Lake Champlain Ferries

[D'Elete BC in NJ]

After nearly 1700 miles (2700 km) I can say we had a wonderful trip traipsing across half the state of New York with a detour to Montreal to visit friends. I will have photos of most of the Lake Champlain ferries we saw on our journey just as soon as I get all the photos loaded up.

[Northern Exploration]

Nov 30, 2009 6:23:39 GMT -8 D'Elete BC in NJ said:

After nearly 1700 miles (2700 km) I can say we had a wonderful trip traipsing across half the state of New York with a detour to Montreal to visit friends. I will have photos of most of the Lake Champlain ferries we saw on our journey just as soon as I get all the photos loaded up.

And congratulations. I checked the news and none of your Montreal activities made the papers.

[D'Elete BC in NJ]

Finally getting to uploading the photos of the Lake Champlain ferries we saw on our trip in November.

Ticonderoga, NY - cable ferry

The Vermont

The Cumberland

I had hoped for Esquimalt Queen's sake I had a photo of the Beverly Hillbilly load in the back of my truck, but this was the closest I had...

The Cumberland and the Evans-Wadhams-Wolcott

[lifc]

A while ago when our County was considering building a new Ferry for us here on Lummi island, I noticed that they had a Ferry for sale in Boats and Harbors. Since I thought the one the County had designed was inappropriate and this one looked better,I called them up and they responded with photos and drawings. They seem to be great people.

I noticed, via Work Boat Magazine, that they were building a new Ferry, so I called up my contact there, Heather Stewart and asked her why the new boat was only 43' 4" wide. Her response- the canal from New York is only 45 feet wide. makes sense to me now.

Jim

[SS San Mateo]

Rough crossing on a Lake Champlain ferry.

[Jody]

Lake Champlain trip 1

I relocated to the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York last summer, and have had limited opportunities to explore the ferry systems in the area, and even less time to post my findings. But I figured I'd share some of the photos I've taken out here since my arrival. I'll try to attack these in chronological order.


After a day of exploring western Vermont in August 2011 and chasing down some covered bridges (including this one) I headed west toward the temporary crossing of Lake Champlain at Crown Point.


The crossing was temporary in that it was being used to shuttle cars back and forth while the only bridge across southern Lake Champlain was being rebuilt. Here we are onboard the M/V Gov. George D. Aiken leaving the Vermont side while the M/V Cumberland approaches the slip.


The M/V Cumberland slides toward the Vermont dock with the new bridge under construction in the background. The old bridge was retired rather suddenly, and the temporary service was pressed into action as a replacement while the old bridge was dismantled and a new bridge built. The temporary ferry service was suspended in Nov. 2011 after the opening of the new bridge.


Looking toward the Crown Point lighthouse, which was built in 1859 and heavily rebuilt in 1912 as a monument to Samuel de Champlain. It served as a navigation aid until 1926. It's now a cornerpiece of Crown Point Public Campground, right next to where the temporary ferry landing was located.

More to come.

[Jody]

Lake Champlain Trip 2 - Ticonderoga

On the south end of Lake Champlain is the tiny little Ticonderoga Ferry, a cable ferry that is the current iteration of one of the oldest ferry services in the nation. Ferries have been plying the waters between Ticonderoga, NY and Shoreham, VT since 1755.


The ferry approaching the landing at Ticonderoga on a dreary October day. The cable ferry service is fulfilled by barge Ticonderoga 11, with tug Addie B lashed to her side to provide the propulsion.


The Addie B is a smaller affair, and looks like she'd topple over without the barge there to hold her up.


After trading her load for another load of New York-bound cars, the Ticonderoga ferry leaves the Vermont shore.

More to come.

[Jody]

Lake Champlain Trip 3 (part 1)

I managed to get part of my Lake Champlain ferry agenda tackled last Wednesday by riding the Plattsburgh, NY to Grand Isle, VT route, and swinging by the maintenance yard in Burlington on my way south.


Falls near Whiteface Mountain in the high peaks here upstate.


Onboard the M/V Vermont (built 1992 in Houma, LA new for LCT) pulling out of the Plattsburgh, NY slip.


