58’ Fly Bridge - Delivery from Great Lakes to NY

[LI-Boater]

How can I get a 58’ Fly Bridge motor yacht from the Great Lakes (Chicago, MI) to NYC? I have a few ideas (and even more questions!):
- shortest route seems to be Erie Canal, but I read somewhere that the lowest bridge clearance is ~15ft and this boat has an air draft of -17.5ft
- can a boat with this air draft get through the Erie Canal without deconstructing parts of the Fly Bridge?
- if so, does anyone know when the Erie Canal opens in 2020 for West-to-East navigation?
- if Erie Canal is a non-starter, what are the other options? Great Lawrence Seaway and round the top?
- would like to do the trip myself, but depends how long it will take. I’m guessing 7-10 days, but seeking confirmation from the brain trust on this forum who may have completed the trip?
- if I can’t find the time to make the trip, an suggestions as to who I could approach (and a budget for planning purposes?)
- I know many people put their pride and joy in the hands of delivery skippers, but how can one protect/guard against damage caused (scrapes, scratches and/or more material mechanical damage)? Just being paranoid there!

Any other things I should consider?

Thanks in advance,
Simon

 

[jrudge]

No idea, but re the air draft all FB boats I know of can be significantly dismantled to lower their draft. Radar arch / tower, helm, fly screens etc.

If you say the make and model someone will tell you what is possible.

This forum is mostly UK / med based so I suspect you will not get much in the way of USA specifics for navigation routes.

 

[Bajansailor]

I am sure that you will get a good (and varied) range of responses if you also post your question on the Trawler Forum, which is based in the USA -
Trawler Forum

Post #18 in this thread suggests a maximum air draft of 19'6" (I am assuming that they are talking about the Erie Canal re doing the Great Loop?)
trawlerforum.com/forums/s64/troll-looper-47445.html

 

[john_morris_uk]

Interesting question but Google is your friend.
Going from NY: Max air draft appears to be 21’ as fast as Oswego. You then need to take the Oswego canal to join up with Lake Ontario to get you into the Great Lakes as the Erie canal air draft for the next section is 15’6”
Erie Canal - Erie Canal, Oswego Canal and Champlain Canal Guide
Allow 7 days and the permit is $50 which seems very reasonable.