Buffing compound and wax got some neglected gelcoat back to 100% this week. Lookin’ good. (Pics to follow).

Solar upgrade also progressed. A/C on the SUN is close at hand!

We have begun a process to upgrade our solar system so it can give us A/C air conditioning during the day on anchor (or underway).

Step 1 look

Bump the inverter up to 3000 watts. Completed today.

So the 3-year old charger/inverter goes on the market.

Step 2

Add one more 200 watt PV solar panel to bring us up to a theoretical kilowatt to feed the system.

Completed Monday 8/26/2024

Step 3

Wire in another manual transfer switch to safely move the salon A/C unit and the sea water pump from the boat’s native power (shore or genset) to the solar system when desired… ensuring these appliances can only be connected to ONE source at a time.

This means there are THREE possible sources of power to the A/C system: Shore, Generator, or Solar.

Being able to run A/C during a sunny day on anchor without the fuel and noise of the generator will be wonderful!

Lucas Alexander Sirois, born July 21, 2024

ADDENDUM Thursday eve

Shelly & I had several weeks of “goodies” shipped to this address while transiting Canadia. So, tonight was my time to go over to make the transfer from their home to the rental car. Plus we went grocery shopping. Replenished, there is no room for PEOPLE on the boat now! LOL.

ADDENDUM Friday eve

Addendum Monday Eve

Such a great city!

https://shellerina.com/2017/09/15/the-little-red-lighthouse/

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This anchorage is a favorite.

Many memorable voyages, north and south, have begun or ended here at this place.

Bannister Bay, Lawrence NY

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“Thousand One, Thousand Two, etc”.

Each 4 seconds = 1 mile away

Sound travels slower than light.

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Kingston almost became the capital of the state of New York. Albany won out because of its geographic separation from NYC.

Today they are hosting the Roundout Music Fest

They tell me this city is the latest hot spot to buy real estate fixer-uppers in New York State. (Boating season is too short for us!)

Today’s route:

Purposeful late start today to get a “push” from the tidal current in the Hudson River.

Less cruising time, less fuel, more sleep before pushing off!!!

Last June we tried this anchorage for the first time, riding the tide NORTH. Today we had less tide under the boat, but made the entrance without incident, and 2 feet of water to spare.

I had a great “chin wag” with this group who just arrived today. I think they have timed it better than us to experience Troy’s world famous Farmer’s Market on Saturdays (year round!)

Trouvaille, from Long Island NY, will tour Lake Champlain and several parts of Canada for the rest of this season. Then winterize on the hard until spring. THEN Karin + Dennis will return to circumnavigate Lake Superior next season! What a great plan!

Thanks to this community for this free docking, free 30A shore power, and free self-serve Pump Out (which worked really well!)

You can figure this out! And, it turns itself off.

This is on the north end of the free wall.

Lots of room for plenty of boats, and lots of 30A power pedestals.

South of Lock C-3 and immediately after the bridge at mm 9.42 on the Champlain Canal / Hudson River (north of Waterford NY.)

We did not stay the night because we wanted to get back to sea level today! 3 locks and 2 hours below this fine spot.

The Hudson River is tidal all the way past Albany NY to this lock. So the tides and tidal currents are now a factor for us again as we move south.

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Triangle Loop details

With our passing Waterford NY today where we were on Monday June 10th to start the westward trek on the Erie Canal, we completed this triangle through parts of NY, Ontario, Quebec, and VT.

In addition, did a lot of the Trent Seven Waterway, (which this map does not show.)

Note that there is a St Lawrence River route that follows the US-Canada border for many miles, and a Rideau route that goes up through Ottawa.

We took the St Lawrence River option. This option fit our big picture calendar better, it gets us to Long Island NY sooner to meet Lucas, our new grandson!

Today we passed through Locks C-6 and C-5.

The Lockmaster in C-5 asked about our vertical clearance requirements and when we are planning to pass C-4.

With some antennas lowered, we need 16.5 feet instead of 18.5’.

He indicated that there was an upcoming bridge after C-4 where the lock operators will have to “lower the pool” to ensure 17 feet of vertical clearance for us at this low bridge. He also needed to know WHEN we will make Lock C-4.

Evidently, C-4 only opens the lock for southbound passage 3 times each day; 8:00a.m., 10:00.a.m., and 2:00p.m.

So, we had to commit to which southbound lock time we would use. We picked 2:00 p.m.

We also went online to SnagASlip.com to make a reservation at Troy Downtown Marina for Wednesday night. By my calculations we can make it through all five locks to secure there AT SEA LEVEL Wednesday night!

Being at sea level is exciting for us for TWO reasons:

No more locks until Great Bridge VA and …

We will be that much closer to meeting our new grandson Lucas Alexander in a week, on Great South Bay, Long Island NY.

SCHEDULED Lock Times ?!

The reason for limited/scheduled locking at C-4 is that the DNA of an invasive species has been detected and the NYS Canal Corporation and state biologists are taking precautions to stop the advance of this fish northward in the canal system.

Fishing is VERY popular in Lake Champlain. We passed hundreds of bass boats up there! An invasive species like this Round Goby could screw everything up!

Special lock operating procedures, and a limited schedule is part of the strategy to keep this threat in-check.

Schuylerville NY

If you call and get the answering machine, have no fear, Henry will call you back in a timely manner! Just leave him a message (with confidence and your number!)

