Trent-Severn Launch/Haul Recommendations??

P

peterbrownell

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C Dory Year
2009
C Dory Model
255 Tomcat
Hull Identification Number
UWH25521H809
Vessel Name
Destiny II
We are planning on traversing the Trent-Severn waterway this summer, launching in Trenton Quebec and hopefully hauling in Port Severn Quebec.

Doesn't look like there is a train to get me back to the launch site to pick up the trailer - may be a bus, though (long ride).

Had one friend recommend paying someone to drive the truck/trailer to the haul out point. Has anyone had experience dong this?

Any recommendations on logistics for getting the truck & trailer from Trenton to Port Severn for the haul out would be appreciated.

Best
Peter & Linda
----------------------
C-Dory Tomcat 255 "Destiny"
Lake Champlain, VT
 
The Trent-Severn is a great cruise. We launched at Orillia, somewhat in the middle, at Lake Simcoe. It had the advantage of not only a launch ramp, but also a place to leave the truck/trailer (free,) a nice marina and finally a great town to replenish cruising supplies. It's the downtown marina.

Use the bus to get from your end point back to Orilla. It works for us, unless we find someone who offers us a ride back. A lot of nice people in the world.

Here's our Trent-Severn cruising report: Journey On through the Trent Severn Canal.

Boris
 
We launched at Lock #28 Burleigh Falls. They have a boat launch plus gated parking. We spent two weeks cruising.

Have fun!
 
We launched from Burleigh Falls, as well. That "ramp" is unimproved and was dicey for our 25 - I would think it would be even more of a challenge with a TomCat. Big holes and boulders to deal with at that ramp. The lockmasters are great people there and all along the Trent-Severn.

I would agree with Boris that Orillia is a good jumping off point. Boats a lot bigger than ours were launching/retrieving there. Good restaurants and a grocery store within easy walking distance. If you start there, you can run west(ish) to Georgian Bay, then run back... and get to do the Big Chute Railway twice!

WBBC4e.jpg

Then run the other direction, and get to do the Peterborough Lift Lock twice!

PeterboroughLiftLockE.jpg

Great cruising! Many of the locks are "historic" - operated by hand. More expensive to cruise than the Erie Canal, but more scenic (our opinion).

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Thanks for the recommendations. We are really looking forward to this one.

Just wondering if anyone had any experience launching from Trenton and hauling in Port Severn. Did you take a bus back to get the trailer. Is there a train? Can one hire someone to drive the trailer from Trenton to Port Severn and leave it there?

Thanks again ...
 
Great to see some of you making the trip to the great white north!! The Trent is definitly one of our Canadian treasures. It is in Ontario tho, not Quebec. We did a housboat in 08, then our own boat last year and are going back the first 2 weeks this September. It can get busy during July & Aug. and mooring at the locks is first come. A season lock pass for a 25' will cost you $220.00 and a season mooring pass $245.00. There are other options but anything more than about 9 days and a season pass is cheaper. We found the "Ports cruising guide" most helpfull. Navigation is easy tho as you just have to follow the small craft route which should show up on your plotter. We are starting at Bobcagion (mile 140) and heading west. Found a great marina there last year with a good ramp and they only charged us $10. to store our truck/trailer for 9 days!! (Centre Point Landing) I could go on & on ,,, but to your query regarding transport I will try to find out what I can. What is the timeline for your trip? Also do you know where you will enter Canada? I live in the Cambridge area, which is on hyw. 401 between Windsor and Trenton. Regards, Rob
 
Robert - thanks for your advice. We are really looking forward to this one. It is #1 on our "bucket list" of trips. We traveled the Rideau last summer and enjoyed it immensely. Apologies, we live in Vermont and go to Montreal Quebec frequently. Fat fingers on the computer keys seem to type "Quebec" automatically rather than "Ontario".

