Erie Canal Layoffs

welland canal

Looking to run from Detroit Michigan to Kingston Ontario in early May

I am having a bit of a tough time finding information on running the welland canal ( hours of operation, avaliability to pleasure craft before June)

Has anyone had any experience with this

The alternate route would be through the Erie Barge but I don't have any experience with that either

Any assistance would be appreciated

Shea

The Welland is open to pleasure craft in June. You just pull up to a docking area on either end, to use the phone booth to clear Canadian customs, after clearing Canadian customs you walk up to an adjoining pay booth to pay the $200 fee, then you pick up the phone to call the canal or call them on the VHF and they'll schedule you through. You need 2 people on board heading to Lake Ontario, and 3 people from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie. Plan on an entire day of transiting. I'd get to St. Catherines, spend the night then transit in the morning.

The Erie canal is popular as well but has air draft limitations of 16.5' I believe as well as depth limitations of 6' if I remember correctly. Double check both numbers on the New York canal system website.

If doing the Welland Canal, I highly recommend hiring Rodger who started the post as your pilot. He is extremely knowledgable and professional and well worth his fee to insure a trouble free passage.

thanks, didn't mean to hijack this thread, thought I started a new one

plan is to run before long weekend in canada so we may have to go through the erie

can you make Buffalo to Rochester in a day or should we schedule 2 days for this?

Capt.J the clearance on the eastern Erie Canal is 21'6" minimum. Boats that can't clear 15' cut off at the Oswego Canal and go to the Welland.

Yes, I know that. I've done the trip many times. The OP is asking what the requirements are to go from Lake Erie east......via either the Erie Canal OR the Welland Canal. I thought the Erie Canal west of 3 rivers had an air draft of 16.5'......

Got ya, I misread his Erie sentence.

I have heard 21.6' but have never seen more than 21 at the lowest bridge which is at lock 19.
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