The Rideau Canal - Cruising Through 200 Year Old Locks!

Our very first time visiting the Rideau Canal and the nearly 200 year old lock system by water! Heading out from Collins Bay Marina, in the city of Kingston, we moved onto the Rideau Canal for our first overnight stop at Lock # 45, Lower Brewers.
Here's a detailed Google Maps view of the route we took in this video; www.google.com...
This video is part of our glorious 5-1/2 week long cruise that takes us from Lake Simcoe, through dozens of locks and right down to 'Mile Zero' of the Trent Severn Waterway. From there, we headed east to Kingston and onto the Rideau Canal for first ever visit there by water! For a look at the entire adventure, please check out the full Playlist here: • Summer 2022 Cruise
As mentioned, there is an interesting series produced by a fellow named C J Hoyle, where he paddles the entire Rideau Canal by canoe. Your can watch the complete playlist here; • Rideau Canal - Solo Ca... .
Don't forget to tell him I sent ya ;-)
Filmed July, 2022.
Enjoy this video and would like to support the channel even more? Feel free to make a one time or ongoing contribution via PayPal here: www.paypal.com....
Boat Specs;
Model: 1998 Sea Ray 370 Sundancer
Length (bow to transom): 37-6", LOA (with factory swim platform): 40'-1"
Beam: 12'-7"
Dry Weight: 17,000 lbs
Fully Loaded Weight: Boat + Fuel (1,664) + Water (580) + Gear (1,250 +/-) = 20,500 LBS
Fuel Capacity: 275 U.S. gallons, 1,040 litres
Draft: 32”
Dead Rise: 20 degrees
Engines: 2 x 7.4 litre Mercruiser Bluewater, Multi-Port fuel injection, gasoline,
raw water cooled, rated at 310 HP
Transmissions: 2 x Borg Warner Velvet Drives, in Vee-Drive configuration
Generator: Westerbeke 7.2 Kw BCGTC @ 60 Hz, gasoline powered & carburated, 3,600 RPM continuous engine speed
18,000 (total) BTU (12 + 8), reverse cycle heating/air conditioning

[@ianadkins471]

Didn’t realize you finally did the Rideau. Good going. We did our third trip there last year. Funny but when you were pulling into Lower Brewers I was reminiscing about being there and having our cat accidentally jump overboard. We had tied up on the opposite side of the boat that day. Lesson learned. Have fun and thanks for putting together the vids. 😊

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Gotta check my channel often - new videos every week 😁

[@daldom3847]

Again another great video, it brought back lots of great memories. We moved our boat from downtown T.O to Kingston for about 4years to fully experience the Rideau and Gan. Rideau Marina was our home up til 2012.

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Cool. Glad it was memorable for you. So, begs the question: if not T.O. and not king's town, then where ya boating out of these days?

[@daldom3847]

@@BoatingWithBoogaboo My living room watching your entertaining videos! When we do finally get one, we will most likely be Fenelon area🤞🏾Lady D.

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

A beautiful spot! In the meantime, make sure to be parked in front of your monitor tomorrow, as the next episode comes out. Might be surprising for some...

[@chadparker5690]

Hey Paul. We were the couple that were in with you going up at Kingston mills. It was our first time ever doing a lock and we were of course nervous , (45’ boat, wind )then the lock door chain breaks and they have to drop us back down and bring in another boat. Then I noticed it’s a KZbinr and I’m going to be on video when I screw up. All went well. Counting the days to get her back in the water!

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Hey Chad, glad you found this one. And yes, you did great - from what I saw, anyway 😉 If you get a chance to watch a couple more videos from this series, see my impressions on our Rideau experience... I'll look forward to your comments 👍

[@mikemckinnon5254]

Thank you again for sharing

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

My pleasure.

[@OkieBeeMan]

Another good video and summer is getting closer... enjoyed the history lesson and commentary. 🤣

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

I'm gonna make a point of telling that to Anchor Girl. She's not a fan of my endless history lessons 😂

[@markburley4901]

What a great video! It's great to see new territory covered by you guys. And who knew you're such a historian?! Cheers!

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Good to hear from you again Mark. Glad you enjoyed this one. As for me being a historian, I thought you already knew my brain was full of lots of useless information ;-)

[@markburley4901]

@@BoatingWithBoogaboo ya I’ve been offline for a bit to start the year. But I’m back!

[@captianslider6586]

Wow! deja vu when you entered the Rideau system, As I bought my new boat to me this fall and travelled the same route all the way up to Rideau ferry harbour. And like you we where delayed at Kingston Mills, but for a different reason the canal work boat was coming down to move markers as it was the last week of the canal being open. I am hoping to be in your neck of the woods in 2024. Unfortunately I was in a rush so did not really get to enjoy the scenery as much as I would of liked to. So I will use your videos to re-live my trip as I recognize the places I passed in your video's.

