Lake Saint Francis

From CruisersWiki

Contents 1 Lake St Francis 1.1 Background 1.2 Charts 1.3 Weather 1.4 Radio Nets 1.5 Search and Rescue 1.6 Navigation 1.7 Lake Entry 1.8 Ports and Popular Stops 1.9 Marinas & Yacht Clubs 1.10 Anchorages 1.11 Offshore Islands 1.12 Routes/Passages To/From 1.13 Tourism & things to do ashore 1.14 Fuel, Water, & Electricity 1.15 Laundry 1.16 Grocery Stores 1.17 Eateries 1.18 Motorbike & Car Rentals 1.19 Marine Stores Facilities 1.20 Repairs 1.21 References & Publications 1.22 Cruiser's Friends 1.23 Forum Discussions 1.24 External Links 1.25 Personal Notes

Lake St Francis

Background

Lake St Francis or Lac St Francois is a widening of the St Lawerence river in the region of the Quebec/Ontario border. It is 47 km in length , running from Cornwall Island, just beyond the Snell and Eisenhower Seaway Locks to the Beauharnois Canal and it’s two locks. There is a dredged Seaway channel to a depth of 27 feet. The St Lawrence drops about 12 inches through the length of this section.

Charts

Charts from the Canadian Hydrogaphical Service:

• 1411 St Lawrence Seaway Lac St Louis to Lac St Francois
• 1412 St Lawrence Seaway Lake St Francis East
• 1413 St Lawernce Seaway Lake St Franics West

Weather

Typical southern Canada weather, cruising season from May to September, peaks in June to August and ice from December to March.

Sources for weather forecasting:

• Weather Network

Radio Nets

no information available

Search and Rescue

Canada Coast Guard - JRCC Trenton.
24-hour emergency numbers: Toll-free (within Canada): 1-800-267-7270, Phone: (613) 965-3870, Fax: (613) 965-7190, Telex: 066-2282

There is apparently an inshore rescue boat station on the lake based in Valleyfield, Quebec.

Navigation

There is a dredged and bouyed channel the length of the lake. Pleasure craft must give way to commercial shipping.

Lake Entry

Entrance from the west end, or upstream part of the lake is though American Locks, Eisenhower and Snell. Entrance from the east end, or downstream part of the lake is through the Beauharnois Canal and Locks.

• Locking through the St. Lawerence Seaway - For recreational boaters.
• The Seaway website - Further information.

When entering Canadian Waters, one must contact Canadian Customs by calling 1 888 226 7277 from a designated site (see below), be prepared to provide the full name, birthdate, passport information and citizenship of each person on board. Report all currency and firearms being imported (please note that Canada has stict gun control laws).n At that point you may be instructed to stay on board until a Customs Agent arrives for processing or they may just authorize entry by phone. Failure to do so can result in fines, siezing of goods, including the vessel and criminal charges.

Some Custom Check in sites for Canada Customs: Cornwall Marina 2000 Creg Quay Grays Creek Marina Rasin River (this is listed at the CBSA site, I guess this means the Rasin River Marina) Summerstown Governement Dock Summerstown Marina

If an American vessel they are not required to conform to Canadian saftey requirements for boating as long as the vessel is present for less than 45 days. However, the vessel must have a holding tank conected to any on board toilet and have a deck mounted pump out.

Entering into US - I don't have as much information. The agent from the Border Service told me that to go through the American Locks from upstream on must check in using a video phone (OARS) system at Waddington NY. The only thing with this is after checking in, when you take the main channel you return to Canadian water before reaching the locks. She also told me that to go upstrream throught the locks that I must check in at Waddington, beforehand, she did not grasp the fact that Waddington is on the other side of the lock. Hopefully I will be able to clarify this issue.

Ports and Popular Stops

• Cornwall, Ontario
• Summerstown, Ontario
• South Lancster, Ontario
• St. Anicet, Quebec
• Port Lewis, Quebec
• Riviere Beaudette, Quebec
• St. Zotique, Quebec
• Valleyfield, Quebec

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

• Marina 2000 Cornwall, Ontario
• Gray's Creek Marina - and Conservaiton Area, Cornwall, Ontario
• King's Marina, Snye, Quebec (Akwasasne)
• Summerstown Marina, Summerstown, Ontario
• Wimpey's Marina, Summerstown, Ontario
• Roy's Marina, Sumerstown, Ontario
• Mac's Marina, South Lancaster, Ontario
• Rasin River Marina, South Lancster, Ontario
• Creg Quay Marina, Bainsville, Ontario
• St. Anicet Marina, St. Anicet, Quebec
• Marina de la Pointe, St. Anicet, Quebec
• Port Lewis Marina, Port Lewis, Quebec
• Castagnier Marina, St. Zotique, Quebec
• Club Nautique, Ile Raymonde, Quebec
• Marina Valleyfield, Valleyfield Quebec

Anchorages

List details of all safe anchorages in the area.

Offshore Islands

List Islands

Routes/Passages To/From

Popular passages/routes, timing, etc.

Tourism & things to do ashore

List places of interest, tours, etc.

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

Laundry

Grocery Stores

Eateries

• Don Cherry's. This is pub food, they have a patio, it is located in the Cornwall Civic Complex, next door to Marina 2000
• King's. This is where people go to get cheaper fuel, and mostly fast food. Try the poutine. I understand the steak sandwich/sub is greasy but well liked.
• Gaetan's. A chip wagon between Cornwall and Summerstown. There is a dock with about 3 foot draft.
• Blue Anchor
• Edgewater
• TJ's
• Creg Quay
• Ile Raymond
• St Anicet
• St. Zotique
• Valleyfield

Motorbike & Car Rentals

Marine Stores Facilities

Submit addresses and contact details of marine related businesses that are of interest to cruisers.

Repairs

References & Publications

Publications, Guides, etc.

Cruiser's Friends

Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.

Forum Discussions

List links to discussion threads on the Cruiser Log Forum

External Links

Links to relevant websites.

Personal Notes

Personal experiences?

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