Hi all, it"s me again, I just bought a Cal 34, it"s presently at a Milwaukee marina, I was debating if I was going to have it hauled, or I was also thinking of geating a trailor built and going up myself, the reason I"m writing this post if regarding my third option, sailing her throught the Great Lacs and down the S-Lawrence to Bathurst NB Canada (aprox 2500 KM"s). Can anybody give me there opinion, ideas, advise,ETC...on this trip. Am I crazy to even consider this or is it doable by a guy that has one season only under his belt... how about if I have someone with experience with me. Thanks
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Chuck, The distance involved is about the same
as from Florida To NS. and then you will have two seasons under your belt and in your log. I say, If you have the time and crew sail it. You should be able to do it in daylight in less than two months.
as from Florida To NS. and then you will have two seasons under your belt and in your log. I say, If you have the time and crew sail it. You should be able to do it in daylight in less than two months.
Shipping or sailing: depends on your time frame
First of all congrats to you on your acquisition. Having sailed my 34 alone for the last 7 seasons, your trip is doable, but will require some good planning and preparation. Also depends on how well equipped the boat is. The 2 months quoted by Ross is not too far-fetched but it can also stretch to a longer time-span as the lower St-Lawrence is often plagued with fog. The powerful current will help you, but from From Trois-Rivières, QC, on down, you will also have to contend with tides up to 18/20 feet, which means that you may have to sail partially through the night. Entrance to some marinas has to be timed with the tides as they dry out at low tide. Regulations say you'll need 3 on board to transit the Welland Canal from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario and 2 for the locks of the St-Lawrence Seaway from Lake Ontario to Montreal. Besides time, and your ackowledgement of only one season of experience, the major issue is the boat itself since this will really be your first experience with this boat. A trip of that magnitude with a boat you do not know inside out from stem to stern might be taxing. On the other hand, what a wonderful way of discovering the boat itself and the magnificent scenery you would be going through. Last but not least, figure on a cost of approximately $85 per day while traveling. That was my average last summer on a 85 days, 2,500 miles trip down the Gulf of St-Lawrence and back to Montreal. This includes everything from marinas to fuel,to food and the various libations that bring comfort. Your own cost may differ since you will travel for quite some time in the USA. But you will not be able to save money by anchoring very often from Trois-Rivières on down. The St-Lawrence does not offer too many protected shelters unless one is really familiar with an area. Which means marinas where costs range from $1.10 to $1.60 a foot (CDN). Shipping it would probably cost you around $3,500 to $4,000 and you would get the boat to discover in your own Baie des Chaleurs waters in less than a week. Having a trailer built just for this trip is not worth it. The boat is oversized for road transportation. You'll need permits from every state and every province you go through. Plus you'll need a rig to tow it and you will be able to travel during daytime only. If you decide to sail her down, I can help you with tips, notes and info from Toronto, ON to Chandler, QC as I have done it all several times. I normally would be happy to offer help as crew, but this year, I need to spend the summer in the Montreal area as I am preparing to sail my boat South this coming fall. My wife does not sail. But while she doesn't mind my sailing away for long periods, she has let it be known that if I leave for the summer AND the winter, she would not be too happy. So for once my better judgment says I better stay close to home base this summer ! Good luck with your decisions and don't hesitate to get in touch.
First of all congrats to you on your acquisition. Having sailed my 34 alone for the last 7 seasons, your trip is doable, but will require some good planning and preparation. Also depends on how well equipped the boat is. The 2 months quoted by Ross is not too far-fetched but it can also stretch to a longer time-span as the lower St-Lawrence is often plagued with fog. The powerful current will help you, but from From Trois-Rivières, QC, on down, you will also have to contend with tides up to 18/20 feet, which means that you may have to sail partially through the night. Entrance to some marinas has to be timed with the tides as they dry out at low tide. Regulations say you'll need 3 on board to transit the Welland Canal from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario and 2 for the locks of the St-Lawrence Seaway from Lake Ontario to Montreal. Besides time, and your ackowledgement of only one season of experience, the major issue is the boat itself since this will really be your first experience with this boat. A trip of that magnitude with a boat you do not know inside out from stem to stern might be taxing. On the other hand, what a wonderful way of discovering the boat itself and the magnificent scenery you would be going through. Last but not least, figure on a cost of approximately $85 per day while traveling. That was my average last summer on a 85 days, 2,500 miles trip down the Gulf of St-Lawrence and back to Montreal. This includes everything from marinas to fuel,to food and the various libations that bring comfort. Your own cost may differ since you will travel for quite some time in the USA. But you will not be able to save money by anchoring very often from Trois-Rivières on down. The St-Lawrence does not offer too many protected shelters unless one is really familiar with an area. Which means marinas where costs range from $1.10 to $1.60 a foot (CDN). Shipping it would probably cost you around $3,500 to $4,000 and you would get the boat to discover in your own Baie des Chaleurs waters in less than a week. Having a trailer built just for this trip is not worth it. The boat is oversized for road transportation. You'll need permits from every state and every province you go through. Plus you'll need a rig to tow it and you will be able to travel during daytime only. If you decide to sail her down, I can help you with tips, notes and info from Toronto, ON to Chandler, QC as I have done it all several times. I normally would be happy to offer help as crew, but this year, I need to spend the summer in the Montreal area as I am preparing to sail my boat South this coming fall. My wife does not sail. But while she doesn't mind my sailing away for long periods, she has let it be known that if I leave for the summer AND the winter, she would not be too happy. So for once my better judgment says I better stay close to home base this summer ! Good luck with your decisions and don't hesitate to get in touch.
