seattleboatguy
Senior Member
Is the Champlain Canal "do-able" singlehanded?
Marine Trader 38It depends on what type of boat, size ?
I took my 46' sailboat through the Ballard locks single handed, but I went through the small locks which have the floating bollards. I've never gone through a lock with the types of pipes and weighted lines I see in the Champlain Locks YouTube videos.That could be tough. Have you gone through any locks single handed?
By Champlain Canal are you referring to the Federal Locks from the Hudson into Lake Champlain, or the Canadian locks from the lake down to the St Lawrence?
I have done both single handed in a Marine Trader 36. On the American locks, have a plan, be prepared have long lines fore and aft. You can't do these locks with strength alone if the wind gets ahold of you. But...with lines rigged, you can.
On the Canadian side the answer is no. Although the locks are small and relatively easy to transit, the province of Quebec does not allow single handlers to transit locks. I was fortunate to find a teenager who would spend a day with me for a nominal fee.
Fortunately all other Canadian Provinces do allow single handlers.
Best of luck
Arch
We went through this summer using a mid-ship/cleat line next to the helm door and two very large inflatable fenders set forward and aft. All the locks had a pipe or wire inset in the wall and I would just loop the mid-ship line around the pole/wire. With gloves and a short boat pole, make sure the line did not catch it worked great.
This was on a Mainship 34T.
Cheers
Bryan