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NEWS TIP From BoatUS

Dear Media and Friends of BoatUS Public Affairs-

I’d like to make you aware of a significant commemoration taking place in New York State in 2025 – the Bicentennial of the Erie Canal. There will be much to offer recreational boaters in this historic year as communities along the entire 524-mile New York State Canal system are expected to roll out the red carpet to boaters, whether they may be interested in cruising a length of the canal or just checking out waters by trailer boat for the day or weekend.

I am reaching out to you with this news tip as BoatUS is a sponsor of the celebration and our TowBoatUS Oneida/Rochester, Buffalo, and Oswego teams will be involved as well. I am also a New York State resident who welcomes boaters to my home state, perhaps looking to visit the canal for their first time. Nearly 200 years ago, the Erie Canal opened forever making a monumental impact on the of growth New York State and even more importantly, the entire nation.

Today, the Canal system is a premier recreational boat waterway, with historic infrastructure that mostly still runs on simple waterpower, offering a ribbon of navigable canals, locks,  rivers, and lakes across upstate New York connecting the East Coast with the Great Lakes and Canada that provide a cruising experience found nowhere else in America. The villages, towns, and cities that line her shores offer a wealth of tourism opportunities for visiting boaters, and I hope you have a chance to highlight this momentous year and incredible boating experience available to your readers and friends.

The culmination of the 2025 summer boating season will see the World Canals Conference [visit here to sign-up for information and updates: https://wcc2025buffalo.com] in Buffalo in September, along with the transit from Buffalo to New York City of the historic, newly-launched canal boat replica, the 73-foot Seneca Chief, which will symbolize Governor Dewitt Clinton’s historic opening voyage 200 years ago. Boaters will be welcomed to join a flotilla or regional parade(s) to accompany the Seneca Chief. More details will be fleshed out in the next couple of months.

If you’d like to start to know more, feel free to contact my friends at:

Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor: Jean MacKay, jean_mackay@eriecanalway.org
New York State Canal Corporation / New York Power Authority: Shane Mahar, shane.mahar@nypa.gov

I am positive a short discussion with Jean or Shane could help you flesh out a story or news item. Feel free to let them know Scott sent you and hope to see you in New York this summer!

Thanks-

Scott

Scott Croft
Vice President Public Affairs
Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS)
5323 Port Royal Rd.
Springfield, VA 22151
scroft@boatus.com
703-461-2864