Engine Troubles and Lake Ontario

As we started the engine at the bottom of the Kingston Mills lock for our final portion of the Rideau Canal, Ruth noticed that the engine didn't sound right, so we shut her down and investigated. It turned out that the alternator bracket was no longer attached correctly to the engine and was rattling itself loose. After some contemplation, we put a quick fix in place using a wire wrap tool (thanks for the tip, Roger!) that we felt would get us to Kingston.

Once we started calling for a marina in Kingston, we found out that everything was full as it was a poker run weekend. When hearing about our engine troubles, Kingston Marina gave us a spot in a back corner usually reserved for their working boatyard. So we finished the Rideau Canal hobbling into Kingston Marina.

We spent three days in Kingston repairing the alternator. This was the first time we fixed our boat again underway and we were able to do it ourselves, so it was a good confidence boost.

To get from the Rideau Canal to the Trent-Severn Waterway, the route goes along the shore of Lake Ontario from Kingston to Trenton. This involves a few sections where the shoreline is exposed to Lake Ontario's wind and waves. We went out on a day that turned out to be way more boisterous that forecast. We almost turned around, but decided to press on, giving Geru her first test in bigger waves since her renovation. As in the past, Geru handled it better than we did, although we did end up tying an extra line on the mast lying on deck as we were worried about it moving around.

We spent a day in Picton waiting for the winds to calm down before a nice day of motoring to Trenton.

Alternator repair

The source of the problem

Lake Ontario

Leaving Picton