Taking used boats on trade has many benefits. It can allow used boat owners the ability to cost effectively upgrade, and makes boats available to people who aren't in the "new boat market". A more interesting benefit is getting out on the water ourselves to try, test, and make them ready for the next owner (and have some great fun doing it). Here is a tale of such an adventure:
Our friends, Peter and Leanne Clipsham, and Joan and I recently spent
4 days cruising on the Erie Canal in New York State. We have friends,
Dave and Eileen Billings, who live near Spencerport just west of
Rochester. I searched for information on B & B's online and Eileen
booked our overnight accommodations and our lock pass as we were using
a 21' Rinker 212 for our adventure. After going over all the boat's mechanicals and trailer safety, we loaded the boat on Sunday morning departed for Dave and Eileen's.
We arrived about 2:00pm and launched at a nearby ramp and moved the boat to our first
night's stay, Adam's Basin. We checked in and went back to the
Billing's for a swim and dinner then back to the Adam's Basin B & B, a
beautifully restored Inn built when the Canal was constructed.
Next morning we had a great breakfast, loaded our luggage aboard and
headed east. The bridge had to be raised but the crew was on site so
no hold up. Speed limit on the narrow sections is 10mph and strictly
enforced. We ran about 5mph so as to maintain a moderate wake for 3
miles and as we approached the Spencerport bridge we noticed the same
crew was ready for us. Another 5 miles further we came to the junction
with the Genessee River which is navigable into Rochester where we
found the Dinasour Bar-Be-Que for lunch.
Upon returning to the boat we
found the battery was low and had to find get a boost from a local
garage. Inspecting the charging system I found a broken wire on the
alternator which, when fixed, cured our battery issue for the
remainder of our trip. We retraced our route back to the Canal and
turned east again to Pittsford and our first lock. Unlike our Rideau
locks, these are over 300' long and 45' wide with verticle concrete
walls and steel doors. Some are in need of resurfacing of the concrete
and the hanging ropes are not fastened at the bottom. Because the
system is partially supported by the New York State Thruway the
charges are very reasonable. Our toll was $25 for 10 days or $50 per
season. We found dockage in Pittsford canal side for free and carried
our bag up to the Canal Lamp Inn just steps away. Another period
facility right beside the waterway. We did a walkabout through the
shopping area and settled in to an open and airy restaurant for
dinner. The fresh air wore us out so it was back to the bedrooms
early.
Tuesday, we ran east about 8 miles to Fairport, a busy tourist town
well laid out for visitors by land or water. We shopped and then moved
on to Palmyra. There is a nice little harbour here cut into the canal
side which was completely empty. We later discovered that the town has
not made an effort to develop the services that boaters are looking
for when cruising. We found our B & B after walking abour 6 blocks,
mostly uphill, and the set about looking for a nice spot for dinner. 
This proved to be problematic as most places were either closed or
dry. We did find a little place down by the canal bridge that offered
to stay open when she found out we not particular as long as there was
wine available. Donna at the "Muddy Waters" looked after very well and
we went back to the Canaltown B & B for the night. I would not
recommend this town or this accommodation as an overnight although for
a lunch stop it would be fine.
Wednesday we left for our last run to Newark. Big improvment here as
the dockage canalside is excellent, clean washrooms and laundry if you
need it, and a great B & B called the Vintage Gardens. Our friends,
Dave and Eileen joined us for a cruise through the next lock toward
Lyons and return after a lunch at the Corner. We then dropped the
ladies at the pool for a swim while we took the boat to the nearest
ramp and loaded up for our drive home and returned to the Vintage
Gardens for wine in the garden before we went to restaurant for
dinner.
Another awesome breakfast awaited us Thursday morning.Joan, Leanne and
Eileen convinced us to visit the Premier Outlets In Waterloo for 2
hours of intensive shopping before we said goodbye to our New York
Friends and headed back to Canada after a short stop at the Duty Free.
What could be better. Each town offered free dockage with
power and water. Most had pumpouts available. Another interesting
point is that the original tow path where the mules towed the barges
along are still intact and have been turned into bike paths and
walking trails. They stretch 340miles from Tonawanda to Albany.We got home about 4:30pm and after a quick hull wash we returned the
Rinker 212 to Len's Cove. It was a great adventure with good friends on
new waters.
Doug Horsfall
