Singlehanded locking

[JamesTXSD]

Start working out.

We did the Erie Canal and Trent/Severn with the two of us: Joan on the bow, I would pull the boat up to the line in the canal and bring the stern in, then go back to the cockpit. Heavy rubber gloves, a fixed length boat pole, fenders on both sides.

On the Hudson River, the first lock heading south from the intersection with the Erie, there is a large lock that the lines were spaced too far apart for us to reach two drop lines... I reached through the helm window and held the boat in place... it was a LOT of pull.

One feature of the locks along the Champlain and Erie Canals: you can stop at the wall to either side of the lock, tie off, get out and watch the locking procedure. The New York State Canal System booklet has info on every lock, so you know what to expect. We truly enjoyed the canal system. We did see other boaters single hand through locks, so it is certainly doable.

A rear helm station would give you the advantage of "being right there" - no idea how much experience you have with locks, but they aren't all alike on the canals there, and the amount of turbulence (more when filling than descending) varies, so you have to stay flexible with technique.

[colbysmith]

[ssobol]

This is a very handy map of the NY canals.

https://www.canals.ny.gov/maps/index.html

[JamesTXSD]

The order form for the official Cruising Guide for the New York State Canal System...

https://www.canals.ny.gov/boating/crusingorderform.pdf

[gulfcoast john]

Colby,

The Cruising Guide is just maps and a 2003 pub. It’s OK, but no current info on marinas, lock wall fees and facilities etc. Newest Skipper Bob booklet is MUCH better for that. We’re not happy with what Garmin did with Active Captain and now use Waterway Guide Explorer for current marina/fuel reviews.

You’ll read that that is no other charting of the Western Erie canal, but you can’t get lost. Garmin now has the W Erie canal on the 2020 LakeVu G3 chip, and Aqua Maps has it along with mile markers, which helps a lot in following Skipper Bob nav notes. Cell phone coverage is good.

Cruising the Erie canal is great (next month we’ll take 6 weeks for just the Finger Lakes and the 150 miles of West Erie canal) but the 800-1,000 mile Triangle Loop into Canada is even better! You can get your air draft under 8 feet and take the LaChine Canal through Montreal. It was our Best Cruise Ever!

Happy Planning!

John

[colbysmith]

I forgot that I had already purchased several charts/books on the Erie stuff two years ago as we prepared to cruise it last year. That was before COVID, which changed everything. I'm glad I looked before starting to order stuff. LOL. This is what I have:

Recreational Chart 14786 New York State Canal System

Cruising Guide to New York Waterways and Lake Champlain by Chris Brown

2019 Great Lakes Vol. 1 Wateryway Guide, Includes the New York Canal System, Canadian Waterways and the Triangle Loop

Cruising the New York Canal System, Skipper Bob, 22nd Ed

Cruising the Rideau & Richelieu Canals, Skipper Bob, 21st Ed

And then a few things I printed off the internet:
Erie Canalway Map & Guide
Canal Corporation Lock Information
Canal Corporation Marinas and Public Docks
Canal Corporation Heritage Sites
Canal Corporation Canal Speed Limits
Canal Corporation Navigating the Canals
Canal Corporation Boat Launches


Sometimes I can get a little anal in all the pubs I pick up before a cruise. And then I keep them forever... lol. Not sure how much of it I"ll use on the actual cruise, but it provides some reading material for the long cold winters while I dream of warmer days following. If you see anything I'm missing that you'd recommend, let me know. Colby