NYC to Chicago on a sailboat (mast removed of course)
- Thread starter xavpil
- Start date
The route is pretty straight forward once you get to the Lake Erie.
To get to Lake Erie there are 2 options, Erie Canal to the Oswego Canal to Lake Ontario to the Welland Canal to Lake Erie, or
Erie Canal to Lake Erie.
Each has its advantages. I have done the whole length of the Erie Canal and the NYC to Lake Ontario once each way and a few other stretches along the Erie Canal.
To get to Lake Erie there are 2 options, Erie Canal to the Oswego Canal to Lake Ontario to the Welland Canal to Lake Erie, or
Erie Canal to Lake Erie.
Each has its advantages. I have done the whole length of the Erie Canal and the NYC to Lake Ontario once each way and a few other stretches along the Erie Canal.
I'd consider draft as the limiting factor. If water is too skinny in the canal for your boat, then St. Lawrence River ...
There is plenty of water if you stay in the channel. And going up stream on the St. Lawrence is a really poor idea in a sailboat. It will add over 2,000 miles to the trip with a 1,000+ miles against the current and the prevailing winds.
There are other routes… NY up the Hudson to the Champlain Canal, cross Lake Champlain to the Richelieu river, the Richelieu Canal to the St-Lawrence. Raise mast. Up the St-Lawrence to Lake Ontario… two choices here: a) lower mast take the Trent-Severn to the bottom of Georgian bay, raise mast, sail to the north channel go by Mackinac island & south to Chicago using either side of lakeMichigan. b) keep mast up, sail to St-Catherine, go up the Welland (7 locks) to Erie, st-Clair, Huron & Michigan.
Done those and the Erie Canal… I prefer doing the lakes to the canals: the mast is up and you can sail… it’s longer but if getting there is the principal objective… have the boat shipped & take a plane.
I’ve also done from Martha’s Vineyard to Halifax, crossed at Canso, sailed to the Magdalen islands Gaspé and up the St-Lawrence… but that’s really longer and against prevailing winds & currents. If you are going from Milwaukee to NYC I’d do the St-Lawrence, turn right at Gaspé, Canso, stop at Halifax, from there to NYC. ( strait or coastal New England).
Done those and the Erie Canal… I prefer doing the lakes to the canals: the mast is up and you can sail… it’s longer but if getting there is the principal objective… have the boat shipped & take a plane.
I’ve also done from Martha’s Vineyard to Halifax, crossed at Canso, sailed to the Magdalen islands Gaspé and up the St-Lawrence… but that’s really longer and against prevailing winds & currents. If you are going from Milwaukee to NYC I’d do the St-Lawrence, turn right at Gaspé, Canso, stop at Halifax, from there to NYC. ( strait or coastal New England).
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Time constraints are the biggest issue. The fastest route is to take the Erie Canal from the Hudson River to Lake Erie. That will take about 8-10 days of motoring and is mostly not weather dependent. The Erie Canal-Oswego Canal-Lake Ontario route will can take much longer due to weather and transiting the Welland Canal, however there is more sailing, maybe, depending on the weather.
Sign up for the Notice to Mariners from the Canal Authority and read the website, lots of good information, see link below.
Let me know when you are going down the canal as it passes within a few miles of where I live. I may be able to stop by and say hello.
Sign up for the Notice to Mariners from the Canal Authority and read the website, lots of good information, see link below.
Let me know when you are going down the canal as it passes within a few miles of where I live. I may be able to stop by and say hello.
Sorry, can't answer that question. I've never been west of Buffalo, on a boat that is. It is still a long way from Buffalo to Chicago.
yes. not much interaction there where you can get answers to specific questions. mostly generic info
thx for the input!
I am actually going from NYC to Milwaukee, if direction matters.
I am afraid going all the way up to st Lawrence would be too long.
And I can't afford to truck a 42' boat
Part of the canal is on the Mohawk River the rest is a mix of rivers, lakes, and dug canals.
The controlling depth is 10 or more feet, however, the depth will also vary due to rainfall and dredging operations.There are known places where shoaling occurs and staying in the middle of the channel is advised. In the link I posted earlier, those places are identified with links to the soundings.
Given your other question today, you have to get to NYC first, right?I am actually going from NYC to Milwaukee, if direction matters.
Motoring during daylight, figure 50 nm a day.