Great Lakes to Atlantic via Erie this fall?

Problem is going to be Canada. Have to get through the Welland Canal, which means clearing into Canada and out. Right now Rodger says they're opening to U.S. Citizens July 15th, but expects that to be delayed. As for the Erie Canal, I think that will open by Aug 10th.

The only alternative is get the boat under 19'6 and go down the rivers, the locks on the Illinois are closed until around November 1st, which is pretty darn late to get a yacht South.

Really, nobody knows for certain. Could ship it on a freighter out of the Great Lakes (Possibly).

If the boat is an express cruiser (under 14') you can enter the Erie Canal at Tonawanda NY (near Buffalo) and avoid Canada. It's a beautiful ride.

I've done it in a 68'' Searay express. Lowest height is above 15', it's either 15'2" or 15'6, I cannot remember. It was VERY scenic, but I wouldn't do it in anything over 55'. I felt like I was going down a canal in Fort Lauderdale for 3 days. Very narrow.

Agreed. I did it in a 45' Formula. One of the most enjoyable and relaxed rides of my career. I believe your air draft #s are correct, depending on the pool height, with something over 14' the minimum.

That would've been much more enjoyable. For 3 days we couldn't do more than 7.5 knots because we sucked too much water and had like 15' on either side of the boat most of the day. It was a beautiful trip, a lot of really nice/neat towns and each city had dockage on the seawall and shorepower at each town.

For the first day we didn't realize that the "guard gate" or whatever they call that big steel door like thing hanging in the air, was at the minimum clearance for each pool, so we slowed down at every bridge that looked iffy, and there were several, until we realized that once we cleared the guard gate, we could clear everything past it. LOLOLOL

I hope that Canada makes an exception to allow U.S. yachts through the canal, why can't they make an exception and just not allow anyone to get off......tie up at the seawall for the night......tie up on the seawall the next night, and leave.

I'd say it's because when you make an exception everyone seems to think they're the exception. Remember that as our country opened everyone was advised to keep maintaining social distance and wear masks, but it wasn't made the rule. Results: massive crowds at the beaches and bars. Canada's concern is their citizen's lives not the convenience of our boaters.

Now that I'm moving into retirement I'd love to do that trip. Have been considering a large express vs a smaller trawler just for that purpose, clearing the Tonawonga bridge, also the Rideau and Trent-Severn. I've been in the area working a large yacht before, now want to do the small trips on my own.

Well, you can't go through Chicago until October 30 due to lock closures.

I took a new Ameican yacht down Welland Canal last week from Ohio going to Rochester and the delivery captain brought the trade in back up canal two days later.
He had to have bill of sale for both boats when he arrived for customs.
I have another American boat from Michigan that is sitting in Buffalo for three weeks now with a delivery crew going to Clayton NY until Oswego canal opens Aug 10/20 and customs will not let him into Canada.
I am getting calls every day from Americans who want to get through.
There are many Canadians store their boats in the States foe the winter and what they are doing is the Ameican captain brings boat across the Detroit River to Canada with a chase boat and Canada Customs meets them at the marina in Canada he clears boat in and jumps on chase boats and returns to the States. I have three American captain's who are going to contact Canada Customs to see if there is away to get private yachts through canal

Sounds almost thebDetroit of the roaring 20's running booze. Grand dad taught them well. Lol. Have to get something across the border Detroit will figure out how.

The bulk of the deaths in Canada are in Quebec and Ontario. None in the Territories (too cold) as we have discovered. We have not had to quarantine in Iqaluit - pumping the last of their fuel supplies tonight. Then back to Gothab.
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html#a1

This is from Canada Customs web site
https://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/services/covid/menu-eng.html

Information for Foreign Boaters
Information for foreign boaters
Unless you are exempt, you cannot currently enter Canadian waters (territorial sea and internal waters) or boundary waters for discretionary (non-essential) reasons. These reasons include:

• touring
• sightseeing
• pleasure fishing

Consult Entry restrictions for more information.

Transiting boaters
You may still navigate through international or Canadian waters while in transit directly from one place outside Canada to another place outside Canada, if the transit is:

• direct
• continuous/uninterrupted
• by the most reasonable route

Transiting travellers may only make non-discretionary (essential) stops along the way, including to use facilities, refuel or for essential supplies.

You must follow social distancing practices and wear a non-medical mass or face covering during these stops.

Anchoring
You may stop and anchor out of ordinary navigation, particularly if it becomes dangerous to navigate at night or if the crew must rest before safely continuing your trip.

If you anchor to spend the night, you must quarantine on your boat. If this is not possible, you may quarantine at a hotel until you are ready to resume your trip.

Consult Quarantine requirement for more information.

Reporting requirements
If at any point a transiting vessel lands on Canadian soil, anchors, moors or comes alongside another vessel in Canadian waters, or if anyone onboard disembarks in Canada, the operator must report to the CBSA. All entry restrictions apply.

The CBSA and its law enforcement partners are actively monitoring Canadian waterways. If you fail to report to the CBSA, regardless if your purpose is non-discretionary (essential) such as to refuel, you may face severe penalties. Failure to report may also affect your immigration admissibility and ability to re-enter Canada in the future.

Related links

• Video: COVID-19 action at CBSA land border crossings
• Video: COVID-19 actions by the CBSA for travellers arriving by air
• COVID-19: Temporary suspension of service at select Canadian border services locations
• Canadian border information and services for non-residents
• Find more information on COVID