One option to cut out half the canal is to take the Welland Canal from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario and make a go fast run to Oswego via a layover at Rochester or another small port on the way. Take the Oswego River south and connect with the Erie just as it enters Oneida Lake. Hammer it across Oneida and layover at Sylvan Beach. Free wall dockage. Can hop a car ride over to the Turning Stone Casino. Once you are east of Oneida Lake you will be in land cut and then the Mohawk River section. The lock operators are civilian and really nice guys but if you travel too fast they will hold you up. It really is worth the slower journey in the canal rather than pass things up. All wall dockage is free next to the locks and many marinas also offer free dockage and have all hookups for a few dollars a night. So really just the section between Oneida Lake to Schenectady is slow. Once past Schenectady there is a 30mph speed limit on the Mohawk River but the waterway really opens up and widens. You can get by cruising a little faster until Waterford.

Were planning now, Just waiting on the snow to quit in deeeeetroit. Thanks for the info

I live on the Oswego river just south of the phoenix locks..They do a great job making it very inviting to boaters for overnight stays...very clean and no issues with rif raf......Last time I knew free power and at one time they even had pump out...I would have to check on that....:drink:

Were through the canal down the Hudson and in the Chesapeake...Wow the trip of a lifetime!! We left the boat in Annapolis and flew home. In a few weeks we will resume into Virginia beach and then into the inter coastal south........

Enjoy the ride!!! Show pictures!!!