The F25 Maiden Cruise

Boaterguy · Post by **Boaterguy** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 2:23 pm

We took possession on Friday, cleaned the boat, had to go home for work, and returned on Sunday p.m. to begin our 2 week maiden cruise on the Trent Severn system. Our journey took us from Bobcaygeon, Ontario, to Port Severn, Ontario and back to Bobcaygeon. We covered a little over 225 miles in the two weeks. The 318, which had about 4 hours on it since a rebuild, ran beautifully. We used about $400 in fuel during the two week trip.

We had to go through 13 locks each way, including a liftlock, and the Big Chute Marine Rail. The picture on the far right, first row, is of our ride on the Marine Railway. It is a strange feeling crossing a road, and going down a hill on your boat.

The boat ran perfectly, accommodations were great, and much appreciate as we had quite a bit of rain during the trip.

Here are a few pictures, they are linked to the album in photobucket if you want to see more just click on the thumbnail.

The boat has been delivered to our home marina, and I am counting the days to our next trip. No regrets buying a Trojan- loving it!

randyp · Post by **randyp** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 4:33 pm

Congrats on a great first cruise. Glad all ran well. The F25 and F26 are perfect canal boats for a couple. We took ours on the Erie Canal system last year for almost 500 miles roundtrip. The 318 is "bulletproof" as far as marine enginies go. Just keep it well maintained. Nice pictures of your trip. Any leaks in the cabin from the rain? If so, I have some advice!

wvernie · Post by **wvernie** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:16 pm

Was there any charge for the ride across the road..and you're right.. going down hill on a Trojan will not be an experience that many of us will ever have. The wife and I put our Trojan on the Kanawha river in WV and followed it to the Ohio River and went south into Kentucky. We had several locks to go through including 2 lift locks, but the biggest fear was the huge Tugs pushing coal barges to New Orleans. Silent death coming at you on a narrow curvy river,but I'd do it again in a heartbeat.Congrats on your successful trip....great pictures!

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 10:15 pm

Great photos glad you had a good time $400. fuel in 2 weeks ? I can burn that in a day no proplem

LandVF36 · Post by **LandVF36** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 11:02 pm

Nice pictures. Crusing vacations are my favorite. I'd like some more details about "going down a hill". How does that work? Are you floating in tub or in a cradle under your hull. I'm very familiar with the locks on the Mississippi, but they are nothing like that.

mytrojan · Post by **mytrojan** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 9:44 am

very cool pictures of the dry lock. Never have seen anything like that before.

TC · Post by TC » Fri Jul 31, 2009 9:14 pm

Land VF36
It is called the Marine Railroad, the second lock in from the Georgian Bay end of the Trent. Basically a platform that stands on four legs. You drive the boat into it and they sling the stern and the bow rests on a wooden floor. The entire rig then travels out of the water on railroad rails, across the road and down the hill to the lower body of water. I don't remember the drop but it is a little scary first time especially if you are the front ( we were ) when you look forward and all you see is the water way below. The entire thing stands about 3 stories high. It then drops into the water, the bow starts to float, they drop the sling and straight out you go.