Soo Locks

[Josey Wales]

Hello Everybody. I’m looking for some advice regarding the locks at Sault Ste. Marie. I’ll need to pass through the locks on my way into Lake Superior in early June this year. I’m a singlehanded sailor on a Tartan 34 and I have a lot of lock experience....but not the Soo locks. Do you have any advice or insights I need to be aware of? Thanks.

[carlosproa]

No advice here, but boy you stirred some old buried memories back in ‘82 that was the last time I passed they there back and forth the US/Canada twin cities

[skalashn]

I went last year through the Canadian locks on a 36ft Beneteau. Singlehanded upbound and with crew downbound. Very easy. The lockmaster suggested I use midships line instead of bow line to make it easier and it was a great idea. Just loop the lines around vertical cables and enjoy the ride. The lock is very gentle.

Note that as a Parks Canada facility the lock may not open on schedule this year. Updates and locking instructions here. If you are coming from the US, you do not need to check into Canada to use the lock.

I think early June is still winter on Superior.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Josey.

Soo Locks at Sault Sainte Marie:
➥ https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/on/s...urite-safety/a

George Kemp Downtown Marina ➥ Harbor Guide

FAQs:
There are no fees to lock through.
Day and overnight mooring are prohibited.
The lock is ”normally” open daily, from May 15 to October 15 each year.
Hours of Operation
May 15 to June 14 - 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (7 days per week)
June 15 to September 3 - 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (7 days per week)
September 4 to October 15 - 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (7 days per week)
Contact the Lockmaster on VHF Channel 14 @ "VDX 23 Canadian Canal" (starting May 15) for lock through instructions.
Lockmaster office phone: 705-941-2003
Parks Canada office phone: 705-941-6262
There is a 21-foot difference between the levels of Lakes Superior and Huron.
The lock is 77 metres long (250 feet) by 15.4 metres wide (50 feet) with a minimum 3 metres draft (9.8 feet).

The Soo Locks reopened, to Great Lakes freighter traffic, early March 25TH, and the upbound H. Lee White slid in to claim the honors, as the first big laker to go through the Poe Lock, as the 2020 shipping season got underway.

[CFS Klopas]

What Gord posted above is for the Canadian lock which is recreational only. The big American locks also take small boats and are free. Read the Coast Pilot 6, which has everything you need to know and a bunch of stuff you don't need to know. https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/publ...lot/index.html

[Mike OReilly]

Recreational traffic is encouraged to use the Canadian locks at the Sault, but the large commercial locks on the American side are also open to boats like ours.

Does anyone know if the American (Soo) locks are currently open to recreational traffic? All the Seaway locks are operating for commercial traffic right now, but will not take any recreational boats through due to Covid-19 restrictions.

The Canadian locks at the Sault are also currently closed due to Covid-19. There is no current schedule to reopen them, but hopefully it will happen sooner, rather than later.

[CFS Klopas]

After some research, the USACE is saying they are open for recreational, or at least no listed restrictions, though nothing first hand.

[Josey Wales]

Thanks everybody. This is my first post to Cruisers Forum and, wow, am I impressed with the feedback. Very helpful. Thanks.

[Adelie]

Welcome