Locking Through The Erie Canal - Tips and Tricks | Ep. 2 

Thanks Chuck, glad you enjoyed it. For the great loop, I'm afraid you'll have to seek out others for that, as we don't have plans to go beyond the great lakes/erie canal section. Plenty of people we were boating with were doing it though and I'm sure it was going to be a great event. Fair winds!

Good luck, you'll have a great time!

Glad you enjoyed it. And good luck on your canal transit... it's a memory you won't soon forget!

Glad you liked it!

Glad you enjoyed it!

You're welcome Kim!

Thanks seattleboatguy, glad you liked it!

Thanks appreciate it!

Thanks Harvey!

Glad you liked it! Fair winds.

The lock tenders on the Erie Canal are kind and often helpful people. They are used to a variety of skill levels and they will offer suggestions if you ask. Depending on your draft, you might want to see if they have updated their detailed charts for known shallow spots. We found this helpful to pre-print so we could anticipate problem areas.

Great, it'll be an experience you'll never forget! Lots of interesting sights to see.

Glad it was helpful!

You should definitely try it if you get the chance. Very worthwhile!

Because pushing the ptt button is so hard to do?

It was 6 feet. Getting through some areas of the canal were tricky, depending on seasonal rains and silt from adjoining rivers.

Hi Eric - yeah ... we were pretty new to video creation when we put this together and the locks came one right after another for a while so camera management wasn't our first priority. Our key goal with this video was to help other people (via knowledge transfer) who may be thinking of transiting lock systems, especially the Erie since it is a pretty intense, though rewarding, experience!!

I think it could be possible with one person but much more difficult. There can be turbulence in the lock, both from other boats and from the lock being filled. You could do as you suggested. I would have one long line available at the bow that can be lead back to the cockpit for you to adjust, while you handle a shorter line at the stern. Sometimes, we just had one line at amidships. It depends on where you settle along the lock wall and where the pipes or weighted lines are located. That will drive where you need to be or where the extra line needs to be place. Good luck!