My first big(er) boat!

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mbr760

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Feb 21, 2007
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These questions aren't necissarily Carver related but I did just buy a Carver so I thought I'd post them here.

First, do any of you boat in any of Tennessee's lakes? I've lived in S. California for the past 12 years but I'm back in central Kentucky now and, aside from a few weekend fishing trips, it's been a long, long time since I've been on any of the areas bigger lakes. I'd probably like to be closer to Atlanta but it's just too far (family proximity issues) so I'm thinking Norris or Watts Bar in TN might be good places for me to consider. Was wondering if any of you could offer suggestions/recommendations (or warnings) of places (lakes & marinas) to look at. Lake Cumberland would be the obvious choice but...well, dam bad timing!

I probably should mention that I plan on spending a great deal of time on my boat...a week or two to a month or more at a time. Use-wise, I like to fish but I'm not a fishing "nut". No kids so no serious water sports. And I'm not a speed demon so no boat racing.

Primarily I'm looking for calm lake cruising, friendly (and user friendly) moorage/marina and lots of nice coves for beauty and privacy while at overnight anchor, cooking and entertaining. Relatively easy access off of I-75 would be nice too.

Good place to seguay to cooking. I may not be a fishing nut, but I am a grilling nut. Any thoughts on grills? Is there anything special about those Magma/West Marine grills or should I just look for a Char-Broil, Weber, Ducane, etc., get a mount and be done with it? (notice I didn't mention Viking!)

Finally (for now anyway) what about those modern day necessities: cable/satellite TV and internet access? I know most slips today have cable available but what about when you're not at dock? I'm just a little confused when it comes to Dish/Direct TV and these $4000+/- marine satellite antennas as I've always had terrestrial cable. And is internet access available through those channels or should I look at one of those laptop cards that will get me broadband access through Verizon/Cingular?

Thanks much!
 
Need to focus more if you want results.
 
mbr760

Rick

Your first post!! Welcome to BE!!! How's life in Atlanta?

Everyone really tries to be accurate when answering questions such as yours (sometimes more info than you can imagine :)…..as 32carv said, your looking for allot of information...Which question would you like to address first? (Then second, so on and so forth)... feel free to post general questions in the “ask the captain” section…guaranteed results…

Welcome aboard! Good luck with your Bigger (to you) Boat
Stan
 
Thank you guys for the quick feedback. I suppose my state of excitement and desire to know everything at once got the best of me. I'll re-post my question(s) more directly and with less of that "scatter gun" approach. But I sincerely thank you both. I'd hate to be sitting here wondering why I wasn't getting any feedback at all!
 
Welcome, we live in Knoxville and keep our boat on Fort Loudon Lake, north and approximately 70' higher in elevation than Watts Bar Lake. The lakes or pools were formed through the damming of the TN River by the TVA for flood control and power generation. You travel from pool to pool via locks (VERY COOL!!!) From Knoxville you can travel south to Chattanoogo, eventually reach the Mississippi and ultimately New Orleans and the Gulf. Lots of cruising opporunties.
Norris is a beautiful and CLEAN lake, but is landlocked.
Euchee Marina on Watts Bar Lake is north of Athens, TN and very accessible to I-75. This may be a good option for a slip, the marina also has a small hotel, good restaurant, and fuel dock with quickie mart.
Finding a cove is up to you, they aren't "owned" other than first come first serve. Just be sure to set your anchor properly, while they are called lakes, there IS a current!
 
Rick....some previous discussions on grilling....I prefer gas, but that's just me...any food cooked on the water taste better than food cooked on the land IMO :D

http://tinyurl.com/2c3mgd

Hollar when you are having dinner (you sound like my kind of BBQ'r)...Atlanta is just a hop away from OKC
 
Rick, you sound like you'll fit right in here - your priorities are good - gas grill, satellite TV, all the boating necessities ;)...

Those lakes down there sound very interesting - I met a lady at one of our boat shows who was selling properties at a place called The Village at Norris Lake, and it really looked like a nice place to live, work, and play. I imagine there are some great marinas down there, too...

Of course, other lakes in the area have access to the Tennessee River and other connecting waterways - with a 38 foot boat this should be taken into consideration...

Whatever you do, good luck with your new purchase!!!
 
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