Trent-Severn trip with driftless!

[tribologist]

Start getting antsy! After last years Montreal-Ottawa-Kingston-Thousand island trip we been planning to do Thousand Island-Kingston-Trent-Port Severn and maybe some Georgian bay cruising. We are leaving first thing this Friday and are planning to drop it at Peck’s marina near Ivy-Lea. We have three weeks set aside. It has been some serious BOAT stuff going on to get ready. New axles on trailer, water heater and pump. Diaphragm bilge pump with dry bilge system (more on that in separate thread) composting toilet from OGO and tomorrow im picking up a starlink reciever. Im putting in a small inverter and a DC-DC system for the starlink too. Today i finished the shower setup. Im putting that in its own thread.

[Nancy]

Serious BOAT stuff indeed, but you're going to enjoy every bit of it! Looking forward to hearing about your trip.

[DesertAlbin736]

Ulf,

Your really going to town! Bon Voyage on your Trent-Severn cruise! Diaphragm bilge pumps are great, especially when equipped with an electronic automatic bilge sump sensor & Auto/Off/Manual dashboard mounted switch.

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[tribologist]

Got started on our trip! Put Driftless in the water at Peck’s marina near Ivy Lea on friday but decided to stay there during saturday due to crappy weather. Took us a trip with the car to Kingston to an excellent marine store, marine outfitters of Canada and Home depot to get some supplies for running power to the inverter. Sunday we traveled to Kingston through the backroads of thousand island and we will stay here for the Canada Day fireworks.

[dkirsop]

Love the juxtaposition of mini-cruiser vs maxi-gin palace!

[tribologist]

Just docked in Pixton, ON and look what we found!! ”Barely A Wake”

[dkirsop]

Driftless appears well maintained and mostly original. She has a really old registration number on the bow so I bet she is an early model version.

[DesertAlbin736]

Driftless appears well maintained and mostly original. She has a really old registration number on the bow so I bet she is an early model version.

Ulf,
Glad to see two are you're having a good time. Keep pictures coming. Green with envy!

Dave,
Driftless is one hull number off from our La Dolce Vita, #737 & #736 respectively, 1971 model year. Driftless is well maintained, better than ours, and mostly OEM, whereas ours spent her early years in Florida, had topsides repainted at least twice, & weathered 10 years in hot AZ sun. Maybe someday Ulf will get a chance to trailer out your way and show up at a BC Albineer rendezvous? Who knows, it could happen!

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[tribologist]

Made the first six locks in TSW. Found Kathy Barclays styled A25 with wood rub rails in Trent Harbour!

[tribologist]

Met up with the Barclays in Petersborough and got a look at their A25. They live just a few blocks from the marina we stayed at. Sweet boat! Lot of interesting modifications! Sadly i did not take pictures in all excitement! We have now made it up to Bobcaydon after a days hurricane stop in Lakeview. Spent one evening learning to splice double braid line! Awesome town with some great food shopping! Perch for breakfast! Tomorrow we will do the second lift lock in Kirkfield if things works out.

[DesertAlbin736]

That looks like an interesting, very tasty breakfast, eggs sunny side up, sausage links, tomatoes, and perch filet. Lots of protein!

Spent one evening learning to splice double braid line!

Yes, much more involved that splicing 3 strand, and very tough to do with anything but brand new unused line. Helps having a splicing kit with pusher and various sized fids.

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Keep those pics and stories coming!

[tribologist]

Made it through port Severn on Monday including the Big Chute! Was busy taking a movie so i did not take any pictures . Yesterday i did a marathon trip to get the trailer and car. Took the bus to Barrie, then Uber to the Go commuter train followed by being stuck in Toronto for two hour during an epic rainstorm that flooded the food court and left us with no power for a while.. Got a ride to the marina from a guy i helped carrying the suitcasws for up non powered escalators before driving the car and trailer the 4.5 hours back. Left 6:30 am, returned 11 pm….5 hour energy is good once in a while…

[DesertAlbin736]

Wow! Epic cruise!

[tribologist]

Driftless is back home after a little two day trip out to tge georgian bay were we stayed in a cove out in the national park. Got to test the shower. Worked out really good! No wet wood and the two stage drain was able to pump the bilge totally dry. We pulled out in Midland and went down to Niagra falls in the evening. Slept in it in the parking lot under the observation tower.. Spent a full day there and left at 5 pm towing through the town. It was pretty late leaning so we split the trip home in two and slept in a truckstop right next to Erie Canal in Fultonville.