Sailing from Georgian bay to Montreal

TheMadchef · #1 (**permalink**) 07-26-2010

Hello all,

I am seriously considering moving from my home on Georgian bay (collingwood area) to Montreal for the winter and then sailing further east next season. My question is have any of you ever sailed this passage before
( through the Trent Severn waterway to lake Ontario then up the st Lawrence to Montreal)? I wouldn't be able to leave until September 7. Any feedback concerning length of time for this trip/ other advice would be greatly appreciated.

TheMadchef · #2 (**permalink**) 08-01-2010

Wow, not even one reply...

Gary M · #3 (**permalink**) 08-01-2010

Sorry not very familiar with the Trent Severn but I would think early September would be an excellent time to go. I would check with the canal commission or what ever they are called to get the times that the locks will be operating and when they close them for the season. They might start to operate them only on weekends in the fall?

The other option of course is through the lakes. You could be in Erie in 3-4 days. Everything is down hill and mainly westerly breezes so you are going the right way for the lakes.

Good Luck

killarney_sailor · #4 (**permalink**) 08-01-2010

What is your draft? The Trent Severn promises 5' I think but I have heard horror stories of boats with that draft hitting solid stuff (rock) in the channel.

What kind of boat and what experience do you have? You could go the other way- Huron, Erie, Welland Canal. For a typical 30 footer, assuming no bad weather - not a good assumption in September, from Tobermory to Montreal is about 18 days. I don't think that the Trent-Severn would be much quicker with the short days in September. This would be hurrying and not really enjoying the nice things to see along the way. You could do the odd overnight and do it faster of course. Most useful overnights would Tobermory to Sarnia, Sarnia to Lake Erie, length of Lake Erie (eg Pelee Island to Port Colborne), or length of Lake Ontario.

captbillc · #5 (**permalink**) 08-01-2010

i have been through the trent -severn a couple of times making deliveries of power boats. i wouldn't take a sailboat that way. lake huron, lake erie, lake ontario & the st. lawrence is the way to go. you wont have to take the mast down either.

Johnhr · #6 (**permalink**) 08-01-2010

I have taken my saiboat down the trent It is an Exellent trip in the fall. It is not very busy and the scenery is great. You will need to take your mast off I would also call the Trent Waterway if you have close to 5ft draft the are supposed to keep 5ft minimum but sometimes waterlevels will vary. There is a mast crane at the Trenton yacht club to put mast back up. If you go through the welland canal route it is much more commecail/industrail route where the trent is more touristy.
John
sailonsimcoe.ca