Lake Ontario Paddleboard Crossing - Looking for feedback on escort boat charters

[Dan Michaluk]

Greetings.

I'd be grateful for your feedback on the market for escort boat charters for a paddle race across Lake Ontario that I'm planning for September 2016.

The race will be a 32-mile point-to-point race for solo competitors two-person teams paddling 12 to 18 foot paddleboards. Finish times will likely range from six to eight hours. Three courses are under consideration. Start time will likely be 8:00 am. Escort boats will follow paddlers for the duration of the race. Each paddler will likely have one or two support persons (for feeding assistance and coaching) who will require transport.

I'm interested in how much our competitors might expect to pay for an escort and what factors might make escorting more or less appealing.

I've crossed the lake twice and raced across the Ka'iwi and Catalina channels multiple times. If planning is successful this race will be the first of its kind on the great lakes. I'd appreciate receiving your feedback in this forum or by private message.

Dan

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Dan.

[a64pilot]

I would assume you would want smaller power boats? 25' or so fishing type boats would I think be ideal. I'd call around and find out what fishing charters go for for a day, they would I assume have all the necessary business licenses, permits, insurance etc.

But maybe some legal document could be drawn up so that people could volunteer their boat and time and not be legally responsible, but I have no idea how many if any volunteers you would get, Charters I think you can count on. Volunteers I'm afraid sometimes don't show up or that has been my experience.

Your talking about doing this next Summer?

[Tetepare]

Hi Dan,

Greetings from the south side of the pond.

I assume your crossing does not cross the international border, as that opens up a big can of worms.

September is right at the peak of salmon fishing season, so it may be difficult to hire fishing charter boats. Also, the second weekend in September has been terrible weather for at least the past four years running. You may want to think about late August.

One of your best sources for accompanying vessels would be a yacht club. They have boats (both club-owned and member's boats) that work the races. On a non-race day you may be able to coerce them to work your event.

If you can get small boat owners interested they may do it for the price of fuel; if you need to charter crewed boats figure $600-$800 each (US$, rates for the US shoreline, don't know about Canada)

You may also want to start the race earlier to avoid the mid-day breeze, which can be substantial.

Chuck

[1000 islands]

Where is your start and end point,because that will help determine where to seek assistance.