Watch Out! Capt. Dick is Back On The Water!

W.R. Kenan

Yeah, Captain Cantankerous his own self, Dick Metcalf is back and we launched his boat, W. R. Kenan on opening day this last Wednesday.

Leave it to Dick to be the first one moored in Fairport. Me? Jealous? You bet.

Anyway, we hadda put a long extension on his trailer, then the helpful folks at Midlakes (thanks Steve!) pushed the 50+ year-old steel-hulled trawler (and it's 80+ year-old owner) into the water.

Launching went off without a hitch (yuk yuk), but when I ran into Dick later in Fairport, he said we had almost sunk the boat because we forgot to check to see if all the hoses below decks were hooked up. Probably my fault.

Dick shows me how it's done

Anyway, even with canal water filling the bilge he made it safely to Fairport, and now he's just waiting for them to turn on the water on the North side and open the damned bathrooms.

See ya in the drink!

Midlakes Launches New Boats

Harriet H. Wiles

Hanging out around marinas can be a lot of fun, especially ones like Midlakes in Macedon, NY. Midlakes is home to Midlakes Navigation's fleet of Canal hire boats, which you can rent for cruises up and down the canal. The houseboats are styled after European Narrowboats, and are what amount to floating condominiums, or at the very least a floating luxury apartment.

Midlakes has been providing this service with boats that they design and build for generations. In fact, Midlakes built the Sam Patch, but that's another story. Peter Wiles, owner and operator explained to me that they had built around twenty boats, and have been in the process of buying back several boats that they had sold over the years, so that now their fleet is around 14 boats in all.

Peter Wiles

One of the boats that had been purchased back from an individual has been re-built and was recently launched as the Harriet H. Wiles, named in honor of Peter's mother.

Designed as a single-couple rental, with deluxe appointments, Harriet is both spacious and modern. The boat also has some updated features, including an enclosed cockpit, which will make for more comfortable navigation, especially in inclement weather.

The Ladders Are Here!

NYS Canal Corporation have made good on their promise to install ladders on the canal here in Fairport. According to the D&C, they're $18,750 a pop and "not even gold-plated." There are eight ladders in all, which comes to around $150,000.

The ladders on the South side of the canal are recessed into the wall, but the ones on the North side stick out quite a bit; not enough to damage boats, but probably far enough to discourage boaters from parking in front of them.

This will probably result in what even a Canal Corp. employee bemoaned as an increase in the congestion for boaters trying to moor along the wall. Everyone I've spoken to has ridiculed both the need for these ladders, and their high cost.

The fact that most foot traffic along the canal is during the summer season, when there are boats moored seems to have been overlooked. Think about it, if you did happen to fall into the canal, wouldn't you climb up on one of the many boat swim platforms, which are lower and easier to access, rather than swim to a ladder? I know I would.

Canal Opening Early For Navigation

Notice to Mariners

2016 Navigation Season

Mariners are advised that the opening date for the NYS Canal System has been changed to 7 a.m. on Wednesday, April 27 - four days earlier than originally scheduled.  All other dates and hours for the 2016 navigation season remain the same.    

Fire on bridge on Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath in Akron

"AKRON, Ohio — An arsonist set fire to a bridge on the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail.

Firefighters were called about 6 a.m. Tuesday to the bridge in the 300 block of West Wilbeth Road, according to a Summit Metro Parks spokeswoman.

Akron firefighters extinguished the blaze. Arson investigators found an accelerant on the bridge, leading investigators to believe someone intentionally set the fire.

Officials haven't yet determined how much it will cost to replace the bridge. The bridge will remain closed until it's repaired, officials said.

Firefighters and Metro Parks rangers are investigating a link between that fire and another fire early Tuesday on Wilbeth Road.

Someone started a fire in similar fashion, the spokesperson said. That fire was about an hour prior. It was not on Metro Parks property.

Investigators do not have a suspect."

Read more at Cleveland.com...

Erie Canal's 192nd Opening May 1st!

"The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and the New York State Canal Corporation have teamed up to sponsor 28 festivals and events to showcase the heritage of the Canalway Corridor and the recreational appeal of the waterway and trails today. Events include cycling and paddling tours, canal festivals and concerts at the waterfront. The canal system is scheduled to open May 1, weather permitting.

“We are proud to partner with communities and organizations to ensure a lively and fun season along the canal,” said Bob Radliff, executive director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. “Starting in May and going right through the fall, these events offer great ways for people to explore and enjoy the canal.”

Events are a significant contributor to the $380 million in economic impact generated annually by canal-related tourism. Erie Canalway and NYS Canal Corporation’s investment in event sponsorships is expected to be matched nearly 10 to 1 by local sponsors and attract 64,000 people"

Read more at Erie Canalways...

Erie Canalway funding goes toward preservation projects

"The Erie Canal Corridor in upstate New York is getting a boost from some federal dollars.

Federal funds from the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor will go to 10 education and preservation projects from the Albany area to Buffalo. The $44,000 in grants will leverage an additional $165,000 in private funds to create teachers guides, murals, and historical markers.

The town of DeWitt will use funds to promote a bike ride, but it all fits in with long term canal plans. Supervisor Ed Michalenko says ultimately the town wants to create a pond and park in an area that many people don’t even know has an Erie Canal connection, at a highly trafficked intersection along Erie Boulevard.

“It’s our hope to reemphasize that corridor, to restore what we can, and it’s certainly what we’re planning on doing is building a green space and park next to storm run off on Erie Boulevard and Bridge Street,” said Michalenko.

The village of Baldwinsville will use some of the funds for “memory markers.” Mayor Dick Clarke says it’s help like this that has made a big difference in his village."

Read more at WRVO...