Rhode Island to Rockport 1000 Islands Ontario

[eclipsarkanna]

At the encouragement of several members I am going to post my experiences of my maiden voyage in my retirement boat from Rhode Island (Barrington) to Rockport, 1000 Islands Ontario. I have absolutely no idea how long the trip will take and so far, I have hundreds of hours invested just contacting the US Coast Guard for important information, charts, and exporting information.

For starters, I have been a member of HOF for several years and started on this forum at the suggestion of several friends of mine in Bermuda (where I was living and practising law up until a couple of years ago). Hatteras was THE boat to own in Bermuda so for the past 7 years I have been researching and looking at Hatteras yachts - ranging from my favourite 53ED up to a 61. I have had several offers fall through over the years usually due to overblown advertising and a disastrous failure at the marine survey level. I spent thousands looking and putting offers in and paying for surveys only to be told I would be insane to buy that particular boat. So I gave up until I retired and could travel and inspect the boats myself before putting in an offer and paying for a survey and sea trial.

I came close to buying a fellow member's Hatt (and although I have never met him, I consider him a friend - he has been incredibly helpful) but his 58TC just needed too much work - I am very particular and want a like new boat. So I ended up with a Mainship 40 that has spent its whole life in and around Barrington Rhode Island (the surveyor knew the history of the boat from the original owner through the existing owner). Even with the toughest surveyor in the Providence area, he gave the boat a big thumbs up and if I did every single item recommended in his 18 page detailed survey, I would be hard pressed to spend $5,000 - and most of that would be on outdated electronics.

So let me start by passing on a piece of information perhaps not known. As an "alien" of the USA (we Canadians have been called a lot of things but "Alien"!!) we are not permitted to own a "documented" yacht. The boat I bought was documented and Coast Guard registered and one step that I have had to do before the boat could be exported to Canada was to "undocument" or de-register the boat out of the Coast Guard registry. This involves Homeland Security doing a security check on me and then issuing its consent letter to deregistration and consent to removal of the boat from the USA. In order to get this consent letter, I had to hire a firm that specializes in this - they then file all the various title documents, the formal bills of sale and full title history of the boat right up to and including me. At the border in Oswego before I leave the USA I have to make an appointment at the border crossing and produce all of this original paperwork (and it is recommended that a preliminary meeting occur long before the boat is sitting in the water waiting to head over the border). Since the paperwork is done and with no problems, this will simply be an easy step at the border. But I have heard of horror stories for anyone who has NOT completed this procedure and you could find yourself sitting parked in your boat for several weeks while the procedure is being completed!

I have to assume this "Alien" ownership prohibition of a Coast Guard "documented" vessel applies to all other non US persons who plan on exporting a boat purchased in the US that is "documented".

I will post my next intallment in the next couple of days.

Bill

 

[SportFishCruising]

Well, that's very important to know, thanks for that Bill.
edit: I was referring to the import into Canada knowledge you shared.

 

[eclipsarkanna]

At the suggestion of Dave (Captnddis) I contacted the US Coast Guard office and have ordered the book of charts for the New York Waterway system. I understand the book of charts will cover from New York Harbor all the way up to and including the Champlain route; the Erie Canal route and the Oswego Canal route. There is also a mountain of information on their website:

http://www.nyscanals.gov/

This site has a mountain of incredibly useful information such as the one thing that was worrying me until Dave and Stewart posted on another thread and said I need not worry about bridge clearance heights with a Mainship 40. Here is a chart from the nyscanals website setting out its LOWEST bridge clearance heights:

"Heights** of Lowest Bridges from Waterford to Oswego:

Bridge E-3, 9th Street, Waterford 21.78 feet at normal pool
Bridge E-4, Trestle, Waterford 21.75 feet at normal pool
Bridge 0-13 Trestle, Oswego 21.15 feet at normal pool
Bridge E-40, Trestle, Lock E-19 *22.37 feet at normal pool "

At my clearance of 17 ft 6 inches, the trip is easy on clearances which was one of my biggest worries.

Bill

 

[eclipsarkanna]

For anyone planning on cruising through the New York State Canal System here is a very worthwhile publication that I just found out about and have ordered:

THE CRUISING GUIDE TO THE NEW YORK STATE CANAL SYSTEM (3rd edition; email to <publicinfo@thruway.state.ny.us>; price is $19.95 plus delivery charges.

