Waterline to top of flybridge height on 53MY

[tjshuler]

Planning on bring a 53' MY through the Erie Canal as soon as winter decides to leave and ice melts. And I am aware that the canal does not open until May 1.

The boat is in the Chesapeake Bay right now. Bringing it back to Detroit. The bridge heights on the western end of the canal look frighteningly low.

The 53MY is model year 1979. I expect to have to remove bimini, radars, and anything that sticks up past the flybridge fibreglass. Does anyone know what the clearance from the waterline to the top of the flybridge is? Assume fuel tanks, water tank will be essentially full. I have read about 15'10". Is this a good number?

Thanks for your help.

Tom

 

[SKYCHENEY]

You will have to go through the Oswego and the Welland. The western part of the Erie to Buffalo is too low for a 53.

BTW 15'10" is the beam, not height.

 

[Plan B2]

Mine measures 17'-1" to the top of the wind screen

 

[tjshuler]

I was kind of suspicious that the Otswego Canal was the route that would be required.

Thanks for the info.

 

[saltshaker]

Don't know the exact numbers for a 53MY but you can get through if everything is lowered, no hard top etc. As Sky said you won't get through the low bridges on the western Erie Canal but you'll be fine to Oswego depending on the boat and pool levels. Max clearance is listed at 20ft or 21ft but most bridges will be between 23-25ft. There are a few that are right around 21ft. All this is at normal pool levels. If you go in the spring that's when pool levels are at thier highest. Clearance can be as much as 5ft lower under most bridges. The State usually won't raise the level as much in areas with lower bridges but clearance can drop down to 19ft. It's been a heavy snow fall winter along much of the canal so pool levels may be abnormally high in the spring. You'll need to check with the NYS Thruway Authority for current info. Most of what you need to know will be on the canal website. It's a fun trip and one you need to schedule well for. If you plan your trip right you can get through a lock near closing and then run to the next and be ready to lock through when they open in the AM. If you need a slip or provisions make sure there are facilities available and operating before you get stuck between 2 closed locks. Good luck and have fun.
http://www.canals.ny.gov/index.shtml

 

[JLR]

In 1998, I made this trip with my 56MY. We went from Toledo Beach Marina (just north of Detroit) to Long Island. We needed to cock back our radar arch just before we entered the Oswego Canal. We made the trip in the spring. A couple of thoughts for you. At that time of the year, the locks only remained open until 5:00 p.m. That meant that we had shorter running time than usual each day to transit the Eerie Canal. Also, we got into the Hudson River, we needed to steer clear of a tremendous amount of debris (read trees, stumps and fences), no doubt washed into the river with the snow melt and spring rains. Finally, although it may have changed, we needed to hire some local help to transit the Welland Canal. It's sort of a local hold up of sorts, but the crew was helpful.

 

[tjshuler]

In 1998, I made this trip with my 56MY. We went from Toledo Beach Marina (just north of Detroit) to Long Island. We needed to cock back our radar arch just before we entered the Oswego Canal. We made the trip in the spring. A couple of thoughts for you. At that time of the year, the locks only remained open until 5:00 p.m. That meant that we had shorter running time than usual each day to transit the Eerie Canal. Also, we got into the Hudson River, we needed to steer clear of a tremendous amount of debris (read trees, stumps and fences), no doubt washed into the river with the snow melt and spring rains. Finally, although it may have changed, we needed to hire some local help to transit the Welland Canal. It's sort of a local hold up of sorts, but the crew was helpful.

What can I expect to pay the local help? 1998 dollars are ok. Were the local help licensed captains or just dudes taking advantage of a situation? How long to transit the Welland Canal?

 

[SKYCHENEY]

The last time we were through the Welland was in 1984. We had no "helpers" and it took all day.

 

[JLR]

We made it through the Welland and then to Rochester in 12 hours. Lake Ontario was very, very rough that day. The helpers were not pilots but rather deck hands. I do not recall the amount of money we paid them but something like $100 rings a bell