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Cool. Although we didn't get as far as Rideau Ferry Harbour on this trip, we are well acquainted with that place. Back in 2017 when we bought our last boat there - the Sea Ray 330 Sundancer. I do have a few videos I produced from that spot, if you're interested in seeing our perspective. Here you go; kzbin.info/www/bejne/rInKipuwpKaem6M + kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHzHiYiQhd12g9k ++ kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6bXZaCXrMxpea8

[@wolfeislandexcavating5426]

Thanks for the video The Kingston pen tour is very interesting we went a couple years ago

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Looks like it would be an interesting tour. A few years back we went to the Ohio State Reformatory on our way home from Florida, but it was closed during the winter. Luckily for us, one of the head guys saw us poking around outside and sorta ducked us in for a brief look around. We have spoke about going back for a full tour, but again, that'll be during the boating season, so....

[@richardadams6853]

We're renting a LeBoat in Smiths Falls in September. Heading toward Kingston this year and then up to Ottawa next year. Looking forward to seeing the sights on the Rideau.

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Sounds like you'll be having some good times. Enjoy!!

[@sylvaintherrien6469]

Hope you had a Nice trip this summer in the canal will go next summer did it 5 times Lachine to Ottawa to Kingston and back to Montréal our little loop cant wait to see all your trip in rideau cheers I am still working on my garmin set up with craig at Ray tech he says cheers to you

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Sounds great. And thanks for the message from Greg! I was really happy with my new Garmin toys 😁

[@12000Jetlag]

Wow more amazing scenery. Now I may have to add the Rideau Canal onto my Bucket List.

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Pretty, yes, but quite unlike the Trent Severn Waterway in many respects. Watch for my thoughts in an upcoming video...

[@eternitysshore]

Great stuff as always. The Google map is helpful and I like the history as well!

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Great! I'm happy you discovered the Google Map. Most folks never read the descriptions, so glad you found it On another note, loved your sentimental - albeit on the sad side - video looking out the window, watching for the return of boating season 🥺 I had something similar a couple years back, but deleted it. Your video just might inspire me to repost it. . .

[@eternitysshore]

@@BoatingWithBoogaboo Nice! To be honest, I'm running out of material!

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

@@eternitysshore There's always something to share for us fellow boaters ;-) How about a quick look at mundane projects that can be done during the off season? I noticed in your latest video the shorepower cord/splitter could use some lovin'. Try some acetone to clean off the mold - much more effective than soap based cleaners. Just remember that acetone is highly volatile and should only be used in well ventilated areas. Look at that, I just wrote you a script :-)) Or.... a review of what you've learned in the last season. I must say that you guys sure have come a long way, given that this is your first cruiser. Many of the projects you've tackled are ones that many seasoned pros would never consider doing themselves.

[@eternitysshore]

@@BoatingWithBoogaboo thanks a ton for the encouragement!! Much appreciated. I’ll be back at it next week.

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

@@eternitysshore Nice! Nowhere out there and start filming 😁

[@BobEstler]

Looking forward to seeing more to the Rideau.

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Got a few more videos, but spoiler alert; we didn't get as far as we wanted....

[@mikec4736]

Great video Paul, thank you. I just can’t wait to know what your thoughts were about your experience on the Rideau Canal. We now boat on the Rideau but used to be on Lake Simcoe and enjoyed the Trent Severn waterway to it’s fullest. Now that we are on the Rideau, there are things that we enjoy about the Rideau that we couldn’t on the Trent Severn and vice versa. Your local and historical knowledge is very impressive, as usual and is certainly not boring. Looking forward to the next one.

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Thanks for your comment, as it's good to hear your thoughts on the Rideau vs TSW. As for me, I'll be sharing my impressions after we get back to Trenton - on the series, not in real life that is 😂 And supplier alert Ricky - don't expect to see us venturing too far north on this voyage. Time was against us 🫤

[@patrickoneill14]

Great video. Hope you enjoyed your time on that system...really interesting history...you wonder if those workers 200 years ago could imagine what their hard work would look like today and how the system is used! Likely not given the conditions they had to work in at times! We had a great time this past summer traveling the system from Kingston to Ottawa and back again, trip of a lifetime for my family.

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

When they were building in this lower part of the Rideau system, malaria was rampant, sadly claiming many lives. Not dissimilar to what was encountered by the poor souls building the Panama Canal, 80 years later.

[@tinalouisehenderson8545]

What a great day for cruising! This looks to be such an interesting trip, scenic and historic all in one! By the way, I liked the little history lesson... It was quite interesting. I didn't realize where the name of Bytown came from. Really cool.

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Glad you enjoyed it! I'm often told by my First Mate that I include too much unnecessary information when I talk, but that's just how I am 😂

[@rogergiddy2634]

Great video

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@scottzorno8414]

Thanks for the new Rideau series. I just found LeBoat that rents small cruisers to traverse Rideau canal. May have to save our nickels to do that some time.

