Has anyone sailed the St. Lawrence from Kingston to Montreal ? What can I expect sailing a 24 ft. sailboat?
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st. lawrence seaway
- Thread starter steve dautovic
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We are docked at Barhart Island marina, near the seaway's Eisenhower lock, we've sailed from Henderson Harbor on Lake Ontario to Kingston on the west end to Sorel just east of Montreal, now what can you expect, lot's of power boats at and near Alexandrea Bay, a sailling club and old boat museum in Clayton, hopefully for the seaway, lot's of shipping, up to 720 foot ships and 7 locks. We once came through Snell and Eisenhower locks with a 24 foot sailboat, we were in our 30 foot Hunter and going up river so it was all motoring, the 24 footer didn't seem to have trouble locking. Lastely, you will have to wait for the ships to lock through first as they have presidence. Good luck on your sail and check in at Barnhart if you have time and if we are not out we will be happy to show you around a bit.
Not to hijack but my granddaughter wants to go to Potsdam. How far is that from Messena, the Thousand Islands and Clayton? I've driven from Tupper Lake to Massena and I think I remember it was about an hour. But like New England you can't always go directly where you want i.e. "You can't get there from here"
The Thousand Islands!
We have sailed for over 40 years around the Islands near Alexandria Bay, and recently cruised from Kingston to Grenadier Island and back. First, these are protected waters. Your 24 footer is a great match for conditions.
Second, there is a current. Not much, but in the Canadian Channel north of Wellesley Island, you will need a good engine going upstream.
There are lots of opportunities to sail, especially on the prevailing south westerlies going to Montreal.
Pay careful attention to your charts. There are places where rock pinnacle rises up from over 100 feet to threaten your bottom. But your should explore the islands and bays en route, so watch the chart!
The main channel is beautiful, with fun sights like Boldt Castle, and the bridge, but be alert for the freighters who share it with you, and usually have no room to maneuver.
Gananoque has two fine summer theaters. Give one a try!
The islands and coastlines are mostly developed. Do catch the way the river was long ago by anchoring off the Canadian parks. We especially enjoyed anchoring north of Camelot Island, and going ashore for exploring walks. While there are fun known destinations, there are also many unknown anchorages waiting for the explorer!
Getting an I-69, or Nexus card allows you to report into the US on the phone. This will free you to explore and enjoy this beautiful stretch of river and islands. I strongly recommend this! Check with you local customs, or struggle with their web site to investigate these options.
I'll end here. Ask more questions if they come up. I love the islands, and know you will too!
We have sailed for over 40 years around the Islands near Alexandria Bay, and recently cruised from Kingston to Grenadier Island and back. First, these are protected waters. Your 24 footer is a great match for conditions.
Second, there is a current. Not much, but in the Canadian Channel north of Wellesley Island, you will need a good engine going upstream.
There are lots of opportunities to sail, especially on the prevailing south westerlies going to Montreal.
Pay careful attention to your charts. There are places where rock pinnacle rises up from over 100 feet to threaten your bottom. But your should explore the islands and bays en route, so watch the chart!
The main channel is beautiful, with fun sights like Boldt Castle, and the bridge, but be alert for the freighters who share it with you, and usually have no room to maneuver.
Gananoque has two fine summer theaters. Give one a try!
The islands and coastlines are mostly developed. Do catch the way the river was long ago by anchoring off the Canadian parks. We especially enjoyed anchoring north of Camelot Island, and going ashore for exploring walks. While there are fun known destinations, there are also many unknown anchorages waiting for the explorer!
Getting an I-69, or Nexus card allows you to report into the US on the phone. This will free you to explore and enjoy this beautiful stretch of river and islands. I strongly recommend this! Check with you local customs, or struggle with their web site to investigate these options.
I'll end here. Ask more questions if they come up. I love the islands, and know you will too!
The Upper St-Lawrence
Hello Steve,
The Jeanneau Tonic 23 is a great boat to do this very sedate cruise... will you be coming out of Oswego into Lake Ontario? A little weather watch will be nice before tackling Oswego to Main Duck & then Kingston, after this it is all protected waters.
My boat is moored at St-Anicet on the southern side of the seaway between Cornwall and Valleyfield. Look me up at 45°09'N074°20'W. There are tons of anchorages and dockage on the way down. The water is warm and clean for both fishing and swimming. I did this trip going up or down more than a dozen times on a 24 foot Mirage. The locks are not difficult but you must be at least two on board and obviously wear life vests.
