GL: Route Request

[Skipper Bob]

Curt,

A 77' sailing vessel with a 8' 6" draft does not belong on the Erie 
Canal any more than it belongs on the ICW with a 75' mast.  First off 
will be the problem of removing the mast.  Most yards that do that type 
of work will not be able to handle a 75' mast because of length and 
weight.  You will have to go to a specialty yard for that.  Next, you 
can be almost sure that in removing and re installing the mast some 
equipment will be damaged.

Finally, once you get the mast down, your draft will prohibit you going 
all the way through the Erie Canal. While originally built for 12' draft 
vessels, in recent years the western end has gotten noticeably 
shallower.  West of the Oswego Canal there are a number of spots of 8' 
and at the Genesee River the most recent soundings show only 5'.  If you 
do choose to go the Erie Canal Route, you will have to go out the Oswego 
Canal and then across Lake Ontario and up the Welland Canal.

As for the St Lawrence Route.  Yes, it is more difficult.  You will have 
to navigate the North Atlantic around New England (lots of fog) and then 
up the St Lawrence River.  Contrary to what some previous posters have 
said, the current will not be against you all the way.  In fact the St 
Lawrence River is tidal all the way to Trois-Rivieres (110 miles below 
Montreal).  So the river is tidal with strong currents in both 
directions twice daily for 750 miles through the Gulf of St Lawrence to 
the Strait of Canso south of Cape Breton Island.  Above that it will be 
against you 1-3 knots all the way to Lake Ontario.  I recommend that you 
get a copy of the Down East Circle Route by Capt Cheryl Barr before 
making this journey.  She provides excellent details from Lake Ontario 
down the St Lawrence to the North Atlantic and back to New England.

The vessel you describe is neither a coastal cruiser nor a pleasure 
craft.  It is more of a large ocean going yacht.  As such you should be 
considering a trip up the east coast on the ocean with stops in good 
ports along the way.  Your trip up the East Coast should be a good shake 
down cruise and my only recommendation would be to allow time for 
repairs.  You will probably want to put in to port several times for 
repairs while making your way to New England.  Once beyond that support 
for a vessel your size will be limited, but Cheryl's book gives good 
details on this. 

The later in the season you can go the easier it will be on you.  I 
wouldn't want to travel the waters of New England or the St Lawrence 
River before June, mainly because of the weather. July is better and 
August better still.   It goes without saying that this vessel should 
have all the necessary off shore safety equipment and charts and a crew 
of at least 4.  While I do not normally recommend this cruise for the 
average cruiser (36-48' range) I certainly see no problem for a vessel 
your size that is sea worthy and well equipped.    Be sure to take warm 
foul weather gear.  In July the air temperature around the Gulf of St 
Lawrence is around 50 degrees.  If you end up in the water, survival 
time is in minutes without the right gear.  In fact if I had bought a 
vessel as you have described and wanted to move it to Lake Michigan I 
would definitely go via the St Lawrence River and not the Erie Canal.

Bob

Skipper Bob Publications
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