Trent Severn Waterway – Every part You Have to Know with Le Boat

The Trent Severn Waterway is the most important inland waterway on this planet. Most individuals who navigate it both personal their very own boats or have outrageously priced cottages on the water.  Nonetheless, there’s a enjoyable and reasonably priced technique to pattern a style of the Trent Severn. Le Boat affords self-drive, luxurious houseboats to lease for a few days to a few weeks, permitting you to discover the Trent wherever you need. 

Concerning the Trent Severn Waterway

The Trent-Severn Waterway is a Nationwide Historic Website that stretches 386 kilometers from Lake Ontario’s Bay of Quinte in Trenton to Georgian Bay in Port Severn. Accomplished in 1920, the waterway options 44 locks, together with the world’s highest hydraulic raise lock in Peterborough, which raises boats 19.8 meters in buckets. When driving a Le Boat by the Trent Severn waterway, you get to move by this unimaginable lock.

Summer time Financial savings with Le Boat

• 2025 Early Reserving Supply – Save as much as 25%: Reap the benefits of Le Boat’s Early Reserving provide and save as much as 25% on funds, consolation, and Consolation Plus boat leases throughout Europe. Get 15% off Le Boat’s Horizon Fleet obtainable for journey in Canada, France, Holland, Belgium, and Germany. E-book earlier than September 1, 2024, and safe your trip with only a 25% deposit on the time of reserving.
• Le Boat’s 2025 Lowest Value Assure: E-book your 2025 boat rental trip in Europe or Canada with confidence. If the value drops after you’ve booked, Le Boat will refund the distinction. They assure the bottom worth as much as 90 days earlier than departure. Early Reserving affords for the 2025 season, go to https://www.leboat.ca/en/new-season or name 1-800-734-5491.

Rent A Captain with Le Boat

To make boating even simpler for first-time cruisers, Le Boat, the chief in personal boating holidays in Europe and Canada, broadcasts the launch of its modern Skipper for Rent program.

Out there completely alongside the picturesque Canal du Midi in France beginning within the 2025 season and priced at simply US$199 per day, vacationers can enlist the experience of a seasoned Le Boat skipper to accompany them on their maiden voyage. On the primary full day of the voyage, the appointed skipper gives friends with hands-on instruction on boat operation, navigation methods, and maneuvering by locks. This personalised steering instills confidence, empowering friends to navigate independently for the rest of their tour.

For extra details about Le Boat’s Skipper for Rent program go to https://www.leboat.ca/en/new-season or name 1-800-734-5491.

Le Boat’s Horizon 2+ Boat

This was our fifth Le Boat journey so we felt very snug within the captain’s chair of our Horizon 2+ luxurious houseboat. My brother and sister-in-law Jim and Janice joined us for this journey, and the boat comfortably sleeps 4 folks. There are two bedrooms and two bogs, a full kitchen with a full-size fridge, oven, range, and barbecue on the highest deck. Dishes and cookware are equipped together with washcloths and a brush and mop.

Whereas the boat sleeps 4 folks, you’ll be able to simply drive this boat with two folks, however it’s actually much more enjoyable to have additional assist with ropes when going by locks and mooring for the evening.

Watch our video to study what to pack, how straightforward it’s to drive the boat, and what to anticipate when renting a Le Boat Houseboat on the Trent.

Trent Severn Waterway With Le Boat

We took a seven-day cruise from the Le Boat marina simply south of Peterborough to Bobcaygeon. Throughout our journey, we went by 13 locks and had an unimaginable journey on one of many world’s most lovely waterways.

The boats are very nicely geared up with sheets, duvets, and pillows. Bathtub and Hand Towels are equipped, as are all cooking utensils. There’s a large water tank on board, and we now have hardly ever wanted to refill our tank throughout a Le Boat journey. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to fill it on the marinas. When taking showers, preserve it quick and candy so that you gained’t should preserve refilling the tank.

We advise bringing seaside towels, additional dish towels, and cleansing towels for a seven-day journey. We additionally packed shampoo, cleaning soap, and further bathroom paper. Nonetheless, you should use the bathrooms on the locks every evening, and they’re very clear. We suggest utilizing the general public bathrooms as a lot as doable, that manner you gained’t have to fret about emptying your tanks or filling up water throughout your seven day journey. For those who do want a pump out, there’s an additional price, however they’re provided at marinas alongside the waterway.

