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Western Rivers

The Mississippi River and its tributaries and associated waterways form the largest network of navigable waters in the world, connecting many of our mid-Western cities with one another and with the sea.

The trip from Chicago to the Gulf of Mexico is a major leg of  the “Great Loop” circumnavigation of the Eastern States.

Whether you are piloting a small pleasure boat or a powerful  towboat pushing a huge load of barges, good charts and reference books are important.  Here are some suggestions to help make your voyage  safe and successful

The_Big_Picture | Paper_Charts | Charts_on_Disk | Cruising_Guides  |  Background_Reading

Last Updated 02/27/2008

The Big Picture


click to enlarge

Great Loop Cruise Routes Map.  22 x 26 waterproof map showing the ICW, New York canal system, Great Lakes, Mississippi River and tributaries, and Tenn-Tom Waterway.  Every lock and dam is shown. 
$19.95  T16930

Quimby’s Cruising Guide, from Waterways Journal, essential book for pleasure boats plying the Mississippi-Missouri system and the Tenn-Tom.  2007 edition.  Spiral-bound, 284 pages.  $39.00  T18328
(2008 edition due in April 08)

Inland River Guide, also from Waterways Journal.  Published specifically for the inland river industry.  2008 edition.  Lists barge and towing companies, terminals, fleeting services, shipyards and repair facilities, fuel and boat stores, brokers, divers, parts distributors, agencies and associations.  Over 600 pages, comb-bound. 
$75.00  T1205

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Paper Charts

Charts are published in book form by each Army Corps of Engineers District Office for the rivers within its own district.  USACE does not to allow dealers or resellers.  If you would like Pilothouse to order for you, we must add a service fee.  We suggest, instead, that you telephone the appropriate district chart sales offices and order directly.  Addresses and telephone numbers can be found in Quimby’s.  Prices below are approximate.
Illinois Waterway $24.95  T4574
Upper Mississippi Minneapolis to Cairo $44.95  T4575
Ohio River Cairo to Foster $51.00  T4576
Cumberland River $14.95  T13658
Tennessee River $19.95  T4577
Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway $32.95  T4578
Lower Black Warrior River $28.95  T4579

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Charts on Disk

 

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Cruising Guides

Lake Michigan to Kentucky Lake the Heartland River Route, by Capt. Rick Rhodes, Pelican Publishing.  Detailed guide for the trip from Chicago to Kentucky Lake, in the lower Tennessee River.  2002.  PB, 8 x 9, 205pp.
$28.95  T17318
Cumberland River Cruise Guide by Fred Myers.
     Out of Print
CD Cruising the Tennessee River, Bob and Mavis Duthie. Interactive guide with three hours of audio, over 1000 photos and the full text of Fred Myers' Tennessee River Cruise Guide. Requires Windows 95 or higher.
$34.95 T1602
Tenn-Tom Nitty-Gritty Cruise Guide by Fred Myers.
     Out of Print
The Ohio River in American History and Voyaging on Today’s River, Rick Rhodes, 2007.  Includes the Allegheny, Monongahela, Kanawha, Muskingum, Green and Wabash Rivers.  History, local color, and navigation information rolled into one book . PB, 8 ˝ x 11, 318pp. 
$35.96  T14679

Waterway Guide Great Lakes Edition 2008. Although concerned mainly with the Lakes, this new guide has a useful 45 pages on the Chicago to Mobile connection.
$39.95 T17075

Click Here For Waterway Guide Coverage Map

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Background Reading

Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain.  “At once a romantic history of a mighty river; an autobiographical account of Twain’s early steamboat days; a storehouse of humorous anecdotes and sketches.”  Published originally in 1883.  We have the Signet Classic edition, 1961.  PB, 4 x 7, 384pp. 
$3.95  T3319
Rivers Revealed, Rediscovering America's Waterways. Jerry M. Hay, professional riverdorian for the Delta Queen Steamboat Company. Practical and historic information gathered from three decades on the rivers. PB, 6 x 9, 308 pp.
$19.95 T5187

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Pilothouse Charts, Inc.
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Philadelphia, PA  19148
Updated on 07/20/2008
Phone:       215-336-6414
Toll Free:   800-40-PILOT
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