The Welland canl

[millertime]

Any info on transiting the Welland Canal from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie on a 40 ft. sailboat. Suggested crew size, timing?

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, millertime.

Vessels up bound require a minimum of 3 crew members, and vessels down bound require a minimum of 2 crew members.
➥ http://www.greatlakes-seaway.com/en/...craftguide.pdf

[Mike OReilly]

I went the other way a few years ago. As Gord says, need a 3-crew minimum for up-bound. More would make it even easier. It’s fairly straightforward, but tiring.

Have good gloves for the lines; some are pretty rough and ugly. Upbound turbulence is said to be significant in some of the locks, so a fender board is probably a good idea.

I think it took us about nine hours to do the whole system (14 from time we checked in). We ended up going through the night, which in some ways is easier.

[rognvald]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

I went the other way a few years ago. As Gord says, need a 3-crew minimum for up-bound. More would make it even easier. It’s fairly straightforward, but tiring.

Have good gloves for the lines; some are pretty rough and ugly. Upbound turbulence is said to be significant in some of the locks, so a fender board is probably a good idea.

I think it took us about nine hours to do the whole system (14 from time we checked in). We ended up going through the night, which in some ways is easier.

We did the trip last Summer heading to the St. Lawerence River. Mike has given some good advice. I would only add that a boat hook is helpful to fend off the walls during the turbulence when the locks fill/empty. We did the trip during daylight hours and I hated every moment-- especially waiting in the current for the locks to open, negotiating among the frantic, largely clueless power boaters and the incredible boredom of the experience. Do you like getting blood drawn? Good luck and safe sailing . . . Rognvald