DSK wrote:
How "new" is it?



Jeff wrote:

Roughly 100 years newer than the old Erie Canal. They are two
different canals. The original was opened in 1825. In 1905 they
started completely rebuilding, including abandoning much of the
original route. The "new" canal was opened in 1918.


IIRC the original followed the natural course of the Mohawk River. The
new one goes a bit north of there.

Jeeze, now you're going to make me go to the library and find some old
book on the original canal!

Actually, I thought the new canal made more use of the natural
waterways because it was designed for powerboats instead of mule power.

Anyway, I'm not going to say you're wrong, but it looks nothing at
all like my charts of the area. We were just reviewing that chart
book, planning a Great Loop cruise.


Are you sure you have the correct chart? Chart 14786, page E-40 (on
my 1998 edition).


My chart is a bit older than that, but how much has it changed? My
charts are on the boat. Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing it in person.

I can assure you that's a picture of the Waterford Flight. I assume
your chart is later than 1918!

Here's another view, from the north, with 3D tilt and vertical
exaggeration. Keyhole is fun! Well worth the $30 if you like this stuff.

http://www.sv-loki.com/where5a.jpg

... It is also where the Champlain Canal starts.

No, that's not true. The Champlain Canal starts many miles up the
Hudson. The *route* to the Champlain Canal, and thence to Lake
Champlain, starts there.


The first lock on the Champlain Canal is 2.5 miles north of where the
Erie joins the Hudson, though it is still in Waterford. And the
Federal Lock at Troy is 2 miles south. Every reference I've ever
seen (including chart 14786 and the NY State Barge Canal site lists
Waterford as the beginning.


What I meant is that the route to Lake Champlain follows the natural
course of the Hudson for many miles... up to Fort Anna at least IIRC.
It's not a "canal."

You're confusing "canal" with "cut." Many canals incorporate
significant portions of natural waterways. And remember, the Hudson
is locked above Troy, so it isn't really a natural waterway there.

OK, here's a "Believe It Or Not" fact about the Hudson. The first
lock on the Hudson is at Troy, just below the Waterford Flight. Up
until that point, the river is tidal, even though it is 120 nautical
miles from NYC. What I didn't expect is that the tidal range at Troy
(4.7 feet) is actually more than at NYC (4.4 feet at Chelsea Docks).
Further, the high water "wave" that crests in NYC takes 9 hours to
reach Troy. By the time it is high there, its already several hours
past Low Water in the city!