Hmmm.. I don't know how old something has to be before its considered Trad. The Erie Canal song was always great fun precisely because it was written to express the actual experience of sailing it. When I was a Grad Student working on sites along the Canal, we'd always sing it and then, whenever we actually sailed on the canal, encountering on of the few low bridges still around, always caused people to break out into song.

Pete Seeger has written a number of lovely songs about The Hudson River which might be useful to you. I don't know if that Sloop Clearwater Project is still up and running, but it was at benefits for that where I heard most of those songs.

Here's a link to an earlier Mudcat thread on Hudson River Songs which mentions 'Hicks The Pirate'
Husdon River Songs