I need info on VOL NAVY (merged)

#28
#28
I make the trip twice a year (Knoxville to Chatt), cruising at about 35mph it takes me about 6 hrs to get down if I get good Lock times.

That's where your trip could get screwed up.....getting hung up at the lock. Not always can you get right in. I've been held up before at the locks sometimes as long as 3 hrs before I could get in.

There's no problem though doing it in a boat of your size, I don't know why anyone would say that. I"ve boated my whole life and the traffic on game day is not THAT bad, most everyone is already tied up anyways.

Yes, as someone mentioned, do call Joe at Volunteer Landing Marina. You can get a transient slip at the marina for about $20 a night and take a cab to a hotel if you wish.

Let me know which game you're going to come to, I usually try to take the boat to at least 2 home games a season.....YOU'LL HAVE A BLAST!!
 
#29
#29
Oh, btw....depending where you're at (i'm thinking on Chickamauga) you'll have to go through (3) sets of locks.

Have fun!!


Feel free to PM me with questions about the trip as I have made it a lot.
 
#31
#31
PierPressure said:
Oh, btw....depending where you're at (i'm thinking on Chickamauga) you'll have to go through (3) sets of locks.

Have fun!!


Feel free to PM me with questions about the trip as I have made it a lot.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I boat on Chickamauga all the time on Saturdays and it cant be any rougher than that. I would suspect it not being that rough. What I would love to do is to find someone to follow up from Chattanooga. So, if anyone is up for it, let me know. Send me a pm or email me at jeff@tiftoniachurch.comcastbiz.net
 
#34
#34
From Fox Road Marina (where my boat is) to Watts Bar Dam, it takes roughly 5-6 hours depending (*downriver with the current*)....From Watts Bar Dam to Chickamauga Dam, you're about another hour or so.

Now, i'm about 45 mins (by boat) from Fox Road Marina to Neyland. Depending on where you're at on Chickamauga, I would probably account for 10 hours or so depending on lock times, etc.

For fuel on Watts Bar coming up river from the dam, you have Euchee, Blue Springs, and a couple of other's. I would probably fill up at Blue Springs, from there you're about 2-3 hours from your last lock up which is Ft. Loudon. On the other side of the dam from Ft. Loudon, you immediately have another marina and a Calhouns!!

Going up from there you have Choto, International Harbor, Concord Marina, Fox Road, Louisville Landing, and finally Volunteer Landing.

Gas won't be a problem as long as you plan it correctly. Do you have a GPS?

I have a handheld Garmin, I routed the trip out (the first time I took it about 3 years ago) with Garmin's software on my laptop and then loaded that route into my handheld. I had to use waypoints on the software to make the route on water and not land. I used mile marker buoys as waypoints. It's always nice to know you're coordinates in case of emergency. I would also go buy a handheld ship to shore if your boat doesn't already have one.

I would not make the trip without a ship to shore radio......Good Luck, you'll be fine!!
 
#35
#35
I recommend you trailer the boat up there and launch close by. It's been a couple of years but we used to launch my 19 foot boat from a park near Cherokee Blvd. and Kenesaw. I still have the coordinates: 35°55'42.64"N 83°57'32.04"W

You are 2-3 miles from the stadium at that point. You have to watch for wake from the big boats of course, but we never had any problems and had a wonderful time. There are plenty of boats that size in the VN, and they tend to raft up together, as opposed to rafting to the bigger boats. Bring plenty of line and fenders.

Also, strictly observe the posted no-wake zones and other regulations. There is always a large enforcement presence (for good reason).
 
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#36
#36
We are planning on coming up for the first time this weekend. We will be in a 24' Chris Craft Cabin Cruiser. We are going to pull the boat up from Chattanooga.


Where's a good place to put in up there? I see volunteer landing, but is there anywhere else that is recommended?

Do most people stay on the boats for the game or do they go up to the game?

Any recommendations on when to get up there?

Also I read one post that said you needed to have an invite from someone already in the vol navy, but I don't think that is the case is it?

I've read some other posts on Vol Navy but haven't seen any answers to these questions.

Any other recommendations are much appreciated. Thanks ahead of time. Can't wait to be a part of the Vol NAVY this weekend! GO VOLS lets kick some gator tail!
 
#37
#37
These posts, from PierPressure, seemed the most useful..

I make the trip twice a year (Knoxville to Chatt), cruising at about 35mph it takes me about 6 hrs to get down if I get good Lock times.

That's where your trip could get screwed up.....getting hung up at the lock. Not always can you get right in. I've been held up before at the locks sometimes as long as 3 hrs before I could get in.

There's no problem though doing it in a boat of your size, I don't know why anyone would say that. I"ve boated my whole life and the traffic on game day is not THAT bad, most everyone is already tied up anyways.

Yes, as someone mentioned, do call Joe at Volunteer Landing Marina. You can get a transient slip at the marina for about $20 a night and take a cab to a hotel if you wish.

