Mac, Rainfall is always a factor on the canals, and probably a big factor on the western canal which has relatively small spillways. Rainfall always raises the water level. While there are times you could get thru with 15.5 feet, I think it would be quite unsafe to attempt it with anything higher than 15' 0" which is what ya get after a rain. "Normal pool" doesn't actually exist, it is an average number. I have my boat permanently set to 14' 6" and i generally stick my head out and look up as I pass under. I really think that I have gone under bridges on the western Erie that were less than 15'. That's my honest assessment. Also, caution about getting clearance info from lock or brige operators, they are not boatmen. And I have found that while some are very accurate, others are way off. If you hit a bridge, the Canal Corp will do whatever they can to help you, but they will not pay for your damages. They will be soooo nice to you and so helpful you will be convinced they will pay, but they won't because they cannot. I will also say, this spring should have low water everywhere on the canals. There is no snow in the mountains anywhere so there will be no spring run-off. And there doesn't seen to be the usual heavy spring rains either, at least so far. So it's my guess that at least during the early season this year, bridge clearances will be larger than usual in some places. The Champlain Canal in particular. Fred Tug 44 ---------------------------------------- From: "D C *Mac* Macdonald" <k2gkk@hotmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2012 5:56 PM To: "fred@tug44.org" <fred@tug44.org>, "Great Loop List" <great-loop@lists.trawlering.com> Subject: RE: GL: Rideau Canal The lowest clearance I see from the NYS Canal site is 15.3 feet at Lock 4, Guard Gate on Cayuga-Seneca Canal w/ maximum pool of 446.7 feet. Normal pool is 445 and offers 17 feet clearance then. I believe that is in Waterloo before entering Seneca Lake. On the western Erie, the worst seems to be the railroad bridge E-139 with a clearance of 15.34 feet at maximum pool of 463 and 15.94 at normal pool of 462.4. Probably a good idea to have full tanks when getting to "that low bridge, everybody down." URL for this info is: (http://www.canals.ny.gov/exvac/boating/bridgeheights.html) Have I missed something, Fred? * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** D C "Mac" Macdonald ** * OKC & Grand Lake (OK) *