New to Navigation - long trip; new boat

[vineyardgray]

I used to putter around Lake Erie in a 17' bowrider. I navigated by landmarks.

I now need to get my newly purchased 38' boat from Trenton, Ontario through the Murray Canal and all the way past Toronto to Port Credit, Ontario.

Not a huge trip in the grand scheme of things. But I am more than a little trepidatious.

The boat has a some sort of gps gizmo and a depth finder. Both Lowrance. Radio too. I'm away from the boat so I don't have the model numbers.

Is a trip like this something I should put off until I'm more comfortable with the vessel? Should I just get it towed to Port Credit? I guess I'm just wondering if I am I biting off more than I can chew with a trip like this this time of year.

Any tips on trip planning websites or other navigation aids would be most appreciated.

[waybomb]

Why not find a boating friend to go with you. Or hire a captain to tech you along the way?

I'd buy a handheld vhf with dsc and keep it charged.

Make sure the on board radio works.

Make sure you have plenty of safety gear readily available.

Do not be in a rush.

Enjoy the trip, stay close to shore and stop at as many ports as you can, and go walk around. Make it memorable.

Read the manual for the chart plotter, learn how to use it. Same as with the depth finder.

Pay attention you the weather; don't go if there's a chance of thunderstorms. Rain is not a problem, lightening and wind could be.

I'll let others continue....

Hey, and welcome aboard!

[bud37]

I have done this trip a few times....my advice if you are seasoned with your boat, its a piece of cake, stay a mile offshore minimum , watch out for the power plant outflows if still operating, plot a course and follow it.... on plane can be done in a short day....hull speed two days.

Maybe talk to your broker and see if he knows a captain to come with you for this time, buy the lake Ontario chart and maybe the lake Ontario north shore Ports book, its a good read and will help with taking your time and some explanations of the trip and places to stop.
Lake Ontario can be quite rough on the north shore with certain winds, much like Erie......good luck man.

What boat do you have ?

[RGrew176]

Making the trip would be a great way to get to know your boat. Not going to repeat what was already posted above. All good advice. Good luck.

[denpooch]

I will 3rd the motion of hiring a Captain.
When I purchased my boat, I spent the extra money to bring a captain along for the initial run from broker to home port.
You will find his expertise reassuring and his presence will afford you the opportunity to 'pick his brain' for the entire trip.
I believe that taking your 'maiden voyage' on a large unfamiliar boat in seemingly unfamiliar waters WITH a professional captain would be the prudent approach.
Good luck. I wish you the best.

[vineyardgray]

Thanks All for your helpful advise and reassuring words.

My brother and I brought the boat from Trenton to Port Credit on the weekend past.

It's an old boat, so problems were expected. Before voyage, I had one of the oil/transmission fluid heat exchangers rebuilt by a radiator shop on the port engine, but it leaked anyway. It did not blow open enough to overwhelm the aft bilge pump, so we crossed our fingers and just went relatively slow and luckily it did not get any worse.

When pushed, the starboard engine tried to overheat. This engine had been cleared of 'gunk' in the coolant heat exchanger as it was overheating on sea trial. Looks like they did not get enough gunk out of it still. These are 454 closed coolant heat-exchanged engines so something must still be constricting the intake.

Nevertheless, I am patting myself on the back, because the 'Oasis' has landed in Port Credit Yacht Club. It was an exhilarating trip and I learned a lot about the boat.

I'm going to start a new post about my GFCII woes. The last marina did not have CFCI breakers, so it appears there were silent faults aboard to rectify.

Cheers,

Matt