Moving Emmamanuel to Maryland

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PrincessoftheLake

PrincessoftheLake

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Jun 9, 2004
963
Hunter 40.5 Bayfield, WI
I am thinking about taking Emmanuel, my 1995 Hunter 40.5 from Lake Superior (Bayfield WI) through the Great Lakes and down to Annapolis next summer. There is a lot that has to fall into place for me to pull this off if I do decide to relocate to that area.

I am wondering if there is anyone out there who has done a similar trip and if so, has any thoughts, comments or advice on such an undertaking.
 
KD3PC

KD3PC

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Sep 25, 2008
1,069
boatless rainbow Callao, VA
I believe you have to unstep and restep the mast to get through the locks and under the bridges...otherwise an awesome trip...
 
Scott T-Bird

Scott T-Bird

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Oct 26, 2008
6,432
Catalina 320 Barnegat, NJ
Awesome!

Take your time ... enjoy the sights! It sounds like a once-in-a-lifetime experience not to be missed once it's in you mind to do it. What are your thoughts? Will time be limited or can you extend the trip to savor the experience?
 
Bob J.

Bob J.

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Apr 14, 2009
775
Sabre 28 NH
Not sure if this is still relevent but a couple of months ago I had heard the NY canal system got hammered by Irene & portions of it was closed.
 
FourPoints

FourPoints

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Apr 8, 2010
1,606
Frers 33 41426 Westport, CT
Should be a great trip! If you need a hand with any of the trip in the LIS / NY / CT / NJ region let me know.
 
Scott T-Bird

Scott T-Bird

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Oct 26, 2008
6,432
Catalina 320 Barnegat, NJ
Options?

If there is damage to the Erie Canal route, you may have to consider taking her up further into Canada to reach the canal system to Lake Champlain. Southern Vermont had major damage from the storms last fall, so it wouldn't surprise me if they have a problem, too.

I would guess that you wouldn't have to take the mast down if you went from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario to the St. Lawrence to avoid the Erie Canal. But you have to take it down to get to Lake Champlain. You'd have to leave the mast down in Lake Champlain unless you put it up after the locks between the St. Lawrence and Lake Champlain and then take it down again for the locks over to the Hudson and down the Hudson far enough until you can get under all bridges.

I think it would be an epic trip if you went all the way up the St. Lawrence and around Nova Scotia! With the time, I would love that trip! I would guess it would take an early start on Lake Superior .... brrrrr!
 
Ed Schenck

Ed Schenck

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Jun 2, 2004
5,802
Hunter 37-cutter, '79 41 23' 30"N 82 33' 20"W--------Huron, OH
The Erie Canal will be fine come spring/summer 2012. Canal requires manual labor, especially when taking the mast down and restepping. When the time comes we can provide details. I did the canal with another strong male. Then the Hudson, Atlantic, Delaware Bay, with a newbie(who became my wife). Thirty-six locks is a fair amount of work but definitely worth the trouble. Or there is a canal to Lake Ontario where you leave the mast up. Then another north-south canal into the Erie which reduces the number of locks. We really enjoyed the passage and the free stops in the small towns along the way. Anchored behind the Statue of Liberty one night, awesome!

Pics: entrance to canal, turn right; waiting for Wardell to unstep, he decided to close early Friday and made us wait until Monday morning, fortunately there was a free U2 concert Saturday night; Wardell's crane where it happens. Added Lock 35, the first lock. And where my prop fell off leaving 35 which goes directly into 34. Long story.
 

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Bill Roosa

Bill Roosa

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Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
Will you be moving to the area?
The reason I ask is there are lots of boats here that have owners in land locked (sic) states that become "abandoned vessels". I speak from experience when I say that it is a challenge when you are only a few hours from your boat. It is almost imposable when you are a full day away by plane. This almost killed my sailing habit and I’d not want to see that happen to you.
Not that we would not love to have you here but consider wither you will get more “fun” out of your boat if she is local or if she is a plane trip and taxi ride away, and the mandatory cleaning up after being unattended for 6 months. also consider what happens during the winter and how do you do de-commisioning/re-commisioning.
I’ve just seen it too many times to not post a warning.
 
DannyS

DannyS

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May 27, 2004
933
Beneteau 393 Bayfield, Wi
Princess, have you re-named your boat? Is the new name Emmamanuel some gesture to an all female skipper/ownership position you have and a nod to the body parts women carry that men do not? Either way, Lake Superior will miss you if you relocate.
 
cb32863

cb32863

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Jun 29, 2010
1,287
Beneteau First 235 Lake Minnetonka, MN
Sounds like an awesome trip. I had thought I read somehwere if you went the route of the St. Lawrence that you didn't have to drop the mast, sounds like others know better. I have thought of this trip some nights when I can't sleep. lol Anyway, sounds like quite the adventure. If you need crew on the Lake Superior leg, I could make myself available..... Though, I am pretty sure you won't have a hard time finding crew for this.
 
kloudie1

kloudie1

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Nov 6, 2006
10,219
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
Wow, what a trip that would be !! 6 weeks or so, I'd guess.. but what a way to spend a spring !
 
