Editor's Note (me): at home I had to dig back into the archives but found some appropriate pics still in photobucket....
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Depends on the day (ie: weekends - locks busy or not - so far this year, most the lockmasters say that the traffic is down but....)
Locks are opening at about 8.30 AM and closing at 7PM.
Here is a typical run -
Barrie to Lock 42 - about 1.5 hours.
Lock 42 to Lock 45 - best 5.5 hrs and maybe up to 6.5 on busy days
Lock 45 to Chimney Bay - 45 min to 1 hour (max)
Things to watch for past Lock 45 (Pt Severn).
First the buoys reverse from downstream to upstream
Heavy current just outside lock and under the 400 HWY. Buoys when first sighted under the bridge are intimidating but easy to navigate if not having to pass another vessel (which is almost impossible with a boat of any size).
This is actually southbound....but you get the idea.
Remember it's your stern that turns so be cognizant of your stern as you navigate under the bridge.
Late afternoons, the sun is right in your eyes. Know which buoys have the flat top or the cone top so you don't have to rely on colours.
Little tricky but head around the point and up to Potatoe Channel. (remember downstream boats have the right of way so you will have to wait if any oncoming traffic).
Potatoe Channel
Pass thru Potatoe channel and then head in a direct line to the CC marker. Make sure you know which side to pass on and watch for the two yellow bouys on your port side - all bad with a shoal so you pass on the NE side with the CC Marker to your Port.
Head over to Present Island (?) (I forget the buoy number at the end of Beausoleil (which you can head left towards Giant's Tomb or right towards Honey Harbour).
Swing to the NE keeping Beausoleil to your port, and take the channel up towards Chimney Bay.
Take the small cut at the very top (Big Dog Channel will be on your starboard side). At this point take it slow and just keep an eye out for shoals.
At Chimney Bay there are three basic anchorages.
One on your port side... one behind the little Island at the very top which you can put a lot of boats in.
The larger Anchorage at Chimney Bay:
and one to the right of the little island where you can get three or so boats in.
The smaller one at Chimney Bay....
Have fun.
Note: you can go thru Big Dog (not recommended for 3860 or 4260 as it can get very shallow) and take the short cut to Honey Harbour
You can see Beausoleil on left: Chimney Bay at the top end and you can also make out Big Dog Channel heading to Honey Harbour.
which comes out in front of the Delawanna Inn or take the long route back down and around Turning Rock. If you take the long route, make sure you keep the buoys on the proper side and then head around Turning Rock towards Picnic Island and Honey Harbour.
The Delawanna Inn docks (no power or water).
Have fun.