It is the official guidebook of the NYS Canal system and has listings/details of all the marines, services, distances, travel times between locks plus over 120 full color maps charting the whole system.

Bill

 

[mttopd]

Bill,

If you need assistance or have any questions I may be of some help. Not clear if you are going north though the Champlain canal or west along the Erie and Oswego canals, but I have made that journey many times and keep our boat on Lake Champlain. It's a beautiful area to cruise, hope you have a great trip and look us up at Westport Marina on the lake if you choose that route.

Mttopd.

 

[eclipsarkanna]

Bill,

If you need assistance or have any questions I may be of some help. Not clear if you are going north though the Champlain canal or west along the Erie and Oswego canals, but I have made that journey many times and keep our boat on Lake Champlain. It's a beautiful area to cruise, hope you have a great trip and look us up at Westport Marina on the lake if you choose that route.

Mttopd.

Thanks for the offer of assistance and I will undoubtedly have questions. Sorry for not being clear on the route. At Albany I will be taking the Erie Canal to the West over to the Oswego Canal and then north up the Oswego Canal into Lake Ontario. I looked at going straight north at Albany up through the Champlain Canal right up to the St. Lawrence/Montreal. Since my final destination is Rockport, Ontario (a few miles across from Alexandria Bay, USA), I am told by several experts that my best route would be via the Oswego Canal/Lake Ontario and not the Champlain Canal/Montreal route. I have done calculations with my charts and that seems to be the correct answer.

Bill

 

[Freeebird]

So, have you set a date for this grand adventure?

 

[SKYCHENEY]

We have gone the Oswego route but not Champlain. I have a friend that is looping and will be coming down the Champlain Canal this spring. Here is the link to his blog.

http://rayanddebsgreatloopcruise.blogspot.com/

 

[mttopd]

Hi Bill,

You are correct, the most direct/shortest route is west on the Erie Canal and up the Oswego. My preference is the Champlain route, because it's the more interesting and beautiful trip. Once you clear the Champlain canal, which you can easily do in one day, you have roughly 130 miles of Lake Champlain, a wonderful cruise with many options for overnight dockage and anchorage.

After crossing into Canada you have the Chambley canal and Richielieu River. A beautifully maintained system with hand operated locks. This joins with the St Lawrence at Sorel, a short distance down river from Montreal, a great stop over as well. From Montreal you can make Alexandria Bay in two easy days, depending on freighter traffic, you may have some delay in the Seaway.

All together the more enjoyable route, if you have the time.

Best of luck, whichever route you choose. Brian.

 

[eclipsarkanna]

So, have you set a date for this grand adventure?

Randy:

Yes. Departure date from Providence Rhode Island is Saturday, April 24th with the hope of making it to Albany entrance to Erie Canal for opening day of the locks (May 1st). I finally found a captain (also a commercial pilot) who I have known for 35 years back when we each had 27 foot sailboats and couldn't sail worth a damn - we were basically motor heads at heart. He just retired and has piloted 2 boats (different routes) in the last 2 years - one a 55 foot and the other one a 45 foot. I am going to launch on April 1st and do test runs for a couple of weeks, get to know the boat and make sure everything is in working order before we cast off the lines.

Are you going to be finishing that Chicago trip from last year in April?

Bill

 

[eclipsarkanna]

We have gone the Oswego route but not Champlain. I have a friend that is looping and will be coming down the Champlain Canal this spring. Here is the link to his blog.

http://rayanddebsgreatloopcruise.blogspot.com/

Sky:

Many thanks for that link. I am reading anything I can get my hands on in the hope of averting the usual maiden trip disasters. I may still have some challenges but hopefully I can minimize problems from learning from others' experiences - and that is why I am running this thread in the hope that others can benefit from my research and errors.

Bill

 

[eclipsarkanna]

Hi Bill,

You are correct, the most direct/shortest route is west on the Erie Canal and up the Oswego. My preference is the Champlain route, because it's the more interesting and beautiful trip. Once you clear the Champlain canal, which you can easily do in one day, you have roughly 130 miles of Lake Champlain, a wonderful cruise with many options for overnight dockage and anchorage.

