Sailing from Montreal to Ocean

Das Boot

Seaman
Joined
May 13, 2004
Messages
54
Hi All;<br /><br />Anyone here with experience on sailing downstream on the St Laurence River?<br /><br />I'm looking at a nice little 24 footer in Montreal and may try to sail her home to the Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick....<br /><br />The route would be down the St Laurence, hang a right around the Gaspe pennisula, over to Bathurst, then coastal to the canal between mainland Nova Scotia and Cape Breton, hang another right and cruise down the coast to Halifax, from there sail to the lower tip of N.S and Yarmouth.... then hang another right into the Bay of Fundy and set course for Saint John,N.B. <br /><br />sail thru the Reversing Falls and then head the 60 miles or so up the Saint John River to my home here at Hampstead......<br /><br />I've sailed from Halifax over to home a number of times but that St Laurence river scares me a tad :) <br /><br />Any info appreciated<br /><br />Thanks.........
 

tommays

Admiral
Joined
Jul 4, 2004
Messages
6,768
Re: Sailing from Montreal to Ocean

i dont no anything about your area BUT in general what kind of power and speed AND fuel supply does it have VS the currents you may run into <br /><br />in my area at the currents peak out at over 6 MPH during the tide changes makeing planing around them a critcal part of any trip<br /><br />tommays
 

brother chris

Commander
Joined
Jul 28, 2002
Messages
2,063
Re: Sailing from Montreal to Ocean

Wish I could help, but it sure sounds like a nice trip. <br />Bring back pics for us.<br />B.C.
 

rottenray6402

Ensign
Joined
Jul 27, 2004
Messages
923
Re: Sailing from Montreal to Ocean

I have boated on the St Lawrence around the 1000 Island area quite a lot. The river is big and deep with the shipping channels marked with international bouys. You can get GPS charts for that area that would keep you out of trouble. I realize that where I'm talking is quite a ways west of where you would be but you would be going with the current and there are places everywhere to anchor up for the night. Should be a great trip if you do it.
 

Das Boot

Seaman
Joined
May 13, 2004
Messages
54
Re: Sailing from Montreal to Ocean

Just thought i'd follow up on this one Lads....<br /><br />We bought the boat (an older model British built Vivacity 24) in Valleyfield Quebec near Montreal and decided to have her trucked home here to Gagetown, N.B....she's sitting on the wharf in her cradel awaiting the Saint John River spring "freshet" high water level to recede.....been raining here in the East for near a week and the long range forcast is more rain.... (i feel sorry fot the guys near Boston)<br /><br />Thanks all..........<br /><br />Dave
 

Paul Moir

Admiral
Joined
Nov 5, 2002
Messages
6,847
Re: Sailing from Montreal to Ocean

Thanks for the update Dave. It appears to be a very comfortable and seaworthy boat. Is yours the full keel version?<br />Good luck on your launch!
 

Deb2

Recruit
Joined
May 22, 2006
Messages
3
Re: Sailing from Montreal to Ocean

Now tell the boys about the 40+ foot tides in New Brunswick
 

Das Boot

Seaman
Joined
May 13, 2004
Messages
54
Re: Sailing from Montreal to Ocean

Paul, my Vivacity is a fin keel, aparently most were made in twin bilge keels for English waters as for the tides in the Bay of Fundy, yes they are awesome, 40 to 50 foot rise and fall only happens real far up the Bay and where it is narrow, in Saint John Harbour the average is around 28 ft and if you tie up to a pier you can litterally watch the water rise or fall it happens that fast...<br /><br />Interesting to note the Bay of Fundy tides influence currents well out into the Gulf of Maine.....there is a chart publication on the subject....
 

rottenray6402

Ensign
Joined
Jul 27, 2004
Messages
923
Re: Sailing from Montreal to Ocean

When I lived in Anchoage, AK we had extreme tides also, I don't think near 50ft however.I do know you had to mind how deep the water was when you anchord or you could end up dry at low tide. Also with tides like that where the water was pushed through a small "neck" sometimes a wall of water called a boar tide resulted.
 
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