R C • T –S WATERWAY BOATING SAFELY - Rideau …

1 BEFOREYOUCASTOFFLOCKINGTHROUGHSAFELYEMER GENCYASSISTANCEFEESANDPERMITSWATERDEPTHS NAVIGATIONDATACHARTSINFORMATIONADDRESSES BRIDGECLEARANCESAIDSTONAVIGATIONSPEEDLIM ITSBEFOREYOUCASTOFFLOCKINGTHROUGHSAFELYE MERGENCYASSISTANCEFEESANDPERMITSWATERDEP THSNAVIGATIONDATACHARTSINFORMATIONADDRES SESBRIDGECLEARANCESAIDSTONAVIGATIONSPEED LIMITSBOATINGSAFELYRIDEAUCANAL TRENT SEVERNWATERWAYNATIONALHISTORICSITESTHERI DEAUCANAL NATIONAL HISTORIC SITEAND THETRENT SEVERNWATERWAY NATIONALHISTORIC SITEare historic canals operated by Parks Canada, anagency of the Department of the Environment. They are part of a largefamily of national parks and national historic sites located across historic canals are popular waterways that cater to recreationalboaters, including canoeists and kayakers, as well as land-based you are locking through or just visiting a lock station, the friendly lockstaff are available to answer your questions, explain lock operations andoffer you further assistance.

2 This guide is designed to help make yourpassage through the two systems a safe and enjoyable E F O R E YO U CA S T O F FWIND, WATER AND WEATHER combine to test your skill as a the latest marine weather forecast for your area should alwaysbe a priority before heading out on the Environment Canada weather offices offer a 24 hour-a-dayautomated telephone service that provides the most recent forecastinformation. Their locations include:Ottawa 613-998-3439 Peterborough 705-743-5852 Kingston 613-545-8550 Collingwood 705-446-0711or check Marine weather forecasts aresometimes included in these messages during the navigation STATION WEATHER BROADCASTSMANY COMMERCIALFM ANDAM radio stations along the Trent Severn WATERWAY and the Rideau Canal broadcast marine weatherforecasts during the navigation season. WEATHERADIOCANADAis operated by Environment Canada and trans mits over three dedicated VHF-FM bands: MHz, MHzand stations broadcast on VHF MHz and MHz ( , ).

3 They also broadcastinformation on aids to SIMCOE AND LAKE COUCHICHINGSUDDEN STORMSare frequent on lakes Simcoe and possible caution should be observed before heading out on thesetwo WEATHER WARNINGSF O R YO U R S A F E T YBOATING SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS INONTARIOare jointlycoordinated by the Ontario Provincial Police, the Department ofNational Defence, the Canadian Coast Guard and other VHF distress channel, Channel 16, is not continuouslymonitored. Shore authorities may therefore not respond to a messagesent on this THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY,call 911 or *OPP (*677) as wellas attempting to contact Marine VHF distress Channel 16, if you are onthe Rideau Canal or Ottawa River. If you are on the Trent SevernWaterway, also call the Rescue Coordination Centre in Trenton at 1-800-267-7270 and report your band radio, channel 9, is also open to emergency calls forassistance. The distress call, MAYDAY, indicates that the station sendingthe signal is threatened by grave and imminent danger and requiresimmediate assistance.

4 The message, PANPAN, means that the senderrequires help on an urgent OF WARNINGCRITERIAS mall Craft WarningIncluded in a near shore forecast if windsare forecast to be in the range of 40 to 60km/hr inclusive or if the possibility of thunderstorms is greater than 50%.Gale WarningIssued if winds are forecast to be in the range of 61 to 87 km/hr WarningIssued if winds are forecast to be in the range of 88 to 117 km/hr Force Issued if winds are forecast to be 118 Wind Warningkm/hr or RESTRICTIONSThe rules for operating a boat while impaired are the same as fordriving a car. It is against the law. Anyone convicted of piloting a boatwhile impaired may lose their driver s licence. It is also against the lawto have a vessel underway while there is any open liquor not stored inaccordance with the Liquor Licence Act. It s fine to enjoy a drink but it canonly be done in a boat that is equipped with a permanently fitted head(washroom), sleeping accommodations, cooking facilities andis properlydocked or at anchor.

5 Consumption of alcoholic beverages is notpermitted on Parks Canada property, including docks and picnic areas. L O C K I N G T H R O U G H S A F E LYLOCKS ARE DESIGNED TO RAISE AND LOWER BOATS from one waterlevel to another. They were built, along with a series of dams, to bypassrapids and waterfalls. In some locations, two or more locks are joinedtogether to overcome greater changes in water levels. The Ottawa lockson the Rideau Canal are a good example of these flight locks , whereeight lock chambers are joined Peterborough and Kirkfield on the Trent Severn WATERWAY ,hydraulic lift locks raise and lower boats in water-filled chamberscounter-balanced on huge pistons. At the Big Chute Marine Railway onthe Severn River, a three-storey tall carriage transports boats cradled inspecially designed slings over a height of through SAFELY on the Trent Severn WATERWAY and RideauCanal involves four basic steps approaching the lock, entering the lock,what to do once inside the lock chamber and exiting the lock.

