Great loop

[Ataraxia]

Can anyone advice me on the maximum height when cruising the Great Loop?

[GordMay]

The lowest bridge that cannot be avoided on the Great Loop/Great Circle Route is 19.1 feet at mile 300.6 on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal after the Chicago River/Sanitary and Ship Canal and the Calumet Sag Channel join south-west of Chicago. This is the AT&S Railroad Bridge which is shown on the charts as a swing bridge. It is inoperable and no longer opens. THERE IS NO WATER ROUTE AROUND THIS FIXED BRIDGE FOR GREAT LOOP CRUISERS.

More ➥ Great Loop - Google Search

[GordMay]

If you want total and unrestricted free cruising options around America's Great Loop with the ability to cruise the full length of the Erie Canal - your vessel MUST be able to pass under a 15' 6" fixed overhead clearance.

If you can clear 17' but can not clear 15' 6" you can bypass the east section of the Erie Canal and exit onto the Oswego Canal and take Lake Ontario to take the northern Canada route through Canada's Heritage Canals, or
you can go through the Welland Canal into Lake Erie.

Finally of course, if you can't clear 19' 1", you will never make it from the Great Lakes (Lake Michigan) to the Illinois or Mississippi Rivers and therefore will not be able to complete the Loop.

[twistedtree]

There are three ways to get from NYC up into the great lakes, and each has different height requirements. All start with the Hudson River.

1) Champlain canal, Lake Champlain up to the St Lawrence. 17' clearance

2) Eastern Erie Canal + Oswego Canal to Lake Ontario. 21' clearance (not 17 as stated in another post)

3) Eastern Erie Canal + Western Erie Canal. 15.5' clearance.

Main Page - Erie Canal, Oswego Canal and Champlain Canal Guide is a good resource for that part of the trip.

As noted in another post, the other tight spot is Chicago, but I think there are two routes with different height restrictions. I don't know the details - haven't been there yet.

[Gene :^)]

Go to: http://www.skipperbob.net/publications

And get the guide: The Great Circle Route

Skipper Bob explains the entire trip. Including limitations for bridge clearance and water depth along all the different canals.

He says that in Chicago there are two paths:

19ft fixed bridge on southern canal.

17ft fixed bridge on northern canal.

-----

Gene :^)
http://www.Strathbelle.com/

[atoll]

Originally Posted by Gene :^)

Go to: Publications | Skipper Bob Cruising Guides

And get the guide: The Great Circle Route

Skipper Bob explains the entire trip. Including limitations for bridge clearance and water depth along all the different canals.

He says that in Chicago there are two paths:

19ft fixed bridge on southern canal.

17ft fixed bridge on northern canal.

-----

Gene :^)
http://www.Strathbelle.com/

a fine ship you have there gene!
if only ships could talk, the stories they could tell.
good luck with the restoration

[Ataraxia]

Thank you all, it seems that I will not have to worry abouth height.