After years of puttering around the Chesapeake my wife and I are planning to spend most of July and August on the St. Lawrence River via the NY Canal System. Any suggestions on best cruising guides, anchorages, dining, and other must see opportunities would be greatly appreciated.
St Lawrence
- Thread starter kbeachy46
- Start date
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- May 25, 2003
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- 11591
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Both Bolt Castle and Singer Castle are a must when on the St Lawrence..
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2001
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It would help if you posted your cruising speed, how far you can go on a tank of fuel and how far you want to go each day.
You should get the Hudson River Cruising Guide
http://www.amazon.com/Cruising-Guid...3&sr=8-2&keywords=hudson+river+cruising+guide
And the canal guide:
http://www.canals.ny.gov/boating/cruisingguide.html
Other helpful links:
http://www.offshoreblue.com/cruising/hudson-river.php
http://www.canals.ny.gov/index.shtml
You should also post on the HRCC forum. I have done the trip and can give you more info once I know the answers to the above questions.
You should get the Hudson River Cruising Guide
http://www.amazon.com/Cruising-Guid...3&sr=8-2&keywords=hudson+river+cruising+guide
And the canal guide:
http://www.canals.ny.gov/boating/cruisingguide.html
Other helpful links:
http://www.offshoreblue.com/cruising/hudson-river.php
http://www.canals.ny.gov/index.shtml
You should also post on the HRCC forum. I have done the trip and can give you more info once I know the answers to the above questions.
Our normal cruise speed is 12-14 knots with a range of 270 nautical miles. This will be our first trip as retirees not on a schedule. If we slow down to 7 knots our range should double to 540 nautical miles. I expect we will do a mix depending each days destination goal and distance to next diesel stop. I anticipate that each travel day will be leisurely and relaxed so we will cover in the range of 50 miles per day.
Thanks for the publication suggestions. They are exactly what we needed.
Thanks for the publication suggestions. They are exactly what we needed.
To truly enjoy the area, you'll want to go to the Canadian side also. Passports will help make the check-in process go more smoothly. I-68's (a document you get from US Customs & Border Patrol) will also make checking back into the US much easier and quicker. With an I-68, you can just call in. You have to go to a US CBP office to apply.
When you leave Oswego, it's about 50 miles or so across Lake Ontario to Kingston, Ontario. That would be a nice starting point for you. Its a "cosmopolitan" small town, with a very nice water front and municipal marina. Lot's of good restaurants and pubs. You can then work your way northeast (down river), stopping at every other place you want to see or anchor. That way you have the other half to visit on the way back up river.
In general, the Canadians do a nicer job with their municipal waterfronts, marinas and island parks. There a number of nice islands with crib docks and mooring fields that are part of the Parks Canada system. There are a couple of New York State park islands that are nice too.
For the most part, the area is well bouyed, especially the commercial shipping channels. With good charts/chart plotter and cruising guides, you shouldn't have any problems. If you do happen to hit bottom though, its very unforgiving. Its mostly granite, and can go from 200 feet to 2 feet very quickly.
If its a warm summer, the water temperature may get into the high 60's by August, so you'll be able to enjoy the crystal clear water.
Another thought is taking the Rideau Canal north from Kingston all the way around, through Ottawa, to come out down river just southwest of Montreal. You could then work your way back up the St. Lawrence to Lake Ontario.
What ever you decide to do, I'm sure you'll enjoy the trip.
When you leave Oswego, it's about 50 miles or so across Lake Ontario to Kingston, Ontario. That would be a nice starting point for you. Its a "cosmopolitan" small town, with a very nice water front and municipal marina. Lot's of good restaurants and pubs. You can then work your way northeast (down river), stopping at every other place you want to see or anchor. That way you have the other half to visit on the way back up river.
In general, the Canadians do a nicer job with their municipal waterfronts, marinas and island parks. There a number of nice islands with crib docks and mooring fields that are part of the Parks Canada system. There are a couple of New York State park islands that are nice too.
For the most part, the area is well bouyed, especially the commercial shipping channels. With good charts/chart plotter and cruising guides, you shouldn't have any problems. If you do happen to hit bottom though, its very unforgiving. Its mostly granite, and can go from 200 feet to 2 feet very quickly.
If its a warm summer, the water temperature may get into the high 60's by August, so you'll be able to enjoy the crystal clear water.
Another thought is taking the Rideau Canal north from Kingston all the way around, through Ottawa, to come out down river just southwest of Montreal. You could then work your way back up the St. Lawrence to Lake Ontario.
What ever you decide to do, I'm sure you'll enjoy the trip.
- Joined
- May 25, 2003
- RO Number
- 11591
- Messages
- 1,986
When in the river, this is a great spot to spend the day. If the wind is not from the west. Its big sand bay on the west side of wolfe island...
- Joined
- May 25, 2003
- RO Number
- 11591
- Messages
- 1,986
How far east on the river are you planning on going?.
Im not sure why Hogan wanted you to post in HHRC when your looking for information on the St Lawrence?..
Your in the right spot here.
Im not sure why Hogan wanted you to post in HHRC when your looking for information on the St Lawrence?..
Your in the right spot here.
- Joined
- May 25, 2003
- RO Number
- 11591
- Messages
- 1,986
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2001
- RO Number
- 3813
- Messages
- 9,936
Because he is coming from the Chesapeake up the Hudson, and a number of HRCC RO's have done that trip. I'm not telling him to exclusively post there, but to do so, as well.
I doubt that you could help out regarding that leg of the trip.
Evening,
We've been living on the Rideau Canal in Manotick. ON for the last 10 years and have been through the system numerous times. LOTS to see (can you tell I'm biased). Can be easily and fairly thoroughly seen and enjoyed in a relaxed three weeks. Ottawa to Montreal is two or three days with one lock station at Carillon (sp?). No idea of Montreal to Iroquois, ON.
Enjoy.
We've been living on the Rideau Canal in Manotick. ON for the last 10 years and have been through the system numerous times. LOTS to see (can you tell I'm biased). Can be easily and fairly thoroughly seen and enjoyed in a relaxed three weeks. Ottawa to Montreal is two or three days with one lock station at Carillon (sp?). No idea of Montreal to Iroquois, ON.
Enjoy.
I spent my first 32 May-October seasons living on Friendly Island (right across from Alexandria Bay). Here's the current owner's web site
http://privateislandparadise.yolasite.com/picture-gallery.php
To me, the Thousand Islands is still the most beautiful area in the world. It's also extremely rich in history. This monthly online magazine provides great insight to that history and island living.
thousandislandslife.com
http://privateislandparadise.yolasite.com/picture-gallery.php
To me, the Thousand Islands is still the most beautiful area in the world. It's also extremely rich in history. This monthly online magazine provides great insight to that history and island living.
thousandislandslife.com
They don't do I-68's anymore, you can apply for a Nexus pass which covers water and road crossings, but that takes quite some time (waiting 3 months now for my renewal interview!) and would probably be overkill for a one summer trip. Passports will work fine on both sides of the border, there are videophones in several US locations and for Canada, a simple phone call is all that is required.
- Joined
- May 25, 2003
- RO Number
- 11591
- Messages
- 1,986
When did the do away with the I-68's?