Boating  Information

On this page you will find information about:	Other pages on this website of boating interest:
Navigation Charts Weather Emergency Assistance Safety at a Lock How to go through a Lock Links to more boating info	Boater's Trip Planner Boating Rules Canoeing the Rideau American Boaters Boat Launches Canal Statistics	Marinas Lockstation Services Locksation Tel. Numbers GPS Waypoints Converters (mi to km, etc.) Oil/Gas Fuel Mixing

To boat the Rideau in confidence and safety, you should have a small craft chart. Two such charts cover the length of the Rideau. Chart 1512 covers Ottawa to Smiths Falls, and Chart 1513 covers Smiths Falls to Kingston. Each chart contains several 1:20,000 sheets which covers all the navigable waterways of the Rideau. These charts show the depth of the water and the location of all navigational markers. For more information on these charts, jump to the maps, maps, maps page. Charts may be purchased at many of the lockstations, or can be ordered from Friends of the Rideau. See the sales section of their website for ordering information: www.rideaufriends.com/sales/.

Weather, with the exception of thunderstorms, is not normally an issue on the Rideau Waterway. Although winds can produce a chop on the lakes, most boaters will be only minutes away from shelter. The main thing to watch out for in the summer are thunder storms with accompanying lightning and high winds. You can get a general idea of what to expect by viewing the Climate Page

You can check out the most up to date forecasts by checking Environment Canada's weather sites:

• Kingston, Ontario - (HTML).
• Smiths Falls, Ontario - (HTML).
• Ottawa, Ontario - (HTML).
• Ottawa (w/graphs)
• Southeastern Ontario St. Lawrence marine - (text - summer only).
• Short Term Forecast: Eastern Ontario - (text).
• Long Range Forecast: Eastern Ontario - (text).
• Satellite Images

Type	Criteria
Small Craft Warning	Included in a near shore forecast if winds are forecast to be in the range of 40 to 60 km/hr (25 to 37 mph) inclusive or if the possibility of thunderstorms is greater than 50 percent.
Gale Warning	Issued if winds are forecast to be in the range of 61 to 87 km/hr (38 to 54 mph) inclusive.
Storm Warnings	Issued if winds are forecast to be in the range of 88 to 117 km/hr (55 to 73 mph) inclusive.
Hurricane Force	Issued if winds are forecast to be 118 km/hr (74 mph) or greater.

Boating search and rescue operations in Ontario are jointly co-ordinated by the Ontario Provincial Police, the Department of National Defense (CFB Trenton), the Canadian Coast Guard and other agencies.

Cell Phone Users: Call *OPP (*677) to reach the nearest OPP detachment. Call *16 to have your call routed to the nearest Coast Guard radio station. In addition, you can reach the Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Trenton by calling 1-800-267-7270.

VHF Radio Users: Please note that there is no continuous monitoring of VHF channel 16 on the Ottawa River, Rideau Canal or Trent-Severn Waterway.

CB Radio Users: Channel 9 is monitored by various agencies for emergency assistance.

In an emergency, the distress call MAYDAY is used to indicate the station sending the call is in grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance. The message, PANPAN is used to indicate the sender requires help on an urgent basis but is not in grave and imminent danger.

• stay well back from lock chamber walls and dam structures;
• stay clear of lock operating devices;
• do not swim or bathe in the navigation channel or within 40m of a lock gate or a dam;
• accompany your children at all times;
• ask lock staff for further advice

For those of you who have never gone through a lock, the procedures are quite simple. Remember, the lockstaff are always there to give you any assistance you may require. The basic procedure involves moving into the lock as indicated by the lock staff, looping bow and stern lines loosely around the drop cables (plastic coated cables that are fastened to the top and bottom of the lock wall), waiting until the water fills or empties from the lock, and then proceeding out when the doors open. Here are the specific procedures:

1. When approaching a lock or swing bridge, the lockstaff will normally see you. However, if they don't, the signal to request to enter the lock or have the bridge opened is three long blasts of five seconds duration from a whistle, horn or siren. When approaching the LaSalle Causeway at Kingston, the signal to request the lift-bridge to open is three long blasts followed by one short blast.

2. When you come into the lock area, tie up at the dock with the blue strip (BLUE LINE) painted on it. This is the dock for boats waiting to go through the lock. It is a good idea to put down fenders on both sides of your boat since you don't know which side of the lock you will be instructed to use.

3. When the lock gates are open and any departing vessels are clear, the lock will be loaded. Pay attention to the lock staff, they will specifically direct you on when to enter the lock and which side to go to. During busy times, the lock can be filled with boats 3 or 4 across, and you in fact may end up in the middle, rather than on one side.

4. Proceed into the lock slowly. If there are two people on board, one should be positioned on the bow, with the bow line ready and a boat hook handy in case the boat has to be fended off the wall. If there are more than two, one should be positioned in the bow and one in the stern, with lines ready. Keep your boat under control. Be aware of any crosswinds or currents.

5. Once in position on the wall, loop your bow and stern lines through the closest drop cables (see picture). DO NOT tie the line, just loop it loosely around the cable and hold the end. Remember your boat will be traveling several metres up or down in the lock, you don't want any lines tied to the wall.

6. Once you are in position in the lock, TURN OFF your ignition and any other engines on your boat, TURN OFF all open flames, DO NOT smoke above or below vessel deck, and LEAVE ON your bilge blower.

7. During the lockage, if you are going up you may experience some turbulence in the lock as the water is let in. Maintain control of your boat with your lines. You may wish to loop a line around a deck cleat to give you extra leverage. Never leave a line unattended.

8. Be prepared to show your lockage permit to the staff, or be ready to purchase a permit from them.

9. When the lock operation is completed and the gates are fully open, the lock staff will direct you to restart your engine. Make sure your bow and stern lines are back in your boat and proceed slowly under power out of the lock.

10. Adhere to any posted speed limits and watch out for swimmers and other boats.
    

For basic information about how a lock works, view the How A Lock Works section of the Friends of the Rideau website.

Canadian Coast Guard Website
Office of Boating Safety
Canada Shipping Act - Table of Contents
Boating Restriction Regulations
Historic Canals Regulations
Navigable Waters Protection Act
Private Buoy Regulations

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This page was last updated on: July 9, 2005
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© 1996-2006 Ken W. Watson