Welland Canal

The small yellow crane is called a ship arrestor it is a three inch cable that is stretched across the lock to protect the gates.
As ship enters the lock on her own power when it reaches the 25 M mark a computer counts down the distance on a big screen to the stop sign. Ship are moving very slow as it approaches the stop sign, sometimes they hit the ship arrestor about six times a year, if they hit the cable it pays out then tightens up.
If they hit cable they have to replace it.

so when boat is stopped the crane comes down and pick up the cable to let boat proceed

SAFES
Just a reminder for any delivery captain or owners coming to Great Lakes and their boat has a safe on board make sure you have the combination for the safe. Had a delivery captain spent a day to locate the owner for the combination.

Had a good trip up canal today on a 90' Sunseeker Bravo Hotel.
Picture was taken in Thousand Island

Motor Yacht Scout 209' up the Welland Canal today.
Launched 2018 Hakvoort Sh ipyard

Scout

Took up a new 108' Pershing up the canal yesterday had a good run.
I can not believe the number of American yachts coming both way this year.
This year with Covid the owners can not be on their boat in the Welland Canal
They have to stop in Youngstown NY up bound or in Buffalo down bound and hire an American Captain and two deck hands at a cost of $ 1600.000 US to take their boat through the Welland Canal.

Barefoot V 82'
Burger down canal last
Took an old 1988 Burger 82'down canal last week

An interesting one today FPB 64 up the canal today
https://www.berthon.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/fpb_64_spec_02.pdf

Price Gouging
Last year when Covid started and the Borders were closed American yachts using the Erie Canal had to take the most direct route to get back into America which is the Welland Canal .
In order for the yacht to transit the canal the owner and family can not be on board during transit of Welland Canal as it was considered a pleasure trip.
If the owner is operating his yacht he must stop at Youngstown NY (9 miles from canal) and hire a Captain and two deckhands to transit the canal.
If the owner has his own captain and deckhand onboard then they must stop in Youngstown NY and drop owner off then his crew is allowed to transit canal and pick him up in Buffalo NY this is considered a commercial adventure.
Last year I found two Captains in Buffalo who would do these trips, they would meet the owner at 6 am in Youngstown and would give him is car for the day while he was taking his boat through canal.
The hired Captain would would do all the paper work for CBSA and would meet the owner in Buffalo usually around
10 pm that night.
Now there is are ten captains doing these trips.
Last year they were charging $ 900.00 for Captain and two deckhands.
Today they are charging $ 1200 to $ 2500 US for the trip through the canal.
I think with time involved $ 1200 is a fair price as he gives you his car and dose paper work for CBSA and it is a long day.
Note: only one guy is charging $ 1200 the rest are starting at $ 1700 for trip.
Attached are picture of a vehicle that was given to one owner.
Note; I am use to working with Professional Captains and these Captain are far from that.
July 21/21 is the next day the Canadain Government will announce Border update.
I do not think it will open.
Most of the people using this service are Loopers.

M/Y Scout
Down bound Welland Canal last night

Canada Customs
As of August 9/21 American yachts and owner can now be on their boats in Canada
Option One
Owner and all guest on board must now install CBSA new APP (ArriveCan)
Must provide a valid Covid 19 test (Molecular) with in 72 hours of arrival into Canada
Must have proof of Vaccinations
With option one you can go anywhere in Canada
Option Two
Complete a CBSA (VPAN)
48 hours before you arrive in Canada
This is used for Delivery Captains and crew and private yacht owners Captain and crew to but not owner to Transit the Welland Canal and go from one US Port to another US Port
With VPAN you are not required to have Covid Test or Proof of Vaccinations

The ArriveCan APP will be used by all Candains and Americans entering Canada by Car/Airplane/Marines

Another season coming to an end
Made a seven hour run Tuesday from L 8 to L 1 three of the yachts were over 100' rafting in all of the locks.
Erie Canal is closing October 13/21 this year and yachts are rushing back from the Great Lakes.
In the spring a ship brought 17 yachts from Fort Lauderdale to unload in Sarina Ontario.
They were going to ship them back but now the ship has been delayed will not be to Sarina until first week November.
A lot of the yachts are now returning by water instead of waiting foe the ship.
In this picture two of the yachts were on that ship in the spring.