Thanks for posting this. I did 2 circumnavigations from 1984-1998. I went up the East Coast of the US with the intent of taking the boat (Passport 45 Ketch) through the canals and on to Chicago in 1996. A family emergency and a hurricane interrupted our plans and I've always regretted missing the canals........... thanks for the memories.
Just found your channel because I wanted to know how to sail from New York to Lake Ontario. I live in South Carolina but grew up just outside of Syracuse. I have fond memories of Upstate New York summers and like to experience them by sailing up stopping at many of the towns and having fun at Sylvan Beach. Would like to see sailing videos of people sailing and enjoying summer time in Lake Ontario.
Just did this in 2020 early September. From Lake Champlain to Lake Ontario. Beautiful, rewarding, educational - a real adventure. Definitely bring gloves for the whole crew, ropes are real slimy. We found the pipes and cables not very easy to use and preferred the ropes. The ropes are easier to grab and by pulling on the rope you can make adjustments to the position of your boat to the lock wall. I finished half the route alone as my crew had to leave for home. I didn't find it difficult, just sat mid ship and pulled on the rope to adjust the boat. At 5 knots I was able to do about 30-50 miles a day and we did the entire route in 7 days. I found a suggestion to use the round ball type buoys as renders to be a good one. They performed better than the sausages. Be prepared to swap sides, lock keepers may ask you to lock on a particular wall. Don't bother tying up while you wait for a lock, some locks the water can be quite rough near the gates - just idle in the designated area. Finally, keep your eyes peeled for navigation markers and strictly obey them or you WILL run aground. I found it helpful to have a chart of the canal at the helm as the markers can be difficult to see at times. Other than that, enjoy - have a good time and relax.
Hi Lucas, So glad you enjoyed our video and that you had such a successful trip through the canal. We're very impressed that you were able to single-hand! Thanks for sharing your experiences and advice. Best wishes, Sheryl and Paul
Great share! Might you know the clearance height of the lowest fixed bridge on the Erie Canal (Lake Erie to the Hudson) and (Lake Ontario to the Hudson)? Many Thanks!
I love this video. I have watched it 20 times probably. I watched it for the first time on TV (wealth tv). I have a question though: who built the support system to hold the mast on your boat while you motored the canal? How do you know what height to make it, and we're there any issues with the support system while traveling?
Thanks Pau 😊 I built the mast support after roughing it out on the computer ... check out our blogs on the process including the design for the support www.distantshores.ca/boatblog_files/category-french-canals.php
I've been wondering how you go about getting your mast stepped. Is it usually easy to find a yard to do the work? Have you had any complication where a yard did something wrong and you didn't discover the faulty work until after you'd moved on? Thanks for the videos!
Glad you find the videos useful Paul. Most yards can raise/lower normal size masts. But at the entrance to canals the yards usually have extra experience. I always allow the yard to do the crane and help with the work, but I am always involved too. At the end of the day its your boat and you probably know her best. If you don't know much about mast stepping or rigging, then you can ask to help out and learn from riggers. Perhaps hire a rigger to go over the rig with you after its stepped and take lots of notes :-)
We checked in with customs using their video phone and never got a stamp. Last time we entered the USA 4 weeks ago (sailed up from Bahamas offshore to Beaufort) we actually used an app called CBP to check in 🇺🇸👍❤️
Hi Alfred. The cost depends on the size of your boat and the amount of time you spend in the canal system. We spent 7 days so bought a 10-day pass. This year that would cost us $50. You can buy 2-day, 10-day or seasonal permits. Here is the link for information on the cost of tolls and permits as well as a downloadable application. Hope this helps. www.canals.ny.gov/boating/tolls.html
I was meant to go sailing to day but I think it`s a bit windy gusting to 56 knots in Melbourne Australia www.bom.gov.au/products/IDV60701/IDV60701.95872.shtml
Thanks for posting this. I did 2 circumnavigations from 1984-1998. I went up the East Coast of the US with the intent of taking the boat (Passport 45 Ketch) through the canals and on to Chicago in 1996. A family emergency and a hurricane interrupted our plans and I've always regretted missing the canals........... thanks for the memories.
You still have one of the best sailing shows! Keep up the good work!!
Thanks Jennifer! Glad you enjoy the series :-)
Well done and detailed video about the Erie Canal and where to raise your mast. Too bad you didn't leave from Buffalo.
What can I say, that was just great .
Just found your channel because I wanted to know how to sail from New York to Lake Ontario. I live in South Carolina but grew up just outside of Syracuse. I have fond memories of Upstate New York summers and like to experience them by sailing up stopping at many of the towns and having fun at Sylvan Beach. Would like to see sailing videos of people sailing and enjoying summer time in Lake Ontario.
This answered all my questions about boating through thanks
This was informative and entertaining. Thank you.
This is one my favorite videos on Distant Shores. 😀
Thanks Pau Hana! Good luck with your cruising plans... see you out there!!
It was a great video!
Thanks, Darren. So glad you enjoyed it.