If you are sailing (mostly motoring) back, double your travel times. The current is mostly below two knots except close to Cornwall and in the Thousand islands near the Bridge where it rages up to three to four knots depending on season and water flow. But if you are in a real hurry... take a car or a plane!!
Have a great trip!
Pierre
Hello Steve,
The Jeanneau Tonic 23 is a great boat to do this very sedate cruise... will you be coming out of Oswego into Lake Ontario? A little weather watch will be nice before tackling Oswego to Main Duck & then Kingston, after this it is all protected waters.
My boat is moored at St-Anicet on the southern side of the seaway between Cornwall and Valleyfield. Look me up at 45°09'N074°20'W. There are tons of anchorages and dockage on the way down. The water is warm and clean for both fishing and swimming. I did this trip going up or down more than a dozen times on a 24 foot Mirage. The locks are not difficult but you must be at least two on board and obviously wear life vests.
If you are sailing (mostly motoring) back, double your travel times. The current is mostly below two knots except close to Cornwall and in the Thousand islands near the Bridge where it rages up to three to four knots depending on season and water flow. But if you are in a real hurry... take a car or a plane!!
Have a great trip!
Pierre
Re: The Upper St-Lawrence
Greetings Pierre, Thanks for the info. My wife and I will be trailering our boat to the Bay of Quinte and meander our way hopefully to Montreal. Thanks Steve
Greetings Pierre, Thanks for the info. My wife and I will be trailering our boat to the Bay of Quinte and meander our way hopefully to Montreal. Thanks Steve
The Golden Triangle cruise
Hello Steve,
I don't know how much time you have or what sceneries and size towns you like to visit. Have you thought of doing the Golden Triangle cruise? Renowned as the most beautiful loop cruise in Canada!
That trip starts anywhere on the triangle and is done preferably on an anti clockwise manner... because of prevailing winds and currents. Starting from Quinty to Montreal's Lake St-Louis, up Lake of Two Mountains, the Ottawa River to Ottawa and then the Rideau-Cataraqui historic park canal back to Kingston!
The trip can be made in two weeks but it is preferable to do it in three or more. The leg from Ottawa to Kingston is done with the mast down because ot the numerous bridges.
I have chartkits for the Ottawa river and Rideau canal that I don't mind lending against a formal promise to mail back (others will benefit). For the St-Lawrence, the Richardsons of Lake Ontario will bring you to Cornwall and the Richardsons of the Hudson river covers from Cornwall to Sorel (can't lend those: they're on the boat and I use them all the time).
Sorry if I mix up the plans...
Pierre
Hello Steve,
I don't know how much time you have or what sceneries and size towns you like to visit. Have you thought of doing the Golden Triangle cruise? Renowned as the most beautiful loop cruise in Canada!
That trip starts anywhere on the triangle and is done preferably on an anti clockwise manner... because of prevailing winds and currents. Starting from Quinty to Montreal's Lake St-Louis, up Lake of Two Mountains, the Ottawa River to Ottawa and then the Rideau-Cataraqui historic park canal back to Kingston!
The trip can be made in two weeks but it is preferable to do it in three or more. The leg from Ottawa to Kingston is done with the mast down because ot the numerous bridges.
I have chartkits for the Ottawa river and Rideau canal that I don't mind lending against a formal promise to mail back (others will benefit). For the St-Lawrence, the Richardsons of Lake Ontario will bring you to Cornwall and the Richardsons of the Hudson river covers from Cornwall to Sorel (can't lend those: they're on the boat and I use them all the time).
Sorry if I mix up the plans...
Pierre
Reading this thread with great interest. I have some interest in moving my boat up to the area from Massachusetts for at least a few seasons--38-foot Finnsailer motorsailor. I'm mostly interested in what I call "gunkholing"--sailing where the winds may allow and then finding a quiet overnight anchorage, mostly in undeveloped or at least peaceful harbors, with occasional visits to the tourist towns to get an ice cream and go out to dinner! Is that sort of sailing/gunkholing to be found between say Sacketts Harbor and the first lock? Not exactly sure where I would keep the boat yet.
The simple and short answer is yes!
However this is a well-cruised area and you will have to be somewhat creative to find the small corners of paradise that aren't already full of boaters.
Sacketts Harbor is a prime example of this... though nice with interesting restaurants and real-estate it is very overcrowded IMO. However there are very nice anchorages within easy distance that fit your description.
Main Duck island, Prince Edward bay, Waupoos, Amherst island (day use), Cape Vincent dock etc... should fill your expectations. I would stay away from the Clayton to Alex Bay corridor because of the freighters, poker runs and sundry other noisemakers and partymakers!
