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Boating Facts and
Information 2005 Canal Season The New York State Canal System is scheduled to open for navigation at 7 A.M. on Sunday, May 1, weather permitting. The 2005 navigation season will run through November 15. Hours of operation will be as follows: | May 1 to May 14 | | 7 A.M. to 5 P.M | | May 15 to September 15 | | 7 A.M. to 10 P.M | | September 16 to November 15 | | 7 A.M. to 5 P.M | | | | |
Scheduled days and hours of operations are dependent on weather, water levels, and construction and maintenance activities. Any changes to the published schedule will be announced on the New York State Canal System Notice to Mariners, and be available at 1-800-4CANAL4.
Marina
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over 200 marinas and launch sites located along New York State's canals by
region and features offered. Boating Links
New York State Canal
Corporation's News and Notices to Mariners
New York State's
Marine and
Recreational Vehicles
United States Coast Guard
Resource for boaters using the New York State Canals
Ships Blog
Public (most are free) Tie-Ups and Marinas
David Guenther's List of Erie Canal Tie-Ups with pictures and descriptions
Erie Canal Transit
From
Toronto to Oswego
To Oswego.to Brewerton.to Sylvan Beach.to Lock 16.to Amsterdam.to Watertown.Hudson R. to Catskill
An Erie Canal passage south with photo, hints, maps
General Boating
Information
Speed Limit on the canals is 10 M.P.H. unless
otherwise posted. All locks monitor channel 13.
Navigation Season
and Operating Hours
The season is normally from May through
November.
For night passage, special permission is necessary. Roving
operations may be in effect during some or all operating hours. To aid passage,
boaters should inform operator of destination before leaving lock.
Vessel Registration
New York State Law requires that every
mechanically propelled vessel, including sailboats with auxiliary power, operated in the waters of the State must be registered and
numbered. There are no size or horsepower limitations. Vessels documented by
U.S. Coast Guard are exempted. Registration may be made through any District of
the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Tolls/Fees
Two-Day Passes are issued to a
specific vessel for use by that vessel only. They allow unlimited passage
through locks and/or lift bridges and are valid for any two consecutive days
during the navigation season in which they are issued. Two-day passes for
recreational vessels range from $5 to $20 based on the length of vessel.
Seasonal Permits are issued to a specific vessel for unlimited passage
through locks and/or lift bridges throughout the entire navigation season in
which they are issued. Seasonal permits for recreational vessels range from $25
to $100 based on the length of vessel.
| Boat Length |
Two-Day Pass |
Seasonal Permit |
| Less than 16 feet |
$5 |
$ 25 |
| 16 ft. - under 26 |
$10 |
$50 |
| 26 ft. - 39 ft. |
$15 |
$75 |
| Greater than 39 ft. |
$20 |
$100 |
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Purchase two-day passes and seasonal permits for recreational
vessels at New York State Canal Corporation offices, designated locks and
vendor outlets.
To obtain a pass/permit application by mail, or more
information on Canal System tolls and vendor locations, contact the New York
State Canal Corporation Property Records Unit at (518) 436-3175.
Link
to New York State Canal Corporations list of locations
Pollution Control
All marine toilets on board must be equipped with
an approved pollution control device. This must conform to the boating safety
standards and rules and regulations of the U.S. Coast Guard and New York
State.
Channel Depths
The navigable channels of the Erie
Canal from Waterford to Three Rivers Point and Oswego Canal have a depth of
thirteen (13) feet over lock sills and fourteen (14) in the channel.
The
navigable channels of the Erie Canal from Three Rivers Point to Tonawanda, the
Champlain Canal and Cayuga-Seneca Canal have a depth of twelve (12) feet over
lock sills and in the channels.
Clearances
All bridges
spanning the navigable channels of the Erie Canal from Waterford to three
Rivers Point and the Oswego Canal provide an overhead clearance above maximum
navigable pool of not less than twenty (20) feet .
Some bridges spanning
the navigable channels of the Erie Canal from Three Rivers Point to Tonawanda,
the Champlain Canal and the Cayuga-Seneca Canal limit overhead clearance above
maximum navigable pool to fifteen and one-half (15 1/2) feet.
Horizontal
clearance under bridges spanning the navigable channel is equivalent to the
channel width.
