Portland, ME to Lake Erie via St. Lawrence Seaway?

Thanks for your reply! We've only been about 60 miles offshore; usually we
do 40 to 60 miles per day and then toss the hook.

Ron

"Charles T. Low" <ctlow5.RemoveThis@boatUNdocking.com> wrote in message
news:PsydnTS4deV6ECeiRVn-jA@b2b2c.ca...
 > I can't answer most of your questions, but people will pop up who can.
 > Unless you're higher than a freighter, you should be able to leave your
mast
 > up. You might need to make special arrangements about going through the
 > locks, and the fees have been rising...
 >
 > Are you accustomed to open-ocean boating? I wonder how easy it would be to
 > find refuge along the way.
 >
 > I'll be following this thread. Keep us informed about what you learn.
 >
 > Charles
 >
 > ====
 >
 > Charles T. Low
 > ctlow4.RemoveThis@boatUNdocking.com - remove "UN"
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.boatdocking.com</font" target="_blank">www.boatdocking.com</font</a>>
 > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.ctlow.ca/Trojan26" target="_blank">www.ctlow.ca/Trojan26</a> - my boat
 >
 > ====
 >
 > "Ronald W. Francey" <revronfrancey.RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
 > news:DoednS3d2vSt7ySiRVn-uA@comcast.com...
  > > My wife and I are considering sailing our Beneteau Oceanus 370 from
  > > Portland, ME up and around NS and down the St Lawrence Seaway to Lake
  > > Ontario and then on to Lake Erie (probably Astabula, OH.) We really
know
  > > nothing about the trip other than we will have six weeks to make the
trip
  > > and will be leaving around May, 2004.
  > >
  > > One person commented that most prople go the ogther way out the St
 > Lawrence
  > > due to a constant ebb which is tough to fight against going the way we
 > hope
  > > to go.
  > >
  > > We will have only the two of us (and our black lab.) What advice,
 > comments,
  > > thoughts about schedule, Canadian legal comments (we're from the
states.)
  > >
  > > We'd like the trip to be an enjoyable one. (We have done Lake Ontario
to
  > > Maine and back via the Hudson and the Erie Canal system and enjoyed
those
  > > trips.)
  > >
  > > Also, can we keep mast up all the way?
  > >
  > > Thanks in advance!
  > >
  > > Ron
  > >
  > >
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Portland, ME to Lake Erie via St. Lawrence Seaway? 

 > "Ronald W. Francey" <revronfrancey DeleteThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
  > >
  > > One person commented that most prople go the ogther way out the St
 > Lawrence
  > > due to a constant ebb which is tough to fight against going the way we
 > hope
  > > to go.

  > > Thanks in advance!

  > > Ron
  > >
  > >

That ain't true. Due to tides the current of the St-Lawrence reverses on flow
up to Trois-Rivieres. It's negligeable up to Cap-Bon-Desir near Tadoussac.Then
you may use them to push you up the river. It will push you 2 knots during the
5 hours of flow. Then you'll fight the 7 hours 5 knots ebb current which
reaches 8 knots in some places at its peak. The catch is you don't want to have
the wind blowing against the current between Tadoussac and Quebec city. This
can account for dangerous seas (20+ foot chops). That means you should wait for
a north-east wind and it generally means crappy weather. The old captains here
say you'll be soaked but not shaken. Night navigation is usually quieter.
Before you reach Tadoussac, the use of radar is a must as fog is present daily.
Some places are to be avoided in certain weather conditions, do follow the
advices from the locals whom may not speak English! Before you reach Quebec
city, many marinas are silted and unaccessible at low tide. On the Lower
St-Lawrence, they can be far apart.