Passing the M/V Evans-Wadhams-Wolcott (built 1988 in Houma, LA for LCT) on the way to Grand Isle. The boat is named for the three previous owners of Lake Champlain Transportation.

More to come!

Jody

[Jody]

Lake Champlain Trip 3 (Part 2)

The route was running with three boats, and a fourth was waiting for us on the Vermont side.


The M/V Raymond C Pecor, Jr. leaving the Grand Island slips as we arrive with the Vermont. This is the newest boat in the LCT fleet, built in 2010 by Eastern Shipbuilding in Panama City, FL. Interestingly, there's a low bridge clearance in Champlain Canal of 13 feet. So, to accommodate this during delivery, the Pecor was one of four boats that sailed under their own power partially disassembled, with the pilot houses and passenger cabin removed and sitting on the passenger deck, and the controls relocated to a temporary pilot house.


The M/V Plattsburgh (1981 built new for LCT in FL) tied up on the Grand Island side. All four of the boats (EWW, Pecor, Vermont and Plattsburgh) are icebreakers with reinforced hulls, stainless steel props, and higher horsepower motors. They get a workout on the northern route during most normal winters (meaning not this one.)


GovGeorgeDAiken - The M/V Gov. George D. Aiken (1975 built new for LCT in Rhode Island) on the edge of the impromptu maintenance yard in Burlington. Behind it is the Northern Lights, which LCT uses to run scenic cruises during the summer. Also to the side of the two boats is the Champlain, tied up at one of the normal car loading slips.

One more to come, for now.

Jody

[Jody]

Lake Champlain Trip 3 (Part 3)

Interestingly, I was able to walk around the maintenance yard after just asking at the front desk of the office. (Try that at Eagle Harbor!) They were really quite accommodating and very laid back, asking only that I don't board any of the vessels. Fair enough! The middle run from Port Kent, NY to Burlington doesn't run in the winter months, so they kind of circle the wagons and do maintenance at the Burlington ferry slips. Really a pretty impressively compact area they're working in.



The M/V Champlain in Burlington. Built in 1930 in Baltimore for VA DeptOfHwys, to LCT in 1957. Unfortunately, the slip was pretty tight and I couldn't get a better shot of her than this under the agreement I had with the LCT office.


M/V Valcour in Burlington, a true homebody. Built in 1947 in Shelburne, VT about 6 miles south of Burlington. Works the run to Port Kent in the summers. The passenger lounge etc. is below decks, which is what the portholes in the blue portion on the side are for. Valcour was tucked in pretty tightly in the second loading slip next to the Champlain, so there wasn't much of a shot except on the shadow side.


Highlight of the trip for me was the M/V Adirondack, at the ripe old age of 99, presently the oldest double-ended ferry still in service in the U.S. She was built in 1913 in Jacksonville, FL for Jacksonville Ferry and Land Company. She went to Philadelphia and then NY, chased off by bridges and company failures before ending up with the Chesapeake Bay Ferry Co. in 1938 as their Gov. Emmerson C. Harrington II. No doubt, she kept some company with the Rhody and Olympic while she was there. She left for LCT after CBF Co. quit in 1952. She's been holding down the Burlington-Port Kent route since 1954. Hopefully I'll get to see and ride her this summer if I'm still here.

Also tied up out of view lashed sideways to the end of the Adirondack is the Cumberland, which was one of the boats being used at Crown Point before the bridge was re-opened. If you look at the photo of the Valcour, you can see the end of the Cumberland tied to the last dolphin of the slip, just in front of the Adirondack. It was tucked in so well behind everything that I almost missed it.

There is only once boat in the fleet that I haven't seen, and that's the M/V Grand Isle, which is currently holding down the Charlotte, VT to Essex, NY route alone. Actually, I wonder why they haven't deployed the Plattsburgh down there to back her up since they already have three boats on the Plattsburgh-Grand Isle route. Obviously that's a fairly busy route though to keep three boats moving during peak time.

Anyhow, I hope you’ve enjoyed my visits to Lake Champlain. I’m hoping to make a few more before my next assignment.

