Lower Mississippi Mast Re Stepping

[Keelhauler]

Hello fellow Cruisers

We are planning our trip down the Mississippi from the Great Lakes. Our stop over will be in New Orleans for about 3-5 months visiting grandkids and family.

Would any of you out there happen to know the best place to have our mast re stepped? We’re also wanting to find a slip for 3-5 months, preferably at the same marina if possible. Also any other concerns or thoughts you may have about the route would be great.

Take Care & Thank you,

[Weatherbird]

In no particular order:

Seabrook Harbor and Marine
Yard and marina in the industrial canal generally the cheapest yard rates and most DIY friendly

Sintes Boat Works
Yard in Orleans Marina generally the most expensive yard rates but generally better work

Schubert's Marine
Yard in Orleans Marina

Orleans Marina
Older marina with fixed piers near the city and in walking distance of most amenities

Southshore Harbor
Older marina with fixed piers on the wrong side of the industrial canal

Municipal Yacht Harbor
Newer marina with floating piers and in walking distance of most amenities

[Jammer]

If you can clear a 52' bridge then my advice would be sail to Duluth and have your boat trucked from Duluth to Stillwater (150 miles) and have your mast stepped there (Windmill Marina). Sail down the St. Croix to the Mississippi, then take the Tenn-Tom and sail from Mobile to New Orleans outside or in the gulf ICW.

If taking the lower Mississippi, there are several choices depending on the route you're taking. If you can clear a 60' bridge, you can do the Duluth to Stillwater route described above.

If you're taking the more common route through Chicago then your best bet is to take the Tenn-Tom and have your mast stepped in Mobile (at Turner Marina). If taking the lower Mississippi then I think you can get your mast stepped in the Paducah area in Lake Barkley.

The Tenn-Tom route is usually preferred due to the lack of services on portions of the lower Mississippi. Obtaining fuel and pumpouts is problematic in this area. In particular it is 386 statute miles from the Greenville Yacht Club (Memphis area) to Rio Fuel Supply in Morgan City (approaching New Orleans) and there are no marinas or other straightforward opportunities to refuel. There is also significant barge traffic.


I would not wait until arriving in New Orleans to have the mast stepped. Less crowded on deck with it up, easier for other boats to see you, better VHF performance, better stability due to the decreased roll rate.

[Keelhauler]

Thank you for the information. I’ll look into each of those marinas. We’ll be doing the Chicago route as it’s the closest entrance for us. As far as fuel range goes we carry 125 gallons of diesel so we should be good for the trip down. As far as the Tenn-Tom, we had some friends take that route in the 42’ and they had issues running a ground. According to the coconut telegraph there will be 2 lock closures around the project time frame we are heading down, so the Mississippi it is. Our main concern was a good yard. The Sea Brook looks promising so far but we’ll check out the rest of the suggestions too. Thanks again you guys are great.