Quebec City to Trent Severn Waterway

[Nauta Dream]

Hi All

New to the forum, but not new to cruising and boating.

Looking at bringing a 40' powerboat, express cruiser from Quebec City to the start of the Trent Severn Waterway.

Does any one know approximate travel times. Not looking to sight see

Thanks

Mike

[NaClyDog]

No pleasure craft are currently permitted in the St. Lawrence Seaway locks so that will pose a bit a problem for you.


The actual distance is about 270 nm so you would need to calculate your cruising speed and add any lock wait times.

[Nauta Dream]

I thought that I read a couple of the locks are using a reservation system?

Could possibly go the route up through the Rideau canal no?

[NaClyDog]

Sorry, can't speak to that. I've only been on the Ottawa River in small boats / canoes and nothing more than local boating.



The Rideau Canal is open but things appear to be limited in where you can stop and lock hours of operation. The manual locks on the Rideau would add to your time tremendously. Just looked up an estimate and pre-covid it would have taken you an average of 43 hours of travel time alone to get from the Ottawa River to Lake Ontario alone.

[Nauta Dream]

forgot that 2 of the locks on the St.Lawrence Seaway are on the American side. Not sure this is aloud right now under covid.

[NaClyDog]

Yea, sorry. Looks like I missed the bulletin when they announced the re-opening for pleasure craft.


https://greatlakes-seaway.com/wp-con...0200605_en.pdf


Cheers.

[AiniA]

Depends on how fast your boat cruises and how long you want to go each day. We did it in about a week on a 35' sailboat. Unless you have a trawler you should be able to go faster than we did. Well, even with a trawler you should be a bit faster.

It is my understanding that you do not actually enter the US when you use the two American locks as long as you keep going and don't stop until you are back in Canada.

[Nauta Dream]

We are in an express cruiser. We will travel at 28-30 mph when we can.
Just need to get official clarification on the US locks on if we can transit them and if we would be required to quarantine.
We don't plan on getting off at the US side locks. This is more get there as quick as we can trip.
We are actually heading to Georgian Bay with the boat

[AiniA]

I don't see a problem for you.

[Lodesman]

Originally Posted by Nauta Dream

We are in an express cruiser. We will travel at 28-30 mph when we can.

I think there are speed limits for the seaway. Have you downloaded the pleasure craft guide?: https://greatlakes-seaway.com/en/rec...e-craft-guide/

[Mike OReilly]

Looks like you got all the info you need. Here's the latest bulletin. They are open to pleasure craft, but you do need to make an appointment.

https://greatlakes-seaway.com/wp-con...0200616_en.pdf

I don't think the whole border closure is an issue for the Seaway since you don't have to clear into the other country when transiting the Canada -- USA -- Canada locks.

There is a speed limit on the Welland portion of the Seaway, but I don't think the lower section has one, except on approach and in certain limited areas.

[Nauta Dream]

Perfect thanks for the info. Just waiting to hear if the deal will close for sure.