Down East Circle Route
Hello Chuck, I purchased a Catalina 310 in Pickering Ontario and did just what you are considering. I left in May and did it over the summer. I broke the voyage up over three monts because I work on a 28 day on and off schedule. I took the boat from Pickering to Rimouski. A good friend and colleague from Les Isle de la Madeleine took the boat from there to the Islands (I had to return to work). The boat was there when I got off and I went over and spent 19 days there on vacation (my family is from there). After that it was four days to Halifax in September. I was six days Pickering to Quebec City. I was two days to Rimouski. I was storm stayed in QC for three days and at least five days in Rimouski. It was early in the season though. You should find a copy of the Down East Circle Route. It is a sailing guide for people considering sailing from New York City to Lake Ontario and then down the St Lawrence to the East Coast. I found it very useful for planning, etc. I left early in the year and had some difficulty finding diesel East of Quebec City. The marina's are seasonal and have to have their installations inspected before commencing the sale of fuel. At Malbaie (a port about 72 miles East of QC) the installation was in but there was no fuel. At the mouth of the Saguenay, the fuel was there but the installation was not operative. An earlier post discussed tides. This will require quite a lot of planning and is covered in the book listed above. Beware of North East winds blowing against the tide. This will build terrific tide rips but they can be planned for. I was storm stayed in Quebec City for three days waiting for the wind to drop out of the NE. The quote to bring my boat from Pickering (just East of Toronto to Halifax was for CDN$6500. You might do it cheaper if the shipping company has a truck/boat going that way. I enjoyed the trip very much. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. If you decide to do this trip, I can also help with notes, etc. The Down East Circle Route is a very useful book for the Seaway (East of Kingston) portion of the trip. If there is a small airport near you in NB, I could fly up and meet you for a coffee and bring my notes, etc. (I am building time towards a pilots license and am always looking for new destinations and reasons to fly). I get home from Australia sometime after 15 April. Regards, Chris Connor
Hello Chuck, I purchased a Catalina 310 in Pickering Ontario and did just what you are considering. I left in May and did it over the summer. I broke the voyage up over three monts because I work on a 28 day on and off schedule. I took the boat from Pickering to Rimouski. A good friend and colleague from Les Isle de la Madeleine took the boat from there to the Islands (I had to return to work). The boat was there when I got off and I went over and spent 19 days there on vacation (my family is from there). After that it was four days to Halifax in September. I was six days Pickering to Quebec City. I was two days to Rimouski. I was storm stayed in QC for three days and at least five days in Rimouski. It was early in the season though. You should find a copy of the Down East Circle Route. It is a sailing guide for people considering sailing from New York City to Lake Ontario and then down the St Lawrence to the East Coast. I found it very useful for planning, etc. I left early in the year and had some difficulty finding diesel East of Quebec City. The marina's are seasonal and have to have their installations inspected before commencing the sale of fuel. At Malbaie (a port about 72 miles East of QC) the installation was in but there was no fuel. At the mouth of the Saguenay, the fuel was there but the installation was not operative. An earlier post discussed tides. This will require quite a lot of planning and is covered in the book listed above. Beware of North East winds blowing against the tide. This will build terrific tide rips but they can be planned for. I was storm stayed in Quebec City for three days waiting for the wind to drop out of the NE. The quote to bring my boat from Pickering (just East of Toronto to Halifax was for CDN$6500. You might do it cheaper if the shipping company has a truck/boat going that way. I enjoyed the trip very much. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. If you decide to do this trip, I can also help with notes, etc. The Down East Circle Route is a very useful book for the Seaway (East of Kingston) portion of the trip. If there is a small airport near you in NB, I could fly up and meet you for a coffee and bring my notes, etc. (I am building time towards a pilots license and am always looking for new destinations and reasons to fly). I get home from Australia sometime after 15 April. Regards, Chris Connor
down east circle route reply
Thanks for all the info Chris, If I decide to sail her down I will contact you again for sure, I would need all the info I can get my hands on. Chuck
Thanks for all the info Chris, If I decide to sail her down I will contact you again for sure, I would need all the info I can get my hands on. Chuck
staff check for crew
Hi all I am still debating if I will sail or truck my sailboat from Milwaukee to Bathurst NB Canada, just wondering if anybody in here would be interested to sail her with me from end May to sometime in July??? just checking if there is any intrest at this point. Chuck
Hi all I am still debating if I will sail or truck my sailboat from Milwaukee to Bathurst NB Canada, just wondering if anybody in here would be interested to sail her with me from end May to sometime in July??? just checking if there is any intrest at this point. Chuck
Scheduling
Hello Chuck: As much as I would love to make that trip again, I work 28 days on an oil rig in SE Asia and then return to Halifax on my field breaks. With travel that only gives me about 23 days at home. If you were stuck for crew in one of the lock systems I might be able to assist for a short period depending on scheduling. If you decide to make the trip, I can provide some background information from Lake Ontario down. Let me know Chris Connor
Hello Chuck: As much as I would love to make that trip again, I work 28 days on an oil rig in SE Asia and then return to Halifax on my field breaks. With travel that only gives me about 23 days at home. If you were stuck for crew in one of the lock systems I might be able to assist for a short period depending on scheduling. If you decide to make the trip, I can provide some background information from Lake Ontario down. Let me know Chris Connor
I might be interested
Chuck - Let me know when you have your schedule planned. I might be available for a week or 2. In any case give me a shout if you get to Buffalo and need any help. CDickhut2@aol.com Capt. Chuck S/V Obsession Catalina 320
Chuck - Let me know when you have your schedule planned. I might be available for a week or 2. In any case give me a shout if you get to Buffalo and need any help. CDickhut2@aol.com Capt. Chuck S/V Obsession Catalina 320
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