Ep. 80 - Delightfully Calm; Erie Canal Locks 1 to 8

[@innerspaceavailable]

So awesome when they call over the radio and say Captain. Wonderful job! So glad to see you having fun and a tiny bit nervous. Nervous keeps ya alert and careful. We are sooooo happy for you and enjoying your journey!!

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

OMG, when she called me "captain" I did a happy dance inside. I know I'm not "A Captain", but still, I was "captaining" my boat, and it felt great to hear that. ^_^

[@somebody1869]

That’s cruising. Sometimes, after all the trouble and pain, the sea throws this at you. Enjoy this moment and many more like it in the future!

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

Absolutely. I know this video won't do well, but for me, it was one of my favourites. It was so nice to have a solid day with no drama, and just getting to enjoy the boat, the water and the scenery.

[@NCislander]

Outstanding Job "Captain". Out on the water is where the learning happens. Getting salty out there. Thanks for sharing.

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

Being on the hard now as I write this, but editing the video on being on the water... it's motivating. I can't wait to get back out there!

[@petertrebing6875]

The beauty of North America - thank you so much for sharing this. This is also a very authentic documentary. Greetings from Heidelberg, Germany.

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

Before I started travelling, I took for granted the beauty of this part of the world. Oddly, part of woke me up to the natural beauty of Canada (and north-east US) was a trip to Munich. Seeing the old buildings and blew me away. Then I went to Czechia, Denmark, and other amazing places in your area... Same with Japan when I went there, again a whole new kind of amazing and beautiful. With those experiences in mind, seeing the country here from the canals was sort of like seeing it all for the first time. It's one of the things that appeals to me so strongly about travel; You don't just see other places, you see the familiar all over again, if that makes sense.

[@petertrebing6875]

@@TheDigitalMermaid That makes a lot of sense to me! :)

[@kindsailing]

What a beautiful day! We look forward to taking that trip in the next few years. Namaste.

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

Thank you, and that you so much for becoming a patron! The trip was amazing, even with the various problems that came up. I am sooooo glad I decided to sail her home instead of trucking her. If you get the chance to do the same trip, I can not recommend it highly enough!

[@rexmyers991]

As your self confidence grows you become an even more beautiful woman! As an eighty year old (happily married) man, I still have keen eye for courage. You go girl!

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

Thanks Rex. ^_^

[@CaptainShack]

Great video! Congrats on the locks!

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

Thanks, Cap. Shack!

[@davidross976]

Thanks for the river and lock tour. Having never been through that part of the country, I lived vicariously through your adventure. You'll be home in no time when we'll all be eager to see how you refit the boat. Best of luck.

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

I have the new controller in hand, and the motor should be here next week... I am getting really excited to get back into the angry pixie world!

[@innerspaceavailable]

What motor did you end up buying?

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

@@innerspaceavailable GoldenMotor 10kw BLDC with watercooling, and I got the Kelly KLS72100N controller.

[@davidkettell6236]

I am not a boater but i think you did brilliantly for a first time traversing that many locks . They scare me just looking up at them before they fill. The canal is busier today than when it was built in the 1800's

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

Thanks David! Colin was a life saver through the locks, he'd been through them all before, and gave me the advice I needed until I figured out the rhythm of them. It was really fun getting to go through such huge pieces of infrastructure!

[@lindacolaprete7324]

Thank you for this wonderful adventure. My life long dream was to take my powerboat from Chicago ,IL , through the canal, down the Hudson, across New York Harbor, past Staten Island where I was born and raised, and down to the Chesapeak Bay. I never got to do it. You did it, in effect, for me. thank you ever so much. Ed C

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

That makes me both happy and a little sad. I hope things work out so that you can do the trip someday. Until then, I'm really touched that you got to enjoy this part of my trip. ^_^

[@planecrazy9208]

What an adventure! You deserve a t least one day when things behave, and the scenery was breathtaking. I dont know how far you have to go to get home, but I'm looking forward to see you tackle the next phase (I think its the next phase) starting work on removing that pesky diesel and going electric. As always love everything about the project, the progress, and your manner - and as the lockkeeper said - CAPTAIN!!! Well done :)

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

The conversion has started!! I pulled the water pump and wet exhaust out already (mainly to save them from freeze damage, but hey, it's parts going out that aren't coming back!) ^_^

[@ripplesandleaves]

Go Madi go! What a joy to have things go smoothly. 🎉 Congrats!

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

Thanks, Ripples! It was such a fantastic day... ^_^

[@KeritechElectronics]

That's a nice bunch of cool sights along the way! Definitely fun time.

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

It was so delightful! Even when it started raining, I didn't care, I was happy things were working well.

[@sl0rion]

Came for the lifepo4, stayed for the locks! Delightful video Madi! - Chris

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

Thanks, Slorion! I had expected the new electric motor this week, but it's been delayed until next week. Point is, SOOOOOON, the batteries and power stuff will be back!

[@sl0rion]

@@TheDigitalMermaid yes, I'd imagine lots of juicy DC content in the queue!

