Lake MI to NYC

[MadHatter53]

Friend is moving from Mi to Long Island and is thinking about running his boat down himself with my help of course. Neither of us have ever made that trip and I'm looking for some info. How long of a trip,is it? Boat is a 10-12kt 8 gph cruiser and in great shape. Looking for cheap deisel and decent dockage along the way. I tried to have him hire a capt to deliver it to his dock but he wants the experience, just went thru a bad divorce and want to start fresh.

 

[ageless]

check out activecaptain.com website--GREAT free site

 

[Freeebird]

Tell him to hire a captain and ride along if he's not comfortable running the boat. Going places you've never been before is what boating as all about, at least for me. That's why God created charts, and nav markers are uniform wherever you go. Heck, I'd make him a deal just to see some new water as that's about the only part of the Great Loop I haven't done.

 

[Boatsb]

I define the trips course and make sure the clearances are good, Then plot the route and determine the daily range of the vessel including stops for locks, bridges and fuel.

If your running north through the lakes and canals there is a lot of details you need to know about if the boats more than 15 foot tall if memory serves.

Dont forget all the locks and bridges have schedules and commercial traffic.

Then again i'm not running up in the frozen north anymore.

 

[Freeebird]

I had the route all figured out when I was taking your buddy, Kevin's 41 to Ontario, and there were definitely height restrictions. Been too long to remember what they were. That's definitely not a trip you wanna make if you're on a tight schedule. It takes as long as it takes.

 

[MadHatter53]

He has all the charts and stuff,has a3.5ft draft and sits at 16ft. He's not looking to sight see and and is a bit OCD when it comes to trips and such. I'm just trying to get a close to real world timeframe as I don't have much time off that hasn't already been planned.

 

[Freeebird]

He has all the charts and stuff,has a3.5ft draft and sits at 16ft. He's not looking to sight see and and is a bit OCD when it comes to trips and such. I'm just trying to get a close to real world timeframe as I don't have much time off that hasn't already been planned.

That sounds simple enough, but when you're dealing with locks, it gets tricky. That doesn't take into account any delays due to mechanical issues, and that's a long trip.

My advice to you would be to map out exit spots if you run out of time, but that's going to leave your buddy solo if there's nobody else aboard.

 

[bobk]

There will also be speed limits in the canal. Fuel prices are also available in AC. It is high in NY. He will need good fenders and wraps for the canal.

Bobk

 

[dottieshusband]

There is a 15.5 height restriction on the Erie Canal, and 16.5 on the Cayuga-Seneca Canal...id love to make that trip!
https://www.canals.ny.gov/boating/bridgeheights.html

 

[jim rosenthal]

I think the advice to hire an experienced captain and go along with said captain is good advice. If your friend is going through an ugly divorce, then his luck isn't exactly in, and he might want to CYA with a professional along.

 

[MadHatter53]

Yeah that should put his plans on hold, I didn't think there was that many bridges and locks to deal with so how do the guys with the 53my's get thru with an 18ft clearance.

 

[Boatsb]

I think the oswego has 22 ft clearance overhead.

 

[kelpy]

Here ya go.

https://www.canals.ny.gov/boating/bridgeheights.html

 

[Boatsb]

That's cheating.

 

[ageless]

That's cheating.

roflol

 

[JLR]

Bought my 56 in Toledo Beach Michigan and brought it to Long Island. Lake Erie, through the Welland, Lake Ontario to the Oswego Canal where we dropped the arch, through the Erie down the Hudson to Long Island. It took 8 days as I recall but it was Spring so the locks closed at 5:00 p.m.

 

[kelpy]

I delivered a 65 Marquis from Fort Lauderdale to Honey Harbor in Georgian Bay a couple of years ago. A nice trip - just don't be in a hurry through the canal system. Had to remove the steaming light from the hardtop but the radar cleared by a foot or more. A 65' Hatt sporty with enclosed bridge was going the other way and apparently had no problems. Riggers were on the deck and they took the radar antenna off.

 

[Nonchalant1]

There is a 15.5 height restriction on the Erie Canal, and 16.5 on the Cayuga-Seneca Canal...id love to make that trip!
https://www.canals.ny.gov/boating/bridgeheights.html

To beat 15.5 ft. clearance on the Western Eerie Canal, go to Lake Eerie, then up to Ontario via the Welland Canal and take the Oswego Canal down to the best part and 20 ft. clearances for Eastern Eerie Canal, then Hudson River down to NYC. We did it (in reverse) in a 53MY with 4.5 ft. draft and 19 ft. clearance. Also, you can go faster on Lake Ontario than in the Western Eerie Canal.

If you need to do it in less than 3 weeks, it will not be a pleasure trip, more like a forced march. Good advice to plan your trip by day and by stops, and include some days waiting for weather.

 

[saltshaker]

Don't bother with the Western Erie. Run the lake to Oswego and then you'll have at least 20ft all the way to Troy. There are a few bridges listed at 17.5-19ft? But that's in the spring when the pool levels are high. You have to figure about a week from Oswego to NYC. There's a lot of locks and the speed is 10mph all the way to Troy except on Oneida Lake. It's a trip worth doing and if he has the time I would run up to the 1000 Island region for a few days at least.

 

[Scott Mather]

Just did this last spring in opposite direction.
Norfolk to Sandusky Ohio in 52c with full tower.
ran 9 straight days.