45°12′N 73°15′W · Richelieu River, Chambly Canal, Chambly Basin
Quebec · Launch May, haul-out October
Boat storage in Richelieu River and Lake Champlain (north end)
Winter storage, haul-out and the work around it on Richelieu River, Chambly Canal, Chambly Basin. Send your boat details and we come back with spots that fit your LOA, budget and season.
Richelieu River and Lake Champlain (north end) at a glance
- Waters
- Richelieu River, Chambly Canal, Chambly Basin and Lake Champlain (north end, Missisquoi Bay)
- Towns and harbours
- Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Chambly, Carignan, Sabrevois, Venise-en-Québec, Saint-Paul-de-l'Île-aux-Noix, Saint-Ours and Sorel-Tracy
- Season
- Launch May · haul-out October
- Typical boats
- Cruisers and pontoon boats that use the canal, sailboats on Lake Champlain, runabouts, and personal watercraft.
- Storage from
- from $35/ft per winter outdoor · compare prices
Region summary from public sources. Each yard sets its own dates and rates.
The boating year here
Parts of Lake Champlain freeze most winters, and the Richelieu and Lake Champlain have had major spring floods, so spring launch dates and dock access can shift.
- Launch
- Boating season
- Haul-out
- On the hard / in storage
What storage looks like here
Boaters on the Richelieu move between the canal, the river and Lake Champlain, so they need storage that lets them launch quickly in May and avoid flood-season docks in spring.
Along the Richelieu, storage is usually fenced outdoor yards with shrink-wrap, unheated domes or buildings, and some heated indoor sections. Owners often keep a boat on the river in summer and pull it for the winter. Demand follows the number of riverfront and bay owners who have no room on their own lot.
Richelieu River and Lake Champlain (north end) storage prices
| Item | Starting price |
|---|---|
| Outdoor winter storage | from $35/ft per winter |
| Indoor winter storage (cold) | from $60/ft per winter |
| Shrink-wrap | from $18/ft |
| Haul-out or launch | from $10/ft each way |
| Seasonal slip | from $70/ft per season |
Starting prices in CAD before tax, from published marina and port rates and market estimates, October 2026. Your boat, the yard and the dates set the final price.
Local knowledge
- The Chambly Canal runs nearly 20 km between Chambly and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. source
- At locks 1, 2 and 3, boaters should arrive at least 45 minutes before the last lockage of the day. source
- Overnight mooring in the canal is not allowed on fixed-lockage-hour days. source
- The canal has 9 hydraulic locks and 10 bridges, a draft limit of about 1.98 m and a clearance of about 8.84 m, and a passage takes about 3 to 5 hours. source
- The Richelieu drains Lake Champlain north for about 171 km to the St. Lawrence at Sorel-Tracy. source
- Lake Champlain covers about 1,331 km2, is about 172 km long and has a maximum depth of about 120 m. source
- Missisquoi Bay is the main site of cyanobacteria blooms on Lake Champlain. source
- The Champlain Canal links Lake Champlain to the Erie Canal and the Hudson. source
Words you will hear
Yards here often write in French: *hivernage*, *hivernisation*, *remisage*, *mise à l'eau*, *mise à terre*, *canal de Chambly*, *écluse*, *quai*. See the boat storage glossary.
Richelieu River and Lake Champlain (north end) boat storage questions
When does the Chambly Canal open for boats?
In 2026 the Parks Canada lockstations on the Chambly Canal run from May 15 to about October 12. Lockage hours are limited, and at locks 1, 2 and 3 boaters should arrive at least 45 minutes before the last lockage. Check the current schedule before you go.
Can I stay overnight in the Chambly Canal?
Parks Canada says overnight mooring in the canal is not allowed on days with fixed lockage hours. Plan a transit that ends at a marina or a permitted stop, and check the Parks Canada page for the current rules. These details come from official or public sources and can be updated, so confirm the current version before you decide.
How long does it take to go through the Chambly Canal?
Wikipedia says a passage takes about three to five hours, with nine hydraulic locks and ten bridges. Parks Canada lists the canal at nearly 20 km. Times vary with lockage schedules and traffic, so build in extra time. Conditions change with weather and yearly schedules, so treat this as a guide and verify with the responsible authority.
Elsewhere in Quebec
- Montreal and Lac Saint-Louis Lake Saint-Louis, Lake of Two Mountains
- Eastern Townships (Lac Memphrémagog and area lakes) Lake Memphrémagog, Brome Lake (Lac Brome)
- Quebec City and the St. Lawrence St. Lawrence River, Saint-Charles River
Tell us about your boat. We find the spot.
Storage type, LOA, region and season. We check what is open near you and reply by email with options and prices.