Kingston Ontario Ramp?

S

Simplicity

New member
Hi We're starting a cruise in July from Kingston. Does anyone know of a good ramp with secure storage for our vehicle?We are headed up to ottawa on the Rideau-then down river to Montreal-then back to Kingston via St Lawrence.Is it a bad idea to go up the st lawrence against the current? Thanks for any info. Al & Linda
 
Hi
I've been to Montreal several times from Vt. the current in the old port(Montreal) can cost you as much as six knots heading south. and at best it seems the seaway runs at 0 knots at flood. I never recorded it down around the thousand islands but going NE is a much faster trip than SW. You really might want to reverse your trip and go up the St Lawrence from Kingston to Montreal, head up to Ottawa and down the to Kingston thru the locks. Its the same trip and the current will be running with you, not against. Save fuel and go faster! :D
Dick von Roth
Buster
c-25
#27
 
We vacation on Wolfe Island which is an island between Kingston and Cape Vincent NY. I know there is a publc ramp right in the vicinity of the entrance to the Ridue and Ferry dock that is for the ferry to Wolfe Island from Kington. All along this area it is very populated and there is a Holiday Inn with a huge parking lot next to it that may work for you. Go to http://www.cityofkingston.ca/index.asp this is a great website with awesome city maps. I am sure you will find all you need on this site. You may want to also take a spin to Marysville on Wolfe Island, this is one of my favorite places on earth. Free ferry ride with or without your car and boat! Holds about 150 cars or so. Current in the St. Lawerence is nothing to worry about in a C-dory, you will be fine. I have circled wolfe island more times than I can remember in my 22' with never an issue.
 
As i said before you may find that current is not a problem south near Ontario but when you get north you can expect at least 3 knots running against you and when you arrive near montreal your gonna be faced with six knots. In a small boat it may be not an issue.when I've done it, it was in a 42 and 46 grand Banks and it was a definite issue not to say it was a serious problem, but current is current and in the St Lawrence its always running against you except when it ebbs when it maybe 0 knots for 6 hours.
 
We have traveled up the Rideau from Kingston several times. Step down the locks in Ottawa into the Ottawa River. Then, down current to Montreal. Nice trip on the river. Then, after Montreal, a right turn up the St. Lawrence (we found it no big deal going upstream there), through the beautiful Thousand Islands, and back to Kingston.

We have stayed at Flora MacDonald Confederation Basin, in Kingston, but don't know if they have a ramp since we came by water. Call them at 613-546-4291 ext. 1823 to see about a ramp, or ask them about a nearby ramp. Confed. Basin is a great place to stay -- right by the city and its wonderful farmer's market.
 
Thanks for the input. We have a garmin GPS + the waterway guide but no charts yet. I believe they sell them at the locks but we probably should get them now to help plan the trip. Any suggestions on a good place to order them? Thanks again.
 
We used Garmin's Rivers and Waterways chip, but no detail for much of the trip. Had trouble getting Canadian charts. But Fish n'Maps for some of the trip, and ended up taking digital photos of a chart on the wall of a locktender and using the printed photos for a portion of the trip. Urg!
 
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