RIVER SYSTEM: DAYS 139: 265 Heflin Anchorage - 188 Smith Island

265 Heflin Anchorage to 216 King Fisher Maria 216: 8.7 mph; 49.3 miles; 5:39 hours

216 King Fisher Marina to 213 Demopolis Lock 213: 3.5 mph; 2.4 miles; 0:41 hours

213 Demopolis Lock to 188 Smith ‘Island’ Anchorage 188.7: 9.2 mph; 24.2 miles; 2:38 hours


Travel Day: Sunrise to Sunset {A VERY long day}


There isn’t a Marina or Fuel stop between Demopolis and Bobby’s Fish Camp. 

You MUST stop at 216 Demopolis for fuel; Gas/Diesel: the KingFisher Marina 

(November 2021: Demopolis has/had two marinas. The only marina in operation for boaters is the King Fisher Marina; the Demopolis Marina will only service fuel to commercial vessels and does not offer slips at this time.)


265 Heflin Anchorage Lock to 216 King Fisher Marina:

  • There is a strange floating vegetation in the river; like a colony of water plants - small and clumpy.

  • 240 The White Cliffs of Epps; this area will sneak up on you and it’s amazing.

  • King Fisher Marina: Fuel and slips. Lots of Loopers use this marina and have only great things to say. We stopped for fuel; the marina monitors NEBO & AIS and contacted us BEFORE we got there. Great service.

213 Demopolis Lock:

  • Floating Bollards

  • We were the only PC going through the locks and the Lock Master said we would have to wait a couple of hours but waited only 15-25 minutes - lovin’ the nuts!

213 Demopolis Lock to 188 Smith ‘Island’ Anchorage:

  • The anchorage is on a bend; totally NOT an island by any definition.

  • Travel past the 3rd red buoy you see on Navionics then turn back up going slow to 6’ of solid holding and toss the stern anchor.

  • November 2021: There are supposed to be three red nuns. Missing, and off-line, markers becomes the norm on this river so you need to rely on your eyes and electronic system to let you know where the channel markers are supposed to be - then you have a fighting chance.


OBSERVATION: ALABAMA RIVER RUNNERS DO NOT CARE IF THEY WAKE YOU; HOWEVER, I WITNESSED A RIVER FOLK WAKED AND HE DISPLAYED A VARIETY OF HAND GESTURES AND VOICED A COLORFUL VOCABULARY.




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