bracketracer
Active Member
- Aug 23, 2016
- 560
- Boat Info
- 2001 380DA
Fully updated Raymarine MFDs, Quantum radar, full LED lighting conversion, and lots more.
- Engines
- Twin 454 Horizons
So, here's the backstory for anyone interested:
http://clubsearay.com/showthread.ph...ea-Ray-but-not-new-to-boating-Western-NY-area
We closed on it on September 3rd. At that point I still hadn't been behind the wheel. Met with the broker at the boat, signed the last few items, and he says "let's cast off, and get you familiarized with the thing." I'll be honest, I did go into slight panic mode inside, since I'd never driven anything even close to that size, and never twins. But, within the hour, I was already comfortable with controls, handling, docking, etc. He had me in and out of the slip about a half dozen times, pulling up to other docks, parallel parking, and so on. Amazing how much easier this thing is to move around compared to my 24 I/O.
Anyway, we still had to get it from Lake Erie up to Ontario via the Welland Canal, and my marina owner was going with us as a guide.
Until then, we spent time checking out Buffalo.
Did some Erie Canal cruising
Upper Niagara River (sorry for the bad pano stitch in this pic)
And finally, on 9/20, it was time to jump lakes.
This was our route
Left Buffalo a little after 7am, pulled into Port Colburne, Ontario around 8:30
Lock/Canal control told us to tie up and wait. One barge behind us going downbound, and another freighter coming upbound.
Time for some breakfast
11:22am, freighter passes by
11:24, we're off. 3 boats in our group. 3rd boat was this stunner of a Vicem 67 called Mahogany Rose.
First lock (technically lock 8) was an easy one. A lake-leveler. Level only changes a couple of feet, so no need to tie up.
Then it's about 14 miles to lock 7.....at no more than 8kts.
These lake freighters are all seriously beat looking.
And tied up. About 1:30pm
3:30pm - into lock 7
And out of lock 7
Into lock 6. 6-5-4 are in one flight. About 150' total drop.
hour-twenty later, and we're out
5:30, told to tie up before lock 3.
6:00, cruise ship goes by. In the middle of a damn fine meal.
Then lock control radios to us. Time to go. Had to eat on the fly. Bummer.
Getting ready to pass under the QEW
7:50, get told to tie up before lock 1
Waiting for this
Lock 1. At this point, we're punchy. It's 9pm. We're still in Canada, so now I'm blasting Kim Mitchell, Tragically Hip, and Slaughter as we're descending.
10:45, in her new home in Wilson, NY.
And, 10/1, we're out. Boooooo. Can't wait for next season at our own dock.
Her home for a few months. Over the winter, I'll be buffing, waxing, bottom painting, upgrading the sound system, radar, and displays, replacing isinglass, and some other odds and ends.
http://clubsearay.com/showthread.ph...ea-Ray-but-not-new-to-boating-Western-NY-area
We closed on it on September 3rd. At that point I still hadn't been behind the wheel. Met with the broker at the boat, signed the last few items, and he says "let's cast off, and get you familiarized with the thing." I'll be honest, I did go into slight panic mode inside, since I'd never driven anything even close to that size, and never twins. But, within the hour, I was already comfortable with controls, handling, docking, etc. He had me in and out of the slip about a half dozen times, pulling up to other docks, parallel parking, and so on. Amazing how much easier this thing is to move around compared to my 24 I/O.
Anyway, we still had to get it from Lake Erie up to Ontario via the Welland Canal, and my marina owner was going with us as a guide.
Until then, we spent time checking out Buffalo.
Did some Erie Canal cruising
Upper Niagara River (sorry for the bad pano stitch in this pic)
And finally, on 9/20, it was time to jump lakes.
This was our route
Left Buffalo a little after 7am, pulled into Port Colburne, Ontario around 8:30
Lock/Canal control told us to tie up and wait. One barge behind us going downbound, and another freighter coming upbound.
Time for some breakfast
11:22am, freighter passes by
11:24, we're off. 3 boats in our group. 3rd boat was this stunner of a Vicem 67 called Mahogany Rose.
First lock (technically lock 8) was an easy one. A lake-leveler. Level only changes a couple of feet, so no need to tie up.
Then it's about 14 miles to lock 7.....at no more than 8kts.
These lake freighters are all seriously beat looking.
And tied up. About 1:30pm
3:30pm - into lock 7
And out of lock 7
Into lock 6. 6-5-4 are in one flight. About 150' total drop.
hour-twenty later, and we're out
5:30, told to tie up before lock 3.
6:00, cruise ship goes by. In the middle of a damn fine meal.
Then lock control radios to us. Time to go. Had to eat on the fly. Bummer.
Getting ready to pass under the QEW
7:50, get told to tie up before lock 1
Waiting for this
Lock 1. At this point, we're punchy. It's 9pm. We're still in Canada, so now I'm blasting Kim Mitchell, Tragically Hip, and Slaughter as we're descending.
10:45, in her new home in Wilson, NY.
And, 10/1, we're out. Boooooo. Can't wait for next season at our own dock.
Her home for a few months. Over the winter, I'll be buffing, waxing, bottom painting, upgrading the sound system, radar, and displays, replacing isinglass, and some other odds and ends.