Enjoy!

Jody

[Kahloke]

Nice glimpse into some other ferries we don't usually get to see. Thanks for posting those photos, Jody

[Scott]

Thanks for sharing, Jody. What are the fares like for these ferries? Gotta love the names of some of the ferries... funny!

[Jody]

I paid somewhere around 16 bucks for the trip across on the north end on the Lake Champlain Ferries. I think the Ticonderoga Ferry was around 8 bucks. LCF charges for the vehicle and driver separately.

I'd bet that the folks around here would think that ferry names like Chetzemoka, Klahowya, Tillicum and Puyallup are a riot as well. LOL.

Jody

[Jody]

Lake Champlain Trip 4

In early April, I had to take a short trip to Montpelier for work. Naturally, I chose the only crossing I hadn't taken yet - the Essex, NY to Charlotte, VT route. The reward was worth the effort. Arriving just as dawn broke, I was treated to an incredible sunrise as we pulled away from the Essex dock onboard the M/V Grand Isle, the last of the boats in the fleet that I hadn't seen.


The sun didn't last long before it settled into a low layer of clouds, but the effect was a game-changer on what might otherwise have been a fairly stressful day.


After we arrived in Charlotte, I took a few moments to photograph the Grand Isle leaving the dock for another trip west to New York. As expected, there wasn't a second boat on this route to back up the Grand Isle.


Enjoy!

Jody

[Jody]

Lake Champlain Trip 5

With a few minutes to play with while I headed to see a friend, I paid a visit to the Port Kent, NY dock to see if I could catch a boat coming and going, and see if I could get a little of the lay of the land.

I was lucky to catch the M/V Adirondack on its way into Port Kent. At a sprightly 99 years old, the Adirondack is the oldest double-ended car ferry still in service in North America. She was built in 1913. A history is contained above.


The little harbor isn't that tight, but for whatever reason, the slips are close in to shore, and the boats must dock almost parallel to shore. Here, the Adirondack is leaving Port Kent for an afternoon run to Burlington, as a storm rolls out of Plattsburgh to the north.


Another story follows.

Enjoy!

Jody

[Jody]

Lake Champlain Trip 6
Part 1 of 3

On another mission for work, I had a reason to make a round trip on the Port Kent to Burlington route today. The route lived up to its billing as the most scenic of the routes. It gets a good deal more character from the charm of the vintage boats that hold down the route. Lake Champlain Ferries' three oldest boats - the 1946-built Valcour, the 1930-built Champlain, and the 1913-built Adirondack - serve the route with aplomb.

My trip today would include a trip east aboard the Champlain to Burlington, and a return to Port Kent onboard the Adirondack later in the afternoon.

The Champlain approaches the Port Kent slip.


Looking across the wheelhouse of the Champlain as the Adirondack passes.


Looking down the Champlain's promenade as the boat enters the Burlington Harbor, with the North Lighthouse at the end of the breakwater.

[Jody]

Lake Champlain Trip 6
Part 2 of 3

At the LCT docks in Burlington, the M/V Raymond C. Pecor Jr. gets some maintenance attention.


The M/V Valcour sits in waiting in the slip next to the one the Champlain would use to dock.


A quick look at the interior of the Champlain as we dock.


And, one more set of photos to come.

Enjoy!

Jody

[Jody]

Lake Champlain Trip 6
Part 3 of 3

The Adirondack eases up to the Burlington slip with the breakwater and the North Lighthouse in the background.


The Champlain as seen from the passing Adirondack.


Looking down the side of the Adirondack as the Champlain sails toward a squall that has overtaken Burlingotn. Note the chunky rub rails on the Adirondack. The Champlain was similarly adorned, and those rub rails got quite a workout as we docked in Burlington.


And a final look at the interior of the Adirondack as we approached the Port Kent side. The car deck structure, passenger deck and wheelhouses are all made of wood. The hull appears to be completely made of steel.


I hope you enjoyed this look at the Lake Champlain's feature route. Since this may be my final visit to LCT, I am happy to have the chance to share it with you.