We have the "Ports" guide and Skipper Bob's guide - charts are on order. Drooling over the great detail and information. Will be towing the trailer up to Trenton from Vermont and launching it there. Assume we will cross the border in Cornwall and take the 401 to Trenton. Not sure yet when we will be going. Except for a week long Lake Champlain cruise with friends in the beginning of July and a few weeks in the Chesapeake in September, we can go most any time during the summer. Again, thanks for your advice. Best - Peter & Linda
 
Hi Peter, there is a Greyhound going from Severn to Trenton with 1 transfer. Its a 7 hour trip (207 miles) Leaves at 1 and gets into Trenton around 8pm. I couldn't get a price online and when I called they asked for a postal code. It looks like the Driftwood Cove Marine Resort might be your best bet, their postal code is L0K-1S0. ph.# 705-538-2502. Turn into the cove at red buoy S10. WWWDRIFTWOODCOVE.COM vhf 68. Also there is a 50% discount for Greyhound tickets purchased 21 days or more in advance. The Greyhound # is 1-800-661-8747, or you can go on their website. I believe that marina is close to the bus stop. This looks like your cheapest solution, even with a nights motel in Trenton but you could always ask the marina if they know of anyone who offers a rig delivery service from Trenton to Severn. Or,,, you could take the advice some of us gave you- start in the middle and go both ways!! Also think about June or Sept, it won't be as hot but still good weather, you won't have to fight for dock space at the locks, some marinas offer off season rates, and if your an old fart like me you'll appreciate the quiet-er evenings!! Regards, Rob
 
Again, thanks to all for helpful suggestions and advice. We are really looking forward to several boating adventures this season. With the snowless weather here in Vermont, we are thinking about summer more than usual at this time of year :-)

Best
Peter & Linda
:-)
 
One of the problems with leaving your truck/trailer at a marina is the price they charge. They charge for docking a boat, and by golly the truck/trailer takes up the same space. So, they would offer to "let" us park for only $15/day. The motto is check before you launch>

That's why we loved Orillia, where parking was free. As it's also a reasonable town, there's bus service there. Burleigh Falls might also have free parking, so it pays to look around.

We made some friends on the canal, who drove us from Midland back to Orillia. Orillia is a French name, so the "ll" is pronounced as "ll", not "ee" (Spanish.) Had a little trouble with that. Midland (English) and it's French neighbour Penetanguishene are wonderful places to end a trip on/from the Trent Severn, as they have some wonderful history of the early French traders and Indian villages there, as well as a British naval post.

Boris
 
Burleigh Falls charged $2/night for parking the truck and trailer (a couple years ago). It is not "secured" parking, but it is kind of a ways from anything else, so we weren't too worried about it. The lockmaster said he'd keep an eye on it (during working hours).

I understand the premise of the original post here, but the Trent-Severn was interesting enough that we didn't feel like we were duplicating things by going over the same route twice. We stopped at different places each direction. If considering that alternative, I'd second Boris' suggestion of putting in at Orillia.

The marina folks at Orillia asked if we'd be coming back through, and we told them we would. Since that would be after Labor Day (they close the marina after the Labor Day weekend), they gave us a key and said, "You can stay here for free after we close. We'll still have the power turned on, and you can use that key for the showers. We'll have someone come around each day to clean and stock the restrooms."

Nice folks!
 
I am going to the Hamilton boat show this weekend. The Striper dealer from Trenton (Bay Marine 613-394-6691) is usually there. I will ask him if he knows of anybody local that could help you. Another option I thought of is you could start mid May and do the loop!!! We have a trailer near Port Ryerse (Lake Erie) give us a toot and wave when you go by!! When we were on the Trent in the houseboat we met a couple in a Rosborough that were doing the loop. Of course thats a Canadian built boat, probably tougher than a C Dory!!!.....Just joking guys. Talking about tough Canadians tho, I have a story about 2 we met on the Trent last summer that I would like to share but in another post. Regards, Rob
 
Hi Peter, at the London boat show last weekend I talked to the guy at the Parks Canada booth. He said there was a guy offering a rig valet service but due to insurance complications he was no longer in business. He did however give me some info on a promotion they are offering. If you purchase your lock pass before March 31 you get 10% off your mooring pass. I posted the form in my photo's, havn't figured out yet how to add things to these forums! If your in the Trenton area around the third week of July you should check out the Poker Run in Gananoque. I entered my Stingray in it last year, had a blast. Its a family style poker run or rendevous put on by Power Boat Canada and Poker Runs of America. You don't have to be fast, they have 2 groups - the Scarabs, etc. do a 60 mile run and the family boats do a 40 mile run. Great boating, good food, lots of fun, plus a chance to win $5,000. Info is on the Power Boat Canada website. Goodluck with your trip planning. Regards, Rob
 
Robert,

Thanks for the information. We will definitely plan on getting our passes this month.

We were in Kingston (Kingston Marina) last summer starting our Rideau canal trip the weekend of the Poker Run. I had never heard about that event - quite an experience.

Best
Peter & Linda
 
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