Erie Canal

Erie Canal Opening 2021

I like Cuomo more than I don't but this is definitely a big don't. "Empire Line"??? Is somebody kidding? The Erie Canal is one of the most historic projects in New York. Open the gates and let it run if you must, but it should always be the Erie Canal.

That is unfortunate news. Shorter season and less operating hours...I think I know how this story will end. It is a great trip and glad I was able to make it a few years ago.

It is a great trip, and I don't see this having any effect on the local population's ability to enjoy the canal. They'll still be out there in their small boats and kayaks, maybe more so through early spring since they won't be dealing with big boats blasting through. About the only effects I see are on boats who want to be in their summer home ports for Memorial Day or want to blast through the canal to get to their destinations faster. Guess they'll have to slow down and enjoy the beauty of upstate NY a little longer and maybe have to spend the holiday weekend (and their money) there. The fact is that almost every state is suffering a budget crisis due to the ramifications of Covid 19 because the Fed didn't do it's job. This seems like a pretty good way to make up some of those losses. I don't think it'll have any effect on the number of boats that transit it. It'll just compress them into a shorter time period, making them slow down and spend more time (and money) enjoying the canal. Changing the name though? NO!

It’s easy, charge more on short term passes and keep the same hours. The yachts will pay another $100 to transit the canal from Oswego to Troy.

The problem is in the yachts, with the shorter hours, you won’t be able to make it to a marina every night now and very few places to anchor, so it will be a challenge.

Capt J is correct. Shorten the hours, makes the trip more difficult and longer. Less people will use it. Shorten the hours again, make it even harder and so on and so on until it is done.
My last time though it took 3 days from Oswego to Albany on a 60 ft motor yacht and we were running (slowly) 10 hrs each day. Great experience, but by day 3, you just want some open water in front of you.

Let's keep in mind that none of this is approved or in effect, just one man saying what "may" happen.

Notice to Mariners
https://www.canals.ny.gov/wwwapps/tas/notices/ntm.aspx?id=1622

No change.

People grumble about price hikes more than anything else, but by shortening hours (which it doesn't appear to be happening per post #29) they'd save on manhour and operating costs. It would also bring more money into the communities along the way. Boats would be held up by traffic at the locks which means they wouldn't make it as far each day. They'd have to call ahead to secure dockage and maybe wait an extra day or two where they are. How many making the transit actually venture into the towns along the way except maybe for a quick dinner? You would if you had to spend an extra day or two there. I don't think it would cut the number of people using the canal for transit as those wanting to get to the Great Lakes have limited options.

By shortening hours and by shortening the season, they'd have a very significant impact on loopers. The staying longer would not be an option. In fact, the few who did continue would rush and spend no time at the stops in the canal. It would be a race to get through, but for many it would just eliminate the loop.

Now, all this was from the beginning just conjecture. Read things carefully before accepting them. To say it was considered is fine as I'd think every possible option is considered but the reality appears it wasn't given serious consideration.

Now, I wouldn't be surprised at all if this year was shortened, all subject to the pandemic.

As to time spent in the towns, we visited 9 towns on the way. In order here is the time we spent. 3/4 day + overnight, 1/2 day + overnight, 1.5 days + 2 overnights, 1/2 day + overnight, 1 1/4 day + 2 overnights, 1/2 day + overnight, 2.5 days + 3 overnights, 5/6 day + overnight, 2.25 days + 3 overnights. So, yes, we did explore the towns.

I don't think it would have any effect on Loopers as this is a voyage most have dreamed about for years. If anything it might mean they'd spend fewer days in ports along the Great Lakes to make up for extra time spent in NY. Plus many have already delayed the trip since last year they were blocked at both ends of the lakes. Currently most race to get through, but that wouldn't be possible under the proposed changes. Even transporters would be forced to back down and spend more time on the canal. I commend olderboater for doing it the right way and enjoying the whole trip. Most don't and they miss a lot of beauty, history and local charm. Upstate NY is one of the most diverse and beautiful places in the country. I'd move there in a heartbeat if it weren't that they only have 2 seasons (winter and the fourth of July).

If you delay the opening until July, loopers can't make their trip. Not enough time left. But it's irrelevant as they're not making any change.

The proposal was only for a Memorial Day opening.

Which is a month from the previous timetables and several weeks from today. When we loop, we choose to leave NYC on the day or the day following the canal opening. Take away 3 or 4 weeks and some part of our time on the Great Lakes is gone. We're after every possible day. We also leave Chicago at the latest time we can.

