Canadian boating - Great Lakes and Atlantic region

[AiniA]

Got to work on my boat for the first time today. Our YC is using a three day rotating schedule. The first two days were lovely weather and today it was drizzle all day. Repainted some rusty bits on the engine and did some hull cleaning. Get to go again on Thursday which should be a nice day. Felt good.

[Montanan]

It appears the USA Canada border will remain closed for non-essential travel through June.

"Those restrictions do expire here on the 21st of May. We will likely look at expanding those restrictions, as the country continues to be a phased opening approach, state-by-state, governor-by-governor, so we're taking a look at that as well," acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf told reporters last week.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also suggested last week that the US-Canada border would likely remain closed through June. The agreement as it stands forbids any non-essential travel, although commercial traffic continues.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/18/polit...rus/index.html

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by AiniA

Got to work on my boat for the first time today. Our YC is using a three day rotating schedule. The first two days were lovely weather and today it was drizzle all day. Repainted some rusty bits on the engine and did some hull cleaning. Get to go again on Thursday which should be a nice day. Felt good.

Happy for you ... jealous as all heck, but happy for you .

[skalashn]

Went to prep my boat last Sat May 16 as soon as the marina re-opened. Was able to book launch on the 28th due to backlog, even though they are working 7 days a week now.

[Montanan]

Calling the border with the United States a clear point of "vulnerability" for Canada in terms of Covid-19 infections, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Tuesday that by mutual agreement, the US / Canadian border will remain closed to nonessential travel until at least June 21.
Trudeau did not rule out a further extension of the border closure. The US-Canada border has been closed since March 21.
"It was the right thing to further extend by 30 days our closure of the Canada, US border to travelers other than essential services and goods, but we will continue to watch carefully what's happening elsewhere in the world and around us as we make decisions on next steps," Trudeau said during his daily press conference in Ottawa.
Even if the border does reopen to nonessential travel, Trudeau repeated that stronger measures may be put in place, such as requiring quarantine, medical checks and tracking for those entering Canada, including those from the US.

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/u...rus/index.html

[Dave Lochner]

Originally Posted by quarantined

I have a mildly related question to this.
What is the cell-coverage like for the Erie Canal system? If I can be available remotely for the majority of the trip from Champlain to Erie, I won't have to waste as much PTO.

Most of Lake Champlain should provide good coverage.

The section of the Erie Canal from Albany to Utica pretty much parallels the NY State Thruway (Interstate 90) so there is good coverage along that part.

From Three Rivers to Tonowanda (western Erie Canal) the coverage was good 6 years ago, I doubt it got worse. Again a lot of the canal is within a few miles of I90.

There may be a few isolated spots where coverage is poor, for the most part there should not be a problem.

[Montanan]

Meanwhile in Canada:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sekL...FfBq4A&index=7

[skalashn]

Well...my boat was launched one week ahead of schedule, and with unseasonably hot weather this week I was able to spend a few days out on the Bay. Incredibly the water was warm enough to swim at 24C (75F), but the mosquitoes are horrible!
There was very little boat traffic and even the most popular anchorages were empty.

[LauraleeG]

Originally Posted by skalashn

Well...my boat was launched one week ahead of schedule, and with unseasonably hot weather this week I was able to spend a few days out on the Bay. Incredibly the water was warm enough to swim at 24C (75F), but the mosquitoes are horrible!
There was very little boat traffic and even the most popular anchorages were empty.

So great!! Are marinas open for pump out etc or beating transients off with sticks and brooms?

[skalashn]

Originally Posted by LauraleeG

So great!! Are marinas open for pump out etc or beating transients off with sticks and brooms?

Our service dock is operating as usual.

[LauraleeG]

Originally Posted by skalashn

Our service dock is operating as usual.

That seems to be hit and miss. People report that north channel marinas are not accepting transients? So not sure about our plans to cruise there this summer... can anyone weigh in on that?

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by skalashn

Well...my boat was launched one week ahead of schedule, and with unseasonably hot weather this week I was able to spend a few days out on the Bay. Incredibly the water was warm enough to swim at 24C (75F), but the mosquitoes are horrible!
There was very little boat traffic and even the most popular anchorages were empty.

Thanks very much for the post and pictures. That must have been great... except for the bugs. My wife is especially 'bugged' by blackflies and skeeters, so no spring cruises together.

Still, about this time last year I was guest crew on a CS36 for about 5 days roaming around eastern L Ontario, viewing the high waters especially in NY.

-sigh-

Anyway, our little boat is almost ready to launch off of its trailer... just waiting for the green light from our yacht club to use our slip.

[Mirage35]

Just checked with Gananoque Municipal Marina (Lake Ontario / Thousand Islands), where we like to stop while moving the boat spring and fall.


They're open to transients as of today.

[skalashn]

Originally Posted by LauraleeG

That seems to be hit and miss. People report that north channel marinas are not accepting transients? So not sure about our plans to cruise there this summer... can anyone weigh in on that?

I hope this madness would subside by July-August when North Channel is best enjoyed...but even if not I think services like water and pumpouts should be available, even if you cannot stay in the marina. We are definitely going this year.

[Kalinka1]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Happy for you ... jealous as all heck, but happy for you .

Come on Mikie tell the truth. Your not really happy. The jealous part ok but really Happy? I probably won't get to our boat this year so beyond jealous. If I knew where Aeni (I know that's not the correct spelling) I might volunteer to go paint the bottom! Stay Well Stay safe Rum is good for the depression!