Get the St. Lawrence Seaway Operations handbook online. This provides information needed on the lock systems, permit requirements, radio frequencies and docking areas. The U.S. operations site is in Massena, New York.
Obtain a navigation map for the area you must navigate. Because the St. Lawrence River is different from its origin to its mouth, make sure you have the maps for all parts you will be in.
Begin at Kingston, Ontario, across Lake Ontario from Rochester, New York. Here the St. Lawrence River is freshwater and you are actually on the St. Lawrence Seaway. Navigate the river here as you would on any large lake.
Prepare for the change in elevation from Lake Ontario to Montreal, where the St. Lawrence River drops 226 feet. The St. Lawrence Seaway is designed to make this easier for ships of all sizes.
Navigate the next phase of the St. Lawrence River from Montreal to Quebec City. The river is quite narrow along here. Take bearings frequently, and use GPS in this section. River currents in this area are quite strong.
Move into the third part of the St. Lawrence River after leaving Quebec City. Here is the saltwater portion. Navigate with ocean currents in mind. The is very wide in this area.
