New York State Canal Fee's reinstated!

No trips north for me...

I predict they will see a drastic downturn in numbers of boats using the system
 
Something tells me your not leaving the marina with the big boat this year anyway! ;)
 
That's a shame, but I wouldn't go nuts about it. The fees are quite cheap. And there's a bigger issue afoot here - some want the Thruway Authority to divest itself of the Canal System, citing the "fact" that the canals are only used by rich boaters and contribute little to the revenue/upkeep of the Thruways...

I wrote a letter to those Communists at AAA which (of course) they didn't print, in response to an article to that effect in their recent magazine. I reminded them that (1) MOST of the boaters that use the NYS Canals are blue collar people with relatively small boats and pontoons, and (2) people like me DRIVE ON THE THRUWAY with our trailerable boats, paying tolls along the way, in order to drop our boats in the canals and adjoining waterways, and (3) larger non-trailerable boats still patronize those towns along the Canal (which coincidentally are also along the Thruway) as they pass by, which could use all the income they can get these days. I reminded the AAA people that if NY doesn't want me to spend my recreational boating dollars here I'll be happy to trailer my Glastron to some other more boating-friendly state, pay its highway tolls and patronize its merchants instead...

So, perhaps paying the tolls on the Canal is worth it in the long run, if the bean counters in Albany will then leave things alone regarding stewardship of/funding for the Canal System...
 
Mike that seems like a bit of an over reaction IMHO. Heck we get quite a bit for the money. Just one VZ crossing is quite expensive isn't it?
 
I am not surprised at all that they will be charging tolls again this year. Boater or non boater, it would not be right to raise the road tolls and then keep the canals operating for free. Most of the people that I know who use the canals via trailer or traveling there on their boats won't let the nominal tolls stop them from doing so. I think that the lock tenders would argue about having to play cashier, but that's only at the ends of the systems and is no big deal.

Even at the 2005 rates it's a bargain and well worth it considering all of the great places there are to visit and to tie up for free. Heck, free power and water at some! Compared to a lot of marinas we have seen and paid for overnights, the terminal and community docks along the canals are excellent! We go at least two or three long weekends per season and it is always worth it.

The toll revenue does not even put a small dent in the operating expenses of the canals. We are talking about close to 200 year old infastructure in some locations! Right now the Thruway really is the best "partner" agency for the canals considering the resources, equipment and expertise.

But, I am for one optomistic that the canal corp can pursue other sources of revenue such as effective and appropriate land leasing, or in some cases, sales to become more independant in the future. It would be nice to see the them become more of a Parks and Rec type of entity like Canada has and shed the old commercial / industrial personna all together and continue to evolve into the great destination and jewel in the upstate area that we all know it is.
 
Its this thats going to hurt the canal..2008 season will be 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM daily. Who wants to stop boating at 7pm in the summer and not get going untill 9am. I don't want to waste my time just sitting around. When their hours were 7am to 10pm. [:(!]
 
Ooh, I hadn't read that. I wonder why the change? One would assume its the budget crunch...

You upstate boaters had better make your voices heard to your Congressmen and let them know that you expect better services in return for your tax dollars. If that canal goes kaput it will be another big nail in the coffin of upstate NY as a desirable place to live/play - its one of the last things some of those towns can depend on...
 
The canal is the only way, I can get off of Oneida Lake and that sucks. [:-banghead]
 
I wonder if the lock equipment can be converted to be coin operated?
 
John, puhleeezzzeeee.... Can't we have EZpass? I mean I want to be able to pass through the lock at 10 mph ok?
 
But then they can track your movements via the EZpass Dan!!!!! Les might get on our case about that ;)
 
There's an article in one of the boating magazines this month, I think its "Northeast Boating" (formerly "Offshore") about a ship where they hazed new sailors by telling them to go down to Engineering and get "the key to the locks."

Dammit if the engineer hadn't crafted some big obnoxious key for the kid to bring back up!!!
 
They can track my movements all they want. Right there with the tidybowl guy.
 
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