Of course, the other way around is easier cause the ebb can push you much
faster and the SW winds you should sail with usually carry great weather.
Either way you go, I suggest two publication to read: The secrets of the
St-Lawrence (a weather guide) available in English as a web site:

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.qc.ec.gc.ca/meteo/secrets_stlaurent/secrets_e.htm" target="_blank">http://www.qc.ec.gc.ca/meteo/secrets_stlaurent/secrets_e.htm</a>

where the generalities and though spots are all explained and the Atlas of
Tidal Currents, St-Lawrence estuary available from Fisheries and Oceans Canada
(or your local chart dealer maybe) which graphically shows the currents for eah
hours of the cycle in each regions, especially where they're weaker if you have
to fight the ebb. They're to be used in conjunction with the Canadian Tide and
Current tables Volume 3 published annually by the same authority annually in
order to use the flow currents.

Past Trois-Rivieres, you'll have to fight a pretty constant 2 knots current up
to Montreal. Upsteam of that, I don't know. It's a bit slower in the pleasure
craft channel between Lanoraie and the eastern tip of the St-Therese island.
There I suggest you come back in the commercial channel due to the narrow,
overcrowded and badly buoyed channel in front of Repentigny. The pleasure
channel then crosses south of the commercial channel in front of Montreal but
low bridges will prevent you to use it.

Sailing directions are good to have too in order to know all the marinas, their
services and other dangers like shoals along the way and other infos on
currents. They're refered as ATL 110E, ATL 111E and ATL 112E and should be
available at good charts dealers. The St-Lawrence part of your trip is covered
by charts 4026, 1236, 1235, 1233, 1317, 1315, 1314, 1313, 1312, 1311, 1310, up
to Montreal's seaway entrance.

If you need more infos, write me personnally by removing the NOSPAM out of the
address. I wish you Bon Voyage!

Jean Dufour
Montreal, Qc<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Portland, ME to Lake Erie via St. Lawrence Seaway? 

We made a trip through the Lachine Canal at Montreal, west to east, this
summer and where the Lachine joined the St. Lawrence the current was running
at least 5 knots. I was seeing over 11 knots on my GPS and my top speed is
6 knots so there is no way that I could have turned around and gone back to
the Lachine. I really didn't check the current down river where the normal
channel runs but I'd guess it is still fairly fast. The Lachine is scenic
and right downtown and lets you miss the expensive commercial locks but one
low bridge limits vertical clearance to 8'. Is 5 to 6 knots usual for the
St. Lawrence at this intersection? If so I can forget about ever trying an
east to west transit unless I have a faster boat.
BTW the Lockmaster at the last lock on the Lachine said "Make sure that you
haven't forgotten anything before you leave this lock, because you are not
coming back". He was right!!!
Quinton