While the physical plant here may not compare to places like Burlington Harbor Marina or Yacht Club Montreal, the spirit of Henry and ALL the staff at Basin Grill will impress and make you want to come back.

Lots of locals come here too in addition to transient boaters.

Floating Docks here were “doable” whereas the hard-to-resist “free walls” WITH shore power in Whitehall and Fort Edward were not “doable” for my wife who could not scale the cement walls to get off the boat … the past two nights in a row!

It was time for some floating docks … nearby to where we were.

So, scratch up $2/ft and come here. The entertainment and Wednesday “Trivia Night” … and camaraderie can’t be beat.

Related post: https://shellerina.com/2024/08/14/kids-these-days/

They just cannot get off their smartphones!

But I caught them tonight!

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Our conversation went on for two hours after that, here at this great venue with great customer service.

A great connection was made tonight with them fer sure!

Related post: https://shellerina.com/2024/08/14/schuyler-yacht-basin-campground/

I suspect this is NOT typical here, because of all my research about this port, no one mentioned the current!

Remnants of Hurricane Debby brought lots of rain to upstate NY. I suspect this current is due to recents day’s weather.

All our fenders were to port for the locks, so we had to approach this wall after an about face. We experimented with how the boat responded to conditions. Then we made our move.

We picked a spot with a ladder AND close to shore power pedestals.

There are some 17 foot vertical clearance bridges today, on the Champlain Canal south of Whitehall NY.

Do your homework to ensure successful passage. Shelly took this video of a close one.

Nancy & Annette were on their way to visit my new friend Brian of Moon Dance, a beautiful red Sabre yacht (manufactured very close to our Maine home for 30 years.)

Brian and I first connected at Burlington Harbor Marina a few days ago. We had multiple exchanges there. Now he’s in the blog!

Shelly and I got to this port in three hops. Brian did it all today. Fortunately, he had enough energy left to welcome Nancy & Annette aboard his beautiful Boat.

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Locks C-12 and C-11 require southbound vessels to lock port-side-to. The rest allow crews to pick.

After locking UP at C-12, there is a “free wall” with shore power (30a & 50a) & fresh water. On this Sunday in August we arrived around 1:00 p.m. and we are still the only one’s tied up here, and it is 5:00 p.m.

The wall is pretty high so aim for a spot with BOTH a ladder and a power pedestal!

South of this lock is now called “Champlain Canal”. We are officially no longer in Lake Champlain.

The plan for tomorrow or Tuesday if weather dictates is to join up with the Hudson River (south of Lock C-7) and stay over in [highly acclaimed] Fort Edward NY.

We are just east of this monument. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_Point_Light

There are some wakes during daylight hours of bass boats and pontoon boats lol etc., nothing too big.

We asked for a slip close to civilization. Vivian delivered! Slip C1 is close to everything.

Addendum midnight as Shelly has a birthday! Thursday night.

Nice 75°F water to jump into today, AND no need for A/C!!!

We have friends who live here!

Fortunately, it looks like Jacksonville may squeak by this one.

Golf carts make the commute into town (0.5 miles) a breeze, as well as traversing the 0.13 mile long pier from office to fuel dock.

Note the two over-sized red and green nav buoys at the entrance to Barcombs… with a very small island in the middle.

Generally, transients will be directed to the south channel.

I gotta talk with Capt John… he has gotta get a big rental PALM TREE for that island. Have it brought in every spring and protected every autumn for winter!

Say Amen!

Featuring the very best pump out system east of the Mississippi! … at each of the transient slips! 24×7 included in your slip fee.

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It simply was not as simple and clear as the other border crossings over the past. Several weeks.

One main issue was the marina owner told us, “They prefer you check in BEFORE your arrival in the US… and they prefer you use the APP.

The primary reason we wanted to get back in the US was the unacceptable Internet service we were getting in Canada. Well, using the app proved to be impossible. Each attempt resulted with a prompt to begin a VIDEO call with a Customs Officer, each attempt failed at that point.

So, the end result was a denial of entry into the US.

The guys at the bridge / mobile Customs office got it cleared up, and we were on our way.

A couple weeks ago we helped this enchanting couple finish off a bottle of red aboard their late-model PowerCat in Belleville Ontario.

https://shellerina.com/2024/07/18/guests-of-rene-isabelle/

When they learned that our float plan was going to have us passing right by their home on the Richelieu River … on our way to Lake Champlain, they invited us to tie up at their dock and use their car or whatever we needed!

We did not need the car to re-provision; but we could not resist the urge to stop to say “Hello!”

There was no wine to be consumed today as we all had work to do, places to go, and things to see.

I’m still hoping to get you pics and details of their wonderful newer PowerCat which is “on the market”.

Merci Beaucoup Mes Ami!!!

After we left, we successfully made it to Chambly QC’s “blue wall” to be first in line to lock UP to the elevation of Lake Champlain tomorrow! … Perhaps we will even make it back into Etats-Unis waters: at Rouses Point NY.

Just south of them is the St Ours Lock. Then we hit the Chambly Basin where we tied up to the “blue wall” … lined to lock through first in the morning.

After lock #9 of the Chambly Canal, we have ascended to the elevation of Lake Champlain at St Jean QC. Ten miles to go until US waters in Rouses Point NY.

From Lake Champlain there won’t be any locks until Lock C11 in Whitehall NY.

… Eleven locks of the “C” for (Champlain) series to bring us back to Troy NY, near Albany, and sea level.