John -
A 450, eh? I'll take you up on that offer - even if it DOESN'T include full fuel tanks.
In '99 we left from Lake St. Clair and in 10 days hit: Lorain, Geneva-on-the-Lake, Port Colborne, Toronto, Port Colborne, a few hours in Erie PA (to wait out big waves), then Cleveland and back to St. Clair.
It was a great trip, but way too tiring. This year we're taking the first two weeks of July and will go from Cedar Point to Cleveland, Erie PA, Port Colborne, Toronto, Port Colborne, Geneva and back to CP.
We'll be able to spend more time in each port this time - especially Toronto, so I expect it be more of a vacation and less of an adventure. Since our home port is an amusement park, staying at Ontario Place seems fitting... I'm still hoping for some feedback before it's too late.
Yes, the Welland requires 3 people. They don't have bollards, so you need a person at the helm, and then you'll need people to man the lines at your bow and stern. It's a LOT of work, but it's one of those experiences that will stay with you for a long time. They ask pleasure boats to raft in each lock. We traveled with friends in a bigger boat, so they'd go on the wall, and we'd raft next to them. Being the outside boat, we were thrown 2 lines to keep both boats in-place. The crew of the other boat did nothing aside from tying the boats together and arranging the straw fenders against the wall and real fenders between the boats. If I had the choice - I'd do it with 2 boats and be the bigger boat!
We spend a few days at MHYC in July '05. Nice place. I heard that they've redone the docks since then...?
I believe FW makes regular appearances on clubsearay.