Association Forum - Cape Cod canal currents

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Cape Cod canal currents

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

seastream
Navigator

Member Avatar

USA
242 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/19/2005 : 19:33:04

In which direction does the above canal current flow and when? It's primarily a north/south route, with the north end being Cape Cod bay and the south end being Buzzards Bay, but it's open to the ocean at both ends. I'm used to rivers that open to oceans, where the current flows inland during flood tide and out to ocean during ebb tide. Any input is appreciated, with thanks.

Bob

Seastream

Edited by - on

existentialsailor
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1180 Posts

Response Posted - 03/19/2005 : 20:03:30

"The swift running Canal current changes direction every six hours and can reach a maximum velocity of 5.2 miles per hour, during the ebb (westerly) tide."

http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/recreati/ccc/navigation/navigation.htm

Edited by - on

seastream
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
242 Posts

Response Posted - 03/19/2005 : 21:13:15

And your friend thought you weren't ready for offshore boating and should stay on the lake instead? I don't agree. I wasn't aware of the resource you just provided me. Thanks!

Edited by - on

existentialsailor
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1180 Posts

Response Posted - 03/20/2005 : 07:38:01

Bob,
I've done a lot of sea kayaking, it's the sailing that I haven't had adequate experince with. Canals and locks are also a special interest to me. That resource I found through Goggle, though I knew it would be out there as I lived a little north of the cape when I was younger. Spent a week kayaking up the Erie canal a few years ago, lot of fun going through the locks. Hope you found what you needed. Planning a big trip? That's a long sail from Great Bay.

Edited by - on

seastream
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
242 Posts

Response Posted - 03/20/2005 : 12:14:07

We're going to start small, then build up. We'll play a couple weekends just in the river between its' mouth and Great Bay to get acquainted with our new surroundings & get a feel for the currents, bridges, etc. Next, spend a day offshore (not far out). Then, a trip to Provincetown. Finally, we'll transit the canal one day. I have relatives in Milford, CT (they live near Milford harbor), whom we'll visit. From what I can see from my charts and Garmins' Map Source, it's about 70 miles from Portsmouth Harbor buoy to Provincetown buoy. That's an extremely long day, so we might opt to go there via Rockport, which is about 30 miles from Portsmouth and 43 miles from Provincetown.

Bob

Edited by - on

existentialsailor
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1180 Posts

Response Posted - 03/20/2005 : 17:52:54

Sounds like fun. Rockport is very nice, haven't been there for a few years, but used to spend a lot of time there. I have it the back of my mind that I'd like to make a trip from Kittery to New York and then through the canal to the great lakes. Not sure I ever will, but what an experience it would be. Make sure you get the schedules on the bridges, no fun trying to fight the current and tide while waiting for the bridge to lift, that is if you have to go that way.

Edited by - on

seastream
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
242 Posts

Response Posted - 03/20/2005 : 19:57:53

Already got the timetables for the bridges in the Piscataqua river leading out to Portsmouth Harbor. All the bridges in the canal are of more than sufficient height, the only exception being the Buzzards Bay railroad bridge which is left up unless traffic requires a lowering. Milford, CT is one of several places we'd like to go. Others are Brick, NJ (my father has a boat there on the Metedeconk river up the Manasquan inlet) and eventually Key West, FL...and that only covers some of our preferred east coast water destinations!

CT and back is about all I have time available for right now.

These are the times I'm jealous of my wife and her teaching career.

What I wouldn't give to have 10-12 weeks off every summer!

BTW, I like the concept of the trip you mentioned. How much time would that take?
Bob

Edited by - on

existentialsailor
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1180 Posts

Response Posted - 03/20/2005 : 20:16:33

Good question. I would think at least between 6 and 8 weeks, but a lot of variables. Of course once I get to the great lakes I'll want to have a look around for a while. I haven't done any serious planning, so I'm basically guessing.
A question for you, what is it costing you to move your boat to the coast? Answer in email if you prefer. I don't have a trailer and don't see myself getting one so I'll have this detail to deal with as well if I end up going to the coast myself.

