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A Boat Trip Across the Okeechobee Waterway

A Boat Trip Across the Okeechobee Waterway. 2012 MacGregor 26M. The Okeechobee Waterway. Source: USACE Digital Visual Library. Rt 1: 154 sm Rt 2: 165 sm. 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane -- 2 nd deadliest in U.S. history: 2,500 killed in FL. 145 mph winds at West Palm Beach landfall

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A Boat Trip Across the Okeechobee Waterway

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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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