Sailing without “sailing”
When we do actually get around to heading south next year, the route we will take will have us crossing Lake Ontario to Oswego and then transiting the Oswego and Erie Canal system to the Hudson River.
In preparation for this we have been looking into the following:
- Acquiring charts and guidebooks for the trip
- Making sure that we are familiar with the process of unstepping and stepping our mast (taking it down and putting it back up)
- Having a method organized to carry our mast through the canals after it has been taken down
The last two steps are necessary because a sailboat cannot transit the canal with the mast up, so in reality, we can’t really call this “sailing.”
I just downloaded whatever charts were available from the NOAA site. Their “chart book” which really deals with the canal system is unfortunately not available online. There is a fair bit of info online at the New York State Canals page, but we will undoubtably look into purchasing a guidebook(s) for the area, most likely the Skipper Bob one.
We have definitely been paying attention to the process involved with raising and lowering the mast. Prior to putting our mast back on Katana in the spring, we want to have organized the supports to carry it onboard so that we can test it out. If we don’t do this prior to stepping the mast here, we’ll have no way to know for sure that our supports will work until we get to Oswego, and at that point, it will be too late.
The two pics below show how a mast could be carried on a Catamaran. We’ll have to look at Katana to see what would be best for us.
I made a post on the PDQ forum to ask for advice on this subject from the other owners of PDQ 32s. Hopefully they come back with some great advice. During my research, I did come across the following web page which documents the trip of another PDQ owner through these canals. Some great info there!
Another good time to install mast steps. I would at least consider adding steps to the spreaders. It makes it easy on entering a reef area if one is at the helm and one climbs to the spreaders to look down on the water. Not worth using a climbing rig there. Also, if you do plan to go with only a chair or a climber, at the least you should add 2 mast steps near the top across from each other to give you a foot hold / foot rest when working at the top of the mast.
Kirk
Excellent idea about the steps at the top!!!
Mike,
When you place the foot pegs be sure to carefully think through the distance from the top of the mast. Sometimes a chair pulled all the way to the top will still not get your head high enough to look down on the masthead and you will want the ability to “stand up” on the pegs to look down. K.
Got it. Any idea how far apart you have your foot pegs placed?
If you are talking about staggered up the mast, on a side I spaced them 35.5″ apart. The boat came new with 4 preinstalled from the cabin top to the boom and I just followed suit.
Thanks again for all the info Kirk! I appreciate it a lot.
Sounds like you are taking almost the same trip I’ve planned for many years. Had intended to do it when I retired. However, in the meantime my mother was widowed again. She’s 91, and I’m just not comfortable leaving her, and she won’t some along! So, more waiting. I hope to at least sell one or both houses and buy my cat to live aboard until I can make the trip.
I am pretty sure I don’t blame your Mom for not wanting to go along! It will be a great trip and I’m also sure you’ll get your chance, Helen!
Guys,
You might think about not putting the mast up before you head to Oswego. We took ours down when we got to Bath Fall 2008. When we left Bath in June we had a quick motor to Main Duck, spent the night, then another quick motor to Oswego. I don’t think there is a Do-it-yourself gin pole in Oswego, so you are paying by the foot for someone else to do it.
Once through the canal, just go straight to Castleton Boat Club. $50. to use the gin pole, $1.25 Coors in the Clubhouse, very friendly club.
Skipper Bob is all you need for the Canal. Just remember to hang a left at 3 Rivers or you’ll end up in Buffalo!!!
Mark
http://www.steelestreetoceaneers.blogspot.com
Hi Mark
Thanks for the tip on the Castleton Boat Club, especially on the cheap beer:)
We plan on doing a lot of sailing in the lake before we start to head south in July/August. Skipper Bob’s guides are already on my shopping list. We are planning on going to the boat show in Toronto in January. I was hoping we might be able to find them there. If not I’ll drop by Nautical Mind in TO or just order them online.
Mike