Just did this in 2020 early September. From Lake Champlain to Lake Ontario. Beautiful, rewarding, educational - a real adventure. Definitely bring gloves for the whole crew, ropes are real slimy. We found the pipes and cables not very easy to use and preferred the ropes. The ropes are easier to grab and by pulling on the rope you can make adjustments to the position of your boat to the lock wall. I finished half the route alone as my crew had to leave for home. I didn't find it difficult, just sat mid ship and pulled on the rope to adjust the boat. At 5 knots I was able to do about 30-50 miles a day and we did the entire route in 7 days. I found a suggestion to use the round ball type buoys as renders to be a good one. They performed better than the sausages. Be prepared to swap sides, lock keepers may ask you to lock on a particular wall. Don't bother tying up while you wait for a lock, some locks the water can be quite rough near the gates - just idle in the designated area. Finally, keep your eyes peeled for navigation markers and strictly obey them or you WILL run aground. I found it helpful to have a chart of the canal at the helm as the markers can be difficult to see at times. Other than that, enjoy - have a good time and relax.
Hi Lucas, So glad you enjoyed our video and that you had such a successful trip through the canal. We're very impressed that you were able to single-hand! Thanks for sharing your experiences and advice. Best wishes, Sheryl and Paul
As usual, very enjoyable, thanks guys
😊 you're welcome Anthony!
I wondered what it was like transiting through the locks, I bet it’s gorgeous to go through there during the fall
Very informative , thanks.
Wonderful video Distant Shores! I always look forward to watching the videos. Thanks, Darren.
Very neat to see the canals. Cheers from PEI Canada, Bryan
Cheers to you Bryan :-)
I like it alot... Great video
That was a great vid ya'll.
Awesome video. Very informative. Really enjoyed it!
Excelentes videos gracias por compartir saludos desde Colombia
.
And "Bon Navigation" from France !
would be nice if you could fill us in or charges as you travel thru the locks and theremoval and instulation of the mast.
$50 for our 2 weeks for the canal pass :-)
Great share! Might you know the clearance height of the lowest fixed bridge on the Erie Canal (Lake Erie to the Hudson) and (Lake Ontario to the Hudson)? Many Thanks!
hope to be able to do this one day!!
Just do it
easier said than done. but it will happen one day
Wondering if you could have managed the canal if you had been sailing solo ?
so cool
I love this video. I have watched it 20 times probably. I watched it for the first time on TV (wealth tv). I have a question though: who built the support system to hold the mast on your boat while you motored the canal? How do you know what height to make it, and we're there any issues with the support system while traveling?
Thanks Pau 😊 I built the mast support after roughing it out on the computer ... check out our blogs on the process including the design for the support
www.distantshores.ca/boatblog_files/category-french-canals.php
Mention Bruce Springsteen s great song..navigator on the Erie Canal... MORE DETAILS ON THIS TRIP. DID YOU VISIT ANY TOWNS??
I've been wondering how you go about getting your mast stepped. Is it usually easy to find a yard to do the work? Have you had any complication where a yard did something wrong and you didn't discover the faulty work until after you'd moved on?
Thanks for the videos!
Glad you find the videos useful Paul.
Most yards can raise/lower normal size masts. But at the entrance to canals the yards usually have extra experience. I always allow the yard to do the crane and help with the work, but I am always involved too. At the end of the day its your boat and you probably know her best. If you don't know much about mast stepping or rigging, then you can ask to help out and learn from riggers. Perhaps hire a rigger to go over the rig with you after its stepped and take lots of notes :-)
How long did it take to set up the mast at Catskills?
Mast up in an hour or so then the rest of the day and next morning to finish rigging and putting up sails etc :-)
Do you get your passport stamped as you cross the canal somewhere?
We checked in with customs using their video phone and never got a stamp. Last time we entered the USA 4 weeks ago (sailed up from Bahamas offshore to Beaufort) we actually used an app called CBP to check in 🇺🇸👍❤️
What's height limit?
Are there any charges to use the Erie Canal?
Not sure, but I would do ate some money to help maintain the locks.
Hi Alfred. The cost depends on the size of your boat and the amount of time you spend in the canal system. We spent 7 days so bought a 10-day pass. This year that would cost us $50. You can buy 2-day, 10-day or seasonal permits. Here is the link for information on the cost of tolls and permits as well as a downloadable application. Hope this helps.
www.canals.ny.gov/boating/tolls.html
Just printed it off, thank you very much!
you're welcome!
how much does the mast raising assistance cost?
got it sorry you said 2$/ft
what is the cost of dropping and raising the mast?
It was pretty reasonable - I recall about $2/foot of the mast ... it was cheaper at the DIY place...
thank you
I was meant to go sailing to day but I think it`s a bit windy gusting to 56 knots in Melbourne Australia www.bom.gov.au/products/IDV60701/IDV60701.95872.shtml
It's Oneida Lake, not Lake Oneida.
Have u ever been robbed..
HOW MUCH IS THIS BORDER PATROL COSTING ME ?
LOL! Nice! I did kind of wonder the same thing :-) perhaps its changed now?