| Author | Message | ||
| FAST FRED Rating: N/A |
A differet style of camping, We purchased LUCY to spend a couple of summers cruising the Canadian Canal system. She is a 50ft Uniflite , orig built as a Navy Launch convereted to a Lobster Supply boat in the 90's. Engine is the reliable DD 6-71 with only about 1500 hours since new. It is a Grey Marine WW2 conversion for the Navy in 1944 with a Twin Disc 3-1 mechanical tranny. The antique speed limiting gov has two position options , Normal-50 , and BATTLE! This summer we spent 8 weeks traveling from CT down LI Sound to Hell Gate in the East River, where for the first time we turned right and ran up the Harlem River. The Harlem feeds the Hudson and in a couple of days we were at Watertown , north of Albany & Troy NY, to begin. We cruised the Erie Canal system to Oswego , crossed Lake Ontario to Kingston and checked in with the CN customs folks with a simple phone call. The trip took us thru the Riddeau canal system to Ottowa , down the Ottowa to the St Laurence , then the Rideu canal system to Lake Champlain , and on to Wartertown. Just under 1400 miles with the only problem being a shot cotter pin in the newly rebuilt starter. $3.00 fix and I have 59 cotter pins left for "next time". Some Observations. MARINE 12v "Cigarette lighter" sockets stink as a source of power. They overheat easily as the SS is a poor conductor of electric. Anyone know of a source with COPPER center contacts? A RV style toilet would be a vast improvement over the marine head , as the RV unit flushes on a half pint , the marine unit uses 10x as much water. This required many more trips to the pumpout folks , mostly free , but a pure waste of time. Locking thru 70+ times required many shut down and starts , hence the starter hassle. The WORST 'Wall Bangers" seemed to be the folks with Mainship boats , brand new and only a tiny 8 inch cleat here & there and a hole to feed aft lines thru. Might be neat tied to a dock but HORRIBLE for the poor folks with NEW!! vessels that were basically nightmares for this trip. Next year we will retrace our steps to the Erie Canal , and venture on to the Trent-Severn canal system. The following year we will (hopefully) figure a way to ship LUCY 50 ft X 15 wide out to the Left coast and run the Alaskan waters for a couple of summer vacations. Canadian rail , might work , sugestions? LUCY is a "Lobster Yacht" by the PM daffynition and produced much interest as we traveled. Anchoring for a couple of hours in a river by Ottowa caused the CBC to come for an interview! Didn't snow for even one day , but some leaves were begining to turn , August 15!! A grand trip , done in LUCY style , Uneventfully. Very different from Cruising in the "Sports Car of Coaches" a 4106 , 7K is only about 8mph and we did 215 hours for the 1400 mile trip. Fuel consumption was 2 to 3 GPH ,with the canal speed limits we cruised at 1100 to 1300rpm. With such tiny loads we worried about wet stacking , but the older style engine with H60 injectors and 2 valve head seems OK. When the two oil samples come back , I'll know if underloading caused any problem. The trip was great FUN! FAST FRED | ||
| Ed (Ednj)
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"The trip was great FUN! " Fred Sounds like you had a great time . Welcome back. Ed-9-Nj | ||
| Craig (Ceieio)
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Fred - you gotta post pictures... I have never seen a "Lobster Yacht" but it sounds like it is right up the Bus Nut alley! Craig - MC7 Oregon | ||
| PAUL COLLYER (Paso_1)
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Welcome back Fred Sounds like a good trip Glad you got to talk to the CBC before they went on strike. Who knows when they will air your interveiw. | ||
| R.C.Bishop
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Hey FF....welcome back....how 'bout the Panama Canal and up the "left coast"?......  Might be cheaper....and lots of fun dodgin' hurricanes... Trust you took many pics. That's the way so spend reitrement!! RCB '64 Crown Supercoach (HWC) | ||
| FAST FRED Rating: N/A |
"Trust you took many pics. That's the way so spend reitrement!!" Used to, but in the past few years haven't even bothered to drag a camera. We live in a boating community in FL and most folks there have hundreds of pages of albums , that no-one 'cept the traveler wants to see. Next year I will probably drag along the old Nikon as PM Passage Maker mag is as desperate for articles as BC mag , but PM actually pays for features ,where BC expects a free ride. FAST FRED | ||
| R.C.Bishop
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Know what you are saying. We went to Nova Scotia last fall in the coach and passed thru much of the territory where you were. I regret now that we didn't take more pics. So many things we saw in motion that just didn't linger in memory. I remember one of the locks onthe "old" Erie Canal route, covered bridges that were delapidated, but still in use, etc etc. I usually take both the Canon 35MM, all it's lenses, etc, but have found a cheapie "brownie" digital is preferable. Takes good pics and costs only battery power ( I use rechargables) Instant reviewing and opportunitiy to retake if desired. Good to have you back "on board"... RCB | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
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Hello FF. Thanks for sharing! And thanks for letting everyone know that there actually is a summer up here in the frozen north. If you liked the Rideau, you'll love the Trent-Severn next year. happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| FAST FRED Rating: N/A |
One thing you DON'T have in CA is quality Propane! Our Dometic fridge would only run a day or so on CN refilled 20# bottle , then was impossible to keep lit!! A switch to a spare US tank cured the problem , I only hope the CN goop will burn in the BBQ. But it's Still a Great place to visit IN SUMMER!!! From a Recovering New Yorkers view the most AMAZING observation was shoppers who would empty their groceries in their cars . and then push the shopping cart back to the store entrance. Stepford Lives! FAST FRED | ||
| Tom Caffrey (Pvcces)
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Hi, Fast Fred. Nice to see you're back again. It sounds like you've got a plan! Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576 Suncatcher | ||
| FAST FRED Rating: N/A |
Boating , on a canal is certainly an awfull lot like camping , the store isnt as close , but one does get to read a lot. 4 Tom Clancys , and a dozen other books ! Never seem to have any time for reading other than boating. Will attempt to post a picture. FAST FRED |