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Navigating the Okeechobee Waterway: A Memorable Boat Trip in 2012

Join Bill and Sue on their leisurely 3-day boat trip across the historic Okeechobee Waterway in their MacGregor 26M. Learn about locks, bridges, marinas, and helpful resources along the route. Follow their journey from Cape Coral to Palm City and back, enjoying the scenic views and adventure.

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Navigating the Okeechobee Waterway: A Memorable Boat Trip in 2012

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  1. A Boat Trip Across the Okeechobee Waterway 2012 MacGregor 26M

  2. The Okeechobee Waterway Source: USACE Digital Visual Library Rt 1: 154 sm Rt 2: 165 sm

  3. 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane-- 2nd deadliest in U.S. history: 2,500 killed in FL • 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 Result today: 30’ Hoover Dike surrounds the lake South shore taylorengineering.com historicpalmbeach.blog

  4. 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 2012 MacGregor 26M • 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 www.macgregor26.com

  5. Seen Along the Way • 104-ft Trumpy wood motor yacht Freedom • Built 1926. Refurbished for $6 million • Near-sister ship of former presidential • yacht Sequoia

  6. 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

  7. Locks in Action St. Lucie--12.5 ft this day Ortona Moore Haven

  8. Okeechobee Waterway Bridges • 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 Bridge West of LaBelle 9 Source: Hendry County Engineer

  9. Where We Stayed Port LaBelle Marina 1152 Marina Drive, LaBelle, FL 33935 (863) 675-2261. Dockage 50 cents/ft Gas (marine) open only Mon-Sat 9-1 Port LaBelle Inn (200-yard walk) 1563 Oxbow Drive, LaBelle, FL 33935 (863) 675-4411. Std room $86 + tax www.portlabelleinn.com Restaurant closed Sun-Mon (and isolated location a mile from town) Source: Port LaBelle Inn Roland and Mary Ann Martin’s Marina & Resort 920 E. Del Monte Avenue Clewiston, FL 33440 (863) 983-3151 www.rolandmartinmarina.com Std room $95 + tax. Marine gas Dockage $1.50/ft w/motel room

  10. 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

  11. Our End-Point 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 We pulled-out at Leighton Park, 2701 S.W. Cornell Ave, Palm City, FL, about a mile south of the marina (after Bill doubled-back with the boat), and beside the Palm City Bridge. • With boat on trailer, the drive back to Cape Coral took 3 hours. Source: Martin County Parks & Rec

  12. Questions? billsueeckert@aol.com billsueeckert@aol.com

  13. Along the Modern Lewis & Clark Trail-- August 2014 • Article at: www.usafa68.org/Bulletins/bu28.htm Onawa, IA St. Louis Amelia Earhart Home Atchison, KS Kansas City, MO

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