Ed Schenck

Ed Schenck

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Jun 2, 2004
5,802
Hunter 37-cutter, '79 41 23' 30"N 82 33' 20"W--------Huron, OH
It's true that if you go out the St. Lawrence then the mast stays up. But that is a very long cruise into some very big seas. If you have the time and are up for some serious offshore sailing it does save the work of unstepping, making mast cradles, and crabbing up and down the lock walls. I'd guess the number of boats going the Erie Canal is better than 95%.
 
25yearslater

25yearslater

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Aug 20, 2010
1,399
Oday 27 Oak Orchard
Hey POTL I've made the trip from St. Joe Michigan to Rochester, NY more than once. I have also transited the Erie Canal several times. From where you are transit the Welland Canal into Lake Ontario and don't enter the Erie until Oswego. There are plenty of Marinas there that can unstep your rig. The Erie canal system is fine as Irene was a localized event that has since been forgotten. The Welland Canal from Lake Erie to Ontario handles the largest ships 900+ feet which should preclude any height considerations for a small sailboat. Let me know if I can be of further assistance.
 
PrincessoftheLake

PrincessoftheLake

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Jun 9, 2004
963
Hunter 40.5 Bayfield, WI
Wow, you guys are all so fabulous. I'll try to answer the questions here.

Yes, I am seriously considering relocating to the east coast (Annapolis/DC area) but cannot see myself going with out Emmanuel. As I may have mentioned my husband and I have split and I find myself needing a change of scene and a place in which to write this next chapter of my life-whatever it turns out to be. I have had occasion to visit Maryland three times in the last few months. I have been to Annapolis, Bowie, Crisfield, Ocean City, Pocomoke City, Galesville and Eastport and even got to sail on the Bay through Tangier Sound and Kedge Straits. There is so much about it that I have come to love (except for crab cakes and Pocomoke City) in just a few visits that it feels like it is where I belong. My plan (such as it is) is that my friend Cindy (who has made this trip once already) and I would leave Bayfield somewhere around June (assuming I find a slip for Emmanuel, a job and a place to stay although I may end being a live aboard for a while) and hope to be in Annapolis by late July or so-depending on the weather. I will be looking for crew of course so if you want to be on the crew list let me know! Cindy and I have not decided what criteria we would use in selecting crew but consider the following:
Shirt or No Shirt?
Can he stand a watch?
Can he read a chart?
Does he know his way around the galley?
Can he give a good foot massage (that is not my idea that is Cindy)
Can he hand crank a 50hp Yanmar?


And to Danny, no I haven't changed her name. I named her after the 1970's porn star "Emmanuel". Don't you remember her? Although now that I find myself looking at being the sole proprietor of her it seems even more fitting. How funny is that?

Anyway, keep all the great advice and comments coming. I am going to need all the help I can get.
 
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Ed Schenck

Ed Schenck

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Jun 2, 2004
5,802
Hunter 37-cutter, '79 41 23' 30"N 82 33' 20"W--------Huron, OH
I'm married and canNOT handcrank a Yanmar. Good for all the rest though. :)
 
Scott B

Scott B

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Sep 20, 2006
2,953
Hunter 33 Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada
Other option would be to go across to the south end of Georgian Bay, drop the mast in Midland / Penetanguishene and go down the Trent-Severn waterway to Lake Ontario. Then cut across the end of Ontario to Oswego.

Google The Great Loop and Loopers. Tons of info.

We always get a group of Loopers in our marina each season as they pass through.

I can give you a couple of marinas that could drop your mast in our area.
 
PrincessoftheLake

PrincessoftheLake

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Jun 9, 2004
963
Hunter 40.5 Bayfield, WI
Scott B said:
Other option would be to go across to the south end of Georgian Bay, drop the mast in Midland / Penetanguishene and go down the Trent-Severn waterway to Lake Ontario. Then cut across the end of Ontario to Oswego.

Google The Great Loop and Loopers. Tons of info.

We always get a group of Loopers in our marina each season as they pass through.

I can give you a couple of marinas that could drop your mast in our area.
Click to expand

Scott-I have heard the Trent-Severn Waterway is a good route. I would love to have the names of the marinas. Thanks!
 
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