Tight Squeeze! (boat vs. canal)

The following message and pictures are compliments of Rodger St. Amand, a regular follower of YachtForums. Rodger has the distinct position of over-seeing many of the yachts that transition from the north to the south each year. This is one of the larger ones...


Hello Carl:

Thought you might like to see these pictures. Today was opening day for the Welland Canal. The ice above the lock was 14" thick.

The ship is 78' wide and the lock is only 80' wide.

The ship started in the lock at 07:00 hrs today and as of 16:00 hrs. is still not in lock. They are bringing in tugs to assist, as when the boat is half way in the lock there is no place for the ice to go, so they then have to back the ship out of lock and dump the lock to flush the ice out, then fill the lock and try again.

Hard to believe the Erie Barge Canal opens May 1 and all the yachts from Florida will be here May 5. I have calls for 2 boats already a new 68 Searay and a new 63' enclosed flybridge Bertram. Not sure if you want to show these pictures as many captains from Florida never get to see this. The temperature tonight will be 10 F and 2 inches of snow.

Squeezing through...

A bow that resembles... a wall!

And finally, moving on through...

Thanks for the pics Rodger! Look forward to seeing more.