Sailing from Baltimore to Lake Ontario

[Corrado]

Hello everyone,

How long would it take to sail from Baltimore to Lake Ontario (on a Pearson 322, with 4.5 foot draft), more or less?

I’d appreciate so much to have a general idea from someone who has done it.

Thank you !!

Corrado

[psk125]

Which way do you want to go? There are canals that are somewhat direct and there is the St. Lawrence, which would be a long way. It would be a lot faster, and possibly cheaper, to truck it.

[SVTatia]

Plan for 4 weeks, I'm sure it can be done in less time. But....

[JoetheCobbler]

Originally Posted by Corrado

Hello everyone,

How long would it take to sail from Baltimore to Lake Ontario (on a Pearson 322, with 4.5 foot draft), more or less?

I’d appreciate so much to have a general idea from someone who has done it.

Thank you !!

Corrado

I did that Trip last August , from Rumbley, MD Eastern shore to lake Ontario NY.
Solo,32' cc sloop , took me 3-4 weeks, dropped the mast at castleton on the Hudson.
Much less expensive than trucking,and a lot more fun.
I've done that run many times in the past 20

[David Mathis]

Going up the Hudson River then across the Erie Canal to Buffalo where you will enter Lake Erie is a nice relaxing trip with lots of great scenery and many small towns to stop for the night. It's definitely worth the trip. Another interesting route, although longer, is to continue north on the Hudson River to the Champlain Canal then into Lake Champlain. Continue north for the entire 122 mile length of Lake Champlain. You will cross the border and keep heading north to the Chambly Canal. Nice stops include St. John at the north end of the lake then Chambly. Keep heading north to Sorel then take a hard left to head to Montreal. From there, you'll continue heading south west, go through Thousand Islands, and enter Lake Ontario. As stated in previous posts, allow a month but you can make it in less time if you keep moving every day. Several of the waterfront communities are worth visiting for a day or two. You'll enjoy the trip much more if you take your time rather than treat it as a transport.

[wayne.b]

Originally Posted by Corrado

Hello everyone,

How long would it take to sail from Baltimore to Lake Ontario (on a Pearson 322, with 4.5 foot draft), more or less?

I’d appreciate so much to have a general idea from someone who has done it.

Thank you !!

Corrado

===


Breaking it down by segment: Baltimore to NY Harbor, 4-5 days; NY Harbor to Waterford, NY allowing one day for unstepping and stowing mast, 4 days; Waterford, NY to Oswego (Lake Ontario), 5 days allowing 1 day for re-stepping mast at Oswego.



Total of 13 to 14 days assuming no weather or mechanical delays.

[Howler]

A couple of suggestions included going upstream on the St. Lawrence river. This may be fine for a power boat but for a sailboat, it's extremely challenging because of the currents, which can exceed 6 knots downstream of Montreal. Subtract that from your hull speed and multiply by the 3,000 nautical miles (rough estimate), it's going to take a long time. The other direction is very doable if you ever return to the East Coast.

The Hudson River and New York State Canal System are your best option. One suggestion included taking the Erie Canal all the way to Buffalo. That's a lot of extra distance, and you'd need to sail further west on Lake Erie to pick up the Welland Canal (which can be frustrating for pleasure craft) in order to get back onto Lake Ontario. Oswego is quicker.

One last thing, carrying a mast for several weeks can be challenging. It gets in the way and makes tying up in the locks challenging because one end will be sticking forward or aft of the boat. I know some people have their mast shipped from where it's taken down to where they end Lake Ontario, or all the way to their home port.

[Rumrace]

Mast down mast up the route to Lake Champlain longer but just darn pretty. From Lake Champlain you sail the thousand Islands stop in Brandt Castle. Or Oswego and great town at the west south end of the islands. Watch out for Lakers. Either way will take less than 2 weeks. Check ahead for canal construction can determine which route. Bring your mast, don’t trust it with any landlubber. Go buy bag of Terry towel rags keep weight off stanchions, hatches wood toe rails and alike. Foam blocks are great Mark all your lines spreader. The instrument takes near nothing to destroy it so great time to remove it to clean connectors make any repairs. Plan 2 days where you step the mast. If you’ve not sailed Lake Ontario welcome you’re in for a treat. It’s know as a sailors lake. Be safe.

[LeeV]

Originally Posted by David Mathis

Going up the Hudson River then across the Erie Canal to Buffalo where you will enter Lake Erie is a nice relaxing trip with lots of great scenery and many small towns to stop for the night. It's definitely worth the trip. Another interesting route, although longer, is to continue north on the Hudson River to the Champlain Canal then into Lake Champlain. Continue north for the entire 122 mile length of Lake Champlain. You will cross the border and keep heading north to the Chambly Canal. Nice stops include St. John at the north end of the lake then Chambly. Keep heading north to Sorel then take a hard left to head to Montreal. From there, you'll continue heading south west, go through Thousand Islands, and enter Lake Ontario. As stated in previous posts, allow a month but you can make it in less time if you keep moving every day. Several of the waterfront communities are worth visiting for a day or two. You'll enjoy the trip much more if you take your time rather than treat it as a transport.

Without stepping the mast? We’re 75’ at the top of our cat.

[Rumrace]

You have to step the mast. We are 54’
There is a list of spots to step your mast either way. Book ahead. If you want to sail up around the Maritimes it’s amazing but 700n out of your way.
Actually if you’re not in a rush turn right at Chaplain visit Montreal La Belle Provance.
Old Montreal for dinner yum.
Brandt Castle has docks if you can get on one. Further on west the Admiralty Island chain offer some great anchorages. Kingston great harbour to stock up. Really nice town.
Leaving Kingston eastern Ontario you usually get great winds off shore to Brighton the face on in irons from westerlies. It’s 187nm to Toronto from Kingston. Whitby offers good shelter very nice club. If you stop in Toronto few visitor slips anywhere but west end of Toronto Island chain from harbour enter Muggs channel tie up on the wall plug in and pay the park a low fee. The Hanlans Ferry is close right into downtown. Or Otter Sea Cab

[Dave Lochner]

We left Annapolis on June 8, today is June 18 and we are in Waterford, NY ready to enter the Erie Canal tomorrow. It will take us 4 or 5 days to reach Oswego, NY and Lake Ontario.

We had one day of weather delay, too windy to take the mast down. Went from the east end of the C&D Canal straight through to Half Moon Bay on the Hudson (just north of Tappan Zee). And took a rest day there.

The trip will end up being about 2 weeks, but we didn't stop to smell the roses and we had favorable weather along the way.

[seabreez]

Originally Posted by Rumrace

You have to step the mast. We are 54’
There is a list of spots to step your mast either way. Book ahead. If you want to sail up around the Maritimes it’s amazing but 700n out of your way.
Actually if you’re not in a rush turn right at Chaplain visit Montreal La Belle Provance.
Old Montreal for dinner yum.
Brandt Castle has docks if you can get on one. Further on west the Admiralty Island chain offer some great anchorages. Kingston great harbour to stock up. Really nice town.
Leaving Kingston eastern Ontario you usually get great winds off shore to Brighton the face on in irons from westerlies. It’s 187nm to Toronto from Kingston. Whitby offers good shelter very nice club. If you stop in Toronto few visitor slips anywhere but west end of Toronto Island chain from harbour enter Muggs channel tie up on the wall plug in and pay the park a low fee. The Hanlans Ferry is close right into downtown. Or Otter Sea Cab

I think you mean Boldt Castle on Heart Island...

[Rumrace]

That’s exactly what I meant. I was making a Brandt meats kielbasa loaf and my stomach temporarily took control of my brain. Or it was the mustard.

Thanks