July - Welland Canal

Navigating the Welland Canal is pretty unexciting once it has been done once. At the end of the article I have some simple instructions to make your transit easy.

Here, from left to right, you see Donna Querenguesser, John Tsantilas and Connie all gazing worshipfully at Skipperbob. Maybe they were blinded by the sun.

This year we were joined by John and Deb Tsantilas from London

Randy Chamberlain

(Randy is the guy with the camera)

and Donna Querenguesser

from Toronto.

Randy and Donna filmed much of the trip to use in a new TV series they are developing through their company Sail TV. Well, Randy did. Donna handled lines, prepped and interviewed crew for segments, set up all the equipment. In the shot above Donna is showing Skipperbob how she intends to massage Randy's neck after his hard day on the water. If he would only put down that expensive Sony camera.

The obstacles you encounter along the canal can be grouped into 3 separate categories:

LOCKS:

BRIDGES:

AND BIG MOTHER@#$%^G BOATS:

Stay on top of the lock waters, under the bridges and as far away from the @#%$#@$@$ ships as you can. You will have no problems.

A full set of photos taken by Randy can be found at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/Skipperbob99/Welland?authkey=gdwh292-Ny0#

SKIPPERBOB'S EASY INSTRUCTIONS FOR TRANSITING THE WELLAND CANAL

The process is pretty straightforward. There is no need to panic and no need to take exceptional measures for boat protection. You need 2 competent crew and good quality fenders. Add a bit of competence and your descent through the locks is a joy.

Get a copy of the pleasure craft seaway guide. Seaway staff hand these out at the first lock but you should read it ahead. Here is the URL for the online version:

http://www.lakelandboating.com/seaway/pleasurecraftguide.pdf

Then set it up like this:

1. Stay at Sugarloaf Marina, Pt. Colborne the night before you depart
2. When you departSugarloaf for the canal tune your radio to channel 14
3. Tie up at the special dock in downtown Pt. Colborne to telephone in and wait for clearance from "Seaway Control". There is a special phone - located several feet away from the building at the dock. Pick up the receiver, tell the controller who you are and how many are aboard.
4. Wait for clearance. Expect a wait of 1 to 6 hours depending on the amount of commercial traffic. If there is a lot of commercial traffic boats have waited 12 hours and more for a slot.
5. Enter each lock and approach the specified wall slowly. I recommend nothing over 1.5 knots and 1 knot is better
6. Seaway staff have ropes arranged along the specified wall slowlys for you. Have a crew member pick up a bow line. You or another crewmember pick up a stern line.
7. Wait while the seaway staff let the water out. It is a good idea to man the helm for this as most of the work of the linehandlers can be taken care of with gently shifts into forward and reverse by the helmsman.

Remember that when you are going down, ie from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario, the first lock you get to is actually Lock 8. The Seaway number the locks starting at the Lake Ontario end.

On the down leg you need two crew and four good fenders. I do not recommend you use the hay bales sold sometimes by the marina staff. You do not need them. Keep a firm control over the lines, preferably have each line wrapped on a winch or cleat to give you some control.