You should consider goign past that first lock: the drop varies between six inches and a foot'n a half... power boaters use one of the sluice gates to avoid the lock! There are great gunkholes between Iroquois and Snell locks! Also there are a lot less boaters!
The next and foremost question is which way will you use to come to this region: up the Hudson to Waterford, then the barge and Osweego canals to Lake Ontario? Up the Hudson Waterford, the Champlain canal to the Richelieu and up the Richelieu to Sorel, up the St-Lawrence to Lake Ontario? North East from Mass. to Brooklyne NS, Halifax, Canso, the Maggies (Magdalen Islands), Percé, Gaspé, the Bic, up & down the Saguenay Fjord (have a look at the blue whales and all those belugas), Québec City, Montréal, Lake Ontario?? Talk about gunkholing beauty that is it... and believe me you will see others only if you look for them!
Rationally the St-Lawrence route is easier going down (NE) than coming up (SW). Because of wind & current which are mostly from the SW.
However this is a well-cruised area and you will have to be somewhat creative to find the small corners of paradise that aren't already full of boaters.
Sacketts Harbor is a prime example of this... though nice with interesting restaurants and real-estate it is very overcrowded IMO. However there are very nice anchorages within easy distance that fit your description.
Main Duck island, Prince Edward bay, Waupoos, Amherst island (day use), Cape Vincent dock etc... should fill your expectations. I would stay away from the Clayton to Alex Bay corridor because of the freighters, poker runs and sundry other noisemakers and partymakers!
You should consider goign past that first lock: the drop varies between six inches and a foot'n a half... power boaters use one of the sluice gates to avoid the lock! There are great gunkholes between Iroquois and Snell locks! Also there are a lot less boaters!
The next and foremost question is which way will you use to come to this region: up the Hudson to Waterford, then the barge and Osweego canals to Lake Ontario? Up the Hudson Waterford, the Champlain canal to the Richelieu and up the Richelieu to Sorel, up the St-Lawrence to Lake Ontario? North East from Mass. to Brooklyne NS, Halifax, Canso, the Maggies (Magdalen Islands), Percé, Gaspé, the Bic, up & down the Saguenay Fjord (have a look at the blue whales and all those belugas), Québec City, Montréal, Lake Ontario?? Talk about gunkholing beauty that is it... and believe me you will see others only if you look for them!
Rationally the St-Lawrence route is easier going down (NE) than coming up (SW). Because of wind & current which are mostly from the SW.
Attachments
At least to get there I would be going up the Hudson, then out to Oswego and up--I'm familiar with that part of the trip up to Albany, and I have done the stretch from Lake Champlain down to Albany too. Unfortunately, I have a ketch so it is a bit of a pain to take down two masts and put back up--why is always that they come down in just hours and then it takes days to get everything sorted out when putting them back up? Someday down the road I would plan on going back out the St. Lawrence via Quebec, etc.
The Gaspé detour
Well it's a 1200NM detour but you don't take the masts down! I used to use this route, in or out just for that reason and the scenery of course. I've done the Oswego and Champlain routes also. It's about ten days longer through Gaspé. I've found the Oswego route very depressing especially around Amsterdam and all the region from Waterford to lake Oneida.
It's your trip... every route has it's charms and setbacks.
Have a good trip
Pierre
Well it's a 1200NM detour but you don't take the masts down! I used to use this route, in or out just for that reason and the scenery of course. I've done the Oswego and Champlain routes also. It's about ten days longer through Gaspé. I've found the Oswego route very depressing especially around Amsterdam and all the region from Waterford to lake Oneida.
It's your trip... every route has it's charms and setbacks.
Have a good trip
Pierre
Not even sure I'll do it yet, but if I did I wouldn't have the time to take the long way around this summer. I've sailed up to Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Labrador so I know how beautiful it is up there--if you don't mind cold water!
Yes, they don't even sell ice east of Matane. You just put the food and drink on the hull below the waterline and all stay cool.
This is a no swimming area; twenty minutes to hypothermia! But what a view and the Belugas and ....
Maybe I should visit downriver again instead of dreaming of Chicago!
This is a no swimming area; twenty minutes to hypothermia! But what a view and the Belugas and ....
Maybe I should visit downriver again instead of dreaming of Chicago!
I wiil take my new investment(vav de stadt 30) From Bath nere Kingston To Montreal and in 2014 leaving for at lease 2 years down the st Lawrence to Halifax and then to Bermuda and to Bahamas direction Carabeian seas.
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