Mississippi River
The Mississippi River System is the third largest river system in the world. It has played a significant role in our country’s history, commerce, agriculture, art, literature and recreation. Beginning as a trickle at Lake Itasca, Minn., it flows 2,348 miles to the Gulf of Mexico.
The Complete Listing of Marinas and Locks on the Inland and Gulf Intracoastal Waterways
Ghost Hunting on the Delta Queen
Some say the ghost of sea captain, Mary Greene, haunts the place she died, the sternwheeler steamboat, Delta Queen, now a “hotel” in permanent dock in Chattanooga, Tenn. And well she may, since Mary was as wedded to the rivers of the Heartland as to her husband, Captain Gordon Greene. Mary Becker […] Read More
Boat Camping Primer
One of the best things about a boat is the ability to visit new places that may not be accessible via roads. This can go well beyond the typical sightseeing cruises with friends or family. With a little bit of planning, your boat, as long as it is comfortable for at least a four-hour […] Read More
Spirit of Illinois
Has a state ever been so misrepresented? It’s nicknamed the Prairie State, yet Illinois is edged on three sides by water, borders a Great Lake and is bisected by a major water thoroughfare for recreational boaters and the marine transportation industry. So say what you want textbooks, we know the true spirit of this […] Read More
Fall Fests
Marked by a pleasant change of color and climate, fall offers boaters in the Midwest a chance to enjoy their favorite pastime from a whole new perspective. What’s more, a variety of annual festivals spread throughout the region add to the seasonal opportunities with their autumn-inspired flavor and attractions. No, it’s not too late […] Read More
Review: Carolina Skiff Fun Chaser FPG 2100
When the nation’s top-selling brand of outboard-powered fiberglass boats under 24 feet decides to offer a pontoon model, it’s worth a look even if you aren’t a pontoon enthusiast — which I am. Learning that one of Carolina Skiff’s new Fun Chaser fiberglass pontoon models would be on hand “sold’ me on accepting an […] 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
Experts Link Gulf ‘Dead Zone’ to Ethanol
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts a record-size “dead zone” in the Gulf this summer, stretching from South Texas all the way to Alabama — and some experts believe the culprit to be ethanol. The dead zone, which sets up in late spring and lasts throughout the summer, is caused […] Read More
Illinois Governor Would Consider Lock Closures
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn said on June 1 that he believes a separation of the Great Lakes and Mississippi River watersheds might be the “ultimate solution” to the problem of migrating Asian carp. Quinn spoke to media at a meeting of the Council of Great Lakes Governors on the resort of Mackinac […] Read More