I plan to depart early July from 301 bridge, Va to plattsburgh, NY on Lake Champlain. I plan to take Chesapeake bay, canal to Delaware Bay, around New Jersey and up the Hudson River. I have a 25'Oday with a 9.9 Honda outboard. I'm not sure how long it will take - 2 week, 2 months, 2 years, probably not 2 weeks or 2 years but just not sure. I know it depends on a lot of factors i.e. wx, sightseeing, possible breakdowns but generaly don't know how long. Is their anyone that has taken trip and has info on time and route info? I'd welcome and info - thx
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That sounds like a fun and challenging trip.
I would set aside a month or at least 3 weeks minimum to account for weather related layovers. The C&D canal has to be timed with the tides and you will want to use the upriver tides in the Hudson for travelling (7 hours down, 5 hours up river all the way to Albany, NY). The down river current in the Hudson can be up to 2 knots. The leg from Cape May, NJ to NY Harbor takes you out in the ocean for about 120 miles which can be done in about a full days (and nights) sail given a good weather window. There are places to duck in along the Jersey shore but can be quite rough if the tide is ebbing at those inlets. Check out the linked website which offers some descriptions of the C&D canal and other cruising destinations.
I would set aside a month or at least 3 weeks minimum to account for weather related layovers. The C&D canal has to be timed with the tides and you will want to use the upriver tides in the Hudson for travelling (7 hours down, 5 hours up river all the way to Albany, NY). The down river current in the Hudson can be up to 2 knots. The leg from Cape May, NJ to NY Harbor takes you out in the ocean for about 120 miles which can be done in about a full days (and nights) sail given a good weather window. There are places to duck in along the Jersey shore but can be quite rough if the tide is ebbing at those inlets. Check out the linked website which offers some descriptions of the C&D canal and other cruising destinations.
We did some study on this a while ago
These are some of the numbers I remember. From Washinton DC to Rock Hall one week. From Rock Hall to Cape May one week. From Cape May to Manhatten allow one week . It is about 150 miles from Manhatten to Troy where you have to drop the mast for the Champlain canal. That's where I stopped counting.
These are some of the numbers I remember. From Washinton DC to Rock Hall one week. From Rock Hall to Cape May one week. From Cape May to Manhatten allow one week . It is about 150 miles from Manhatten to Troy where you have to drop the mast for the Champlain canal. That's where I stopped counting.
Larry, plan on
50 to 60 mile days depending on how fast you motor. Use Google Earth to layout your range. Sit back and enjoy the trip, sightsee as much as you can. From Cobb Island, it took us 4 days to Cape May. Jim S/V Java
50 to 60 mile days depending on how fast you motor. Use Google Earth to layout your range. Sit back and enjoy the trip, sightsee as much as you can. From Cobb Island, it took us 4 days to Cape May. Jim S/V Java
Don't go !
If you can't figure a general idea of any better than 2 weeks to 2 years, you shouldn't be going.
If you can't figure a general idea of any better than 2 weeks to 2 years, you shouldn't be going.