Now the first thing we'd likely change if the opening was delayed, the time you complemented us on spending in various towns along the canal would likely be eliminated. We spent 16 days and we'd likely reduce that to 7 or 8 days. We'd stop when the locks closed, tie up, and be at a lock when they opened in the morning.

Changing the closing date also impacts many boaters who move their boat from the Great Lakes to the South for the winter.

We're in very inconvenient times.

Erie Canal
Boating interests, including those on Great Lakes, oppose Erie Canal changes

3/3 - – BoatUS is sounding the alarm on proposed management changes to the New York State Canal System that, if passed, could trigger negative consequences on the historic waterway for years to come — and not just in New York. Urging immediate engagement by their members are the Michigan Boating Industries Association, the Boating Associations of Ohio, the Lake Erie Marine Trades Association and other Great Lakes stakeholders.

An act has been introduced in the waning days of New York’s annual budget process that allows no opportunity for public input. BoatUS is urging its 44,000 New York members — plus all canal community members and the boaters in many states that use the Erie Canal and others in the canal system for transit in and out of the Great Lakes and Canada — to make their voices heard by insisting that legislators immediately remove Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 30-day budget amendment, TED Bill Part VV, distractingly called the New York State Canal System Revitalization Act.

BoatUS discovered that the proposed act essentially details the canal as a failure, calling it “antiquated and deteriorating” as a result of the lack of commercial shipping activity. Ironically, at the same time it acknowledges that, the “state has not exploited the full potential of the canal system.”

If passed, the act would forever change the operating structure, which would leave management of the canal system even less transparent than it currently is, remove state accountability and forever hinder the economic viability of the canal with weak funding sources.

“For our marine industry, the negative impact will hit many marine dealers and boat owners,” says Nicki Polan, executive director of the Michigan Boating Industries Association. “Here’s just one example: Jefferson Beach Yachts Sales in St. Clair Shores receives many of their large Viking, Sunseeker, Princess and Absolute inventory via the Erie Canal. Plus, many of their customers travel north and south via the canal. It will negatively impact dealers and owners on all five Great Lakes.”

The historic Erie Canal effectively connects the Great Lakes at Buffalo to New York City via the Hudson River at Albany. The canal is 363 miles long and was the first canal in the United States to connect western waterways with the Atlantic. Connecting canals also provided access to the popular Finger Lakes region and Lake Ontario at Rochester.

BoatUS vice president of public affairs Scott Croft is even more direct. “We believe the act’s last-minute introduction during the end of the budget process is an indication of the administration’s strategy to minimize debate and control outcomes,” he says. “To discuss change of this magnitude, we’re asking Gov. Cuomo to engage in an open, transparent process to ensure the future of this historic waterway, not only for recreational boaters in New York and beyond, but for the communities that benefit from it all along its length.”

ERIE CANAL OPEN
Erie canal opened Friday May 21/21
BAD new is the Western section of the Erie Canal is closed at around lock E29 for about two more weeks do to a bank wash out.
If your air draft is under 15.5 feet you can go this way to Lake Erie via Buffalo to avoid going through the Welland Canal.
More bad news is these smaller boats that continue on to Oswego Canal to Lake Ontario then to Welland Canal and if the owner is running his own boat he is not allowed into Canada.
He must stop in Youngtown NY in the Lower Niagara River and hire a Captain and two mate at a cost of $ 1200.00 to take his boat through the Welland Canal to Buffalo and give his boat back.
More BAD news is Lock 17 broke down early this morning and rumor has it may take two weeks to make repairs.
Only a few boat cleared the lock before it broke down.
There are many yachts now stuck in the system
NOTE: any American Yacht that that has a delivery crew delivering the yacht to Great Lakes is allowed to take the yacht through the Welland Canal but must give Canada Customs 48 hours notice before arriving at the Welland Canal.
Anyone heading this way can contact me as I have the forms you must fill out.

LOCK 17

NOTICE TO MARINERS

UPDATE ERIE CANAL – LOCK E-17 LITTLE FALLS

MAY 24, 2021

The New York State Canal Corporation today announced that engineers, lock staff, and contractors are working to repair the lifting mechanism that operates the lower lock gate of Lock E-17 in Little Falls. The full repair is expected to take an extended period as mechanical parts, specific to this historic infrastructure, must be designed and custom fabricated. The Canal Corporation is developing a plan that would allow limited navigation through the lock on a scheduled basis as soon as later this week. Updates will be provided in a timely manner so that mariners can adjust their itineraries accordingly.

Mariners needing assistance should contact Ted Westerling at 518-461-0942.

The Canal Corporation urges all users to register to receive updates through the “Notice to Mariners” notification program at www.canals.ny.gov.

06:21:43PM 5/24/21