Enjoy!

Jody

[paulvanb]

These photos are nice! Hope you enjoyed the ride.

[Low Light Mike]

Jun 26, 2012 18:41:50 GMT -8 Jody said:

Lake Champlain Trip 6
Part 3 of 3

Jody: many thanks for doing these posts today.

[Mill Bay]

I love the wood interiors and benches. This is what an authentic ferry experience truly should look like.

I also found a neat link to the building of the new bridge on the lake. It's quite an eye catcher. At least they picked an attractive form instead of just building another bland old cable stayed obelisk.

www.dot.ny.gov/lakechamplainbridge/photos-visualizations

[KE7JFF]

Ah yes, Lake Champlain....bringing back memories as a wee child crossing that lake not just on a ferry, but also by a cabin cruiser.

And yeah, that water is full of rough rock...and zebra muscles....

[captainkevin]

Interesting topic. I did lots of scuba diving around the ferry dock in Burlington when the ferry stopped for the season. Lots of interesting finds on the bottom. Lots of pieces of the china used on the different ferries and steamships from different eras, all sporting different patterns. I think if the plate or bowl was too dirty to wash they promptly went overboard!

I found lots of old bottles and clay pipes all with the stems broken off. Apparently the long clay stems would clog and the user would break off the end to continue using it. Once there was no more stem to break off the pipe was thrown into the drink only to be found by a curious diver. I found bunches of pipes with the TD stamp on them. Also some red clay pipes. I am not am expert on pipes but they sure seemed old!

Now I am a Ferry captain Maine and this topic brought back memories of when I lived in the area.

The oldest known horse powered ferry is on the bottom right near North beach in Burlington. It is part of the Lake Champlain Historic Preserves. Great dive site!

Kevin

[redbirdr33]

Lake Champlain Update



The following observations were made on a trip to Lake Champlain on Tuesday, August 19 and Wednesday, August 20, 2014.



Lake Champlain is the sixth largest lake in the United States after the Great Lakes. It is bordered by the states of New York and Vermont and the Canadian providence of Quebec.



Chapter 1 - Lake Champlain Transportation Company



The Lake Champlain Transportation Company operates a fleet a fleet of eleven vessels on four routes.



Part A: The Routes



The northernmost crossing of the lake is between Grand Isle (VT) and New Plattsburgh (NY). The New York landing is actually on a stretch of land known as Cumberland Head.

The crossing is two miles in length and the trip take about 14 minutes. Three boats operate on a 12 to 14 minute headway and service runs 24/7 year round. The Grand Isle Terminal consists of four slips, two of which are for lay-up only. A fourth boat is always tied up here to fill as necessary for the three in service boats. The Plattsburgh Terminal has three slips and a small waiting room.



The middle crossing is between Burlington (VT) and Port Kent (NY). The crossing is ten miles long and the trip takes about one hour. Two boats provide service on an eighty minute headway. The Burlington Terminal is also the location of the company headquarters and maintenance base. Their are three slips here as well as the Breakwater Cafe. The Port Kent Terminal has two slips and a gift shop and cafe. Service usually operates from June to September.



The southernmost crossing is between Charlotte (VT) and Essex (NY). The crossing is about three miles long and the trip takes 25 minutes. Two boats maintain a 30 minute headway. Each landing has two slips. Service will operate year round weather permitting.



The fourth route is the 90 minute historic cruise out of Burlington. It is provided by the NORTHERN LIGHTS and sails through Burlington and Shelburne Bays.



The Champlain Bridge crosses Lake Champlain at a narrow stretch of the lake between Chimney Point (VT) and Crown Point (NY). The eighty year old bridge was closed on October 16, 2009 and subsequently demolished. The states of New York and Vermont re-established the ferry service that had been terminated in 1929. Two boats were needed for this service and they would run 24/7. The new bridge opened on November 7, 2011 and the temporary ferry ended on that date. The vessel that I observed running here were the GRAND ISLE and the CUMBERLAND.







Part B: The Vessels



The fleet consists of twelve boats; ten ferries, one excursion vessel and a tugboat.