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Or, as the locals refer to them; Das Boat 😂

[@davelawrence6777]

Thanks paul nice ride along and no not boring at all.

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Thanks 👍 You might only be saying that because I edited down my 'history lesson' portion ;-)

[@davelawrence6777]

@@BoatingWithBoogaboo nope i always want to know the why something is there a d i also know that is a Unisco world Heritage site

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Correct. Some neat history...

[@Motorvader]

Beautiful cruise. I would not want to cross River Styx at night - it sounds as if any deviation from the marked channel would be disastrous.

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

We have a similar situation on the TSW at Mitchell Lake. Lots of tree stumps just outside of the marked channel.

[@thomasellwood9699]

Nice video Paul, I am interested in see your journey of the Rideau canal. We are planning a trip up to Ottawa and back to Kingston this August.

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Well, don't hold your breath, as we didn't get as far up as I had hoped for. Simply ran out of time :-/

[@philboyer2036]

Kingston pen was used in the first Superman movie. Superman flew Lex Luther into the yard at the end of the movie. I will also be going up and back on the Rideau in 2023 with my solar electric catamaran.

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

I did not know that about the Superman movie. Thanks for the insights.

[@clevjam]

Thanks Paul, I enjoyed the video very much. Do it while your young. By any chance were you a guitar player? CHEERS!

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Guitar player? Yes! I was marina champion Air Guitar player back in the day ;-)

[@markmerritt6089]

Hey Paul, love the video, quick question. How many locks do you go through on an average boating season? Thanks!!

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Depending on where we travel, anywhere from 30/40 to as many as 90+ lockages in any given season. This past year we did 92 with our trip past Trenton and a bit on the Rideau Canal...

[@lindamaurice9923]

I agree fuel prices, but also there were many locks closed off and on in the Trent because of heavy water flow this past summer.

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Yes, but that was at the very beginning of the season. By July, there was free movement for anyone who was willing to go. We found the same low traffic on the TSW everywhere except for the heart of the Kawartha's.

[@lindamaurice9923]

Yes Paul it was earlier but it would still deter people and almost every day you heard of a lock down for whatever reason. Also the Chute was having issues with staffing all of July. I think the problems with the system in general deterred alot of people which would effect the Rideau.

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Hopefully we won't have those issues on the TSW. Fingers crossed 🤞

[@Tnapvrvideo]

Nice share! btw, did you monitor depth throughout the canal trip? And, if yes, what were the lowest reads? I ask because it states a low of 5' during some time of the boating season. That would be a concern for any boat with a draft nearing 4'. Thanks. AND, might you know what time of year the Rideau has the highest water?

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Did I monitor the depths?? Of course I always refer to my depth finder, but I don't stare at it religiously, as I trust the info on the charts, as well as anything added by Parks Canada ;-) Apart from that, an equally important thing to do AT ALL TIMES is monitor channel 16 on the VHF radio. Sadly, too many boaters don't use their radios for much more than calling their buddies to arrange getting together at an anchorage. If there is any pertinent, up to date changes anywhere along the system (or any other navigable waterway in Canada), the Coast Guard will provide information there. From navigation buoys being off station, to reported deadheads or even unusual shoaling, they will let us know. If you are concerned about water depths, check out this link (parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/on/rideau/visit/navigation/points-retenir-navigation-facts) and check your charts well ahead of your trip. Even though this was our first boat trip to/on the Rideau Canal, we have cruised the entire Trent Severn Waterway for the past 20+++ years and have never had an issue with water depths being lower than had been reported. Check my Playlist of TSW voyages here ( kzbin.info/aero/PLKhjT5kr2l2EFaPCqEgjxYofTvO9Mbh81 ) As for highest time of year for water depths, Spring would be highest, simply because of runoff, but keep in mind that the entire system (both Rideau and the TSW) are regulated every day by lock staff - even outside of the Navigation Season. But that won't help anyone with a deep keel, as the sill depths at the actual locks would be the mitigating factor. This 200 year old system wasn't designed with pleasure boats in mind, but rather shallow barges to transport material. As such, the entire level had to be raised to accommodate a 5' sill depth at the locks - something that can actually result in challenging conditions when entering the locks. I'd suggest you watch all of the videos I shared from this visit (including my impressions when we left) to get a fuller overview of what to expect. Happy boating!

[@Tnapvrvideo]

Thank you for you wonderfully detailed reply. I will most certainly view all the included links. Safe Boating!

[@Thebeardedcanucks]

Is your boat a sea ray ?

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Is this a serious question ⁉️🤣

[@Thebeardedcanucks]

@@BoatingWithBoogaboo just wondering how sea ray drivers drive ?

[@joanneiler2415]

Awesome video love boogaboo!!! 💖💖💖💖💖💖😍😍😍😍😍

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Thank you 🤗