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knottygurl · 27-04-2011, 01:02

starting out Friday Morning to Kingston from Port Dover, I have not done the Welland Canal, anything I should be aware of. Will be single handed after the canal from Port Dalhousie to Kingston.
Will be in a Grampian 26, hoping the weather cooperates and I don't get rained on for the next 5 days.
Thanks for any info

digmac · 27-04-2011, 03:50

Hi We did it last year going the other way and were glad for big fenders and a fender board. I think going down the canal as you are may be easier as the locks are emptying not filling so less turbulence. Good luck

Dave

Woodchuck · 27-04-2011, 04:02

Get some old tires to hang over the side as fenders. Wear gloves.

Captin_Kirk · 27-04-2011, 04:40

I don't think they allow old tires as fenders in the locks. I remember reading that all fenders have to be in good repair and float.

**GordMay** · 27-04-2011, 06:00

See the Pleasure Craft Guide
➥ http://www.greatlakes-seaway.com/en/...craftguide.pdf

S/V Alchemy · 27-04-2011, 07:09

Have yet to do it, but double up on boat hooks is the advice I have heard. And if you decide to visit Port Dalhousie (where a previous Welland Canal still exists, but doesn't function as such), be aware that the current there can run 4 knots. It's a nice place to visit, but if you aren't expecting that current, getting onto the wall can be tricky.

Connemara · 27-04-2011, 08:30

We've visited Port Dalhousie a couple of times and have had no difficulty getting on the wall. And the Port Dalhousie Yacht Club, once you are tied up, is very nice.

One issue might be places to stop between PD and Kingston. I don't think many of the clubs in the Toronto area have launched yet and their docks might not be completely ready. I know we'll be working on docks this weekend (at Toronto Hydroplane and Sailing Club).

But I may be a worrywart.

Have a nice passage.

Connemara

Bill S · 27-04-2011, 08:45

Did the Welland downbound last year. Tires are prohibited. We needed big fenders and got 2 x 6s to make temporary fender boards. I wish I had even more and bigger fenders, because our spreaders were in danger of hitting the lock wall. Wear throwaway garden gloves - they throw polypro lines that are rough, also lock wall is nasty. Need at least two strong people who understand boat handling and are strong. We were exhausted from holding the lines in one hand and fending off with a boat hook with the other hand. I recommend and early start, there can be delays deriving from commercial traffic that has priority.

knottygurl · 27-04-2011, 09:18

excellent tips thanks all, will pick up fender boards in dover then and have some biggy fenders from another boat I will bring for the trip, Hope a couple marinas are open along the way, if not then i'll have to hook along the way. just bought 150 rode as spare so i may switch it around along the way.

bljones · 27-04-2011, 09:26

Sugarloaf is open in Port Colborne, and I think the Port Maitland marina is open as well, and depth SHOULD be okay.

S/V Alchemy · 27-04-2011, 14:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Connemara

We've visited Port Dalhousie a couple of times and have had no difficulty getting on the wall. And the Port Dalhousie Yacht Club, once you are tied up, is very nice.

One issue might be places to stop between PD and Kingston. I don't think many of the clubs in the Toronto area have launched yet and their docks might not be completely ready. I know we'll be working on docks this weekend (at Toronto Hydroplane and Sailing Club).

But I may be a worrywart.

Have a nice passage.

Connemara

Some clubs in Toronto are open already and others are launching this week. Coburg Marina's a good spot, and is almost certainly open, and is at the "halfway point" down the lake.

Rimica · 27-04-2011, 15:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by knottygurl

excellent tips thanks all, will pick up fender boards in dover then and have some biggy fenders from another boat I will bring for the trip, Hope a couple marinas are open along the way, if not then i'll have to hook along the way. just bought 150 rode as spare so i may switch it around along the way.

Did the canal last year going down. We had no issues used only fenders. We were 4 on the boat for the canal journey.

Port Credit is open. Both marinas have permanent docks you can use.

SabreKai · 27-04-2011, 16:08

We will be launching this Friday and Saturday at Lakeshore Yacht Club. From what I understand all our docks except one are full. However we do have 2 or 3 moorings. We are east of Port Credit and the Port Credit Yacht club, and west of Humber Bay.

Sabre

LakeSuperior · 27-04-2011, 16:25

We went through last May on a rainy foggy day. With four guys and normal bumpers we had no problem. It wasn't much. Tie the bumpers and use two pike poles one at the bow and one at the stern to keep parallel to the lock. The other two guys hold the lines. You could really do this with three guys, one each holding the bow and stern line and one guy fending with the pike.

We did get held up for about an hour with ship traffic. I would get there to be the first boat through in the morning.