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adlib2 · 23-08-2016, 02:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhubstuff

I did the entire Erie Canal as crew on a 12-meter America's Cup boat with a 90 foot mast on deck; also in a 3-masted Barkentine with the entire rig (masts, yards, booms, and gaffs) on deck. We had to hire a commercial crane to unstep and re-step, but there were no particular problems. Shipping the rig by land is not a realistic option. ONce the rig is on deck, you can duct tape old carpeting or lifejackets around the ends of the mast in case they touch the lock walls. But I bet they won't. Put the mast on centerline, because you may have to tie to either wall in the locks. Then rig an old sail or tarp over the cockpit for shade and for rainy days. I'd be more worried about your draft than your rig, especially in the W end.

I tied plastic buckets over the ends of my mast.

Billyruffn · 23-08-2016, 06:14

Thanks for all the good advice offered above.

Having done 40,000 miles with the stick up, I guess I can figure out how to do 350 with it on deck 😀. An adventure in ship handling, no doubt.

Anyone have photos of the design of deck cradles?

Can anyone recommend a good guides of the canal, Great Lakes and the Seaway, as I plan to make the return trip via the St Lawrence.

I am planning a road trip to Chicago later this year and will stop at Albany and Buffalo to check out the cranes/ yards recommended here.

Thanks again.

Billyruffn · 23-08-2016, 06:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhubstuff

I'd be more worried about your draft than your rig, especially in the W end.

Draft is 7 ft in seawater, probably a few inches more in fresh. Is that a problem?

Dave Lochner · 23-08-2016, 07:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billyruffn

Draft is 7 ft in seawater, probably a few inches more in fresh. Is that a problem?

Draft will not be a problem. The controlling depth is around 12 ft.

The canal authority publishes a cruising guide to the canal. Pretty inexpensive at $20. Good information about distances between locks and where towns are. The information on services is often out of date, so take that part with a grain of salt.

Purchase the Official Cruising Guide - New York State Canals

The website has lots of good information about the canal. Sign up for the Notice to Mariners email list before you enter the canal, this will keep you up to date on hazards and closures. Sometimes sections of the canal close for various reasons, high/low water, obstructions, locks and bridges closed for repairs, etc.

ALAIN97133 · 23-08-2016, 07:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billyruffn

Thanks for all the good advice offered above.
Having done 40,000 miles with the stick up, I guess I can figure out how to do 350 with it on deck. An adventure in ship handling, no doubt. Anyone have photos of the design of deck cradles? Can anyone recommend a good guides of the canal, Great Lakes and the Seaway, as I plan to make the return trip via the St Lawrence. I am planning a road trip to Chicago later this year and will stop at Albany and Buffalo to check out the cranes/ yards recommended here.
Thanks again.

Here's a picture -probably from Google- showing one of the two places, next to Buffalo, where you can lower or raise your mast. The Erie Canal starts somewhere after the second (low) bridge on the lower right hand corner of the picture. I used a very old guide of the canal but I'm not sure that you need one altogether if you stay in the canal (?) Just a small story: On my way to NY/NY from Buffalo, I was kind of late (I think they stop operating locks at 18:00, early in summer) so I called the next lock operator to see if he could wait for me ? Not only he waited for me, but he told me that the next best place for the night was just after the next lock: He finished locking me, closed his lock for the night & drove to the next lock although it was way past 18:00 & waited for me to lock me through ! Great guy ! On the flip side, another day, another lock, another lock master wouldn't wait 5 minutes for us & we end up spending the night in the middle of nowhere

C'est la vie !

PatSea · 23-08-2016, 07:42

A friend of mine is moving her 38' Hunter from lake Erie to Ft Myers Fl. She recently passed through the Erie Canal from Buffalo to the Hudson. I have a photo of her boat with mast tied down.

Dave Lochner · 23-08-2016, 07:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billyruffn

Thanks for all the good advice offered above.

Having done 40,000 miles with the stick up, I guess I can figure out how to do 350 with it on deck 😀. An adventure in ship handling, no doubt.

Anyone have photos of the design of deck cradles?

Can anyone recommend a good guides of the canal, Great Lakes and the Seaway, as I plan to make the return trip via the St Lawrence.

I am planning a road trip to Chicago later this year and will stop at Albany and Buffalo to check out the cranes/ yards recommended here.

Thanks again.

Here's a few of my Sabre 362 going through the Erie Canal. The cradle material was scavenged from the Oswego Marina. Generally the custom is to use what you need in Caselton and leave it in Oswego and vice versa.