After crossing into Canada you have the Chambley canal and Richielieu River. A beautifully maintained system with hand operated locks. This joins with the St Lawrence at Sorel, a short distance down river from Montreal, a great stop over as well. From Montreal you can make Alexandria Bay in two easy days, depending on freighter traffic, you may have some delay in the Seaway.

All together the more enjoyable route, if you have the time.

Best of luck, whichever route you choose. Brian.

Brian:

Great post and now you have me re-thinking my route. I am going to sit down with the charts with my Captain and see which route he prefers. Will keep you posted.

Bill

 

[Freeebird]

Randy:

Yes. Departure date from Providence Rhode Island is Saturday, April 24th with the hope of making it to Albany entrance to Erie Canal for opening day of the locks (May 1st). I finally found a captain (also a commercial pilot) who I have known for 35 years back when we each had 27 foot sailboats and couldn't sail worth a damn - we were basically motor heads at heart. He just retired and has piloted 2 boats (different routes) in the last 2 years - one a 55 foot and the other one a 45 foot. I am going to launch on April 1st and do test runs for a couple of weeks, get to know the boat and make sure everything is in working order before we cast off the lines.

Are you going to be finishing that Chicago trip from last year in April?

Bill

Will be finishing it sometime this spring, but I'm not sure when. Hope everything goes smoothly for you.

 

[eclipsarkanna]

Will be finishing it sometime this spring, but I'm not sure when. Hope everything goes smoothly for you.

Randy:

You should run a thread outlining your whole trip last year on the Chicago delivery. The pieces that I read and heard about were incredible and the run you were on for that owner illustrates how even a diligent and careful owner can end up with a challenging maiden voyage doing the delivery homeward bound. The pieces that I saw have helped me prepare for my trip so your experience may well help others. Just a suggestion if you have the time.

Bill

 

[Freeebird]

Randy:

You should run a thread outlining your whole trip last year on the Chicago delivery. The pieces that I read and heard about were incredible and the run you were on for that owner illustrates how even a diligent and careful owner can end up with a challenging maiden voyage doing the delivery homeward bound. The pieces that I saw have helped me prepare for my trip so your experience may well help others. Just a suggestion if you have the time.

Bill

Yeah, I started a thread on here about the trip, but, like the owner, I never figured on so much adventure the first day. Sure brought back memories.

I'll fire up the thread again when we get ready to head out, and I'll take plenty of pictures as well. In fact, I bought a new HD camera to film the highlights. I'll post some video as well.

Too bad you can't time your trip as to coincide with YankeeFest at Greenport. Hey, nobody laughed (in front of him ) at Passages when he showed up in that Sea Ray bowrider last year, so I'm sure you would be welcomed.

 

[eclipsarkanna]

Yeah, I started a thread on here about the trip, but, like the owner, I never figured on so much adventure the first day. Sure brought back memories.

I'll fire up the thread again when we get ready to head out, and I'll take plenty of pictures as well. In fact, I bought a new HD camera to film the highlights. I'll post some video as well.

Too bad you can't time your trip as to coincide with YankeeFest at Greenport. Hey, nobody laughed (in front of him ) at Passages when he showed up in that Sea Ray bowrider last year, so I'm sure you would be welcomed.

Gee Bird, I really appreciate you comparing my Mainship 40 with a Sea Ray bowrider (big smile!!). Hope your not jealous that I have twin engines that actually work (bigger smile!!). All joking aside, I do wish that I could time the trip to meet up somewhere along the way with a gathering of HOF members.

Bill

 

[34Hatt]

Too bad you can't time your trip as to coincide with YankeeFest at Greenport. Hey, nobody laughed (in front of him ) at Passages when he showed up in that Sea Ray bowrider last year, so I'm sure you would be welcomed.

Thats because we were happy we didn't have to pick him up at the Ferry!

Plus he did take us on the little cruise.

 

[Freeebird]

Thats because we were happy we didn't have to pick him up at the Ferry!

Plus he did take us on the little cruise.

ROFLOL... and damn near beat our brains out!

We're just messing with you Jim, but you already knew that.