of Page

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3444 Posts
Response Posted - 01/07/2012 :  15:32:24  Show Profile
With all the relatively short tacks, I wouldn't wan to fight the current too. Downstream would be my choice.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
4382 Posts
Response Posted - 01/07/2012 :  18:20:21  Show Profile
FWIW, friends took their C42 through the Erie Canal system. They were surprised by the amount of turbulence as the lock chambers filled. "Boat bobbed like a cork . . . pretty unnerving . . . lock personnel acted apathetic."

Naturally wind and currents vary by time of year (spring v fall.) Have you checked online for current and wind stats?
Edited by - OJ on 01/07/2012 18:23:51
Go to Top of Page

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

Members Avatar

USA
3758 Posts
Response Posted - 01/07/2012 :  22:26:05  Show Profile
We had no problems with the Erie locks in a 24' power boat, but the commercial locks on the Ohio are larger and probably more interesting. A current that is commonly 2 - 3 mph, nearly half our hull hull speed, would make the trip pretty long west to east.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
9076 Posts
Response Posted - 01/08/2012 :  10:08:23  Show Profile
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Dave5041</i>
<br />...A current that is commonly 2 - 3 mph, nearly half our hull hull speed, would make the trip pretty long west to east.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">...and you won't make any headway under sail alone unless you have a straight reach or run. You'll stand still or go backwards tacking against 3 mph (2.6 knots). Around my place, people face the same issue getting through "The Race," which has alternating tidal currents. Down-current with a SW'erly, you'll do and easy 7-8 over the bottom. You just have to remember that when you're "stopped", you're doing 2.6 knots or whatever, with no steerage.

I think I'd drive to one of the locks, watch the whole process, and pick up whatever information is available--a little off-season diversion. It's good to know the protocol and know what to expect.

Here's one of several discussions:
http://ohiodnr.com/watercraft/ohioriver/hazards/tabid/2400/default.aspx
Edited by - Stinkpotter on 01/08/2012 10:17:11
Go to Top of Page

rustybucket
Deckhand

Members Avatar

7 Posts
Response Posted - 01/11/2012 :  20:03:20  Show Profile
OJ, I went up one of the inclines during the day 20 years ago; beautiful. If I make it there, I'll let you know.

Thanks Rusty Bucket
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
6855 Posts
Response Posted - 01/13/2012 :  08:27:52  Show Profile  Visit Champipple's Homepage
I used to row crew on the Ohio river. At times parts of it in the Cinti can run at an 8 mph clip. This is more of a trip for SARGE not a C25. I haven't found a source for all bridge heights yet but I am fairly certain that you will need to drop the mast in a number of spots.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page
  Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  
 New Topic  Topic Locked
 Printer Friendly
Jump To:
Association Forum © since 1999 Catalina Capri 25s International Association Go To Top Of Page
Powered By: Snitz Forums 2000 Version 3.4.06
Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.