eastern erie canal

[dlochner]

once I hit staten island which way is the normal was to go around it? I know it would be busy on the protected side, is it safe to go the open water route? I know weather will be a deciding factor also.

Just go through the harbor and under the V-Z bridge. There may be lots of traffic, but the route is shorter and there is plenty of room.

Be certain to monitor Ch 16 and 13. Channel 13 is the channel the big ships talk to each other on. Listening will give you an idea about what they are doing. If there is any question, call them and ask. On the Hudson, you will see barges and small freighters. The channel is narrow in spots, give them plenty of room and when they call you, answer and state your intentions. The hail will be something like: "Southbound vessel, Southbound vessel...."

If you let them sneak up on you, you will find that their horns are very loud!

 

[gettinthere]

I have always been amazed at how easy it is to run NY harbor. Other than the big orange Staten Isl ferries, everybody is very professional and willing to work with you. AIS, even just receive, is a big help.

 

[jssailem]

GE... I have become a big believer in AIS. While not everyone has one or always has it on, the big ships that do are nice to know about before you have to make drastic changes in your route. The value in fog when the big boys go slower but never slow down has made me a believer. On a recent sail in the Puget Sound I had the opportunity to chat with a Ferry Boat Captain. We had crossed paths about 45 days earlier. Both running in fog with visibility at 1/4 mile. We talked and observed each other on AIS but we passed never conflicting or seeing each other.

So when I had a chance to see him crossing the Sound, I gave him a shout on the VHF and shared my thank you's for our previous blind pass and how nice it was to see his boat in the bright sunlight.
Yes it is a big help.

 

[gettinthere]

Knowing CPA (closest point of approach) is awesome. Hard to judge how close you will get when 2 miles off.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

I can't say that I have ever heard anybody talk about using the Arthur Kill on the west side of Staten Island to get to Raritan Bay by sailboat. What is your destination? Perth Amboy Yacht Club, Keyport, or perhaps Lockwood Marina? I would guess that heavy commercial traffic, close confinement and currents might be a deterrent. If you are aiming for some place like Atlantic Highlands or the Navesink/Shrewsbury, the Arthur Kill would be a long way out of the way. Redhead78 has done a yearly trip from the Hudson River to Perth Amboy so he would probably have some good info about the alternative route. I'm guessing that not many sailboats make that route, though.

 

[gettinthere]

And if you're running the NJ coast overnight, you might get a message about an AWESOME rocket launch at Wallops, Va!! Had bioluminescence later that night too!

 

[Captmayhem]

keyport in all likelyhood

 

[Scott T-Bird]

keyport in all likelyhood

Keyport has a nice little community for sailors, I think. But, I'd guess that the mooring field may be your only option. With 6' draft, I'd also guess that you would have to be pretty far out in the field, too.

 

[Captmayhem]

Keyport has a nice little community for sailors, I think. But, I'd guess that the mooring field may be your only option. With 6' draft, I'd also guess that you would have to be pretty far out in the field, too.

It will be keyport or RYC, slip is out the question for now, maybe in a couple years.
Unless you have other suggestions Scott?

 

[Scott T-Bird]

It was difficult for us to decide where to go once we left Lake Hopatcong. Anywhere we could choose involves a long drive and brutal summer traffic. As with any location, every option involves a compromise. An owner of a Beneteau 367 told me once that there are no options in New Jersey, the only relatively close option is Long Island Sound. He lives on the Hudson in Edgewater, so LIS is an option for him, I guess.
With draft greater than 6', I would guess that Raritan YC is more suitable than Keyport. If I'm not mistaken, that area of Raritan Bay is pretty shallow and I think that a mooring would have to be way out in the bay to the extent that it is a real hassle. The immediate area around RYC is pretty nice, but Sue just can't stand any urban locations, so it was definitely out of the question for us. Otherwise, I think I would choose Liberty Marina in Jersey City because it would be the closest and best option for me. She was sort of ok with Keyport and Atlantic Highlands, but still too urban and I didn't want to deal with a mooring. Keyport is about as convenient off the Parkway as any location. Barnegat Bay is too shallow for 6'6" draft. There is no place for you to go between Raritan Bay and Barnegat Bay, I think. So Raritan Bay or New York Harbor seems to be your area, unless you want to go all the way down to Atlantic City or further. If you are in Pennsylvania, might the Chesapeake be an option?