Let me know which game you're going to come to, I usually try to take the boat to at least 2 home games a season.....YOU'LL HAVE A BLAST!!
Click to expand...

Oh, btw....depending where you're at (i'm thinking on Chickamauga) you'll have to go through (3) sets of locks.

Have fun!!


Feel free to PM me with questions about the trip as I have made it a lot.
Click to expand...
 
#38
#38
orange+white=heaven said:
There was another person asking similar questions a couple of weeks ago.

Here is the thread...LINK..


hope that something in there helps.
Click to expand...

Yeah thats one that I read already. Thanks, just trying to get some more info as well so we will be as prepared as we can. We figure that volunteer landing will be packed so we thought about putting in, in Fort Loudon maybe and driving the boat up the rest of the way.
 
#40
#40
utrules said:
Where's the best place to launch up there with ample parking?
Click to expand...
I think the best thing to do is go to page 2 of the link I posted and click on PierPressure's name by his post. Then you can send him a personal message with your questions. He seems to know this stuff and be very helpful...
 
#41
#41
You can launch at Concord Park/Concord Marina. From Chattanooga, take the Campbell Station Road exit (372?), turn right. Cross Kingston Pike. Turn/merge right when you reach Concord Road, then go left at the roundabout. The park with launch and marina are maybe 1/4 mile.

From there, you have about an hour to hour-and-a-half cruise at a comfortable speed. The Navy is mainly moored at Bridgeview Grill/the rowhouse, just below the stadium near the railroad bridge. Boats are usually tied to others of similar size, so just find a row of small cruisers and deckboats. No invite needed, just ask the boat at the end to let you tie on. Bring extra bumpers and ropes. Line up your swim platform with the others so people have a makeshift walkway.
 
#42
#42
Here's what I would do. Take the Lovell Rd. Exit, hang a right and go to Kingston Pike. Take a Right on to Kingston Pike heading West, at the intersection (with stop light) take a left on Concord Rd. Travel Concord to the Round -A- Bout and go left on to Northshore Dr. Travel Northshore Dr for about .25mile and you'll see the Concord Park public boat launch on your left. If you try to get closer to the stadium by land, you don't have many choices for launchs and the closer you get by land the more pointless pulling your boat from Chattanooga becomes.

Put your boat in and enjoy about a 1hour ride UP RIVER to the stadium. Just follow the navigational bouys, or follow everyone else and you'll get to the stadium....:dance2:

If I were you (not knowing anyone in the Vol Navy raft-up), I would secure a slip at Volunteer Landing Marina for the night, shouldn't cost but a bout 20-30 bucks. You would need to call them in advance to secure that.

As for going to the game, that's up to you. You'll find that it's a mix.......some people go to the game (the kid at the Marina will take you to the Stadium on the Marina's golf cart for a nice tip)

As for me, I tie up and party......go the game, come back to the boat and party even harder....then go to sleep, wake up in the morning with one hell of a hangover and enjoy the ride back downriver to my marina which is also about an hour.

Feel free to PM me with any other questions.

(I unfortunately wont' be there for this game, but I am taking the boat up for the Alabama game and would be happy to host)
 
#44
#44
"If I were you (not knowing anyone in the Vol Navy raft-up), I would secure a slip at Volunteer Landing Marina for the night, shouldn't cost but a bout 20-30 bucks. You would need to call them in advance to secure that.
"

Thanks for all the advice PierPressure. Thats just what i needed. I did call volunteer landing already. They want $2 per foot, and a 2 night minimum, so about $100 for us. They don't have access to bathrooms after they close (8pm), so we chose not to get a slip there. We may just head downriver to another marina for the night. Or we may just stay tied up depending on who all we meet during the game. Not sure yet. Anyway Thanks to everyone for the input.
 
#45
#45
I've seen a steady stream of nice boats making their way towards the Landing today from my perch in downtown Knoxville.

It's going to be a great weekend for boating and Vol football. Enjoy it.
 
#46
#46
Going down river from Volunteer Landing, the next closest Marina I think is Duncan's Boat dock (not very convenient by land) and i'm not sure about bathroom access.

From there, you have Louisville Landing which is really almost back at the launch.

There are public bathrooms at The Landing close to Volunteer Landing Marina. If i'm not mistaken they're just a quick walk to "the steps".
 
#47
#47
I'm in need of renting a houseboat for the weekend of June 27th. We are going to be docking the houseboat at volunteer landing. This obviously isn't a football weekend, so maybe there is something available?

Any ideas on rentals etc....? Anyone own a houseboat and want to make some extra cash for a weekend you may not be using it? Thanks,
 
#48
#48
I live about 80 mi.'s down stream from Chatt. at Guntersville, AL. A man from here logged over 50,000 mi.'s in a 12ft. aluminum boat after he retired. In fact his last big trip from here to Chicago and back, he did at age 85. If he can do that surely you can make it in your boat to Neyland. I would do it the day before the game, and maybe the boat traffic won't be as bad.
 
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