1) ADIRONDACK built in 1913, 130 feet long



2) CHAMPLAIN built in 1930, 148 feet long



3) VALCOUR built in 1947, 177 feet long



4) GRAND ISLE built in 1953, 169 feet long



5) GOV. GEORGE D.AIKEN built in 1975, 132 feet long



6) PLATTSBURG built in 1984 , 172 feet long



7) EVANS-WADHAMS-WOLCOTT built in 1988, 196 feet long



8) VERMONT built in 1992, 196 feet long



9) CUMBERLAND built in 2000, 216 feet long



10) RAYMOND C. PECOR JR. built in 2010, 216 feet long (Name on vessel is RAYMOND C. PECOR 3)



The NORTHERN LIGHTS is a two deck motor vessel. She was built in 2003 and is 109 feet long.



Rounding out the fleet is the MISS PIGGY. She is a tug that also serves as a general purpose utility boat. She was built in 1982 and is 40 feet long.



The ADIRONDACK and the CHAMPLAIN are classic ferryboats with vehicles lanes on the main deck and a passenger cabin on the upper deck. The cabin contains a snack bar, souvenir stand and rest rooms. Both boats have a full wrap-around promenade. The ADIRONDACK was built in 1913 as the SOUTH JACKSONVILLE for service on the Saint John's River in Florida. From 1927 to 1936 she was known as the MOUNT HOLLY and ran for the East River Vehicular Ferry. She has been on Lake Champlain since 1954 and is currently the oldest New York City ferryboat still in service.



The CHAMPLAIN was built in 1930 as the CITY OF HAMPTON for service in Virginia. She came to Lake Champlain in 1957. If you get a chance to ride her notice the peculiar cabin arrangements. At the time she was built Virginia was still a segregated state and transportation companies had to provide separate accommodations for white and colored passengers. All such restrictions were removed when she came north but the physical layout of the cabins remains.



The VALCOUR was built at the Shelburne Shipyard in Vermont. She is a flat deck boat with a passenger cabin in the hull. In 1975 the VALCOUR ran aground on Ferris Reef off of Port Kent. She was re-floated and taken to the Shelburne Shipyard for repairs. It was decided to remove her forward propeller and rudder in order to conserve fuel and increase her speed.



The other boats all have the small general configuration with a main deck for vehicles, a partial second deck for passengers and a third deck where the pilot house is located.



Part C: Assignments



The ADIRONDACK, CHAMPLAIN and VALCOUR can be found on the Burlington - Port Kent Crossing.



The GRAND ISLE and GOV. GEORGE D. AIKEN are assigned to the Charlotte - Essex Crossing.



The EVANS-WADHAMS-WOLCOTT, VERMONT, CUMBERLAND and RAYMOND C PECOR JR. are used on the Grand Isle - Plattsburgh Crossing.



The PLATTSBURGH now seems to be in filling the roll of a spare vessel and can fill in where she is needed. During my visit she was in dry-dock at the Shelburne Shipyard.





Chapter 2 - Fort Ticonderoga Ferry



The Fort Ticonderoga Ferry operates between Larrabee's Point in Shoreham, VT and Ticonderoga, NY. It is a cable ferry pulled across the lake by a tugboat.

The barge is the FORT TICONDEROGA II built in 1959. She is 106 feet long and can carry about 18 cars. Her running mate is the double-ended tugboat ADDIE B . She was built in 1979 replacing the ETHAN ALLEN. The ferry ties up at the Vermont side of the lake but there is a mechanical signally device on the New York side that passengers can activate to call the ferryman. The operating company is known as 1759 Limited, previously the service was run by Shoreham Ferries, Inc.



Chapter 3 - Lake Champlain Shoreline Cruises



The SPIRIT OF ETHAN ALLEN III is a three deck motor vessel operating out of the College Street Dock on the Burlington waterfront. She offers a variety of sightseeing and meal cruises ranging from 90 minutes to three hours. The vessel was built in 1997 and is 140 feet long by 33 feet wide. She has a capacity of 360 passengers.





