New York state Canal system will celebrate bicentenial in 2017

The question I'd have is whether this is going to create extra traffic and, if so, how much. Obviously, hard to know as this is the first 200 year celebration they've had.

vertical clearance?

http://www.canals.ny.gov/boating/bridgeheights.html

I suspect that Erie Canal might have more traffic this year as Canada is 150 years old this year.
Parks Canada is waving lock fees on all canals in Quebec and Ontario and Federal Parks in Canada.
Attached is a press release.

http://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/parks-cana...e-fees-for-canals-in-ontario-quebec-1.2911336

It will be interesting with the double hit of celebrations. Glad we looped in 2016. The celebrations will be nice, but not necessarily the traffic.

The best cruise I ever did was with my family from RI, up the Champlain all the way to Canada and back on our old Tiara a few years back. The canal was awesome except for a rock I hit in Fort Edwards that caused an unplanned stopover at Coyemans landing to get my props repaired (Those folks are life savers). Lock operators were very friendly and helpful. I was amazed at how few boats were on the canal. No problem getting space at night and hardly saw anyone during the day. Truly a boating highlight for me.

I will second that comment Prospective, we took a trip from Syracruse to Oswego and then from Oswego to Baldwinsville, NY and many times we were the only boat locking through.

But I will disagree on the friendly & helpful comment......most of the time the lock master was never around except when he had to go to a different lock station and they weren't real friendly if they even recognized you being there. And helpful, not at all.

Now I am used to the Rideau & Trent where the lockmen and lock masters really enjoyed conversation and would do anything needed, especially in helping with the down cables/ropes. But while spending a couple of weeks at the Baldwinsville Lock I did find out that the reason they can't help is for the liability aspect.
They can't touch your boat and they can't pass you a line, unless it's a life or death situation.

This is because of a large number of lawsuits brought against the NYS Canal System & it's employees.

One story I heard while yapping with the guys in Baldwinsville.....a 40+ foot boat came into a lock and the crew threw a line to the lockman on shore for the purpose of pulling the boat into the side where the crew could grab the down cable. About a week later the lockman & NYS Canal Sytems reveived a lawsuit for millions of dollars for the damage to the boat and medical bills for the crew.
Apparently they got down to New York harbour and were tied up somewhere, when suddenly in the middle of the night they were awakened by the sound of a horn and then a huge crash.....another boat had hit them broadside in the middle of the harbour.

Why in the middle of the harbour ??? The boat came loose from it's moorings and that was because the lockman that pulled the boat over to the edge of the lock had, by his negligence, loosened the lines on the starboard side of the boat and they floated out to the middle of the harbour.

I have tried to find something about this on the net, but to no success so I can only go by what the lockman, actually 3 lockmen told me.

If it's ture or false I'd really like to know.

ERIE CANAL
I was contacted to day by a Marina on the Erie Canal system that I do work with, that the Erie Canal is now under The New York Power Authority.
The have told the marinas that the Erie Canal will NOT OPEN until May 19/17 and close on October 11/17.
They are giving the marinas an early notice and will put the information on the Erie Canal web page in a few weeks.
The reason for the late start is they are making long-overdue investments on canal infrastructure over the next couple years.

Sure glad we did it last year when it opened on May 1.

Meanwhile Welland has it's earliest opening, March 20.

Yes the Welland Canal opened today, I was at opening ceremonies at lock three this morning. They give the Captain of the first ship a TOP HAT every year.
Just a note for any delivery captains making the trip up the canal this year, locks one two three and seven are fully automated now, there are no staff on these locks.
When a yacht arrives they will have a roving crew take you through, expect long delays as there will only three lines men per shift for pleasure craft.

Great to know. I have done the trip from Georgian Bay down to Charleston in 2015 and Georgian Bay down to Palm Beach in 2016 for owners, and it has always been fun to go through the Canal System. Little tediuous sometimes in the idle speed zones, but also gives time for Captain's to sit back and relax a little bit and enjoy the sights and sounds. Sylvan Beach Terminal Wall is still my favorite place to stop on my way down, and the locals at Schenectady Yacht Club certainly know how to throw an end of the year party for southbounders. Thanks for the heads up!!!

UPDATE ERIE CANAL
Notice to Mariners
2017 Navigation Season

March 21, 2017



Mariners are advised that, conditions permitting, all portions of the New York State Canal System are scheduled to open Friday, May 19, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. for the 2017 navigation season.

