How long might it take to deliver a boat from Baltimore, Maryland to
Makinaw Island (right between Lakes Michigan and Huron) assuming one
wasn't in a big hurry, but didn't plan to stop at all the attractions?
We would go via the Hudson, Erie Canal, Trent-Severn, Georgian Bay.

Capt. Jeff

On Tue, 25 Jan 2005 08:02:55 -0600, Tamaroak
wrote:
How long might it take to deliver a boat from Baltimore, Maryland to
Makinaw Island (right between Lakes Michigan and Huron) assuming one
wasn't in a big hurry, but didn't plan to stop at all the attractions?
We would go via the Hudson, Erie Canal, Trent-Severn, Georgian Bay.
================================================== ==

You don't say what kind of boat or what the cruising speed is, both
important. Rough estimates based on my experience:
Baltimore to NYC 2 days sail boat or trawler, 1 day fast power boat
NYC to Troy, NY (start of NYS barge canal) 2 days sail, 1 day fast
power
If sail add another day for unstepping and cradling mast at Albany
Troy to Oswego 3 or 4 days
Oswego to Trent-Svern 1 or 2 days
Trent-Svern to Georgian Bay 5 days + restep mast
Georgian Bay to Mackinaw Island - depends on speed

Best guess, 2 or 3 weeks total depending on speed. Trent-Svern is
limited to drafts in the 4 to 5 foot range depending on water level.
I believe the best route for speed is to take the Welland Canal from
Lake Ontario to Lake Erie.

Good idea to include a minor detail such as boat speed! It's a trawler
that will cruise at 10 knots, but I like 8 better, and don't plan to run
more than six hours a day.

Capt. jeff

On Tue, 25 Jan 2005 08:55:20 -0600, Tamaroak
wrote:
Good idea to include a minor detail such as boat speed! It's a trawler
that will cruise at 10 knots, but I like 8 better, and don't plan to run
more than six hours a day.

===================================

Basically then you are talking about 50 mile days. On the canal
systems I allow an extra 30 to 40 minutes per lock when estimating.

If you have a trawler mast over 22 feet, you will need to drop it.

On a trip that long I'd factor in a few weather delay days also.
There is also some risk of becoming "stuck" in a canal system for
maintenace or water level delays. That can vary from days to weeks.
It happens at times, and people end up leaving their boats for awhile
until the problems are cleared.

We figure 4 days to NYC 2days to Albany 4 days in the canal via BUF. Lake Erie
3days, 2days Detroit & St Clair Rivers to Port Huron and 4 days to Mackinaw
You might consider going via the Oswego River and Lake Onterio with a visit to
Toronto. You will need extra crew for the Welland Canal to handle lines, not
required on the NY canal system. Anyway, a good trip, enjoy! Jim

Tamaroak wrote:
Good idea to include a minor detail such as boat speed! It's a trawler
that will cruise at 10 knots, but I like 8 better, and don't plan to run
more than six hours a day.

Capt. jeff
My catamaran is a tad slower in general, and we usually considered 6
hours a full day, though we could go longer in the canals because
they're stress-free, other than locking. On our last trip from
Baltimore to NYC, did Baltimore-Chesapeake City-Cape May-Atlantic
City-Atlantic Highlands-into Long Island Sound, or 5 days. Coming down
from Toronto was one day crossing the lake, 4 in the canal, one more on
the Hudson to get close to the city, or 6 days. Further along, I can't
help you.

New Jersey is the biggest problem - My advice, since you have the speed,
if you have a good window do in in one day. We made the mistake once
heading south of stopping in Atlantic Highlands to site-see for a day,
and ended up stranded for a week.