Toronto to Albany

[KNOCKABOUT]

Anybody here ever locked through? Am contemplating this for September. I figure it should about 5 days if all goes well. So does everything usually go well? Is it a journey worth doing? Or should I just haul the bloody thing down from CA?

[S.V. Airlie]

Kock.. why am I confused over the question?
Is Albany worth visitng? No.
Is that the question?

[KNOCKABOUT]

I have a boat in Toronto that needs getting down... and the question is whether I haul the thing on the interstate, or spend five days with my banjo, a tin of chaw, and my big toe on the tiller spitin bac-juice into the NYS canal system.

[phiil]

I did most of the Erie about fifteen years ago in a 28' motor launch. I figure the State of New York spent about $14,000 opening and closing locks for me, and I bought about twenty gallons of diesel, a fifth of rum, and some bread and peanut butter during the trip. most towns have converted their old freight terminals into parks where you can tie up free for the night. (bring long dock lines, some of the bollards are quite far apart)

The most important piece of advice I can give is "Don't Tick Off The Lockkeepers!" I noticed that skippers who were rude or impatient on the radio were more likely to be faced with a "stuck valve" requiring an additional wait for the lock.

Some of the locks are deep and dank and not a little bit creepy, but you get used to it. Hay bales in burlap bags are the accepted fenders, as the lock walls can have more slime and gunk than you want on your good fenders. Pass them along to the next transiter when you leave the canal. The keepers are all very proud of their locks and like to be complimented.

Oh, and remember to learn the words to the song so you can belt it out as you cruise along.

[S.V. Airlie]

Knock.. I can only say that I would like to have an opportunity to do the canal system.. I doubt whether that will evwer happen. I am speaking off the cuff.. I would go the canal route.
Now if ya go back in time.. the canal system was covered on the forum. I'm guessing a year and a half ago.. Joe brought it up, I think.

[StevenBauer]

There have been some great canal stories in Messing About In Boats over the years. Sounds like fun. Tell us about the boat. :)

Steven

[KNOCKABOUT]

I'll give you details once the check clears... Ya' bastard.

[Nanoose]

the question is whether I haul the thing on the interstate, or spend five days with my banjo, a tin of chaw, and my big toe on the tiller spitin bac-juice into the NYS canal system.

I'm shocked that you even have to ASK such a question!! :eek: Option 2, OBVIOUSLY!!!

[KNOCKABOUT]

I did most of the Erie about fifteen years ago in a 28' motor launch. I figure the State of New York spent about $14,000 opening and closing locks for me, and I bought about twenty gallons of diesel, a fifth of rum, and some bread and peanut butter during the trip. most towns have converted their old freight terminals into parks where you can tie up free for the night. (bring long dock lines, some of the bollards are quite far apart)

The most important piece of advice I can give is "Don't Tick Off The Lockkeepers!" I noticed that skippers who were rude or impatient on the radio were more likely to be faced with a "stuck valve" requiring an additional wait for the lock.

Some of the locks are deep and dank and not a little bit creepy, but you get used to it. Hay bales in burlap bags are the accepted fenders, as the lock walls can have more slime and gunk than you want on your good fenders. Pass them along to the next transiter when you leave the canal. The keepers are all very proud of their locks and like to be complimented.

Oh, and remember to learn the words to the song so you can belt it out as you cruise along.

So how long does transiting generally take? And can I get my mast unstepped in Oswego and restepped in Albany?

[KNOCKABOUT]

I'm shocked that you even have to ASK such a question!! :eek: Option 2, OBVIOUSLY!!!

LOL.

[JamesCaird]

Erie Canal-great trip-well worth the time especially if you can take it easy. Mast unstepping available at Oswego and restepping several places on Hudson S of Albany-all done with folks who do it often (there is even a "corral" for pasturing horses south of Albany at one boat yard!) Lock operations for recreational vessels during daylight only-not sure of the actual time. Bonus is (or was) that you could tie up near locks overnight for free-usually with a park alongside with barbecue pits and all. The parks were closed at some hour for the night leaving you to yourselves for the night. Anyway-great trip-don't forget the fenders and good dock lines and be ready with the springline and no panicing....The canal is a great way to go and then add on the Hudson and the best possible way to go through NYC. Cheers/JC

[KNOCKABOUT]

Been reading this: http://www.100megsfree3.com/wordsmith/cruising.html, and thought I'd post it for any other interested parties.

[HR]

I made the trip in the early '90s and 5 days is do-able if you really push it (that's how long it took us).

The biggest problems (time-wise) is waiting to get your mast unstepped in Oswego if they are busy, and the lock hours. We tried to time things so that we locked through just near closing hour and then pushed through to the next lock to be waiting when they opened. It's actually not a bad trip to make, once.

Howard

[Gary Bergman]

We did it in ROYALISTE last year; it's all a great trip, whether the Champlain or Erie canals. Cheep DYI crane at the Castleton boat club downstream from Albany

[KNOCKABOUT]

I made the trip in the early '90s and 5 days is do-able if you really push it (that's how long it took us).

The biggest problems (time-wise) is waiting to get your mast unstepped in Oswego if they are busy, and the lock hours. We tried to time things so that we locked through just near closing hour and then pushed through to the next lock to be waiting when they opened. It's actually not a bad trip to make, once.

Howard

I shouldn't think them too busy in September headed East...

[S.V. Airlie]

Knock.. I don't know.. that part of Upstate New York is damn'd pretty in Sept and early Oct.

[HR]

That's the busy time for the mast crane - lots of boats leave for south in September (that's when we went through the canal). I doubt that the same yardman is there, but the guy at that time enjoyed his "power" - if he liked you, your mast came down same day. If he didn't, you could sit there for 2 or 3 days.

[Concordia...41]

I found this "Official Cruising Guide" but it's not what I was thinking of

http://www.nyscanals.gov/exvac/cguide/index.html

[MikeMc]

Not only is the canal trip nice, but Albany and its surrounding area, (i.e., the "Capitol District") is very nice, too, despite all the bad things you may hear. The best time of year to transit the canal is the last week of August and early September. You'll think you died and went to heaven. Lock ten is fully repaired (was blown to bits in a massive flood last year). The towns along the way are way post-industrial, but very friendly and have great little places to eat and things to see and most have a market within bike/walking distance. Little Falls is a good example. Traffic is light except weekend afternoons. And when you get to Albany you'll see why some people say it has the best skyline of any city in America, particularly at twilight. Don't believe it? You will!

[rbgarr]

This book covers part of your route: http://www.landfallnavigation.com/ben002.html