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

@@sl0rion Absolutely! I decided to get a bare motor and a controller, so I'll be figuring out everything for throttle, controls, programming... Lots of nerdly fun to come

[@sl0rion]

Well I'm really enjoying the meantime videos too, so no rush

[@vingreensill]

Great to see this leg went well.

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

Thanks, it was really nice! Unfortunately, it was the quietest leg of the trip... I would have enjoyed more quiet and relaxed days. :)

[@eyemstillhear]

Hi Madi...the Simple Electronics podcast 079 brought me here. Loved it, you were totally inspiring. Thankyou. 👏👏👏🙏🙏🙏

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

Welcome, Geddy! I'm really happy you found the channel, and I'm honoured you've found inspiration! ^_^

[@TheRonskiman]

Fantastic video, very enjoyable watching it this morning. So glad you had a very good days sailing after the diesel trouble.

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

Thanks, Ron! It was probably the quietest and most relaxing leg of the trip. Things got a little squirrely rest of the trip home.

[@srenloe43]

Thankyou for the sail thru American history

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

Thank you for watching me float along American history! ^_^

[@loucinci3922]

Wonderful journey. Congrats getting 42 NM under the “new” engine. Safe travels

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

Thanks, Lou! The engine itself has been fantastic, it's just all the complexity around it that kept biting my arse. lol

[@AndreRocheleau-o3r]

Hi Maddy, Did the loop a few years ago! Beautiful scenery all the way. After lock 17 in Little Rapids, maybe 2 miles further, you'll see a giant metal structure in front of you. Flood gates if memory serves me right. Anyway, about 500 feet before the gates, look to your right and you'll see a very beautiful Robertson 38 on the hard, if it's still there! Have a nice trip!

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

Hiya! I've finished the trip now, but when I'm editing the video, I'll keep an eye out for it!

[@Thorupjens]

You are doing fine, so happy for you

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

Awe, thanks Thorupjens!

[@denislamadeleine1181]

New subscriber here. 51 year old dreaming of sailing and hoping to start next summer. I enjoyed your video and learned a bit about the locks in the canal. Thanks for sharing. btw I am from Vermont so hopefully will be cruising down through the canal on my way to the Atlantic some day.

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

Welcome! I'm closing on on 46, so you're not far ahead. It's hard, really hard at times, but so very worth it. :)

[@vk3xe]

Was interesting watching you navigate the locks, the only other videos I've seen are narrow boats in the UK using their locks

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

I hadn't seen any other videos showing the full locking process, so I really wanted to catch it from as many angles as I could. I'd seen them in the UK also, but they're so much smaller.

[@escheytt9326]

Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to the balance of the trip.

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

Thanks! Still got one more bit on drama, but soon I'll be home and the repower to electric will start!

[@ritchycamaro]

That was smooth sailing. Nice, saw you are passing Amsterdam soon. That's close to where I live. In Holland haha. Keep the engine running.

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

Dude!! I very very much want to run the rivers and canals over there! When I build the solar arch, I'm planning to include a cradle for the mast so that I can make it easy to drop and stow it because I want to travel inland waterways in Europe. :D

[@ritchycamaro]

@@TheDigitalMermaid always welcome!

[@billbruce5528]

2000-2200 is a good cruising RPM for an old 3QM30. According to the manual, maximum continuous operation is 2400, anything more must not exceed one hour of operation. I cruise my 3QM30 around 2000-22 (after the engine has warmed up).

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

Aye, she seemed really happy in that range. I pushed her to 2600 later trying to overcome a current and even after just 30 minutes, I knew I had to cut her back and cut my losses. Turned around and found another way onward.

[@jamesthepuerilis]

am so happy for you, so glad that things went well for this part of the trip.

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

Thank you, James. I've been queueing up raw videos for the next episode, which covers the worst day on the trip home. This video was really nice to edit, a good reminder that while the bad days stick in our heads more, the good days are what make it all worth while. :)

[@supermo26]

Cool

[@johnhayes3314]

Hi Madi, will be doing something similar. Knowing what you now know, would you have put her on a truck???

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

Hrm, that's a hard question to answer... Sitting here, with her safely at her new home port, no, the trip was absolutely worth it. I got tested, and it was a good wake-up call to see if this is really the life I want. That alone is invaluable and made it all worth while. If I knew before I left that I would have these problems, but not know when they would happen, I would have considered the truck. I think about this question a lot, and the trick is that, had some of these issues happened at different times, or in different weather, the outcome could have been very bad. If I had lost the engine in NYC harbour, from either the fuel blockage or from the breakdown (probably in the next video), it would have been bad. If I had lost the engine rounding the mouth of the Niagara River near the peace bridge, or had I taken Lake Ontario and then lost the engine, it could have been down right dangerous. So I guess the question is context dependent; If someone was asking _me_ if I am glad I sailed her home, yes, absolutely and no doubt. If the question was "you did it, should I try it?", it would be a lot harder to answer. The risks of a breakdown at various places on the route home could have been catastrophic. Trucking is is a lot safer, there is no doubt about that one bit. That said, if you're planning to do crossings, then you've signed up to non-trivial risk, and meeting some of that risk on a river or in a canal is as safe a place to do it as you can. Sorry if this isn't a super clear question, but it's a complex one.

