Attached is some information to transit the Welland Canal. There are eight locks on the canal, Locks 1 – 7 are 45’ lifts. Lock 8 only lifts 1 – 3 feet so you do not tie up in this lock just sit in the center of lock. The Welland Canal requires 3 persons on board for a up bound trip and two persons for a down bound trip. It takes a commercial ship 10 –12 hours to transit canal so if you have a commercial ship ahead of you prepare for a long day, and a commercial ship pays $ 23,000.00 to transit the Welland Canal so you no who has priority. The trick into having a safe trip is to have proper size fenders for you boat, the ball fenders are the best as there is a lot of turbulence on a up bound trip, 21 millions gallons in 12 minutes to fill locks. When you enter lock up bound there are 2 lines tied together hanging on the wall, untie lines and one forward and one on stern The canal trafficl control uses CH 14 at all times, and upbound CH 17 in the locks only and down bound CH 66 A in the locks only. You can not tow a dingy behind you in the Welland canal. Purchase your toll tickets online and print before you leave and save $ 5.00 per lock. You can stay at the pleasure craft dock over night at no charge, but no water or power. The pleasure craft dock in Port Colborne is downtown grocery stores and resturants close by. The pleasure craft dock in Port Weller is on the east side of canal nothing close by. The seaway is now installing Hands Free Mooring for the commercial ships so they are using traveling crews for pleasure craft expect delays as they are down sizing crews. Seaway web page http://www.greatlakes-seaway.com/en/index.html Seaway Tolls http://www.greatlakes-seaway.com/en/recreational/craft_tolls.html Marinas Lake Ontario ( Port Weller) http://www.stcatharinesmarina.com/newsletter.shtml http://www.portdalhousiemarina.com/ Lake Erie ( Port Colborne) http://portcolborne.ca/page/marina Canada Customs 1 888 226 7277 If you require more information or help to transit canal feel free to contact me. I am retired from the canal and make several trips through canal every year. The Montreal section of seaway only requires two person on board in either direction Rodger St Amand yachts4u@ican.net 905 933 4146