I think I want to single hand the Great Loop
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Brent Hodges
Senior Member
I have been told that some areas of the loop have locks that require 2 or more people on the boat. (As in they won't let you lock through single handed) Is that not true? I'm planning on doing the loop in the next couple of years, mostly single handing so I've been thinking about that.
As for raising anchor and washing chain single hand, I do that all the time here in Texas with black stinky mud bottoms. 43ft boat, all chain, 88lb Rocna. An hour or so before departing I go pull in a few feet of chain (depending on water depth and amount of rode out) Say, in 20 feet water with 120 feet out, I pull in 25ft about every 15 minutes. The chain mostly "self washes" and about all that's left is washing the last few feet. Two important features here, at least to me, is a bad-ass washdown pump with lots of pressure, and a windlass control both at the bow and helm. Obviously if the wind or current is howling all bets are off. Works for me.
As for raising anchor and washing chain single hand, I do that all the time here in Texas with black stinky mud bottoms. 43ft boat, all chain, 88lb Rocna. An hour or so before departing I go pull in a few feet of chain (depending on water depth and amount of rode out) Say, in 20 feet water with 120 feet out, I pull in 25ft about every 15 minutes. The chain mostly "self washes" and about all that's left is washing the last few feet. Two important features here, at least to me, is a bad-ass washdown pump with lots of pressure, and a windlass control both at the bow and helm. Obviously if the wind or current is howling all bets are off. Works for me.
NightCrawler
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+1 on joining AGLCA. Dirt cheap and chuck full of folks who have done it. They even have a forum just for single handers. Herb's a great resource, and so are others. Two others and us did the western rivers (Ten Tom) together and they rocked it.
I know the Welland Canal between Lk Ontario and Erie requires 3 unbound and 2 down bound. Haven't been thru them but know others that have. There are locals that will assist those needing crew for a $fee... not sure what the going rate is.
So it depends on your route. NY Erie canal bypasses Welland but the highlight of the trip IMO is the Trent Severn and I'd say should not be missed. The locks are small and lock hands will assist.
So it depends on your route. NY Erie canal bypasses Welland but the highlight of the trip IMO is the Trent Severn and I'd say should not be missed. The locks are small and lock hands will assist.
Only the Welland Canal requires 2 or more people. It's a largely commercial canal and most larger boats use a pilot as required above a certain size and type. It's on the loop only for those who take the Oswego to Lake Ontario and then take the Welland to Lake Erie. If one takes the western Erie or the Trent Severn, then it doesn't come into play.
Riverguy
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Talk to Tanya Binford...and buy her book?
Get in touch with Tanya Binford. I met her in Southport NC after she'd finished her solo Great Loop in a pocket trawler and published her book "Crossing the Wake". She had little or no boating experience, but did a lot of homework and training before starting.
https://www.amazon.com/Crossing-Wake-Womans-Great-Adventure/dp/1635052378
Most of the time when you are docking a Mainship 34, you are going to want to be at the flybridge helm, so I don't think the lack of a side door at the lower helm is a show-stopper as long as you can get down from the flybridge quickly enough when you need to. Going through the locks, we've often just stayed up on the flybridge and grab a line from up there.
Get in touch with Tanya Binford. I met her in Southport NC after she'd finished her solo Great Loop in a pocket trawler and published her book "Crossing the Wake". She had little or no boating experience, but did a lot of homework and training before starting.
https://www.amazon.com/Crossing-Wake-Womans-Great-Adventure/dp/1635052378
Most of the time when you are docking a Mainship 34, you are going to want to be at the flybridge helm, so I don't think the lack of a side door at the lower helm is a show-stopper as long as you can get down from the flybridge quickly enough when you need to. Going through the locks, we've often just stayed up on the flybridge and grab a line from up there.
Southern Cross
Newbie
Trent Severn Locks
I have a 40' Silverton Aft Cabin cruiser and have done the Trent Severn. The engines must be off once in the lock and fastened to the lock cables. Once the water level change is finished you may restart the engines. For my boat, it is impossible to do alone, but for yours, it is possible, especially with remote bow and stern thrusters.
I have a 40' Silverton Aft Cabin cruiser and have done the Trent Severn. The engines must be off once in the lock and fastened to the lock cables. Once the water level change is finished you may restart the engines. For my boat, it is impossible to do alone, but for yours, it is possible, especially with remote bow and stern thrusters.
Southern Cross
Agree... Canada is fussy about engines off.
I've never had to do it but don't see why one couldn't run a stern line around a cable as we as a bow or mid line around another cable and tend them from one place between them.