Additionally, in commemoration of the bicentennial of the start of Erie Canal construction in 1817, there will be no tolls or fees for recreational use of the Canal System in 2017.

The hours of operation for the 2017 season are as follows:

• May 19 to October 11: 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

In addition to the schedule listed above, the following locks and lift bridges will operate on demand from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. from May 19 to September 13:

• Lock C-1, Halfmoon
• Lock E-7, Niskayuna
• Lock E-23, Brewerton
• Lock O-1, Phoenix
• Lock O-2, Fulton
• Lock O-3, Fulton
• Lock E-24, Baldwinsville
• Main Street Lift Bridge, Fairport
• Lock E-32, Pittsford
• Lock E-33, Henrietta
• Spencerport Lift Bridge
• Adams Basin Lift Bridge
• Park Avenue Lift Bridge, Brockport
• Main Street Lift Bridge, Brockport
• Holley Lift Bridge
• Hulberton Lift Bridge
• Ingersoll Street Lift Bridge, Albion
• Main Street Lift Bridge, Albion
• Eagle Harbor Lift Bridge
• Knowlesville Lift Bridge
• Medina Lift Bridge
• Middleport Lift Bridge
• Gasport Lift Bridge
• Exchange Street Lift Bridge, Lockport
• Lock E-34/35, Lockport
• Lock CS-1, Cayuga
• Lock CS-2/3, Seneca Falls
• Lock CS-4, Waterloo

In addition to the structures listed above, Locks E-2 through E-6 and Guard Gate #2 in the Waterford Flight will operate on demand from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. from Thursday through Monday from May 19 to September 13. During the same period, the hours of operation for the Waterford Flight will be 7:00 am to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Due to roving operations, some delays may be experienced during certain periods in the Waterford Flight.

Vessels are required to arrive at a lock at least 15 minutes prior to closing to ensure being locked through, and at a bridge at least 5 minutes prior to ensure an opening.

For updates and information, please visit Canals.NY.gov or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

Canal Corporation

TO TRANSIT ERIE CANAL DURING "CLOSED TIMES"
May 1/17 to May 19/17 & October 11/17 to October 31/17
Requirement is to have insurance of
$ 300,000 if boat is self operated
$ 1,000,000 if boat is operated by a captain or is commercial boat
the NYS Canal has to be named additional insured during the times the boat is in the system.
Also they need to have the information on length, type of boat, configuration ie sail, power, etc., and direction you are traveling.
Marina owners had a meeting last week with the NYS Canal and this is what they came up with.
Also you must contact them before you make your trip with the information.

Who do you contact? Do you have that contact information? Do you call the NYS Canal Corp 800 number or another number? Or email?

I see the Commission is scheduled to meet on the 20th. I assume that's when this will all be formally adopted.

It looks like they're trying to address some kind of a problem, but I have no idea what the problem was that they're fixing (think I figured it out below). I have no problem with these rules, but I know that many who cruise the canal and who do the loop will have issues with them.

These rules are just for the closed times? I guess I don't understand what closed is then. You have me now very confused, Rodger. lol. I guess the first couple of days and last few. Now, I think I've got it. They've had a problem with people at the start and then getting boats cleared out before they completely closed the canal. So, it's close early but give you two weeks to get out.

I do have the contact person name and phone number but did not want to post online.
You have to contact the NYS Canal Corp.
There should be an ALERT sent out in a few days on their web page.
This is only required for the closed times not during regular navigation time.

If we were doing the loop this year, we'd definitely hit the canals the first two days.

ERIE CANAL
Notice to Mariners

Oswego Canal - Oswego

May 25, 2017



Mariners are advised that the water level of Lake Ontario is five (5) feet above normal. This has reduced the overhead clearance of Bridge O-14 (Bridge Street) from its normal of 26.5 feet to 21.5 feet, still higher than the governing height of 21 feet for the Eastern Erie Canal and Oswego Canal.

Mariners are advised to check with their destination marina on Lake Ontario or the St. Lawrence River to ensure that dockage is still available. The 48-hour limit for mooring on canal walls is waived on the entire Oswego Canal and on the Erie Canal in Brewerton for those mariners who need more time to make other docking arrangements.