Lake Camplain Trip Planning....Need Help

[Mel Tucker]

My wife and I are planning on departing from Washington, NC (Pamlico River) on June 4 headed to Burlington, VT and Lake Champlain. We will be on out 1976 43 DC with flying bridge. Vertical height is 16 feet 6 inches.

One fixed bridge in 17 feet vertical clearance. Has anybody experienced this and should I be worried?

Slip space at marinas see to be very limited. So far it appears it will cost about $1600.00 for first two weeks and then I would have to haul out ($500.00 each way) because I will need to come home for business for 1st 2 weeks of July. Then $1,00.00 for 10 days at a slip and back to a haul-out for $500.00 each way when I come home in August for 2 weeks for business again!!

Close to $5000.00 to be on Lake Champlain for 2 1/2 months seems a little pricey! Any member living on Lake that has a slip that they would lease at 1,000 a month would be great. Any suggestion otherwise would be appreciated.

I know they have a short season and have to make it all in the summer season but.....

Help!! Mel Tucker

 

[saltshaker]

Haven't been up that way in a long time since overhead clearance is a big limiting factor. Champlain is beautiful and Burlington is a great town. Make sure you check the water levels when you leave. You should be fine as the winter was mild and the water level should be low. The railroad bridge at Whithall is the lowest at 17' but it can be 15' when the canal is at high water. Water depth is good all the way and the lake is very deep with tons of nice coves to hang out in and explore. The prices you posted seem very high. I'm guessing you are paying transient rates. Ask for a seasonal summer slip and see what the price is.

 

[Walter P]

I have often yearned to do the Lake Champlain thing, but all my boats (4 Hatteras) have been kind of tall. I think you should re-check your air draft. If memory serves me both of my 43 DC's with bridge were higher than 16 1/2 ft to the top of the venturi windshield, which is why I never did the run.My present boat is a 48 MY and I believe it too is too high. If I were to have a 43 DC again (doubtful at my age), it would be a flattop.

Walt

 

[BobWaz]

Hi Mel! Be very careful in coming to Lake Champlain. We did 12 years ago and never left. Ironically we came from New Bern. There is a marina 2 miles from my house that charges $45 per ft based on model length not overall length. For a full season would put you at $1,935. Too much to discuss in typing out. I will pm you with my phone number. Bob

 

[Boatsb]

Those seem like mega yacht prices. Monthly rates of $15 or more per month per foot seems normal but a 43 for $100 per day for a 43 seems crazy.

 

[GJH]

You can request the guys running the locks around the bridge to lower the pool a little. Went through there on a biddy's 42LRC and a boat ahead of us had them do that. member LR on this forum even took his 56MY through there by stripping some stuff down,; he did a thread here on it several years ago. Great cruising grounds there, well worth the price of admission IMO.

 

[saltshaker]

Those seem like mega yacht prices. Monthly rates of $15 or more per month per foot seems normal but a 43 for $100 per day for a 43 seems crazy.

Not really. Our transient rates are between $3-$4 per ft per night plus electric. Many charge a 3 day minimum. Once you get north of Norfolk, transient rates start to jump. Our season is short and they try to make a years income in a few months. What none of the yards will confess is they make more off of winter storage and service during the off season. Welcome to the Northeast, now pay up!

 

[Boatsb]

We have numbers like that for a day or two but for weeks or months that's insane.

 

[saltshaker]

We have numbers like that for a day or two but for weeks or months that's insane.

Summer rates here are $200+ per ft plus electric. Most charge by the slip foot not the boat length and you have to pay for winter storage whether you stay there or not. Marina next to me would charge me $15,000 + electric for summer. Everything is ridiculously overpriced here.

 

[Boatsb]

We're $10 to $20 per foot per month plus power depending on where you are. That's up to about 50 or 60 foot mostly. After that I'm not familiar.

I was paying about $650 to $700 a month for my 41 at the marina.

$15k for a 65 seems a bit high for a summer. Maybe a year.