Having a lower helm and helm door makes locking soooooo much easier IMO
Agree... Canada is fussy about engines off.
I've never had to do it but don't see why one couldn't run a stern line around a cable as we as a bow or mid line around another cable and tend them from one place between them.
Having a lower helm and helm door makes locking soooooo much easier IMO
FF
Guru
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"I've never had to do it but don't see why one couldn't run a stern line around a cable as we as a bow or mid line around another cable and tend them from one place between them."
Depending on which lock you are in , some have cables fastened at the lower end , some just dangle heavy lines down the lock wall.
Depending on which lock you are in , some have cables fastened at the lower end , some just dangle heavy lines down the lock wall.
True in NY but all locks have a fixed ladder that can be used as mentioned. I know some that single hand a lot have made up a metal hook with a ring attached. Hook goes over a ladder rung and Bow & Stern or Mid lines thru the ring. Applying tension helps pull in that end of the boat. Operator just needs to release and reposition the hook as you go up or down.
Canada all cables fastened at bottom and spaced closely so more options and lock tenders will assist. Going unbound you will have get set up alone as they can't help until you get up.
Last edited:
IntoTheBlue
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We traveled the Erie and Oswego locks last summer. We met up with a 40+ Monk, which was single handed. As mentioned, the Erie locks are high and with a boat over 40 feet holding it will be difficult.
The guy on the Monk used bow and stern thrusters, with a wireless hand held control, which also controlled his engines (you are supposed to shut down the engines while in the lock and he did). He was able to step out of the pilot house, grab a line, move the boat, grab another line and then stay in place all with the handheld device. With this set-up we followed him all the way to Oswego and he never seemed to have a problem, always staying in place.
Otherwise I wouldn't recommend it.
Enjoy! Dave
The guy on the Monk used bow and stern thrusters, with a wireless hand held control, which also controlled his engines (you are supposed to shut down the engines while in the lock and he did). He was able to step out of the pilot house, grab a line, move the boat, grab another line and then stay in place all with the handheld device. With this set-up we followed him all the way to Oswego and he never seemed to have a problem, always staying in place.
Otherwise I wouldn't recommend it.
Enjoy! Dave
micksbuddy
Veteran Member
I single handed the Loop in '06-'07 on a Mainship 34-1(no thrusters). It wasn't too difficult, just get used to the boat and how it reacts. I think it is important to be agile enough to get up & down the ladder to the flybridge quickly! I had a couple of large Aere inflatable fenders that helped a lot in the locks. A reasonable amount of physical strength definitely helps in the locks where you have to tend two lines simultaneously.
As far as anchoring, I effectively didn't have a windlass, but also didn't have much chain, mostly line and was able to manage the boat from the bow by climbing up on the eyebrow in front of the flybridge and reached into the flybridge to operate the throttle/shifter to maneuver the boat if there was much breeze when retrieving the anchor.
All in all it worked quite well and it was a fabulous trip!
As far as anchoring, I effectively didn't have a windlass, but also didn't have much chain, mostly line and was able to manage the boat from the bow by climbing up on the eyebrow in front of the flybridge and reached into the flybridge to operate the throttle/shifter to maneuver the boat if there was much breeze when retrieving the anchor.
All in all it worked quite well and it was a fabulous trip!
Blog is interesting, but like most, no info as to who this person is, or much about the boat.... and the ads are a killer.
Symphony
Senior Member
Jeff F's blog is very nice since he always links to a chart with his anchor location, plus a few videos here and there. I enjoyed a video Jeff linked showing the activity in the wheelhouse of a tug with 40+ barges. it was very interesting.
Oh, it's you... nice to know.
It's nice to know a bit about the person, crew, details about the boat, planning, etc. instead of just pix. Don't get me wrong, your pix are great. A few blogs have dedicated pages for this which makes it easy.
joe mccabe
Newbie
Mako Joe
I have a 78 single engine Mainship no bowthruster no biggy single handed have to know experince level my boat is for sale Ha
I have a 78 single engine Mainship no bowthruster no biggy single handed have to know experince level my boat is for sale Ha
Carl Martin
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Good answer! The C-Dory 22 or 25 or the Rosborough 246 would have plenty of room, are easy to handle, are much faster when you need it & are very fuel efficient. I prefer the Rosborough (outboard version) but the best deals are on the C-Dory 22 & it can be pulled with a smaller vehicle.
It's pretty easy to find a deal on the Mainship but the next year you spend fixing it up could be the year you spent doing the loop on a smaller boat that's ready to go.
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