Trent Severn and Georgian Bay

[Molson]

Here are some pictures from our recent adventures.

Rounding Midland Point, Beausoleil Island in background. The bay was like glass all day.

Approaching Port Severn

Big Chute Marine Railway

Trent Severn Waterway at Severn Falls

Calm evening at Lauderdale Point Marina on Sparrow Lake

Found this tiki toon on the waterway. Looks like a good time!

On the Big Chute. Good thing about off season, no line up and we get it to ourselves!

Potato Island Channel. 5 feet deep, and VERY narrow. Its a pucker factor for sure.

Western Islands Lighthouse, built in 1885

The Western Islands are essentially out in the middle of nowhere. 8nm from O'Donnell point. Great on a calm day. Not so good on a windy one.

 

[Gofirstclass]

Jim, thanks for sharing those pics. That certainly is a beautiful area. I'm curious about how that Big Chute works. It looks like you pull into it and the slings hold your boat upright and in position, but that steel post sticking up has me baffled. Also, do they suspend your boat? How else would they keep your running gear off the bottom of that lock?

That's completely different from what we have out here so I'm curious about how it works.

Thanks again for the pics, and I agree about that Potato Island Channel. At 5' deep and very narrow, that definitely would give you a pucker factor, especially with a cross wind as your burgee is showing in the pic. Is that a channel you HAVE to take, or is it a shortcut to somewhere? I don't think I'd be doing that one in my boat.

 

[Molson]

That post you see in the picture is one of the sling mounts. There was a tinny to the right of the picture supported by the sling at the stern, and sitting on the bottom at the bow.

When you pull on the bottom of the carriage is quite a ways under water, making motoring on a breeze. You pull in to where they say, hand them the lines and wait. The operator will manipulate his controls and sling the boat. (There are many different sizes and locations of slings, to accommodate several boats)

On our 30' they sling the whole thing in the air. They do ask that you raise the drives if possible, but if not they can sling it high enough you need not worry. Smaller boats get the stern slung and the bow will rest on the wood supports. Once you get to the other side, the boat will float, and they'll drop the slings, only takes seconds. Lower drives, fire engines and power out. Its really a sight to see.

 

[Molson]

regarding potato island channel, its not the only way to get out of the area, but def the quickest. There was a crosswind, but it wasn't too bad, if you stay centre channel its ok, but get distracted, or encounter another boat, you may be in trouble.

 

[Jackie J V]

Great pics Molson - thanks for sharing.

As an alternate to Potatoe Island, you can take the Waubashene route. Equally tight.

GFC - I took the JJV through there last year so you could too! Also, Potatoe Island is not the tightest spot. That honour - IMHO - goes to the tight turn between the rocks under the Hwy 400 bridge just as you approach lock.

For my boat at Big Chute, the stern rests on the platform with the running gear sticking out the back (i.e., off the carriage). Here's a pic of me going up last year:

It is a little unnerving as you go up, thinking about where the centre of balance is and whether or not that 800 lbs dingy hanging off the back is going to tilt things in the favour of gravity. The guys who run the railway though, know what they're doing. Real pros.

Paul

 

[Gofirstclass]

Competent guys or not, that looks a little scary! In fact, it looks a lot scary. I guess I'm just used to our locks where the boat is floating the whole time.

If I were boating there I'd take my boat through that lock, but I'd be nervous as all get out until it was floating again. That kind of reminds me of the first time I saw my boat slung beneath a Travellift when they had to lower it about 30' to the water. I knew the guys were competent, but I still breathed a lot easier when I saw it touch the water.

 

[tomk]

WOW I will never complain again when we pull my boat with A crane and it's 15 foot in the air !!

 

[Creekwood]

Competent guys or not, that looks a little scary! In fact, it looks a lot scary. I guess I'm just used to our locks where the boat is floating the whole time.

If I were boating there I'd take my boat through that lock, but I'd be nervous as all get out until it was floating again. That kind of reminds me of the first time I saw my boat slung beneath a Travellift when they had to lower it about 30' to the water. I knew the guys were competent, but I still breathed a lot easier when I saw it touch the water.

View attachment 26656

Wow. Is it just me or do those steel posts look spindly with 60ft of boat up there!

 

[JerryS]

Thanks for the great pix's, Jim!

 

[AMFM3]

Jim...great pics. The Port Severn shot as well as Big Chute bring back fond memories. Thanks for sharing.

How did the Doral behave?

Mark

 

[Molson]

It behaved well enough. Still having issues with getting on plane. Stbd engine doesn't like to run up past 3k. I think I have some contaminants in my fuel. If I change filters I can get on plane once, but after a while its the same. I'm gonna run the tanks out and clean them.

 

[Molson]

Great pics Molson - thanks for sharing.

As an alternate to Potatoe Island, you can take the Waubashene route. Equally tight.

Paul

We took the Waubashene route on the way up. You're right, the run under the bridge is tighter than ever. Even with my 11' beam there wasn't much room between the little markers coming out of the bridge. Luckily the current is low this time of year.