Western Erie Canal electronic charts

[flatman]

There seems to be no electronic charts of the western portion of the Erie Canal (from Tonawanda to Lyons). Scanned paper charts from "The Cruising Guide To The New York State Canal System" can be found on-line here (just the 22 western charts are there):

http://www.canals.ny.gov/navinfo/charts/nyscce01.jpg
thru
http://www.canals.ny.gov/navinfo/charts/nyscce22.jpg

I converted these 22 .jpg files into .KAP files that can be plotted on OpenCPN and such. Tools I used were QGIS (to stretch/skew the images into wgs84 projection using opensteetmaps as a model), Photoshop (to resize the images and some minor stitching between images) and imgkap to convert the images into .KAP files.

The paper charts are from the 2006 3rd edition. So, they are not up to date (noticed some roads and bridges have moved when compared to openstreetmaps and google earth). Because of this, I make the warning that this should not be used for navigation. I'm reluctant to post the actual .KAP files but can post the .TIF images and the batch file for converting them to .KAP I'm new to this forum. Not sure where best to post them. Perhaps a Google Drive folder?

[valhalla360]

That's about the best you are going to do.

On the positive side, if you don't run into shore, you are probably fine.

Our chart plotter often showed us running on the tow paths.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, flatman.

[CaptTom]

You won't really need a chartplotter on the canal.

And valhalla360 is right, even the most accurate charts often show you yards, or tens of yards, up on land.

The only real need is to figure out how far you've gone, and how far to wherever you're going. That doesn't require much accuracy

[flatman]

Sure, you don't need electronic charts but then that's what I prefer to use. I once scanned in an entire atlas of Mexico before there were computer streetmaps so I could see *about* where I was at using GPS. Although, easy to get lost in Mexico, a little hard on a canal.

Thought perhaps too someone may be interested in the process I used. QGIS has a georeferencer tool built in. Also, has the ability to pull up on-line openstreetmaps and google earth maps. In the georeferencer tool you just pick 4 or more points with known GPS coordinates and the tool will stretch and skew you .jpg image into a WGS84 projection. You can then overlay that to openstreetmaps or google earth to see how good of a job you did. It's amazingly good at doing that with just 4 good points.

By the way. Cruising Guide to the New York State Canal System
seemed to be out of stock everywhere. However, I just got a copy that was on backorder for months from landfallnavigation

Again, a WARNING, DO NOT USE THESE FOR NAVIGATION.

I've posted the .TIF images here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1RB...3B0POYSHq5rdAh

The Imgkap tool can be found here: imgkap - Download

To convert from TIF to KAP just run this script:

imgkap nyscce01_modified_resized_stitched.tif 43.054708 -78.914377 43.010329 -78.810418 nyscce01_modified_resized_stitched.KAP
imgkap nyscce02_modified_resized_stitched.tif 43.073373 -78.844767 43.034215 -78.74192 nyscce02_modified_resized_stitched.KAP
imgkap nyscce03_modified_resized_stitched2.tif 43.111954 -78.782264 43.064942 -78.725366 nyscce03_modified_resized_stitched.KAP
imgkap nyscce04_modified_resized_stitched.tif 43.16783 -78.750912 43.111641 -78.681948 nyscce04_modified_resized_stitched.KAP
imgkap nyscce05_modified_resized_stitched.tif 43.195207 -78.711279 43.157182 -78.615119 nyscce05_modified_resized_stitched.KAP
imgkap nyscce06_modified_resized_stitched.tif 43.21352 -78.6178 43.19229 -78.514503 nyscce06_modified_resized_stitched.KAP
imgkap nyscce07_modified_resized_stitched.tif 43.22318 -78.515346 43.20255 -78.412121 nyscce07_modified_resized_stitched.KAP
imgkap nyscce08_modified_resized_stitched.tif 43.243285 -78.413706 43.21506 -78.309647 nyscce08_modified_resized_stitched.KAP
imgkap nyscce09_modified_resized_stitched.tif 43.257529 -78.311631 43.241161 -78.208378 nyscce09_modified_resized_stitched.KAP
imgkap nyscce10_modified_resized_stitched.tif 43.25525 -78.208995 43.242754 -78.105788 nyscce10_modified_resized_stitched.KAP
imgkap nyscce11_modified_resized_stitched.tif 43.259993 -78.106149 43.219764 -78.001721 nyscce11_modified_resized_stitched.KAP
imgkap nyscce12_modified_resized.tif 43.228285 -78.001326 43.207814 -77.898308 nyscce12_modified_resized_stitched.KAP
imgkap nyscce13_modified_resized.tif 43.215958 -77.898316 43.185566 -77.794491 nyscce13_modified_resized_stitched.KAP
imgkap nyscce14_modified_resized.tif 43.195162 -77.794352 43.17507 -77.691271 nyscce14_modified_resized_stitched.KAP
imgkap nyscce15_modified_resized_stitched.tif 43.187033 -77.724737 43.143409 -77.663925 nyscce15_modified_resized_stitched.KAP
imgkap nyscce16_modified_resized_stitched.tif 43.155289 -77.678377 43.099008 -77.586917 nyscce16_modified_resized_stitched.KAP
imgkap nyscce17_modified_resized_stitched.tif 43.118384 -77.63074 43.086467 -77.5272 nyscce17_modified_resized_stitched.KAP
imgkap nyscce18_modified_resized.tif 43.106202 -77.527621 43.05969 -77.423588 nyscce18_modified_resized_stitched.KAP
imgkap nyscce19_modified_resized.tif 43.095351 -77.424741 43.069509 -77.321227 nyscce19_modified_resized_stitched.KAP
imgkap nyscce20_modified_resized.tif 43.079814 -77.321671 43.059494 -77.218118 nyscce20_modified_resized_stitched.KAP
imgkap nyscce21_modified_resized.tif 43.069052 -77.218473 43.036835 -77.11529 nyscce21_modified_resized_stitched.KAP
imgkap nyscce22_modified_resized.tif 43.070837 -77.116172 43.042537 -77.013245 nyscce22_modified_resized_stitched.KAP