One factor we extremely suggest packing is a few additional hangers in your garments. It’s a lot simpler to arrange within the closet with extra hangers.

Day 1-Arrival

We requested an early check-in for 1 pm and spent an hour loading our boat with all our provides. We packed two coolers filled with meals for the week and garments for each sizzling and dry climate and funky and moist climate. Canadian summers see all of it.

Le Boat Marina at Horseshoe Bay

After organizing our boat, we met the workers who walked us by every part we wanted to know in regards to the boat after which took us on the water for a lesson on hour to drive and steer the boat, learn how to use the thrusters, navigate by locks and learn how to park a ship. By 3pm we have been on the water cruising to our first location.

Peterborough

Locks are open till 6 pm (or 6:30, relying on the time of yr), and we had three hours to get to our first vacation spot. This primary day is a brief day, so we recommend reserving your first evening on the Peterborough Marina. The mooring charges right here aren’t included in your Le Boat rental, however staying on the marina means that you can take pleasure in time in Peterborough and to eat at our favorite restaurant The Lightouse Bar And Grill.

Canadian Canoe Museum

Situated at Lock 20, the Canadian Canoe Museum is the most recent attraction on the Trent Severn Waterway. This fascinating museum homes the world’s largest assortment of canoes, kayaks, and watercraft. We spent about an hour having fun with its displays that showcase the Indigenous origins of the canoe, the function of the fur commerce in these waters, and the evolution of leisure paddling. There are interactive shows and hands-on actions making it enjoyable for all ages.

The Canadian Canoe Museum is open each day from 10 am to 5pm. We advise spending the evening within the Peterborough marina after which making your manner again to the lock station within the morning to benefit from the museum earlier than heading up the Trent Severn Waterway.

For those who don’t wish to pay for an evening on the Peterborough Marina, all Le Boats embody free docking at any of the locks on the Trent Waterway. You may keep at Lock 20 free of charge and stroll the 5 minutes to the Canadian Canoe Museum within the morning, or you can even drive on to the Peterborough raise lock and keep there. It’s a straightforward taxi or Uber journey into city, or you’ll be able to merely keep on the boat and benefit from the views.

Day 2 – Peterborough to Younger’s Level

Peterborough Carry Lock

Day two is a good day to spend 4 or 5 hours on the waterway. There’s a lot to see on at the present time, starting together with your journey by the world’s highest raise lock. The Peterborough Carry Lock is a lot enjoyable to undergo. Boats drive into an enormous bucket, and as a substitute of ready for the lock to refill with water to take you to the following stage, boats are lifted by a pully system in a large swimming pool-like bucket, taking boats up 150 ft in a mere 58 seconds.

After attending to the highest it’s a lovely day alongside the canal going by farmland, forests, golf programs, and wonderful cottage nation.

Stopping at Youngs Level for the evening makes for a ravishing night. Right here, there’s a restaurant, store, and ice cream parlor. It’s a scenic spot with waterfalls, fowl life, and lovely sundown views. We selected to eat on the boat utilizing the barbecue and benefit from the high deck to chill out with cocktails.

Day 3 – Younger’s Level to Buckhorn

As we speak is an extended, scenic day driving by spectacular lakes and the Canadian Defend. The islands of Stony Lake are lovely, with multimillion-dollar cottages spanning its shores.

You may cease for lunch on Love Sick Island, a novel lock situated on an island in the course of the lake. It’s a historic vacation spot with climbing trails (they’re very rugged, although), picnic tables, and fireplace pits. Some folks select to remain in a single day on this island for a quieter night.

When you attain Buckhorn, it’s a big dock with a number of parking spots on the lock. You should purchase energy for round $10 if you wish to use the air-con, kitchen, or every other electronics. There’s a liquor retailer, waterfront restaurant, and native retailer to buy any provides, ice, and water. It is a actually good selection to spend the evening.

Day 4 – Buckhorn to Bobcaygeon

As we speak, you wish to get going as early as doable as a result of parking is proscribed in Bobcaygeon. Nonetheless, you don’t wish to miss spending the evening on this well-known Canadian city. The Tragically Hip wrote about Bobcaygeon, they usually took benefit of their fame by promoting T-shirts with the lyrics on them. Sure, we purchased the T-shirt.