 

[JLR]

As George mentioned, we took the trip many times from Long Island to Mallets Bay. Check out Marble Island Marina in a Mallets Bay. Viewed through the prism of love, it is a slice of heaven. I boated there as a kid, was dock master there when I was 17 and then took my family there for more than a decade. The lowest fixed bridge is generally thought to be the railroad bridge just South of lock 12. I say generally because the pool between locks varies and can be adjusted with prior notice. By the way, Mallets Bay is just North of Burlington. If you want any more detailed information, feel free to email me at john.rivkin@rivkin.com

 

[captddis]

It is beautiful there. we will be there this fall. They are also strict. You need a grey water tank and washing is discoureged.

 

[Boatsb]

Washing is discouraged?

What about dinner time?

I'm sure the black and grey water restrictions are enforced too. I'd be careful visiting because with my luck I'd be boarded 3 or 4 times a day.

 

[saltshaker]

Washing is discouraged?

What about dinner time?

I'm sure the black and grey water restrictions are enforced too. I'd be careful visiting because with my luck I'd be boarded 3 or 4 times a day.

Nah no one will suspect you of washing.

 

[Walter P]

Prices for dockage seem to be going very high for the last few years. I guess I am very lucky to be at one of the most beautiful yacht clubs on the east coast. We have all the things one would expect at a first rate marina and much more. From a large pool, basketball court, boccie court, etc and even senility hill with large lawn chairs which overlooks the marina. Our clubhouse is a 22 room victorian mansion that was owned by the Patton family over 100 years ago. Lots of social activities all year. All this and ready for this.... A full year for my 50' floating dock with full length fingers cost me $1,750.00.........per year which includes winter storage in your own slip. We have a bubbler system to all the docks. My 48' Hatteras MY is about as large as we will take in. We normally have a waiting list to join the club but since so many of our older members have retired and moved to Florida in the last couple of years we do have a few memberships available. I would love to have a few HOFers there. Let me know if anyone is interested and I will be happy to sponsor you.

Walt

 

[GJH]

No, contrary to internet rumor and phony non-government "regulations" put out by special interest groups, you do not need a grey water tank. Use enviro-friendly soaps, do laundry on shore if possible, and you are fine. They do have the strictest possible black water NDZ rules. The overboard discharge hose must be removed and the valves completely disabled. It's clean up there, boat washing isn't very necessary unless you brought it there dirty.

 

[captddis]

No, contrary to internet rumor and phony non-government "regulations" put out by special interest groups, you do not need a grey water tank. Use enviro-friendly soaps, do laundry on shore if possible, and you are fine. They do have the strictest possible black water NDZ rules. The overboard discharge hose must be removed and the valves completely disabled. It's clean up there, boat washing isn't very necessary unless you brought it there dirty.

I guess the Dockmaster was a little overzealous.

 

[BobWaz]

It is beautiful there. we will be there this fall. They are also strict. You need a grey water tank and washing is discoureged.

I have lived on the lake for 12 years. Also managed a 330 slip marina on the lake. Grey water tank is a law but has never been enforced. Washing boats is totally O.K. However, use your head with safe products for the lake. At the marina I managed we washed at least a dozen boats on a weekly basis. On black water disconnect the hose, use a chain with padlock on the valve or plastic zip ties. Water level up this way is on the low side from a mild winter. Getting through the canal would not be an issue. In regards to the fixed rail road bridge. I have a friend that brought up a 58 Viking. The captain filled the fuel tanks, water tanks and holding tanks. Then he went out and bought a bunch of kiddie pools which he placed on the decks and filled with water! He made it through. I had written an article about Lake Champlain a number of years ago. One cool tidbit. How much water is in Lake Champlain? An estimated 6.4 trillion gallons. That is enough water for the then 293 million population to come to the lake and leave with over 2,300 gallon jugs of water each! Walter P......what marina are you in?

 

[Walter P]

Bob... It's the Patton Point Yacht Club. Located on the Shrewsbury River between North Long Branch and Monmouth Beach, NJ. Web site is PPYC.net.

Walt

 

[doc g]

My grandfather lived there on Patton Point before the yacht club. In a waterfront house . I don't remember much water there then , guess they have dredged it ........Pat