The Erie Canal Monster: Lock #17

June 16:   Leaving Little Falls, our next lock through is #17.  At 40.5 feet it is the tallest lift lock on the entire NY canal system.  Many cruisers have written about just how intimidating this locking experience had been for them.  First, it has a massive and intimidating "150 ton lift gate" to pass under; then the lock chamber is known for swirling currents during back-filling causing vessels to get pushed against the southern chamber wall – a reason why ALL vessels are required to secure against the southern wall.  Add to that, if there is a westerly wind, it can make for a white knuckle adventure even for an experienced captain and crew.  Fortunately for us, we did not find it to be any big deal EXCEPT for having one of our large ball fenders suddenly break loose, on the southern wall of course, and begin to float freely around the lock.  Luckily, we were the only vessel in the chamber.  Lock #17 is also known for having a cranky lock master but we were greeted by a young lock master with a pool net and he rescued our fender … definitely service above and beyond the call of duty!   After this passage thru Lock #17, we are now at an upstream elevation of 363.4 feet.

We attempted to shoot our own video but due to a camera malfunction, trying to rescue our floundering fender, and keeping 2 pairs of hands firmly on the lock cables while rising 40 feet ... well you can figure it out.  Here are some actual images of SANTORINI entering #17, and if further interested we found a link at YouTube of an actual lock through of Erie Lock #17: 

  

Here is the YouTube link:  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7_Hr3iCPls