"Jean Dufour" <moyac1 RemoveThis @NOSPAMsympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:3FBBA388.40883FD9@NOSPAMsympatico.ca...
  > > "Ronald W. Francey" <revronfrancey RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
   > > >
   > > > One person commented that most prople go the ogther way out the St
  > > Lawrence
   > > > due to a constant ebb which is tough to fight against going the way we
  > > hope
   > > > to go.
 >
   > > > Thanks in advance!
 >
   > > > Ron
   > > >
   > > >
 >
 > That ain't true. Due to tides the current of the St-Lawrence reverses on
flow
 > up to Trois-Rivieres. It's negligeable up to Cap-Bon-Desir near
Tadoussac.Then
 > you may use them to push you up the river. It will push you 2 knots during
the
 > 5 hours of flow. Then you'll fight the 7 hours 5 knots ebb current which
 > reaches 8 knots in some places at its peak. The catch is you don't want to
have
 > the wind blowing against the current between Tadoussac and Quebec city.
This
 > can account for dangerous seas (20+ foot chops). That means you should
wait for
 > a north-east wind and it generally means crappy weather. The old captains
here
 > say you'll be soaked but not shaken. Night navigation is usually quieter.
 > Before you reach Tadoussac, the use of radar is a must as fog is present
daily.
 > Some places are to be avoided in certain weather conditions, do follow the
 > advices from the locals whom may not speak English! Before you reach
Quebec
 > city, many marinas are silted and unaccessible at low tide. On the Lower
 > St-Lawrence, they can be far apart.
 >
 > Of course, the other way around is easier cause the ebb can push you much
 > faster and the SW winds you should sail with usually carry great weather.
 > Either way you go, I suggest two publication to read: The secrets of the
 > St-Lawrence (a weather guide) available in English as a web site:
 >
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.qc.ec.gc.ca/meteo/secrets_stlaurent/secrets_e.htm</font" target="_blank">http://www.qc.ec.gc.ca/meteo/secrets_stlaurent/secrets_e.htm</font</a>>
 >
 > where the generalities and though spots are all explained and the Atlas of
 > Tidal Currents, St-Lawrence estuary available from Fisheries and Oceans
Canada
 > (or your local chart dealer maybe) which graphically shows the currents
for eah
 > hours of the cycle in each regions, especially where they're weaker if you
have
 > to fight the ebb. They're to be used in conjunction with the Canadian Tide
and
 > Current tables Volume 3 published annually by the same authority annually
in
 > order to use the flow currents.
 >
 > Past Trois-Rivieres, you'll have to fight a pretty constant 2 knots
current up
 > to Montreal. Upsteam of that, I don't know. It's a bit slower in the
pleasure
 > craft channel between Lanoraie and the eastern tip of the St-Therese
island.
 > There I suggest you come back in the commercial channel due to the narrow,
 > overcrowded and badly buoyed channel in front of Repentigny. The pleasure
 > channel then crosses south of the commercial channel in front of Montreal
but
 > low bridges will prevent you to use it.
 >
 > Sailing directions are good to have too in order to know all the marinas,
their
 > services and other dangers like shoals along the way and other infos on
 > currents. They're refered as ATL 110E, ATL 111E and ATL 112E and should be
 > available at good charts dealers. The St-Lawrence part of your trip is
covered
 > by charts 4026, 1236, 1235, 1233, 1317, 1315, 1314, 1313, 1312, 1311,
1310, up
 > to Montreal's seaway entrance.
 >
 > If you need more infos, write me personnally by removing the NOSPAM out of
the
 > address. I wish you Bon Voyage!
 >
 > Jean Dufour
 > Montreal, Qc
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Portland, ME to Lake Erie via St. Lawrence Seaway? 

The St-Marie current you're talking about is only present south of the St-Helen
island. 4 to 6 knots is not unusual. Most of the St-Lawrence's water passes in
the narrows of the Lachine rapids and slows past the St-Helen island as it now
have the full width of the river to flow into. The current slows to 2 knots
passed the St-Helen island. The Beneteau 370 drafts a bit more than 5 feet of
water when loaded and this alone prevents him from using the Lachine canal.
He'll have to take the Seaway.

He may have sufficient hull speed to overcome PATIENTLY the St-Marie current to
access the Old-Port marina which is the greatest to stay in order to visit
Montreal. Then he should follow the green buoys and "crab" his way into the
bassin. Avoid staying right of the channel as the current may push you into the
clock tower warf. Else, he should stop in Real-Bouvier marina in Longueuil if
in a hurry, will save time, have better services, be close to the seaway's
entrance and stay in 2 knots currents.

Jean

QLW wrote:

 > We made a trip through the Lachine Canal at Montreal, west to east, this
 > summer and where the Lachine joined the St. Lawrence the current was running
 > at least 5 knots. I was seeing over 11 knots on my GPS and my top speed is
 > 6 knots so there is no way that I could have turned around and gone back to
 > the Lachine. I really didn't check the current down river where the normal
 > channel runs but I'd guess it is still fairly fast. The Lachine is scenic
 > and right downtown and lets you miss the expensive commercial locks but one
 > low bridge limits vertical clearance to 8'. Is 5 to 6 knots usual for the
 > St. Lawrence at this intersection? If so I can forget about ever trying an
 > east to west transit unless I have a faster boat.
 > BTW the Lockmaster at the last lock on the Lachine said "Make sure that you
 > haven't forgotten anything before you leave this lock, because you are not
 > coming back". He was right!!!
 > Quinton<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Portland, ME to Lake Erie via St. Lawrence Seaway?