6 Friendly lock staff are available to help make your lockingexperience an easy and enjoyable THE LOCKOBEY ANY POSTED SPEED LIMITS between locks or out on the openwater. Slow your boat down to a no wake speed. Excessive wake canerode the shoreline, damage docked boats and endanger the safety ofothers. Keep the channel near the lock gates clear to allow boatsdeparting or entering the lock a safe and easy approaching locks or swing bridges, the signal to request toenter the lock or to have the bridge opened is three long blasts of fiveseconds duration from a whistle, horn or siren. During a lockage, one or both lock gates may be opened forincoming and departing vessels depending on: the size and numberof vessels, proficiency of the vessel operators, or wind and waveconditions. In addition, lock staff will open both lock gates whenrequested to do so by a vessel painted blue strip (blue line) above and below each lock is atemporary holding area for boaters wanting to lock through.

7 Tie up atthis blue line only if you wish passage through the lock. To avoid therisk of injury: step slowly, do not jump, from the boat to the dock/walland only after the boat has stopped. Be cautious of uneven surfaces or sink holes along the canal be patient if lock staff are not ready to lock you throughimmediately. They do their best to coordinate upbound with downboundlockages and may have water management duties at nearby dams as afirst priority. ENTERING THE LOCKIT IS VERY IMPORTANTto remember that during the entire lockingthrough process, you are under the direction of lock operations staff, soplease watch for their hand signals, traffic signals or verbal the lock gates are opened and departing vessels are clear, lockstaff will direct you to enter the lock. At some Trent Severn Waterwaylock stations, a green traffic light is your signal to proceed. Approach thelock chamber cautiously and follow the instructions of staff. Be aware ofwind speed, wind direction and possible cross currents.

8 Concentrate oncoming in straight and under control, using reverse gear to slow the boatdown. As you approach an appropriate position inside the lock, haveyour crew members ready to loop their vessel lines around the blackdrop cables. Crew members should wear their PFDs while attemptingthis manoeuvre; unexpected movement of the vessel could cause themto fall overboard. 4 Should your vessel get too close to the lock wall, use a boat hook topush yourself off. Never use your hands or feet to fend a moving boat offa lock wall. Your crew (adults if possible) should be posted at the bowand stern of your boat with mooring lines free of knots and ready to THE LOCK CHAMBERONCE YOU HAVE SAFELY POSITIONED YOUR VESSEL inside the lockchamber, and looped the bow and stern lines around the black dropcables, follow these steps:(These fire safety symbols appear on lock gate signs at the lock station)Tend your lines carefully during the lockage. Never leave your bowor stern line unattended.

9 Always be prepared to show your lockagepermit to staff or be ready to purchase one from Turn off all ignition switches (engine, generators etc.).Do not restart or idle your engine during the lockageprocedure. Turn off all open-flame appliances, including pilotlights, gas powered generators and barbeques. Do not smoke above or below vessel deck. Leave the bilge blower on throughout the lockage NOT TIE VESSEL LINES TO THE DROP CABLES. EXITING THE LOCK When THE LOCK OPERATION IS COMPLETEDand lock gate(s) are opened,for safety reasons, please do not restart your engine until directed to doso by lock staff. Check to make sure bow and stern lines are back on yourboat and please exit slowly. Exit in order if necessary, or as directed bystaff, and remember to watch out for winds, currents and other some lock stations, and especially at Big Chute on the Trent Severn WATERWAY , locking through instructions are often given over system. Wait at the blue line until directed to proceed and thenfollow the operator s instructions.

10 At swing bridges,wait until the bridgeis fully open before proceeding. Travel slowly, in single file, giving wayto vessels travelling downstream. F E E S A N D P E R M I T SLOCKAGE, MOORING AND CAMPING PERMITSare available for sale atall lock stations. Vessel length is used to calculate fees. Space is availableon a first-come, first-served basis. Possession of a valid mooring permitdoes not guarantee a docking periods vary at different lock stations and bridge the Trent Severn WATERWAY , boaters may tie up at locks 1-18 for 5days, but may stay only one night at locks 28, 30, 31, 34 and 42. At allother lock stations, Murray Canal swing bridges, Bridge #50, and on theRideau Canal, boaters may stay for 2 nights (48 hrs.), unless otherwiseposted or indicated by lock owners wishing to moor overnight at lock and bridgestations should check in with lock staff upon arrival. Boaters are alsoresponsible for the care of their vessels during the mooring should not be left unattended for long periods of time.