[@tastiger91]

Nearly getting there.

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

There's one big event left, but ya, getting there. I just started on the repower, and the videos should soon jump forward to near real time soon!

[@tastiger91]

@@TheDigitalMermaid That fine, I'm telling myself that you are live streaming. Don't break the fifth wall😹

[@johnxrv]

What?, no drama, no big booms, no running at ground? Do Murphys law not work i loks ? 😊 Well nice to see you having a good day . I am sure you needed that, plus some good sleep. I am not sure if you said it before but i will just ask: is it your plan to do the rebuild on land or floting? I can see plus and minuses both ways.

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

I think Murphy took the day off, and wow was it nice. Made for a fairly boring video, I admit, but it was glorious. The boat's up on the hard, and the repower has just started. Doing the work I plan to do on the water would be quite complicated and less safe. That said, I sooooo miss being on the water.

[@johnxrv]

@@TheDigitalMermaid looking forward to vids om the transformations, tear out, modification and all.

[@StikDragon]

that looked like a lot of fun :) how much total height did you gain across all of them?

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

That's a fantastic question! - So it looks like 138.8' rise from Troy Federal to Lock 8! - www.canals.ny.gov/wwwapps/boating/locks.aspx

[@jimsvideos7201]

Captions for the duck, omg 😆

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

! ^_^

[@zoe..d]

Pardon me Maddy, are these videos of "current" experiences or are we still in the post trip home series of releases?

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

Hiya Zoe! This is still on the trip home, but I am already filming new and much more current content. I think there's 2 or 3 more videos left in the trip home, then there will be a pretty big jump to catch up to current time. I didn't get much done over the summer, but I'm finally back at it.

[@zoe..d]

@@TheDigitalMermaid oh wow, ok! Thanks for the insight! And surprised you recognise me with all your followers. :) Looking forward to the next big phase of this battery conversion!!!

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

@@zoe..d Of course I recognize you. :)

[@colinmcgregor1544]

Liberty ships were very lightly armed cargo ships of World War II, whose great virtue (almost only virtue) was that they could be built faster than Germany, Italy and Japan could sink them. So, seeing a ship on the Hudson River more-or-less covered with guns and clearly not designed to haul bulk cargo, definitely not a Liberty ship.

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

Since seeing her, I looked a bit more into it. Crazy how fast they built them!

[@segwaytothepicture1109]

Orange sweater....lol. 😂

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

I love that sweater so much! The elbow is about to wear through though... :(

[@segwaytothepicture1109]

You'll have to get so patches for the elbows but what color???@@TheDigitalMermaid

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

@@segwaytothepicture1109 I was thinking of something like that, maybe brown. My neighbour is really good at sewing, so I've been meaning to ask her for advice

[@madsskov_dk]

Looks like the next video will be a bit too exciting… Other comments indicate you still got a boat! I hope for the best and look forward to when you get that smelly and noisy engine out 😊 Electric ftw!

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

Aye! I think I spent four hours on about 3 minutes of final video. Haha. I'm hoping to finish the next video, which will be much of the rest of the trip home, in the next day or so. Sorry for the delay :)

[@ismzaxxon]

New sub. Great work. I am a live abord. Only comment, just watch the lines dont get into the prop....didnt look like you did though.

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

I know eventually it'll happen, but it's something I'm always doing my best to watch for and avoid. Thanks for subscribing, and welcome! What boat do you have?

[@ismzaxxon]

@@TheDigitalMermaid 38Ft Boden steel. Had 60ft. people said go big. Was a big mistake, everything is so much more expensive and harder to get anywhere. Almost as hard as a cat. I am in Brisbane Australia. This boat has done two circumnavigations (without me) yet it doesn't look like it would.

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

@@ismzaxxon Ah, steel! If I ever move on from MR, it'd be to something ice-rated, so probably steel or aluminium, and at most 42~45'. I'd love just enough more space to have a work space. That said, I know how crazy two-foot-itis can get, so ya. I originally wanted a 42~43' but decided it was too much for starting out and now I am really really glad I got this 38'. Perfect size really. You're planning crossings?

[@WiSeNhEiMeR-1369]

FYI: while in the US Navy 1969 / 1973 ... I had the pleasure of BUILDING the SHIP, in NEW ORLEANS ( AVONDALE Shipyards) ... that I lived on for three Years & helped SAIL to Vietnam = the USS BLAKELY DE-1072 ... which was a DESTROYER-ESCORT later Re-christened ( "Fast-FRIGATE" ) FF-1072 for some reason ... BRAND SPANKING "new" in 1972 & already DECOMMISSIONED & melted down into BEER CANS ... Heavily ARMED with a 5" 54 GUN TURRET + Nuclear ASROC Missiles & Nuclear TORPEDOES !!! COOP ...

[@andrewmuir7938]

Immediately suspicious of the "Delightfully calm," and "Nothing went wrong" description...

[@TheDigitalMermaid]

In this case, I actually meant it! haha