Sources:



1) "Lake Champlain Ferryboats" by Jerry P. Williams and Ralph Nading Hill (1990)

Pub. Lake Champlain Transportation Company.



2) "Adirondack, Lady of Lake Champlain 1913 - 1993" by Lynn H. Bottum (1993).

Article from "Steamboat Bill", Winter 1993 Issue.



3) "An Incomplete History of the Fort Ticonderoga Ferry" (1990) by J. Bullard.

Flyer: Shoreham Ferries Inc.



4) "Merchant Vessels of the United States", United States Coast Guard.



5) "Over and Back, The History of Ferryboats in New York Harbor" by Brian J. Cudahy (1990). Pub: Fordham University Press.

[redbirdr33]

Tuscarora Marine Log No 4



Lake George Update - 2014





Lake George is located in upstate New York about 210 miles north of New York City.

The lake extends some 32 miles from Lake George Village north to Ticonderoga, New York. The lake is three miles wide at its widest point and contains many island and bays.



Lake George Steamboat Company



The Lake George Steamboat Company is the largest and oldest operator of excursion vessels on the lake. It has been operating under its original charter since 1838. The company headquarters and main base of operations is the Steel Pier at 57 Beach Road in Lake George Village. There are also landings in Bolton and Baldwin, NY as well as a maintenance base and marine railway also at Baldwin.



The oldest vessel in the fleet is the MOHICAN (II). She was built in 1908 at the Thomas S. Marvel Shipyard in Newburgh, New York and has been running on the lake ever since.

Her propulsion system has been changed from steam to diesel and her upper-works from wood to steel. Her hull is original though. She makes two to three cruises a day usually up to the Narrows or Paradise Bay. Twice a week she will sail all the way to the north end of Lake George stopping at Bolton Pier and the Ticonderoga Landing in Baldwin.

She is 115 feet long by 26.5 feet wide and displaces 200 tons.



The MINNE-HA-HA (II) was built on the lake in 1969. She is a steam powered sternwheeler . In 1998 a backup diesel - propeller drive was added. She is a three deck vessel and normally operates one hour long shoreline cruises. On Saturdays nights she makes a two hour long entertainment cruise. When built she was 103 feet long by 30 feet wide. A 1998 rebuilding extended her length to 137 feet. She displaces about 200 tons.



The newest and largest vessel in the fleet is the LAC du SAINT SACRAMENT (Lake of the Blessed Sacrament) which entered service in 1989. She is the only for decker on the lake and is rated for 1000 passengers . She normally operates two hour plus lunch and dinner cruises in the southern basin . She is 189 feet long by 40 feet wide . Her displacement is 540 tons.



The fourth vessel in the fleet is the TICONDEROGA (III). She about 50 feet long and has been in service for the past six years although I do not know when she was built. She doesn't carry passengers but instead operates as the launch platform for the weekly fireworks display .



Shoreline Cruises



Shoreline Cruises operates from a pier at 2 Kurosaka Lane in Lake George Village. Their fleet consists of two vessels, the HORICON and the ADIRONDAC.



The HORICON was built in 1988 at the Scarano Brothers Boat Builders Yard in Albany , NY and entered service on Lake George later that year. She was built with three decks but several years ago the upper deck was removed and replaced with a fibreglass roof so passengers on the second deck can view the fireworks. She now operates one hour long cruises sailing up as far as the Canoe Islands. She is 85 feet long with a 22 foot beam and displaces 42 tons. Her passenger capacity is about 300.



The ADIRONDAC is the largest vessel in the Shoreline fleet. She has three decks and a passenger capacity of 400. She normally operates two hour long dinner cruises and ninety minute bay cruises. She 115 feet long.



SAGAMORE RESORT



The famous Sagamore Resort is located on Green Island in Bolton Township about ten miles north of Lake George Village. They operate a two deck motor vessel called THE MORGAN which entered service in 1986. (Some sources drop the article). In addition to private cruises she operates sightseeing cruises which are open to the public. Her usual cruise is through the many island in the Narrows. She also is the only large vessel operating into the Northwest Bay. She is 72 feet long by 26 feet wide


Larry, RedbirdR33