My last trip up the hudson
took me almost 8 days from Peekskill, NY (about 35 miles from NYC) to North Hero Marina which is about 2 hours north of Plattsburgh, NY. I was in my old Hunter 30 with a 12 horsepower single cylinder yanmar. It was may 15 and woke up to 5 inches of snow on the deck the second day (yuck). This was during the spring run off and at times I was barely making headway, especially near the Federal lock, north of Albany. It's a great trip. Did it one other time on a Tartan 41 and that trip took 5 days from Tom's River, NJ to Burlington, VT, but we motored around the clock a couple of nights. The Hudson is a busy river with fuel barges etc., etc., so be careful and if at night make sure all your lights are working. It is VERY senic and Lake Champlin is the nicest lake to sail on that I have ever sailed on. have fun and enjoy. George
took me almost 8 days from Peekskill, NY (about 35 miles from NYC) to North Hero Marina which is about 2 hours north of Plattsburgh, NY. I was in my old Hunter 30 with a 12 horsepower single cylinder yanmar. It was may 15 and woke up to 5 inches of snow on the deck the second day (yuck). This was during the spring run off and at times I was barely making headway, especially near the Federal lock, north of Albany. It's a great trip. Did it one other time on a Tartan 41 and that trip took 5 days from Tom's River, NJ to Burlington, VT, but we motored around the clock a couple of nights. The Hudson is a busy river with fuel barges etc., etc., so be careful and if at night make sure all your lights are working. It is VERY senic and Lake Champlin is the nicest lake to sail on that I have ever sailed on. have fun and enjoy. George
Potomac river, Va to Lake Champlain, NY
Larry, My wife and I brought our Hunter back from Willsborough Bay, on Lake Champlain, to Massena, NY via the Chambly canal system and all the planning we did was, "we need to leave on Sat. stay in Montreal for at least two days and get back to Massena by the next Sunday", we did all that and had a blast, over-planning can kill an otherwise great trip and if time is not important, then enjoying the trip seems to be job one. Let us know how it turned out. Fair and following winds Ron & Anne
Larry, My wife and I brought our Hunter back from Willsborough Bay, on Lake Champlain, to Massena, NY via the Chambly canal system and all the planning we did was, "we need to leave on Sat. stay in Montreal for at least two days and get back to Massena by the next Sunday", we did all that and had a blast, over-planning can kill an otherwise great trip and if time is not important, then enjoying the trip seems to be job one. Let us know how it turned out. Fair and following winds Ron & Anne
Go Go Go Go.....!!!!
Did the Washington DC to Middle river (north of Baltimore) in 4 days. The big factor here is weather. This can be a real show stopper. Some Golden Rules: protect your sails. If a squall comes up drop sail and motor through. You loose 30 minutes and keep your peace of mind. Don't go below 1/3 tank of gas. Have sufficient batteries for all equipment. Have spare fuses for all circuits. Eat well and often. Get sufficient sleep. Stay warm/cool and drink lots of water. Have sea sick pills and a first aid kit Make sure all your USCG safety equipment is up to date and serviceable Make sure your fire extinguisher is functional. Have all your documentation in one safe place. I have found that trips break up into finding a place to anchor each night that is doable from where I start in the morning and keeping provisioned. If you are going to spend 12+ hours each day making progress then you can almost ignore the tidal current but can't ignore river currents. So starting off with a set number of miles a day you think doable, break the trip into legs of one day each. Find the nearest anchorage to that point. Then note the spots where you would have to really push it to get to the next anchorage. The Delaware bay is a good example. Once you have the difficult part figured out go over the route working forward and backward from the difficult parts to get anchorages. You may have to go over it a third time to get a final solution and also have "stop short" alternatives for each leg. You should certianly have a clear understanding of those spots where if you encounter a problem it would be best to turn around. This makes it easy when at sea as the natural testosterone poisoning solution would be to try and stretch it and that usually results in a lot less fun being had by all aboard. Good luck.
Did the Washington DC to Middle river (north of Baltimore) in 4 days. The big factor here is weather. This can be a real show stopper. Some Golden Rules: protect your sails. If a squall comes up drop sail and motor through. You loose 30 minutes and keep your peace of mind. Don't go below 1/3 tank of gas. Have sufficient batteries for all equipment. Have spare fuses for all circuits. Eat well and often. Get sufficient sleep. Stay warm/cool and drink lots of water. Have sea sick pills and a first aid kit Make sure all your USCG safety equipment is up to date and serviceable Make sure your fire extinguisher is functional. Have all your documentation in one safe place. I have found that trips break up into finding a place to anchor each night that is doable from where I start in the morning and keeping provisioned. If you are going to spend 12+ hours each day making progress then you can almost ignore the tidal current but can't ignore river currents. So starting off with a set number of miles a day you think doable, break the trip into legs of one day each. Find the nearest anchorage to that point. Then note the spots where you would have to really push it to get to the next anchorage. The Delaware bay is a good example. Once you have the difficult part figured out go over the route working forward and backward from the difficult parts to get anchorages. You may have to go over it a third time to get a final solution and also have "stop short" alternatives for each leg. You should certianly have a clear understanding of those spots where if you encounter a problem it would be best to turn around. This makes it easy when at sea as the natural testosterone poisoning solution would be to try and stretch it and that usually results in a lot less fun being had by all aboard. Good luck.
