Pt. Pleasant Canal, NJ- Local Knowledge

[ottos]

Originally Posted by jnarmellino

At or near slack tide it's actually a very pleasant transit. Nowadays it's the traffic and not the current that can be problematic.

I'm just glad it was someone with more experience than me at the helm...

It really was a washing machine... and the narrow canal was further narrowed by work barges. And yes, there was plenty of traffic.

You guys are saying it's not so bad at slack - I'm just saying, let somebody get the bejesus scared out of them (It sure was out of me), and make double sure they hit it right.

[bruceyp]

Well the owner isn't going to be around until after the boat show, so it will be another week or so, but I appreciate all the input.
My only experience going thru the canal was the day I took delivery of my boat. My first Keel boat, under my command about an hour. Northbound with a northbound current. (what did I know?) One of the bridges was a bit slow on the lift. Look left! Traffic! Look Right! the wall! I thought "I'm gonna loose my mast the first day!" I don't know how close it really was, but it couldn't have been by much. If you can't be good, it is good to be lucky. There were a couple of lessons in there that weren't lost on me.
And that, boys and girls, is why I come to y'all for advice.
Thanks again.
BP

[jnarmellino]

Originally Posted by ottos

I'm just glad it was someone with more experience than me at the helm...

It really was a washing machine... and the narrow canal was further narrowed by work barges. And yes, there was plenty of traffic.

You guys are saying it's not so bad at slack - I'm just saying, let somebody get the bejesus scared out of them (It sure was out of me), and make double sure they hit it right.

I should have added that it can be a pleasant transit WITHOUT TRAFFIC. The summertime traffic can make the canal a miserable place to be. And Tempest makes a good point: a little current against you can be a big help when waiting for the bridges to lift.