Discover Better Boating: Journey Along the Erie Canal

Contacts:

Dave White, New York Sea Grant, Recreation/Tourism Specialist, P: 315.312.3042, E: dgw9@cornell.edu

Barb Caster, Boating Industries Association of Upstate New York, P: 315-447-9286

Oswego, NY,  August 17, 2013 - In this edition of Discover Better Boating, New York Sea Grant's Coastal Recreation and Tourism Specialist Dave White takes us along the Erie Canal.

"This is a wonderful boating resource for those of us who live along the Canal area," said White. Joining White is Dan Wiles of Mid-Lakes Navigation.

"This Canal system in New York State is one-of-a-kind," said Wiles,"thanks to the opportunities provided for transportation, recreation, irrigation and various commercial activities."

"As a boater, what tips would you give me to enjoy this great recreational resource?" asked White.

"I would not be in a hurry," said Wiles," as canal-ing is not a fast way to get somewhere. So, if you want to sit back, relax and enjoy the experience of getting somewhere, this is the best way to go."

"If I don't own a boat, can I get access to this resource?" asked White.

"Absolutely," said Wiles. "There are canoe and kayak rentals all over the place. And, if you want to do a little bit more, Mid-Lakes Navigation offers different kinds of cruises as well as a fleet of boats that people can rent by the week or half-week."

In addition to one- to three-day canal cruises, Mid-Lakes offers self-skippered canal boat charters, and sightseeing, dinner, jazz, brunch and lunch cruises on both the Erie Canal and Skaneateles Lake.

For more on this topic, as well as a helpful clean boating tip, check out the video clip below.



More Info: Discover Better Boating

The Discover Better Boating in New York television series of monthly tips is a collaborative, educational outreach effort by New York Sea Grant, the Boating Industries Association of Upstate New York (BIA) and YNN, Syracuse.

Series host Dave White, a coastal recreation and tourism specialist with New York Sea Grant, interviews marine industry professionals about how to enjoy New York’s waters cleanly, safely, cost-effectively, legally, and in environmentally-friendly ways.

The seasonal series began in 2011 as a result of Discover Clean & Safe Boating campaign created by New York Sea Grant and BIA in 2008.

Shows air the third Saturday of the month from May through October. An archive of previous transcripts for individual "Discover Better Boating" segments, as well as video streaming, can be found via NYSG's "Great Lakes Boating & Marine Trades" resource site, www.nyseagrant.org/marina - click the "New/Topics" link in the left-hand sidebar and check out the "Discover Better Boating" sections on this page.

More Info: NYSG, BIA of Upstate New York, YNN

New York Sea Grant (NYSG), a cooperative program of Cornell University and the State University of New York, is one of 33 university-based programs under the National Sea Grant College Program (NSGCP) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The NSGCP engages this network of the nation’s top universities in conducting scientific research, education, training and extension projects designed to foster science-based decisions about the use and conservation of our aquatic resources. Through its statewide network of integrated services, NYSG has been promoting coastal vitality, environmental sustainability, and citizen awareness about the State’s marine and Great Lakes resources since 1971.

For updates on Sea Grant activities: www.nyseagrant.org has RSS, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube links. NYSG also offers a free e-list sign up via www.nyseagrant.org/coastlines for NY Coastlines/Currents, its flagship publication, which is distributed several times a year.
 
The Boating Industries Association of Upstate NY is an association of independent marine dealers, retailers and marine-related businesses located throughout Central NY. The February Central NY Boat Show and Fall Boat Sale are annual BIA events at the NYS Fairgrounds in Syracuse. Learn more: www.cnyboating.com.

YNN is one of thirteen 24-hour local news channels owned and operated by Time Warner Cable nationwide. Content is generated from seven regional newsrooms. The system has nearly 600,000 subscribers across a 25-county, 15,000 square mile area. YNN Syracuse telecasts one program feed to Central/Northern NY, one to the Southern Tier. Learn more: http://ynn.com.