I second the suggestion to time your passage to the current in the Hudson. Makes a big difference whether you are fighting the current or letting it push you along. I found the "Tidal Currents Trip Planner" app very helpful.
+1
Wonderful people at this marina. I had a mechanical issue on my way to the Chesapeake last fall and ended up storing my boat on the hard for the winter here. Brian and his staff made an unfortunate situation quite tolerable. The food at the restaurant, alone, is worthy of a stop.
We did the Champlain canal several years ago during high water and just barely cleared the lowest bridge. The air draft was 16 1/2 feet to the top of the enclosure.