Depth of the St. Lucie Canal to Lake Okeechobee?

[Roniszoro]

I can't quite read it on my chart. I'm wondering if I can get to Indiantown from the East coast of Florida with 7'3" of draft via the St. Lucie canal.

Thank you for you response/input.

[Kettlewell]

I haven't done this recently, but in the past there was shoaling to less than 7 feet in places. Can you clear 55-foot fixed bridges?

[Roniszoro]

Originally Posted by Kettlewell

I haven't done this recently, but in the past there was shoaling to less than 7 feet in places. Can you clear 55-foot fixed bridges?

Thank you for your input. It looks like I'd be toast.

[jkishel]

Suggest you call Indian Town Marina or Boat US, they should know. Also, check your air draft against the bridges. Palm City bridge shows 54 feet vertical clearance on the chart, top of my mast is 51 feet and my VHF antenna, another couple of feet, touched the bottom of the bridge deck two years ago at high tide (that day Lake O was spilling water from a hurricane).

[MicHughV]

The ICW at the St. Lucie Inlet is notoriously shoal, especially on the south side.
Wouldn't dream of crossing that without a least half a tide on my side, especially so with a 7'3" draft.

[ArmyDaveNY]

There is a possibility that you can, but most likely you won't be able to. Less than a year and a half ago I took a boat with a five foot draft across from Stuart to past Lake Okeechobee. There were several times where I was churning up silt. The depth sounder at times showed under five feet. Given that the transducer wasn't at the waterline, I had a little more than indicated. I was, however, in the silt several times making very low progress.

It was very rare that I saw more than ten feet. Very, very rare and most of thevtime I saw six to eight feet. It was NOT a relaxing trip.

Having said this, I have had two ir three people clsim that a seven foot draft vessel has done the trip. I would not. There is, of corse, also the issue of aur draft as previously mentioned.

The lake won't be an issue if you cross the middle and stay in the channel. From Clewiston to the western lock will be well over 15 feet, and often over 20 all the way, and deep even surprisingly close to shore.

Good luck.