With a population of around 18,000 people, the town of Amsterdam is located on the Mohawk River portion of the Erie Canal about 35 miles “upstream” from the canal’s start in Waterford off the Hudson River. Amsterdam was once home to the Bigelo-Sanford Carpet Mills, which is today out of business, but the town still has several fiber manufacturing plants in the area.

Since many of the carpet mills are no longer in business here, the Amsterdam area is far kinder to boaters than it was in the past. Before the decline of manufacturing in the area, many railroad bridges crossed the canal into town, which made navigating difficult for boaters. Today, the tow has its own facility with floating docks, shore power and other amenities available on a per-night fee basis.

Use NOAA Chart 14786.

The town of Amsterdam is bounded on the east and west by Erie Canal Locks 10 and 11, respectively. The only additional challenge to navigation is Bridge E-19A, which has a fixed vertical clearance of 38 feet. The Riverfront Center floating docks are located ner the fixed bridge, and if you are just passing through, consider anchoring behind Davey Island (just southeast of the fixed bridge) in five- to seven-foot depths.

Local Notices to Mariners are now exclusively available online from the U.S. Coast Guard.