I'm looking to buy a boat locally (Montreal area) but I'm also looking further afield. If I bought a boat on Lake Erie would it be possilbe to go through the Welland Canal to get to Lake Ontario? Is it expensive? Is it difficult? I have no experience using locks. Thank you, Russell
welland canal
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Transiting the Welland Canal
I have gone through the Welland Canal both directions - down in the 80's in a 32' sailboat and up when we brought our C36 from Toronto through Erie and Huron in 2004. Either way is a bit of work fending off due to in lock currents. The rules indicate(d) that you should have 2 adults on board going down from Erie to Lake Ontario and 3 going up. I agree with the rules particularly when going up the currents in the locks as they fill are strong. Going down the locks are draining out so the currents are less demanding. Be prepared to wait - the large commercial freighters take precedence and they no longer allow pleasure boats to lock through with the freighters ie. vessels longer than 100 metres or vessels carrying hazardous cargo - one can only imagine why... I have heard people taking in excess of 14 hours to go through - as they had to wait for commercial traffic. Both times we went through in 6 to 7 hours. The best thing to do is dock overnight in Pt. Colborne and be on the water ready to lock through before 7 in the morning. They wait for a batch of pleasure boats that will go though at one time. The Seaway Authority uses VHF Channel 14. They supply the lines at each lock - these are poly and can be rough - you need gloves. Keep in mind that when you at the bottom of most locks the lines are going up 50' nearly vertically - so they don't give a lot of in and out control -- you must have good fenders of the rubber and human kind and the marinas at the ends (used to?) sell straw filled bags to augment your fenders. You may be required to raft off another vessel. The St. Lawrence Seaway provide the Pleasure Craft Guide whhich gives a lot of the information you would need. http://www.greatlakes-seaway.com/en/pdf/pleasurecraftguide_en.pdf You should have this to explain the various requirements, understand the lights etc. All in all - it is a little bit demanding and time to transit is variable - however I would do it again if I needed to and from your perspective going down is definitely easier. I forgot to mention - the cost in 2004 was $20 a lock - $160 total in 2004
I have gone through the Welland Canal both directions - down in the 80's in a 32' sailboat and up when we brought our C36 from Toronto through Erie and Huron in 2004. Either way is a bit of work fending off due to in lock currents. The rules indicate(d) that you should have 2 adults on board going down from Erie to Lake Ontario and 3 going up. I agree with the rules particularly when going up the currents in the locks as they fill are strong. Going down the locks are draining out so the currents are less demanding. Be prepared to wait - the large commercial freighters take precedence and they no longer allow pleasure boats to lock through with the freighters ie. vessels longer than 100 metres or vessels carrying hazardous cargo - one can only imagine why... I have heard people taking in excess of 14 hours to go through - as they had to wait for commercial traffic. Both times we went through in 6 to 7 hours. The best thing to do is dock overnight in Pt. Colborne and be on the water ready to lock through before 7 in the morning. They wait for a batch of pleasure boats that will go though at one time. The Seaway Authority uses VHF Channel 14. They supply the lines at each lock - these are poly and can be rough - you need gloves. Keep in mind that when you at the bottom of most locks the lines are going up 50' nearly vertically - so they don't give a lot of in and out control -- you must have good fenders of the rubber and human kind and the marinas at the ends (used to?) sell straw filled bags to augment your fenders. You may be required to raft off another vessel. The St. Lawrence Seaway provide the Pleasure Craft Guide whhich gives a lot of the information you would need. http://www.greatlakes-seaway.com/en/pdf/pleasurecraftguide_en.pdf You should have this to explain the various requirements, understand the lights etc. All in all - it is a little bit demanding and time to transit is variable - however I would do it again if I needed to and from your perspective going down is definitely easier. I forgot to mention - the cost in 2004 was $20 a lock - $160 total in 2004
Grateful for the swift help.
Thank you Hugh and Malcolm for your complete and informative replies. This information will really help me in deciding what to do. I can't believe how really helpful these sailing forums are. Thanks again. I really appreciate it. Russell
Thank you Hugh and Malcolm for your complete and informative replies. This information will really help me in deciding what to do. I can't believe how really helpful these sailing forums are. Thanks again. I really appreciate it. Russell
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