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CHANGING
CHANNELS
The Erie Canal is about to get a $50 million facelift, one that will transform
it from the remnants of a commercial waterway to a state-of-the-art venue
for pleasureboats.
Continuing his efforts to revitalize New York’s major waterway systems,
Gov. George Pataki announced in February that he’d set aside $50 million
to clean up state canals over the next five years. The Canal Corp., a
state-backed company based in Albany, will use the funds to expand canal
access, improve waterfronts, and preserve historical sites. “Boaters will
have more to do and more to see,” says Terry O’Brian, Canal Corp. spokesman.
“They’ll have more places to dock, and they’ll be a lot more comfortable.”
The funds will also boost general recreational boating activities and
improve canal infrastructures across upstate New York, including the Erie,
Champlain, Oswego, and Cayuga/Seneca canals.
In addition to improving recreational boating areas and resources for
New Yorkers, the project will greatly enhance the Empire State’s portion
of America’s Great Loop, a popular jaunt for long-term passagemakers.
“New York’s canal system offers countless opportunities for family fun,”
Pataki told the Associated Press. “These strategic new investments in
our canal harbors and ports will expand economic development from Albany
to Buffalo.”
The program will be financed with $25 million from the federal Department
of Transportation Enhancement Program (disbursed through the New York
State Department of Transportation) and $25 million in Canal Corp. capital
funds.
ONLINE: www.myrope.com
With a new boating season just around the corner, now’s the time to make
sure all of your gear is ready. If you find that any of your line needs
replacing, check out www.myrope.com.
Not only does the site offer a slew of high-quality marine ropes, it even
lets you order personalized lines. Any rope can be embroidered with your
name, your boat’s name, or any message you choose. From fender lines to
anchor lines, the site offers 17 color options and three diameters: 3/8
inch, 1/2 inch, and 5/8 inch.
ON SHELVES: Beyond the
Edge of the Sea
Boating may be getting more sophisticated by the day, thanks to high-tech
helm and engine equipment, but a new book by Maurico Obregon explores
the sophistication of boating described in ancient Greek legends. Beyond
the Edge of the Sea tracks the journeys of Jason and the Argonauts, Ulysses,
and other old-time maritime epics and delivers a spectacular glimpse into
the cruising world of 5,000 years ago. By following geographical clues
from the classical texts, Obregon maps out the likely routes of these
adventures, whether it’s Ulysses’ clockwise tour of the Mediterranean
or Jason’s voyage through the Black Sea, then beautifully describes the
real-life wonders that travelers of the time must have enjoyed. The 176-page
work is packed with excellent drawings and photos that help give life
to a bygone era. $21.95, hardcover. Random House.
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Kevin Koenig
Jason Y. Wood
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