Boating on the Erie Canal
by John Gearing
The Erie Canal is currently in a state of transition. Formerly it was
used exclusively
for industrial purposes; but with advances in transportation,
industrial use of the
canal has ceased. In its place, recreational use is growing. The Canal
represents
a tremendous opportunity for development as a recreational and historic
resource. With
the Canal Recreationway Plan approved in 1995, the Canal should
experience a stunning
renaissance in the years ahead. While residents have long enjoyed
boating on the
Canal, the idea that the Canal could become a destination for canal
lovers the world over
has only recently take hold. Consequently, the hire boat business on
the Canal is
small but growing. Below I have listed as many of the opportunities for
boating that
I have information on at this time. I plan to update this page with
additional information
as it becomes available to me.
Narrow boats
-- Mid-Lakes Navigation Co
., Ltd. manufactures and charters English style narrow boats. The boats
are in the
38-41 foot range, can sleep 4-5 people and are completely
self-contained, with galley,
shower, and w.c.. The company is based in Cayuga, New York which is
about half-way
between the cities of Rochester and Syracuse. This firm was founded by
Captain Peter
Wiles, a true canal visionary who led a one-man fight to save the Canal
in the early
1970's. From the basin near Cayuga charterers may voyage westwards
toward Buffalo,
or eastward to Oneida Lake. Since it can develop short steep seas
(after all, it is some
20 mi in length), the company's boats do not enter the Lake. My father
and some
of his friends spent a week on one of these boats a few years ago and
had a wonderful
time. Mid-Lakes Navigation Co., Box 61, Skaneanteles, New York
13152-0061. Phone: 315-685-8500
or 800-545-4318 or visit their web site at:
http://www.midlakesnav.com
Collar City Charters
, located in Troy, New York at the eastern end of the Canal offers
narrowboats built
by Mid-Lakes. Charterers have the option of proceeding through the
spectacular Waterford
Flight and on to the westward via the Erie, or heading northward to
Lake Champlain on the Champlain Canal. (Note: I will be adding
information about the Champlain
Canal in the near future.) There is a three hour comprehensive
instructional course
held prior to departure. Charters are normally for a one-week period.
Collar City
Charters, 427 River Street, Troy, New York, 12180. Phone:518-
272-5341or 800-830-5341
Erie Canal Cruise Lines
is a new firm with bases in Fairport (near Rochester) and Waterloo (on
the Cayuga-Seneca
Canal), New York. This firm also uses boats built by Mid-Lakes,
featuring 42 ft models
with somewhat more luxurious furnishings than the standard boats. 4-6
Passengers can be accommodated. Phone: 1-800-962-1771
Kayaks
-- In Europe, these boats would be termed canoes. Yes, believe it or
not, these small
boats are finding acceptance everywhere, even on the Canal.
Endless Adventures Travel Company
offers guided day trips in their 35 boat fleet of rental kayaks on
various sections
of the Canal between Buffalo and Syracuse. The flat water is ideal for
canoeing.
Trips feature explorations into canal history, wildlife viewing, and of
course the
fun of kayaking. Tours start at US$35.00 and include all equipment and
a guide. Phone: 716-335-3010
Canoes
-- In Europe these would be termed Indian Canoes. Canoes may be rented
Monday through
Saturday at The Boat House
, Schenectady, New York. The Boat House is located near the eastern end
of the Canal,
between Locks 7 and 8, near the site of the historic Rexford Aqueduct.
The Boat
House, 2855 Aqueduct Road, Schenectady, New York 12306.
Phone:518-393-5711
Excursions
-- Riverboat Cruises, Inc
. offers a day cruise at 1:30 and a dinner cruise at 6:30 pm, Mondays
excepted. The
boat, named the Nightingale III, accommodates 90 passengers. The entire
vessel is
available for group charter. The day cruise lasts 3 hours and usually
pass through
on of the Canal locks. The dock is located near the eastern terminus of
the Canal, just west
of Lock 6. Riverboat Cruises, Inc., One Terminal Road, Clifton Park,
New York 12065.
Phone:518-273-8878.
Dutch Apple Cruises
, located at the eastern terminus in Albany, New York, offers three
cruises a week
from Albany up the Hudson River, and through the Erie Canal Park at the
top of the
Waterford Flight. Dutch Apple Cruises, 1666 Julianne Drive, Castleton,
New York<
Phone:518-463-0220.
The Sam Patch Tour Boat
operates out of Rochester, New York and offers day trips on the Upper
Genesee River
and the Erie Canal. The Sam Patch is 54 ft long and patterned after an
old Canal
Boat Packet.Trips run from May through October and there are lunch,
dinner, and Sunday
brunch cruises. Sam Patch Tour Boat, Phone:716-262-5661.
The Colonial Belle
is a 220 passenger paddleboat homeported in Fairport, New York, east
of Rochester.
The Belle makes two hour cruises between Pittsford and Macedon from May
to October.
Tues - Sat there are three cruises per day, at 12:00 (Lunch), 3:00, and
6:30 (Dinner).
The 3:00 cruise goes through a lock. There are two cruises on Sunday,
12:00 and 3:00.
Phone: 716-377-4600.
The Spirit of Rochester
offers day trips on the Canal in the Rochester area, but I don't have
any specific
information on it. Phone: 716-865-4930.
Mid-Lakes Navigation Co. runs daily canal excursions in the Syracuse,
New York area
on The City of Syracuse
, a 60 passenger double-decked cruiser. There are Dinner, Jazz Dinner,
Brunch, Pot-Luck,
and All Day Saturday cruises. Dinner cruises feature a full prime rib
dinner and
most cruises include passage through one of the locks on the Erie
Canal. Mid-Lakes
Navigation Co., Box 61, Skaneanteles, New York 13152-0061. Phone:
315-685-8500 or 800-545-4318
or visit their web site at:
/http://embark.com/mln/
Overnighters
-- The Emitta II
, operated by Mid-Lakes Navigation Co., offers a series of 3 day
cruises on the Erie
Canal. Choose from the following trips: Buffalo to Syracuse, Syracuse
to Albany,
Albany to Whitehall, Syracuse to Buffalo, Albany to Syracuse, or
Whitehall to Albany.
Meals are served aboard with lodgings ashore. These trips run from June
through October.
There are also a limited number of 2 day trips but these are popular
and sell out
quickly. Mid-Lakes Navigation Co., Box 61, Skaneanteles, New York
13152-0061. Phone:
315-685-8500 or 800-545-4318 or visit their web site at:
/http://embark.com/mln/
In August 1995, The American Canadian Caribbean Line
inaugurated a two week cruise from Warren, Rhode Island to Buffalo,
New York via
the Hudson River and the Erie Canal. The Niagara Prince is a small
cruise ship especially
constructed for use on the Erie Canal, with a special ballasting system
and a retractable pilot house to allow the vessel to pass under the
famous low bridges which cross
the canal. The trip began in Rhode Island and proceeded to New York
City where the
Niagara Prince entered the Hudson. The ship first transited the
Champlain Canal for
a visit to Vermont and historic Fort Ticonderoga and then returned to
Waterford, entered
the Erie Canal, and journeyed the 340 miles to Buffalo, viewing
historic sites along
the way. American Canadian Caribbean Line, PO Box 368, Warren, Rhode
Island 02885.
Phone:1-800-556-7450.
Additional Resources for Info on The Erie Canal
The New York State Canal Corporation
P.O. Box 189
Albany, NY 12201-0189
Phone: 1-800-422-6254
New York State Office of Parks
Agency Building 1
Empire State Plaza
Albany, New York 12238
Phone: 518-474-0456