I've done your trip over a dozen times and if you correctly mount your mast on
deck you'll have little trouble transiting the canal system.
Carry some oversized fenders and watch your way as you enter the locks.
Depending on how you catch the locks, it's a four or five day journey from Waterford to Oswego.
However, beware of lake onieda as it is a very dangerous bit of
water if the
wind kicks up, mast on deck or not.
The floods of last year created some big problems in the Erie canal, so Champlain is the other, but longer
route. Check with the canal officials for uptodate info.However the st. Lawrence river and Montreal are awesome as well as the 1000 islands.
It's a great trip, enjoy
Rit