transiting canals with the mast on deck

Stu Jackson · May 26, 2015

Here's a good story with the info you're looking for, boat around the size of yours:

http://home.comcast.net/~saildan/BahamaTrip/BahamaTrip-Web-BAHAMA_HOME_PAGE/index.htm

Scott T-Bird · May 26, 2015

Welcome to the forum! I wonder what is your objective in getting through the Great Lakes? Do you want to spend time there or just get thru as quickly as possible? You could easily spend an entire summer exploring the great sailing areas on Lake Superior, Lake Michigan and Lake Huron ... even 2 or 3 summers. You would skip Lake Michigan if you are just passing thru. You could also get trapped by winter if you spend too much time.

I would also guess that motoring Superior and Huron would be extremely uncomfortable with mast down. I wouldn't do it. There are hundreds of miles to sail and thousands of miles of spectacular coastline.

An option I would consider is to sail Superior and Huron (North Channel) and drop the mast to transit the Trent-Severn Canal which will take you thru Canada directly to Lake Ontario. You can skip the southern half of Huron & Lake Erie.

Then motor across the narrow width of Lake Ontario to enter the Erie Canal system to take you to Albany. Then raise your mast again as soon as you get south of Albany (around Catskill) on the Hudson.

BTW, you should have no problem with the mast length ... plenty of sailboats make the transit thru these canals.

HTH, Scott

Jackdaw · May 26, 2015

If you need ANYTHING when you get to Duluth, send me an email. I know everyone there who sails or services those that do.

Benny17441 · May 26, 2015

Tiva said:
Hello fellow forumers. We would like to sail across the Great Lakes from Duluth and go through one of the canals to Albany and then down the ICW to paradise.

Where is "paradise"? I thought it was up your way. The water seems always bluer in the far shore.

higgs · May 26, 2015

I would second Scott having done that trip,myself. The North Channel is a world class destination and this would be your only chance to see it. I draw a little over 5 feet and found bottom several times in the Trent even in the channel. No damage, just bumps. Check levels of Trent if you do it. It too, is quite unique. Drop your mast in Midland, ON, but restepping a large mast can be a problem at the other end.

Johnb · May 26, 2015

We rented a boat on the Hudson and Erie canal a few years back and loved it. Lots of sailboats with mast on deck were headed toward the Hudson in September. It's all been done many times before.

Between the Great Lakes and the canals there is more than you can take in in one lifetime.

gettinthere · May 26, 2015

Talked to people who went from Buffalo to a port on the north shore of Lake Erie with mast on deck. They said it was the worst ride of their 2 years down to the Carib.
Sailboats dont ride well with mast on deck in sloppy seas.

I would not do it across Superior or Huron.

Scott T-Bird · May 26, 2015

I would love to make that journey! Speaking of unforgettable destinations along the way ... I wouldn't miss Isle Royale and the Apostle Islands in Superior. A great route would be Duluth - Apostle Islands - across to Grand Marais, Minnesota - Grand Portage/Pigeon Point - jump across to Isle Royale, and then over the top of the lake in Canada, or duck back down and take the short cut across Keweenaw Peninsula via the waterway (no need to drop mast).

You will find your fill of wilderness if you stay for long on Superior and the North Channel. I would even encourage you to take a side trip when in Grand Marais to visit the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (definitely wilderness) in Minnesota for a truly unique adventure. Rent a canoe and a Duluth pack with tent & supplies from an outfitter, bring a fishing pole or 2 and disappear for a week among hundreds of wilderness lakes and portages in the world first inhabited by Ojibwa Indians and explored by French trappers (largely unchanged since then).

You could leave your boat in a nice little harbor in Grand Marais for a little while without any trouble, I would think.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

fdr14127 · May 27, 2015

Tiva said:
Hello fellow forumers. We would like to sail across the Great Lakes from Duluth and go through one of the canals to Albany and then down the ICW to paradise. We will have to ship our boat from Olympia, Wa to Duluth.

I have two questions. Should we leave the mast down and motor to the canal and more importantly what do we need to know about going through a canal, locks and moorages, with 10 feet of mast sticking out from both ends of our boat? Ken and Paula (circumnavigators)

I would sail from Duluth to Oswego, NY and put the mast back up in Troy, NY. Both ports handle literally hundreds of boats per year on this link between the North Shore paradise and the Caribbean paradise. If you are so inclined and can afford the time you could drop the mast in Tonawanda, NY and explore all the little towns along the upstate Erie, a very nice trip. The alternative is the Welland and a visit to Toronto and Niagara on the Lake......so many options and so little time. I would not sail the Great Lakes with the mast on the deck, these are serious Inland Seas. Trent-Severn is appealing but they have severe shoaling problems lately, anything more than 5ft draft you had better check conditions this summer. (And you wouldn't want to do the Thousand Islands from Kingston to Oswego with the mast on the deck, Bay of Mexico is a lee shore).

Some racers in a hurry quite often call ATL Trucking in Virgil,ON and haul between Godrich and Tonawanda in an effort to expedite the return from the Mackinac. I would rather take the time and store over the winter, giving myself two seasons to see the lakes, than hustle through a lifetime trip like that. Just sayin.....

Jackdaw · May 27, 2015

Scott T-Bird said:
A great route would be Duluth - Apostle Islands - across to Grand Marais, Minnesota - Grand Portage/Pigeon Point - jump across to Isle Royale, and then over the top of the lake in Canada, or duck back down and take the short cut across Keweenaw Peninsula via the waterway (no need to drop mast).

Nothing wrong with that plan. Cold beer awaits in the Apostles.

py26129 · May 27, 2015

I's agree with the advice o keep the stick up for the Great Lakes. It's quite a distance form Duluth to Oswego, or even the lake Huron end of the Trent Severn to make ti worth while. There is plenty of great sailing to be had on the lakes and you would not want to miss out. We bought our boat 5 years ago in traverse City , on lake Michigan and took her home via the lakes to Montreal.

My one work of advice would be to make sure, when the mast is down, to have it very well strapped down. Even in the canal,all it takes is the wake from a passing boat, to rock your boat and if the mast is now well secured, it will try to go over the side. Another piece of advice is to make sure the mast is high enough so that you can't smack your head on it.

Cheers

Matt