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Welland Canal

Discussion in 'Marinas & Waypoints' started by Rodger, Jun 28, 2011.

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  1. Maxwell

    Maxwell Senior Member

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    Hi Rodger,

    It appears there would be enough room to to not have to raft everyone, is there a reason that they do this instead filling up the wall first then rafting?
  2. Rodger

    Rodger Senior Member

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    If you look at picture you will see yellow machines near Center of lock they are Hands Free Mooring Machines they tie up commercial ships so that leaves 240’ of usable space at both ends of lock for yachts plus they use roving tie crews now and they will only put out three sets of lines
  3. Ken Bracewell

    Ken Bracewell Senior Member

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    Rodger- isn't there a great deal less turbulence (up-bound) at the ends as well?
  4. Rodger

    Rodger Senior Member

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    Since the installed the Hands Free Mooring Machines they laid off 140 lines men.
    In spring time and fall time when the rush is on you are usually rafting all the time.
    In lock 1 - 2 3- 7 up bound they have slowed the fills from 12 minutes to 25 minutes you could do those locks with no lines but in the flight locks they can not slow the fill times so your are pushed on the wall all the way up you want good fenders.
    Yes if you are at the head off the lock you are ahead of the filling valves.
    They now use a roving crew for you complete trip you spend more time waiting for tie crew to get to the next lock.
    In the old days when every lock had lines men I could go from L1 - L 7 in three hours not it takes at least five hours.
  5. Rodger

    Rodger Senior Member

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    Installing Hands Free Mooring Machines 3 min video

  6. Rodger

    Rodger Senior Member

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    Hands Free Mooring Machine in Action
    chesapeake46 likes this.
  7. CaptEvan

    CaptEvan Senior Member

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  8. Rodger

    Rodger Senior Member

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    Cold Trip To Fort Lauderdale
    Today the MV BBC Europe arrived over two months late to load 11 American yachts in Sarnia Ontario.
    The yachts have been waiting for over two months at a Marina in Port Huron Michigan.
    They loaded three today and the wind tonight and tomorrow are going to be about 60 MPH
    I sure hope they winterized them for the trip out the St Lawrence.
    Weather tonight will only be -2C
    There will be five yachts in the hold and six on deck.
    Will try and get more pictures tomorrow or when they come down the Welland Canal.
    SN1.PNG SN2.PNG
  9. Rodger

    Rodger Senior Member

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    They only loaded one boat today had to stop do to high winds.
    There are 12 commercial ship that have gone to anchor in Lake Erie do to winds SN3A.PNG
  10. MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

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    Welcome to the season.
    If I was one of the boat owners, my butt would definitely be puckering.
  11. Rodger

    Rodger Senior Member

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    As of 5 pm tonight they have loaded 6 and are prepping one more now SN5.PNG SN6.PNG
  12. MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

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    Man, this is like pulling teeth with a rusty pair of pliers.
  13. Rodger

    Rodger Senior Member

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    Another busy day loading had about 2" snow last night and about -3 C
    Trying to get the last two on tonight 80' Mangusta and 108' Pershing SN7.png SN8.jpg
  14. MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

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    Pershing is Andiamo ?
  15. Rodger

    Rodger Senior Member

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    Yes it is
  16. MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

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    Know them, They actually docked in front of us at Waterford on the way North. I felt like a tender to it. :)
  17. Rodger

    Rodger Senior Member

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    Yes she was brand new this year took her up canal last June
  18. Rodger

    Rodger Senior Member

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    SN12.png SN13.png .
    All done loading the 80' Mangusta is there somewhere. She should depart Friday out the cold St Lawrence River to Fort Lauderdale.
    I hope they are winterized good. I should see them in the Welland Canal Sunday.
    The St Lawrence Seaway closes the locks December 31/21 for the winter.
    There are 11 yachts on board five on deck and six in the hold.
  19. Rodger

    Rodger Senior Member

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    Few more pictures SN15.png SNR16.png
  20. Rodger

    Rodger Senior Member

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    BBC Europe departing Sarnia Ontario this morning Dec. 12/21 long cold trip south SNR18.png
    Strypes likes this.