Illinois Waterway
Running the width of the state bearing its name, the Illinois Waterway is a system of channels with its beginnings just off Lake Michigan. It consists of eight locks and ends 336 miles to the southwest when it joins with the Mississippi River at Grafton, Ill.
The Complete Listing of Marinas and Locks on the Inland and Gulf Intracoastal Waterways
Reading a River Current
Boaters frequently overestimate river currents, especially during times of high water. People sometimes mention mile-per-hour (mph) speeds with two digits, but actual measurements are far from that. Part of the problem is that agencies that monitor rivers, like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) […] Read More
Weather Woes
Not even one year after a near-historic drought baked the area, a cold and rainy spring caused the boating season to start late in many places around the Heartland. The impact has seriously curtailed boating plans and slashed profits for marine businesses, bringing comments from “it’s been a lousy year so far” to “ […] Read More
Summer Fest-For-Alls
To get an idea of how popular waterfront festivals are, just Google the phrase ”riverfront days.‘ It yields almost 8 million results. Seems like virtually every community with access to a nearby waterway holds some kind of event on land’s end. These can range from small, several-hour celebrations to large, multi-week events. It’s almost […] Read More
Living Large
It’s no secret the houseboat industry has had a tough time over the last few years. Economic turbulence here and abroad even caused several prominent manufacturers to close their doors. But houseboaters are a passionate bunch, and if last year’s sales numbers are any indication, these folks are starting to open their wallets and […] Read More
Clubbing It and Loving It
Rook Nelson had a perfect opportunity to sell his boat, so he did. Then, he was sorry. “I was instantly missing it, of course,” he said. But rather than invest in a new boat right away, he took advantage of another option for boaters: He joined a club. Boat clubs come in […] Read More
A Journey Back In Time
My husband, Cliff, and I have always loved riverboats, to the extent that we tear up every time we see the end of the movie “Showboat.” How can we not?! As the song “Old Man River” is being sung in the background, Ava Gardner is tearing up as she sees the Showboat slowly leaving […] Read More