A Boat Trip Across the Okeechobee Waterway
2012 MacGregor 26M
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The Okeechobee Waterway
2 Rt 1: 154 sm Rt 2: 165 sm
Source: USACE Digital Visual Library
1928 Okeechobee Hurricane-- 2nd deadliest in U.S. history: 2,500 killed in FL
Result today: 30’ Hoover Dike surrounds the lake
• 145 mph winds at West Palm Beach landfall• Eye passed over Lake Okeechobee• Flooding to 20’ on south then north shores
NOAA.gov
NOAA.gov
taylorengineering.com historicpalmbeach.blog
South shore3
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Bill and Sue’s March 2014 Trip• Advanced this trip by car• Timing: good weather forecast• 1 Mar: Positioned trailer in Palm City, next to Stuart on the Atlantic coast• 2 Mar: Launched at Cape Coral home• Two overnights (separate slides):
• Port LaBelle and Clewiston• 4 Mar: Trailered home from Palm City• Various speeds--leisurely 3-day trip• Multiple well-marked manatee zones up to power plant by Manatee Park--heavily patrolled by LE boats
Helpful Resources•Nautical chart 11428, Okeechobee Waterway•Dozier’s Waterway Guide, Southern 2013, Florida, the Keys and the Gulf Coast, Chap 14, “Okeechobee Waterway”•http://www.sailmiami.com/Okeechobee/•http://marinas.com
2012 MacGregor 26M
www.macgregor26.com
Seen Along the Way
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104-ft Trumpy wood motor yacht Freedom•Built 1926. Refurbished for $6 million•Near-sister ship of former presidential yacht Sequoia
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Okeechobee Waterway Locks• Call Corps of Engrs (863) 983-8101 for waterway status• Waterway has 5 locks
• Franklin (near Olga)• Ortona (east of La Belle)…• Moore Haven (west lake shore)• Port Mayaca (east lake shore)• St. Lucie (west of Stuart, FL)
• Locks open 7-7, 7 days/week• Call lock master on Chan 13
• …with boat name, direction--e.g. “sailing eastward,” and request for instructions to transit lock• …or use horn: 2 long + 2 short blasts
• Enter as instructed (green light is displayed)• Use your bumpers--lock walls have wet greenery
• Hold their ropes on walls--firmly, as water can surge a bit• Let rope move in hands as boat rises or falls
• All easy. Just pay attention & do what lock master says
St Lucie Lock
Source: USACE Digital Visual Library
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Locks in Action
Ortona
Moore Haven
St. Lucie--12.5 ft this day
Okeechobee Waterway Bridges
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• Fixed bridges are high--no issue except for big sailboats• Railroad bascule (draw) bridges up unless train coming• A couple swing bridges can be only 7-9 ft above the water
• Our MacGregor 26M--without mast mounted--had a height of about 7 ft, and we eased under them slowly without having to ask bridge master to swing for us• If you’re higher, call on Channel 9
• …or use horn: 2 long + 2 short
• If no radio contact, watch bridge in case it’s already slowly moving!
Ft. Denaud Swing BridgeWest of LaBelle
Source: Hendry County Engineer
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Where We Stayed
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Roland and Mary Ann Martin’s Marina & Resort920 E. Del Monte AvenueClewiston, FL 33440(863) 983-3151www.rolandmartinmarina.comStd room $95 + tax. Marine gasDockage $1.50/ft w/motel room
Port LaBelle Marina1152 Marina Drive, LaBelle, FL 33935(863) 675-2261. Dockage 50 cents/ftGas (marine) open only Mon-Sat 9-1Port LaBelle Inn (200-yard walk)1563 Oxbow Drive, LaBelle, FL 33935(863) 675-4411. Std room $86 + taxwww.portlabelleinn.comRestaurant closed Sun-Mon (and isolated location a mile from town)
Source: Port LaBelle Inn
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Port LaBelle Marina and InnThere are now a lot more slips than this shows
-- and alligators….
Inn
Gas dock Large Marina Sign
Source: https://marinas.com
Our End-Point
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We pulled-out at Leighton Park,2701 S.W. Cornell Ave, Palm City, FL,about a mile south of the marina (afterBill doubled-back with the boat), andbeside the Palm City Bridge. •With boat on trailer, the drive back to Cape Coral took 3 hours.
Sue got off the boat at Meridian Marina (formerly Martin County Marina…has no ramp), and drove our pre-positioned car & trailer (no charge by the nice marina folks after 3 days parked there w/permission) around to Leighton Park. Meridian Marina, 1400 S.W. Chapman Way, Palm City, FL 34990. (772) 221-8198. http://meridianmarina.com
Source: Martin County Parks & Rec
Along the Modern Lewis & Clark Trail-- August 2014
• Article at: www.usafa68.org/Bulletins/bu28.htm
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