We even considered Haverstraw on the Hudson, but traffic obstacles are difficult there, too, I think. I've heard from people who really like Great Kills Harbor on Staten Island but it would be tough to deal with the tolls, I think.

 

[DayDreamer41]

"The best course of action is keep your distance from any commercial vessels and don't go wandering around sightseeing."

Isn't this truly a shame! To live with this realization that moving about in this country can open oneself to such suspicion, sign of the times I guess.

 

[dlochner]

"The best course of action is keep your distance from any commercial vessels and don't go wandering around sightseeing."

Isn't this truly a shame! To live with this realization that moving about in this country can open oneself to such suspicion, sign of the times I guess.

There are a couple of reasons for making this recommendation. The first is for your own safety. There are slow and fast ferries that are on a schedule and have a route, once you are in the harbor it becomes pretty clear where they are going. Then there are the really large ships and numerous barges and tows that are plying the harbor. The commercial boats aren't that maneuverable and often have restricted sight lines, it is easy to stray into their path. You are safest when the commercial vessels understand your course and your intentions.

The other reason is that NY City is a high value terrorist target. Packing a boat with a bunch of explosives and denoting it along side a fuel barge, ferry, or cruise ship is not an unheard of terrorist act. Remember the Cole? A boat loaded with explosives pulled up alongside a US Navy vessel and blew a big hole in the boat. Imagine that happening in NYC to a passenger vessel. Wandering aimlessly or taking an unpredictable course, raises some suspicion, either you might be up to no good, or simply out of your league when dealing with commercial traffic. For either reason, you'll draw unwanted attention.

 

[DayDreamer41]

Oh I understand completely the reasoning behind your statement in reference to terror attacks, but when one can not enjoy the scenery due to the cautions caused by the possibility of an attack then that is a crying shame!

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Oh I understand completely the reasoning behind your statement in reference to terror attacks, but when one can not enjoy the scenery due to the cautions causes by the possibility of an attack then that is a crying shame!

Well it's not exactly like that ... when going downstream from the Tappen Zee, the river narrows between the Palisades. There is no need to wander near the shoreline to enjoy the scenery, it is already right on top of you. You have to be more watchful of the depths around the edges at low tide, as there is a pretty good tidal swing. Once below the G.W bridge, the ferry service is very heavy, so it doesn't help to be erratic when moving down river. By the time you are below the Battery and above the Verrazano Bridge, there are sight-seers galore going in all different directions. It will not be abnormal at all to be sight seeing. Just be mindful of the traffic. Take a turn up the East River to see the bridges and take as much time as you like around the Statue of Liberty and enjoy! From Alpine down to the Battery, there are marinas on the Hudson filled with pleasure boats. They are not being hassled on a routine basis.

 

[NotCook]

Richardson's chartbook for the Hudson River and adjacent waterways.....

PM me. I have both the NY Canal system chart and the Hudson, and maybe some other helpful documents.

I second what others have said about not rushing through the canal. I recommend at least an overnight stay in Lockport, among others. There are so many really cool and quaint towns along the way. It would be a real shame to race through and not experience what the canal and communities have to offer. Same for your trip down the Hudson.

We drew about 7’4” when we went through (and a little less when we got to salt water!). There is one spot on the canal I’ll look up and send you that was a minor issue for us due to shoaling. You should be fine on the canal with your draft. Also sign up for the NY Canal System Email Alerts. Can be very useful. The lock operators are very friendly and helpful.