[Dave Lochner]

Some of the chart programs have maps. When I went down the canal a few years ago the charts in the Garmin chart plotter had charts of the canal.

Check NOAA. Here's a link to Raster/pdf charts of the NY Canal system.

http://www.charts.noaa.gov/PDFs/14786.pdf

Going through the canal is pretty straight forward. Use a map program on your phone. The chart book from the Canal Corp. is handy for knowing the relative distances between locks and bridges. Don't rely on information about services and marinas on the canal. That info can be out dated.

The canal is well marked, it is difficult to go out of the channel, you really have to not be paying attention. Much of the western half is narrow, with steep banks.

[flatman]

>>Check NOAA. Here's a link to Raster/pdf charts of the NY Canal system.

>>http://www.charts.noaa.gov/PDFs/14786.pdf

Those NOAA charts do not include the western portion of the canal from Tonawanda to Lyons. Those are the paper charts I converted.

[CaptTom]

Originally Posted by flatman

Sure, you don't need electronic charts but then that's what I prefer to use.

Right. I have mine running all the time at the helm, too. Just that in the canal, you don't care if it shows you in the water, or up on Main St. You just care about what's ahead, what's around the next bend, and how far to your destination for the night.

Originally Posted by flatman

By the way. Cruising Guide to the New York State Canal System
seemed to be out of stock everywhere. However, I just got a copy that was on backorder for months from landfallnavigation

Do you know the revision date on the one you ordered? I have an older version, and I'm not sure if they've updated it since then. If not, I won't buy a new one for this year. But if it's been updated, I would. I'm hoping to get back there this summer.

[flatman]

>Do you know the revision date on the one you ordered?

The back ordered copy of Cruising Guide to the New York State Canal System I just got from landfallnavigation was the Third Edition 2006. So, not so up to date.

[nyboater]

The western section of the Erie is probably the greatest part of the Canal to explore, you can stay in most towns for $0 to $15 per night, you really don't need a chart, depth is not a problem it is generally 12' everywhere, plenty of depth at the walls when docking. check our www.discovertheeriecanal.com for info on the communities and docking info. The last edition of the cruising guide was from 2006 and out of print. Skipper Bob does a publication on the Canal that has lots of info. The Erie is the most underutilized recreational resource in NYS, plan as much time for your trip as possible you won't be disappointed.

[valhalla360]

Another option is if you download Google Earth, you can turn on the GPS locator with a GPS puck. It usually does pretty good at least showing you on the water.

[jstevens]

Doesn't help with the OPs issue, but those NOAA paper charts on the canal do not need to be converted to kap files, NOAA has done that for you in the RNC library (chart 14786). Still won't cover the western portion, though.

John

[tgrimmett]

We did the Erie Canal last summer, and yes it was a little alarming in the western portion when we suddenly lost charts on both of our plotters. But as others have pointed out, you get used to it and just stay away from the banks and you will be fine. I applaud your effort though to scan old charts. Definitely don’t skip the western portion. It is truly the best part of the Canal system. Don’t be tempted to divert off at three rivers! If anyone is interested in more details on transiting the Erie Canal, my wife and I blogged and uploaded drone video content to our YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/c/lifefourpointzero, including this one on general tips and tricks, https://youtu.be/TWJ962AgU4c. Theres more on our blog site too, Life Four Point Zero – It's time to go!. It was an amaizing boating experience and we really enjoyed the small town nature of upstate NY.

[Davidsalter]

Originally Posted by tgrimmett

We did the Erie Canal last summer, and yes it was a little alarming in the western portion when we suddenly lost charts on both of our plotters. But as others have pointed out, you get used to it and just stay away from the banks and you will be fine. I applaud your effort though to scan old charts. Definitely don’t skip the western portion. It is truly the best part of the Canal system. Don’t be tempted to divert off at three rivers! If anyone is interested in more details on transiting the Erie Canal, my wife and I blogged and uploaded drone video content to our YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/c/lifefourpointzero, including this one on general tips and tricks, https://youtu.be/TWJ962AgU4c. Theres more on our blog site too, Life Four Point Zero – It's time to go!. It was an amaizing boating experience and we really enjoyed the small town nature of upstate NY.

I draw 6 FOOT 6 inches. Any areas that you recall in the Western canal that may concern me?

[Davidsalter]

Originally Posted by jstevens

Doesn't help with the OPs issue, but those NOAA paper charts on the canal do not need to be converted to kap files, NOAA has done that for you in the RNC library (chart 14786). Still won't cover the western portion, though.

John

I draw 6 FOOT 6 inches. Any areas that you recall in the Western canal that may concern me?