Duluth to New York

[dmksails]

I'm planning a future trip that will start in Duluth, MN and reach the Atlantic via the Erie Canal. I will be on a 27' sailboat and will be stepping the mast for the canal portion. Odds are I would be doing part or all of this trip solo.

What I'm looking for are some detailed accounts from individuals that have done this trip - ie specific routes, ports, etc.

[Tetepare]

If during summer I say skip the canal most of the way and enjoy Lake Ontario. Youngstown, Rochester (yuk), Sodus Point is fun, Fairhaven (Little Sodus) has a great state park and enjoyable food at Pleasant Beach Hotel, then Oswego go see the fort and Take the canal down from Oswego.

[Dmk56]

Thanks. I recently downloaded the charts from NOAA into OpenCPN, so will check out your suggestion this weekend

[svPilgrim]

I agree completely with Tetepare. Its a great cruise with some neat ports (even Rochester )

Check out http://www.great-lakes-sailing.com/Great Lakes Sailing Guide for some ideas - its all free.

Have a great trip.

[SV Bonzi]

I agree with Tetepare, but I live in Oswego so I may be a bit biased.

[Mike OReilly]

I sailed from Thunder Bay to eastern Lake Ontario. I plan to carry on this season to NFLD via the St. Lawrence this season. I'm happy to share what I learned. What are you looking for?


Why go fast, when you can go slow

[valhalla360]

There are a few options once you get to Lake Huron:
- South thru Detroit to the Erie Canal
- South thru Detroit to the Welland Canal then Lake Erie to Oswego Canal and meet up with the Erie Canal
- Trent-Severn and across to Oswego Canal.
- Alternative to the Oswego, you can continue down steam and then cut across Lake Champlain.

All have their pro's and con's. We did the reverse and did the full Erie Canal and up thru Detroit. We spent almost 3 months on the canal and could easily have spent more.

[AiniA]

I would agree with the idea of going down through the Great Lakes to Lake Ontario and then using the Oswego Canal to get into the Erie Canal. If you haven't been to Toronto it is a great stop. In fact, there are numerous places to stop there. You probably want crew for doing the various canals. They are hard, especially going downhill, but a lot of work for one person.