Captains Log

As we leave the Soddy Creek mile marker RM 486.6R, fat and happy from Steve’s Landing, we will continue to cruise up stream to Watts Bar Dam. You may have already noticed that even though we are on Day 5, it would not take 5 days to due this trip. Of course, who is in a hurry?

Not a lot of commercial activity from this section of the Tennessee River, except beautiful river scenery and generally a lot of wild life.

Our first point to take notice is at RM 494.5 R, the mouth Sale Creek, a short 1.0 mile ride past Sale Creek Marina, and Sale Creek Camp Ground. This area is great area to overnight if you like to drop the hook in peace and quite. Sale Creek Marina offers fuel, ice and light provisions.

As we pass Sale Creek area you will see the Highway 60 bridge, RM 499.4, connecting Dayton, TN and Cleveland, TN. As we pass under the bridge, we see the Hiawassee River to the right at RM 499.5L.

The Hiawassee River is navigable for about 34 miles. That will be a trip on another day.

We continue upstream, just sit back relax, but stay in the channel markers, and enjoy the peaceful ride. Next point of interest will be at RM 512.9L, and Cottonport Marina and Campground. Cottonport offer fuel, groceries, overnight lodging, camping, and boat ramp.

A short 5 miles up stream we pass under Highway 30 Bridge, RM 517.9 the site of the Old Washington Ferry. The ferry was last operated on September 2, 1996.

We next will pass the Watts Bar Nuclear plant, RM 528.5R. The plant is the last reactor started in the U.S. Currently, a new Unit Two in under construction.

We can know see the Watts Bar Dam, RM529.9. The lock chamber is 360’ x 60’.

This ends our trip today. Our next trip will be exploring the Chattanooga River Front, down stream of the Chickamauga Dam.

Have a safe boating day, see you on the river…. SOON.

Let’s take a day off our waterway journey and review our current waterfront housing market on both Lake Chickamauga and Watts Bar Lake, on the Tennessee River. Lake Chickamauga on the Tennessee River runs from RM 471.0 to RM 529.9 (58.9 miles) and Watts Br Lake from RM 529.9 to RM 602.3 (72.4 miles).

In reviewing the Chattanooga multiple listing inventory of ACTIVE, “Water Frontage (Lake/River), we have 105 listings. With further refine this research to locate homes with “Year Round Deep Water (Lake/River) we reduce the number to 70 homes. Some of these listings however, will not provide a navigatable waterway in the pure sense of boating. Some will indicate private lakes, creek/streams etc.

There are also other considerations to your specific boating needs such as bridge clearance, access to marina gas and fuel locations, of course the ability to have a boat dock permit, if dockage is not currently in place.

In taking these considerations in review the number of homes may well be 30-40, and then the important factor of price range will make a final cut. The Active 105 waterfront listings are priced from $245,000 to $3,500,000. When the inventory was sorted to ‘Year Round Deep Water at 70 properties the price range remains the same. You can see as you pick and sort to YOUR WATERFRONT NEEDS, the options can vary widely as to price and location. All of these properties are on or near the Tennessee River, and located on either Chickamauga Lake, or Watts Bar Lake.

Currently both lakes are lowering to “winter pool” levels, and it’s a great time to confirm navigatable waterway, winter water view, and water depth at docks.

I'm ready, willing, and able to do just that, so you can get YOUR Waterfront Home that fits YOUR needs.