Edited by - on

cvwall
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
56 Posts

Response Posted - 03/21/2005 : 08:07:01

Get a current copy of the Eldridge Coast Pilot (a little orange book); it gives tides, times of current change, current charts, sailing directions and most major aids to navigation plus detailed instructions on transiting the Cape Cod Canal. Read Capt. Eldridge's original description of why so many vessels were wrecked between Sow & pigs and Naushon Island at the West end of Vineyard Sound. Tides and tidal currents need more attention the further down east you go. Have fun!

Edited by - on

seastream
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
242 Posts

Response Posted - 03/21/2005 : 20:41:54

Wayne hasn't gotten back to me on their transport fees, but about $500 sticks in my mind because one of a few companies out at the Portsmouth end had a rate of $2.50 per mile. That, times the 130 round trip miles from Gilford to Portsmouth plus a flat fee of 100-200 dollars (don't recall exactly) makes it about right.

Bob

Edited by - on

existentialsailor
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1180 Posts

Response Posted - 03/22/2005 : 09:46:26

That's less than I would have expected. Has Wayne started working on your boat yet? I was up there Sunday and the snow piles are still 3 feet high, but perhaps the storage yard where you are is more accessable.

Edited by - on

seastream
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
242 Posts

Response Posted - 03/22/2005 : 18:03:40

Wayne won't be able to paint until it warms up some more. We're shooting for around the first week of May for transport to Portsmouth. Works for me, since I'll be in Europe from April 20-30.

Believe me, since we acquired the mooring in Portsmouth, I've a strong pull to stay here. However, the London trip is to see our daughter who is studying there. Thus, I must put on a happy countenance and go. Among other things, at least I'll be able to find out if they really DO drink warm beer

there!

Bob

Edited by - on

existentialsailor
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1180 Posts

Response Posted - 03/22/2005 : 18:36:57

They do and the pubs close at 10PM. Be sure to check out the "Eye" while your there.
I'm having Wayne do my keel work. He said he didn't want to get into too much fiberglass work on my boat so I've ground out the blisters and will be working with another guy who is going to teach me how to do the other work I need to do. I'm hoping to give Wayne the paint work as well after everything is done. Depends on if he still has time. Seems a wise idea to give the yard a certain amount of work every year, but I want to splash as close to May 15th as I can.
I hope we can do the sail trade you mentioned, a day on the ocean, a day on the lake. Seems like we'd both be getting something we like out of it. As long as you realize my enthusiasm far outweighs my experience.

Edited by - on

seastream
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
242 Posts

Response Posted - 03/23/2005 : 22:04:15

What's the 'Eye', a pub? I'm not sure when my boat will 'splash'. Hopefully about the same time you're thinking...mid May, around the 15th. I need to acquire an insurance policy to include the offshore waters of the Atlantic. Already have a quote from BoatUS that'll cover me from New Brunswick to Jacksonville, FL for about $400/yr, just have to sign up. It's insured for the move under the current policy. I don't see problems in us 'trade sailing'. I'll probably be quite busy this first season on the river getting settled in...figuring out how to board Illusion at her mooring from a dinghy without falling in the river

, how/where to store the dinghy/motor, vying for a slip ASAP! You may have more chance to visit me than the opposite but I'll guarantee that I'll be up to see your boat. Dinghy; don't want to spend $700 on a new 8' Walker Bay dinghy from Fays', but that'll probably happen since I've seen nothing used so far, I like the WB and Fays' price is competitive.

Bob

Edited by - on

existentialsailor
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1180 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2005 : 04:27:50

The "Eye" is the big ferris wheel in London. It is BIG!. The expenses never stop do they? Good luck with the move and all. Drop me an email when you get settled, or if you think I can give you a hand with something.

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.