Cape Cod Canal Speed Restrictions

[Converse48]

Everything I read about the CC canal says there is a 10MPH/No wake restriction in the entire canal. Is this right? I can see the point of no wake zones near bridges and marinas, but the entire canal? Every day of the week? Yikes.

With the currents reported in the canal, I can imagine standing still trying to maintain no wake while bucking the current.

Can I get some local knowledge on this?

Thanks!
Tim

 

[Sea Gull]

The speed restriction is reasonable given the number of people who picnic and fish along the banks and the small boats that putter along. The CG patrols near both ends of the canal monitoring speed and wake and they transit every so often to keep things in line along the way. That said, I have often seen boats going faster than 10 and/or kicking up a wake. I prefer to go with the current and only as fast as I can without creating an unreasonable wake. It would be a huge waste of fuel to transit the canal against the current.

 

[Converse48]

Thanks Gull... I'm used to the C&D canal which has fewer speed restrictions. For the departure we're planning (tight time window on a delivery), it's going to be next to impossible to time the current right without giving up too much daylight or leaving an unfamiliar harbor and channel under darkness. But if we can make little to no progress against the current, we may need to rethink things.

Decisions, decisions. Thanks for the input.

 

[Sea Gull]

I've been in that situation before too. Sometimes the answer is to leave an extra hour early and slog against the current. Don't forget that the currents in Buzzards Bay are also a factor (but only .5 - 1 knot compared to up to 4.5 knots in the canal).

When are you making the trip?

 

[Converse48]

Weather permitting, we'll leave Plymouth Harbor on April 20th as early as possible in the AM headed for Stamford or Norwalk, CT (day one of three ultimately ending in Rock Hall. MD). Sunrise is around 5:50AM and slack tide at the eastern mouth of the canal is around 6:15. Max current against us in the canal will be at approximately 9:20. The figures are from memory so they may be off a tad...

 

[Sea Ray 300]

A few years ago, while transversing the canal, we, (4 boats, heading from the Vineyard north), stayed "just on plane". :smt018
Well, out came the gendarme, and took all of our numbers...
Thankfully, we never heard further.... :thumbsup:
Bear in mind that there are cameras fastened to the bridges... :smt018

 

[Converse48]

Got it... we're not looking to break the rules, just trying to establish what the rules are!

 

[out-n-aboat]

Every thing I read in this thread is accurate. If you go through at 10 knots yes there will be boats flying past you. But at least you wont get stopped. If you time the tide just right you could motor through at 10 knots at idle. The current realy rips at times. You will see lots of small boats at times on the canal and your wake could sink them if they were to close. Good luck.