Hello All    Hopefully this post will not be censored this time. I have no Government affiliation or business interest.
Certainly seems to be a lot confusion and misunderstanding about the Canadian Trent Severn Lock System. Perhaps the following info will help. The websites listed in # 6 are the official government secure sites for purchase of lock passes. Many other sites have outdated or inaccurate information. While a combined lock/mooring pass is not 'necessary' it is nice to save money, so should be considered.

1- The total length of the waterway is 386 kilometres (240 mi), beginning at Trenton, Ontario, with roughly 32 kilometres (20 mi) of man-made channels. There are 45 locks, including 36 conventional locks, two sets of flight locks, hydraulic lift locks at Peterborough and Kirkfield, and a marine railway at Big Chute which transports boats between the upper and lower sections of the Severn. It reaches its highest point of 256.3 metres (840 ft 11 in) at Balsam Lake, the highest point to which a vessel can be navigated from sea level in the Great Lakes-Saint Lawrence River drainage basin.

2 - Water depth in navigation channel  - 2.4 m (8') Locks 1 - 19    1.8 m (6') Locks 20 - 45    Be sure to check current summer depths
Operational length & width of locks  - 25.4m (84') L x 7 m (23') W at Lock #45, Port Severn - The last lock before entry into Georgian Bay
(narrowest and shortest lock that gives limiting size for through navigation)
Average Width of Lock - 32‘ wide  (except for lock # 45)
Minimum overhead (bridge) clearance  - 6.1 m (20')
Length of Waterway - 386 km (241 miles)
Highest lift (of a lock)  - 19.8 m (65.4') Peterborough Lift Lock
Speed limit zones  - 10 km/hr
Number of locks  - 44
Number of lock stations  - 42
Approximate travel time  - 5 - 7 days (one-way trip through the Waterway)

Note that locks operate during the summer months on a -on demand- basis. Even with proposed staffing cut backs, the locks which employ many summer students and will operate to move boats through quickly and generally as need be.
The one locking time at 10:00 only applies to the shoulder season. 2013 Scheduled Lockage May 17 to June 20 and Sept 3 to Oct 14
Please remember we Canadians tend to be very accommodating at the local level. So times may vary

3 - Depending on size - on average between 6 - 10 boats will fit in a lock  (2 - 3  @ 40' ) The smaller ones shoe-horn in between.

4 - Wait times at the lock - usually 10-15 min, or less, holding in the channel or at the wall. Usually, wait time is the length of time it takes to empty the lock.

5 - Charts: strip charts -$18 ea  2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2028, 2029

6 - Lock pass -  www.parkscanada.gc.ca/sr    or  http://www.achatsparcs-parksstore.ca/en/ProductCatalog/Section/CanalPermits/
best economy: lock & mooring pass early bird discount till Mar 31 2013
Pass valid for Trent Severn and Rideau Canal Systems

7 - Contacts: official government sites general Information  : Trent-Severn Waterway Headquarters in Peterborough at 705-750-4900.
http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/on/trentsevern/visit.aspx
http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/on/trentsevern/visit/visit3.aspx

Hope this info helps.

Lauren Phinney
Seastar on Georgian Bay  GB42
MTOA 3974, GLGBA163,AGLCA8560

Thank You Lauren for the most complete description of these canals I ever
seen.

Can you point me to the information for the canals negotiated from Lake
Champlain to Sorel (should one want to do the mini loop or down east Loop)?
I have seen nothing about their fee structure, hours etc., but assume they
are the same?  On occasion Quebec seems to operate independently hence my
question.

Again, thanks for the great summary of the Ontario Canal Systems.

Joe

M/V "Carolyn Ann" GH N-37
MTOA# 3813
AGLCA# 5485 (Platinum Looper)
http://carolynann-n37.blogspot.com/
Joseph.pica@gmail.com