That is the place to buy groceries with a number of shops promoting clothes, footwear, and souvenirs. There are many eating places to select from and there are bars, patios and microbreweries.

We ate at Gaz, which had a improbable ambiance and scrumptious meals. It was only a quick stroll from the dock overlooking the canal.

Day 5 – Bobcaygeon to Burleigh Falls

When you’ve got longer, you’ll be able to go to Fenlan Falls, however with solely two days left in our itinerary, we started the journey again. After having breakfast and ice cream in Bobcaygeon, we made our manner slowly south to Burleigh Falls. Burleigh Falls is a ravishing waterfall the place locals swim within the waves of the speeding water.

That is extra of a wild tenting night with not a number of facilities, however that’s the neatest thing about taking a Le Boat trip. The boat is totally stocked with every part you want. Tonight is an effective evening to have a barbecue on deck, play some playing cards or sit across the picnic desk. If you wish to stroll to the Burleigh Inn, you’ll be able to go there for dinner. It’s only a 5 minute stroll and there’s a nation retailer close to there as nicely.

Day 6 – Burleigh Falls to Lakefield

The rivers run on this path, so the journey dwelling was a lot sooner. With solely two stops on the best way again, we made a good time from Bobcaygeon to Lakefield close to Burleigh Falls.

It is a charming city to spend the evening in, with a stunning downtown filled with eating places, pubs, and outlets. Be sure to cease within the Chocolate Rabbit to choose up artisanal sweets. When you’ve got bicycles or paddle boards (two items of substances which you can lease from Le Boat), this can be a good place to attempt them out. The water is calm, and there are biking trails close by.

Day 7 Lakefield to Le Boat

As we speak is your ultimate day on the Trent Severn Waterway, so take your time and cease in any respect the locks and locations you missed between right here and Horseshoe Bay at Le Boat. Cease and have a picnic lunch, pop into Peterborough, lay on the seaside at lock 20 or just chill out on the waters.

You have to to be by the final lock by 6 pm so you will get to the Le Boat marina to remain in a single day because the 9 am try comes early. However you could have the night to pack up and cargo your automobile, make your ultimate meal on the barbecue, and discuss with different Le Boaters to see how their journeys went. It really is a tremendous week on the water.

How Tough Are Le Boats to Drive?

The Horizon boats by Le Boat are extraordinarily straightforward houseboats to drive.

You may have two choices for the place to steer the boat. You may steer it both from the highest flybridge or beneath within the cabin. It’s a straightforward shift to flip the steering from beneath to above, and the Le Boat workers will present you ways to try this.

Up high provides you one of the best view and management. So in the event you can drive from there, more often than not, except it’s inclement climate,

The precise management of the boat is tremendous straightforward. The boats include each bow and stern hydraulic thrusters, which let you maneuver the entrance of the boat and the again of the boat, mainly aspect to aspect, which actually helps in docking and even going into the locks themselves.

One factor about renting with Le Boat is that y you don’t want a ship license to drive certainly one of these. Earlier than leaving the dock, you’ll have an concerned lesson to find out about learn how to deal with the boat. They train you to show the boat, steer it, park it and run you thru all the protection options.

There are limiters on the boat as nicely, so you’ll be able to solely go 10 km an hour (possibly 11 or 12 when you’ve got the wind and present behind you. So, in the event you comply with the buoys and markers, it’s straightforward to remain in management.

Planning your Trent Severn Waterway Itinerary

From the Le Boat docks, you’ll be able to select to go south to Trenton or north to Peterborough and past. When you find yourself planning out your route, simply do not forget that you’re solely doing 10 kilometers an hour at full velocity. So while you’re planning the place to go from someday to the following, it would be best to take into consideration the timing.

In the course of the excessive season, you’ll be able to spend an hour or so on the lock ready for boats to undergo. So our greatest recommendation is to ask the lock masters how busy the locks are forward of you and the way far they assume it is possible for you to to get. They know these waters nicely.

Lock Etiquette

Boating the Trent Severn Waterway is a novel expertise. All locks are operated by Parks Canada, so there’s at all times somebody on the lock stations to ask for recommendation. They carry a wealth of details about the historical past of the locks and the native space and waters.

So, how does going by the locks work? It’s straightforward, and if you’re not sure, be sure to ask the workers earlier than leaving the marina. Nonetheless, we’re right here to assist. Listed here are the steps of what to do when approaching a lock.