a month
Been there. Did that. Must sees... The restaurant on the Weswt side of the Delaware canal. Awesome model boats inside. The Statue... If you live that close to NY City, pass on it. West Point. Waterford is a great FREE stop. The trains at night on the East side of the Hudson. The Wizard of Oz wicked witches castle across from West Point. Ride the tide going up. It's 150 miles to Waterford an d the tide goes almost to there. There is a place that allows you to use their crane to take the mast down yourself. It's cheap and easy. On your boat, it should be a snap. It's on the East side of the river a few miles before Waterford.
Been there. Did that. Must sees... The restaurant on the Weswt side of the Delaware canal. Awesome model boats inside. The Statue... If you live that close to NY City, pass on it. West Point. Waterford is a great FREE stop. The trains at night on the East side of the Hudson. The Wizard of Oz wicked witches castle across from West Point. Ride the tide going up. It's 150 miles to Waterford an d the tide goes almost to there. There is a place that allows you to use their crane to take the mast down yourself. It's cheap and easy. On your boat, it should be a snap. It's on the East side of the river a few miles before Waterford.
HUDSON/CHAMPLAIN
I live in Albany and sail out of Willsboro (35 miles south of Plattsburgh) so that part of your trip is my backyard. As others have recommended ride the tide. From Haverstraw to Kingston is 1 day, Kingston to Albany 1 day. Castleton Yacht Club just south of Albany is facility Letterman mentioned with free crane for stepping. At Troy you enter the canal system, that is where the tides end at the Federal Lock in Troy. Another day to the half way point in the canal system, Fort Edward. At Fort Edward you can use free docking at Town Dock, after Fort Edward you are out of the Hudson and into the ditch "Champlain Canal". Fort Edward to Whitehall is another day. Whitehall is the last lock before you are into the lake. Although you are in the lake at that point the southern end of the lake is actually a river, long and narrow and winding. About a 3/4 day run up to Crown Point where the lake suddenly widens out. From Crown Point to Plattsburg there are numerous anchorages on either side of the Lake. Depending on the wind you could make it to Plattsburg in 2 days from Crown Point.There are some very good crusing guides available out there for this trip. Probably one of the most senic and historical trips you will take. ENJOY. Contact me directly if you have any specific questions Robertscience@aol.com
I live in Albany and sail out of Willsboro (35 miles south of Plattsburgh) so that part of your trip is my backyard. As others have recommended ride the tide. From Haverstraw to Kingston is 1 day, Kingston to Albany 1 day. Castleton Yacht Club just south of Albany is facility Letterman mentioned with free crane for stepping. At Troy you enter the canal system, that is where the tides end at the Federal Lock in Troy. Another day to the half way point in the canal system, Fort Edward. At Fort Edward you can use free docking at Town Dock, after Fort Edward you are out of the Hudson and into the ditch "Champlain Canal". Fort Edward to Whitehall is another day. Whitehall is the last lock before you are into the lake. Although you are in the lake at that point the southern end of the lake is actually a river, long and narrow and winding. About a 3/4 day run up to Crown Point where the lake suddenly widens out. From Crown Point to Plattsburg there are numerous anchorages on either side of the Lake. Depending on the wind you could make it to Plattsburg in 2 days from Crown Point.There are some very good crusing guides available out there for this trip. Probably one of the most senic and historical trips you will take. ENJOY. Contact me directly if you have any specific questions Robertscience@aol.com
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