Lock Dimensions
| |
Length |
Width |
| All locks on State Systems |
300.0 ft. |
43.5 ft. |
| U.S.
Lock at Troy |
492.5 ft. |
44.4 ft. |
| Black
Rock U.S. lock at Buffalo |
650.0 ft. |
68.0 ft. |
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Locking Procedures
Stay Clear
of Lock areas
When approaching the lock, boaters must stop at a safe
distance and follow specified signals.
Boaters must advise lock operators
of approach via marine band radio channel 13. Lock operators will reply with
lights in the following manner:
Green:
Lock is ready, craft may advance.
Red:
Craft must wait.
Six Flashes of Red or
Green: Remain stopped and await further
instructions.
No Light: Craft must wait or tie up to approach
wall.
Entering The Lock
Upon entering the lock chamber
vessels, must proceed under control at a safe reduced speed. all boats must be
equipped with adequate mooring lines and fenders. Lock Operators are not
required to handle or furnish lines.
In The Lock Chamber
In
the Lock, all vessels shall take their stations against the chamber walls.
Boaters are required to secure their vessels to provided mooring posts by bow
and stern lines, or as directed by the Lock Operator.
Exiting The
Lock
As soon as the water in the lock chamber reaches the proper level,
the gates will be opened. After the gates are fully opened, boaters shall cast
off all lines and proceed at a reduced speed to exit the chamber in station
order.
Navigation Charts
Navigation charts are a must for safe boating, especially when sailing in
unfamiliar waters. They show navigation aids, hazardous areas and a wealth of
other information. Charts of navigable waters in and around New York State are
produced by the following agencies.
Distribution Branch , NCG33
NATIONAL OCEANIC SERVICE, NOAA
RIVERDALE, MD 20737
Tel: (301)
436-6990
NOS is responsible for charts of all major United States
waterways ranging from large scale harbor charts to small scale sailing charts
of the NYS Canal System except the Erie Canal west of Lyons. NOS also publishes
tidal tables, lights, and related data.
Free indices are available. INDEX
#4 covers the Great Lakes and New York waters north and west of Troy. INDEX #1
covers Atlantic Coast and the Hudson River south of Troy.
CANADIAN
HYDROGRAPHIC CHART DISTRIBUTION OFFICE,
Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans, 1675
Russel Rd,
Ottawa, Ontario KIG 3H6 Canada
Navigation charts of
Canadian waters, similar to charts of U.S. National Ocean Service, are from the
Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
Boating Safety
- Know how
to swim
- Lessens at
Red Cross, the "Y", summer camps.
- Have
approved equipment
- Including
life jackets, fire extinguishers, bilge pump, whistle or horn, charts, and New
York State registration number.
- Handle
your boat safely
- Never jump
into boat
- Distribute
load - don't exceed capacity
- Observe
'Rules of Road'
- Don't stand
up in boat
- Don't ride
bow of boat
- Observer
proper fueling practices
- Check
the weather
- Consider
small craft advisories before you leave.
- File a
'Float Plan'
- Before you
leave, tell a reliable person where and when you are going and
returning
- Avoid
Alcohol and Drugs
- Never use
them while boating. They impair your judgment and greatly reduce your ability
to react quickly.
- Sign up
for a boater safety course
- New York
State Parks and Recreation Young Boater's Training
- New York
State Parks and Recreation Adult Boater's Training
- U.S. Coast
Guard Auxiliary
- U.S. Power
Squadron
- American
Red Cross
For More Information
Additional information
is available from various agencies listed below
Canal Information
and Maps
NYS Canal Corporation
200 Southern Blvd., P.O. Box 189,
Albany, NY 12201-0189
1-800-4CANAL4
Camping Information
NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation
50 Wolf Rd., Albany, NY 12233
(518) 457-3521
New York State Maps
NYS Dept. of
Transportation, Map Information Unit
State Office Campus, Building 4,
Albany, NY 12232
(518) 457-3555
Tourism Information
Empire State Development, Division of Tourism
One Commerce Plaza, Albany,
NY 12245
1-800-CALLNYS
Boating Regulations, Boat Launches,
Camping and Historic Sites
NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic
Preservation
Agency Building 1, Empire State Plaza Albany, NY 12238
(518) 474-0456
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