Boating from NYC to Chicago

[rangerscott275]

Hello,

There is an off chance that my firm may need to me to relocate from New York City to Chicago. I'm aware of the Great Loop Route but have never really studied it but was wondering from those who have done this, what they would recommend in terms of the quickest, best & safest route, height restrictions, other obstacles, mileage, etc. My boat is probably one of the slower 53 MY's out there as it is most comfortable around 9 knts. I know that to do such a trip requires months of planning, study, preparation, etc....and I'm not really looking for that level of detailed response...more just wondering in generalities what route people would go, how long it would take & what are some of the major obstacles in so doing. It is funny how once on one of these hatteras's gets a grip on you, it impacts your every life decision! My girlfriend would suggest I just sell it here and get another one once I'm in Chicago....clearly she doesn't get it!

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Scott,
That trip is not a problem for your boat. I would plan on at least 10-14days, however. You will need to go up the Hudson to the Erie barge canal and then out the Otswego to Lake Ontario. From there it's through the Welland canal into Lake Erie. Once in Lake Erie, no more locks, just some nice fresh water cruising around to Chicago. Height is not a problem for this route.

 

[rangerscott275]

I guess a second question is what other options exist to get the boat there? I've read other posts about shipping boats from place to place via land but I'm pretty sure my boat is too big and I've read about people shipping their boats (at least from coast to coast) via the boat transport ships. My boat doesn't have a fold down radar arch and is over 19' tall currently (I could take off the arch however if necessary).

 

[rangerscott275]

Hey Sky,

sorry...I was typing as you were posting....really? Height isn't an issue...I was reading on Doug & Kathy's log about that one 19' bridge at mile marker 300....with the route you are suggesting I wouldn't have to worry about that? Also, I thought that I'd read that in the NY State canal system (up the hudson) there were also places with height restrictions...

 

[Nonchalant1]

Scott,

I just completed that run, as you probaby saw on my blog. There are some height restrictions. The Eastern half of the Erie Canal has fixed bridges at 20 ft. The Western half of the Erie Canal has fixed bridges at 15.5 ft. I believe. You'd have to go up the Oswego Canal to Lake Ontario, like we did, unless you can get below the Eastern Erie Canal limits. I can check the actual height restrictions if you need it.

Once on Lake Ontario, the fastest way is to go through the Welland Canal. I brought my 53MY through there when we bought it in New York and brought it home to Chicago. You need 3 people on the boat for the Welland due to the Canadian government requirements. You're going into Canada so you'll need passports and a US Customs User Fee decal for your boat. The Welland takes you to Lake Eerie, then through Detroit to Lake Huron, through the Straights of Mackinac to Michigan to Chicago, all without height restrictions.

The 19 ft. bridge is after Chicago, going down the Cal Sag Channel to the Illinois river, so you don't need to worry about that.

In my opinion, there's no way to do this trip in 2 weeks. It's a 1,400 NM trip. It's possible in 3 weeks, but better done in a month. We brought our 53MY 1,200 NM from Morristown, NY on the St Lawrence Seaway to Chicago in 15 days and it was a "forced march" type cruise with over 100NM per running day and 4 days waiting for waves and weather on the Great Lakes. Evenwith that, we went out in 3 to 5 ft. a number of times and 6 to 8 ft. for 3 hours once. I'd take 6 ft. on the Atlantic any day compared to 6 footers in the Great Lakes, and I've done both. Our boat didn't have stabilizers when we did that first trip so we had to be very careful with the waves.

The best solution would be to turn it into a cruise, which would be great fun. You could break it into segments like 2 weeks up to Oswego, 2 weeks to the North Channel, and 1 weeks to Chicago, leaving the boat at a marina for long periods between trips.

If you don't have the time, the second best solution would be to hire a delivery captain and one crew to take it the whole way and you just come along for whatever segments are fun (Hudson River?) or side trips (North Channel?) or where you're needed (Welland Canal). You could probably get a good captain and one crew for $250 per day.

If you want suggestions, my simple Excel spreadsheet Cruise Plan, or thoughts, send me an e-mail at dshumans@gmail.com.

Doug Shuman

 

[JLR]

I did part of this trip when I brought my 56MY from Toledo Beach, Michigan to Huntington, Long Island. That trip took 7 days including a short day due to weather on Lake Ontario. We ran at night more than I would have liked but got stuck with a 5:00 p.m. curfew in the locks. Here are the stops heading west from Michigan:

1. Toledo Beach to Port Colburn via Lake Erie -15.5 hours
2. Port Colburn to Rochester -12.3 hours
3. Rochester to Oswego-3.25 hours
4. Oswego to Lock Wall E-20-12.25 hours
5. Lock Wall E-20 to Lock Wall E-8-10.5 hours
6. Lock Wall E-8 to West Point-14 hours
7. West Point to Huntington Yacht Club-5 hours

When not in the locks, I cruise at between 15.5-16 knots. Hope this helps.

 

[rangerscott275]

this would be such a fun & amazing cruise...in a way I'm kind of hoping for the job switch! It would also be my first experience going through locks....just ordered the NY State Canal system guidebook. Thanks for the responses thusfar! (Doug...I just emailed you as well)

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I agree with Doug that it is most enjoyable to take 3 weeks for the trip, but we brought a 49' Gulfstar MY from Annapolis to Toledo in 10 days. It was sunup til sundown cruising, but it can be done.

 

[Maynard Rupp]

We have a guy here in Detroit that brought his Eastbay, 45 I think, from Ft. Lauderdale to Detroit in 7 days. I think he violated a few no wake zones eh?? That boat is low enough to go all the way through the Erie Canal as was our 36' Hat. The western part of the Erie Canal is absolutly beautiful. Too bad you guys with the fixed hard tops and such can't make that part of the trip. No Canada so no customs. And None of that dreary Welland Canal.