Crossing Lake Okeechobee (FL)

Dick Pluta · 04-11-2009, 08:26

We did the Okoochoobee Waterway last April with a 41 ft Islander Freeport, 5 feet draft, overhead clearance 51 feet. A couple of issues.

Comments about Indiantown Marina pretty much on the mark, although the people were very friendly and helpful. They no longer carry fuel, have a few slips and it's mostly a storage yard. Fuel is available at the Roland Martin resort in Clewiston, just on the west side of Lake Okoochoobee.

The Part Mayaca bridge might or might not have been a problem for us, but we chose to be prudent and do the Okoochoobee Limbo with Captain Billy. He loaded 7 or 8 water barrels on out port deck and filled them with water, heeling us 20 or so degrees. We passed through with no problem. It cost $180. If you're interested I have pics.

There are two routes around the lake, one around and one across. My understanding is that the Rim Route was closed to us because of our draft, so we went across the lake.

The water level then was low and on the way down, but we had no problems with out 5 feet. Crossing the Lake is a bit touchy because the water is generally shallow and the channel is minimally marked. Use GPS and you should be OK.

The Waterway was closed for lock work last summer but it should be open by now.

We took three days to get across to Moore Haven, where we are stored. Saturday we head down to re-commission and then off to Cape Coral for the winter. You can tie up at dolphins adjacent to the locks and there are some wide spots where we saw people anchored. I can't give specifics.

All in all, an easy trip and saves a long trip around the Keys. If I can give anything further let me know.

Dick Pluta
AEGEA

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04-11-2009, 08:26	#10
Dick Pluta Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: NJ, Paris FR and, for the moment, Cape Coral FL Boat: Islander Freeport 41, AEGEA Posts: 89	We did the Okoochoobee Waterway last April with a 41 ft Islander Freeport, 5 feet draft, overhead clearance 51 feet. A couple of issues. Comments about Indiantown Marina pretty much on the mark, although the people were very friendly and helpful. They no longer carry fuel, have a few slips and it's mostly a storage yard. Fuel is available at the Roland Martin resort in Clewiston, just on the west side of Lake Okoochoobee. The Part Mayaca bridge might or might not have been a problem for us, but we chose to be prudent and do the Okoochoobee Limbo with Captain Billy. He loaded 7 or 8 water barrels on out port deck and filled them with water, heeling us 20 or so degrees. We passed through with no problem. It cost $180. If you're interested I have pics. There are two routes around the lake, one around and one across. My understanding is that the Rim Route was closed to us because of our draft, so we went across the lake. The water level then was low and on the way down, but we had no problems with out 5 feet. Crossing the Lake is a bit touchy because the water is generally shallow and the channel is minimally marked. Use GPS and you should be OK. The Waterway was closed for lock work last summer but it should be open by now. We took three days to get across to Moore Haven, where we are stored. Saturday we head down to re-commission and then off to Cape Coral for the winter. You can tie up at dolphins adjacent to the locks and there are some wide spots where we saw people anchored. I can't give specifics. All in all, an easy trip and saves a long trip around the Keys. If I can give anything further let me know. Dick Pluta AEGEA