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14-10-2017, 18:42
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 3
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New York State canal system gps
I just got a boat and want to equip it with a decent instrument for depth and location. I will be traveling the nyscs and maybe into NYC via the Hudson. I'm wondering what I am really going to need to make the cruising safe and secure and stress free. Any suggestions are helpful!
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14-10-2017, 20:43
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Greater Boston area
Boat: Just had my offer accepted on a CS36T - survey, etc pending
Posts: 10
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Re: New York State canal system gps
You could provide more info on the boat, draft, etc. Depending on your plans....maybe a handheld chartplotter is the cheap/easy/reasonably safe option. Could be overkill for what you are doing - or not. A decent set of paper charts is never a bad idea - at least to review the areas you may be heading.
What kind of boat, where are you starting, and what are the plans?
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14-10-2017, 21:48
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Annapolis MD
Boat: Building a Max Cruise 44 hybrid electric cat
Posts: 3,199
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Re: New York State canal system gps
The canal is kind of hard to get lost on. I think it's about 100' wide. A cell phone's gps will tell you where you are along it.... beyond that, not much else is needed.
Matt
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14-10-2017, 22:39
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Fiji Airways/ Lake Ontario
Boat: Legend 37.5, 1968 Alcort Sunfish, Avon 310
Posts: 2,749
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Re: New York State canal system gps
Quote:
Originally Posted by funjohnson
The canal is kind of hard to get lost on. I think it's about 100' wide. A cell phone's gps will tell you where you are along it.... beyond that, not much else is needed.
Matt
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Then why is there a published guide?
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15-10-2017, 04:17
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#5
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W
Boat: (Cruiser Living On Dirt)
Posts: 49,384
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Re: New York State canal system gps
Greetings and welcome to the CF, Jack.
__________________
Gord May
"If you didn't have the time or money to do it right in the first place, when will you get the time/$ to fix it?"
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15-10-2017, 05:09
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 11,002
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Re: New York State canal system gps
For the most part...don't run into the brush on either side and you will be fine. It's entirely possible and safe to run the canal with no GPS. If you aren't sure where you are pull into the next free dock and ask where you are.
Often the GPS showed us running down the tow paths, so the available charts aren't that accurate anyway.
Hudson River needs a bit better but even a cellphone with a navigation app is adequate if that's the limit of your cruising. At that point, it's more of a preference (do you want a big day light visible screen, waterproof, etc...)
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15-10-2017, 05:15
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#7
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Port Credit, Ontario or Bahamas
Boat: Benford 38 Fantail Cruiser
Posts: 7,101
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Re: New York State canal system gps
__________________
If you're not laughing, you're not doin' it right.
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15-10-2017, 05:37
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Southern Maine
Boat: Prairie 36 Coastal Cruiser
Posts: 3,112
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Re: New York State canal system gps
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tetepare
Then why is there a published guide?
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They give distances between locks and towns, services available, bridge clearances, contact information, etc. You use them more like the road maps of old.
Much more helpful than a GPS chartplotter, which as was mentioned, sometimes shows you steaming along solid ground.
Your cell phone GPS and the guide liked above are really all you need. Maybe there's even an app, haven't checked in a while.
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15-10-2017, 08:05
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Kingston, Ontario
Boat: Catalina 375
Posts: 202
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Re: New York State canal system gps
As already mentioned, get the Canal Guide. When I did the canal in 2012, I hit bottom 3 times, twice mud and once rocks. I draw 7 feet. You have not said the boat you have. Makes a difference. I would say, get yourself a good depth finder for sure. Shoaling is an issue that you cannot always see on charts. As for GPS, my boat is Raymarine for electronics. As someone else mentioned, in the canal I often found my chart plotter showing me on the land part of the canal system. The water is quite narrow in many places so easy for GPS to be a bit off. Bottom line, you can never have too much pertinent information before you put the key in the ignition. I also assume you have taken some boating courses?
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15-10-2017, 08:07
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Kingston, Ontario
Boat: Catalina 375
Posts: 202
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Re: New York State canal system gps
I just realized that I have two user names somehow. Catalina 065 = Ardbeg.
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15-10-2017, 08:18
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Toronto summer rest somewhere else
Boat: Outremer 45/pdq36
Posts: 1,169
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Re: New York State canal system gps
I know I am going to get grief for this post ,but in 82 I did the barge canal and the Hudson from Oswego Ny .to NY.NY. With a shell road map a seafairer 3000 ,no vhf , a Car stero one cassette each of beach boys ,Debussy and David Bowie . Got the waterway guide in New York and went to the Bahamas and back . Best year of my life ( life is still good ) .
I was 19 .
It is possible to over think some things
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15-10-2017, 08:30
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Bumping around the Caribbean
Boat: Valiant 40
Posts: 4,625
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New York State canal system gps
When I was 19 I sailed through the Grenadines without charts. Does not mean it was a good idea or that I would not have enjoyed myself more if I had had them.
Sometimes "overthinking things" is better than not.
__________________
"Having a yacht is reason for being more cheerful than most." -Kurt Vonnegut
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15-10-2017, 09:22
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Toronto summer rest somewhere else
Boat: Outremer 45/pdq36
Posts: 1,169
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Re: New York State canal system gps
Not really suggesting that it was the best way to do it ,but perhaps our desire for a guarantee of success can hold us back. There is a happy medium . BTW when did you do that .
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15-10-2017, 11:24
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: SC
Boat: None,build the one shown of glass, had many from 6' to 48'.
Posts: 10,208
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Re: New York State canal system gps
Quote:
Originally Posted by jackw553
I just got a boat and want to equip it with a decent instrument for depth and location. I will be traveling the nyscs and maybe into NYC via the Hudson. I'm wondering what I am really going to need to make the cruising safe and secure and stress free. Any suggestions are helpful!
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Good eye sight and a VHF to call the lock tenders.
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15-10-2017, 12:26
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 36
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Re: New York State canal system gps
Did it with a Garmin 440S . Sometimes boat was on land . Kinda spooky and then it would correct. Very important to follow channel markers in Hudson.
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