The Moore Haven Railway Bridge crosses the Okeechobee Waterway, a short hop west of the Moore Haven Lock. It has a bare, closed vertical clearance of only 5 feet, so it it closes on you unexpectedly, that could be a REAL problem, as Captain James learned to his misfortune!!!

Be aware that this bridge can close without any signal. On Jan 27 at 3 PM we were traveling E to the Moore Haven lock after calling for a lock through with the lock master stating the lock was open to us and we could proceed. The railroad bridge was open. As we approached the bridge it appeared to be stuck in a partially closed position. We proceeded but too late to realize that it was indeed closing and we were impaled causing severe damage to the forward sections of the boat. At no time was there any signal, warning or individual present. Retreating to the City Docks witnesses confirmed that no signal was heard although they had heard it clearly on other occasions. I later discovered that the bridge has no radio contact or communication with the adjacent lock. I have had previous experience with this bridge waiting one and half hours for the bridge to open in a swift current and no communication. They seem to operate without regard to water traffic as opposed to the locks. I will update you as to
any legal actions.
Tom James, Captain
“Tortuga” Krogen 42

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Moore Haven Railway Bridge

Glad to hear that the USCG has replaced #25 with a TRLB (Temporary Lighted Buoy), and undoubtedly the daybeacon will be replaced as soon as a buoy tender can be summoned. Until that time, the SSECN is declaring a Navigational Alert for these waters!

FLORIDA-INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY-ST LUCIE INLET TO FORT MYERS AND LAKE OKEECHOBEE-ST LUCIE RIVER SOUTH FORK: Hazard to Navigation
St Lucie River South Fork Light 25 (LLNR 51005) is destroyed. A temporary LB “WR25″ displaying Q FL G characteristics has been set 6 yards channelward of remains in position 27-11-40.345N 080-15-53.596W. Remains pose a hazard to navigation and mariners are advised to avoid this area. Chart 11428

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at Destroyed Marker #25

ALL cruisers who stop for the night at Indiantown Marina (on the Okeechobee Waterway, between the St. Lucie and Port Mayacca locks), should heed GL’s advice below. I have definitely blown my own diet here on more than one occasion!

Stop at the Seminole Inn in IndianTown. The food is good southern style. The fried green tomatoes are one of the best items. It is where the Duke and Duchess of Windsor spent their honeymoon. Clewiston and Moore Haven are interesting just to watch the floating opera with all the snow birds. Some of the flat fishing boats seem to have no idea about windage of a big trawler and “give way to tonnage.” Do watch the swim platform in the morning for live gators…. And sample the gator on any menu, when you see it. There
was a little hole in the wall dinner outside Alva with the best gator, but was gone last crossing. Enjoy…..
GL

Captains Jim and Kathie could not give better advice on cruising the Okeechobee Waterway. Particularly around Clewiston and Moore Haven, I have seem local mosquitoes swarming that seem large enough to carry off your vessel!

Just make sure you have mosquito netting for your ports and doors. Otherwise they will eat you alive as soon as the sun goes down
Werner & Kathie Steuernagel

I drove around the west side of the lake last summer and used up all the windshield washer fluid cleaning the window.
They are black and very nasty, you get attacked in swarms.
Lorne Cook

One of the most extensive and interesting discussions concerning the Okeechobee Waterway I’ve ever encountered, has appeared on the “GL” (Great Loop) mailing list, as of early January, 2012. I’ve cherry picked some of the best points, and reprinted these below.
As you will see, there are different points of view about this passage and the marinas along the way. Also, contained within these messages is a wealth of good cruising info, and superb cruising tips, from a small army of veteran skippers.
We STRONGLY suggest that everyone who is contemplating a cruise across the Okeechobee, particularly first timers, read ALL the messages below. You’ll then have a very good idea what to expect while cruising the Okeechobee Waterway!

I am planning to leave Tampa first or second week of Feb and go to the Bahamas. I intend to go across the Okeechobee Waterway if there is enough water. Never have been across and it sounds like a fun way to go.. Does anyone have any info or knowledge how it is now? Is anyone planning a trip to Bahamas next month?
Denny Rodebush
DaddysFarm

[Okeechobee Waterway Depth Information]
http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Divisions/Operations/LakeOWaterways.htm
Route 1 [a.k.a. the "Lake Route" - editor] is best for anything larger than a bass boat.
RC

The Okeechobee FUN? Not in my mind it isn’t! Boring is more like it. Be SURE you have a chart. this advice may sound silly but twice when going across we met boaters, both time sailors with small kids onboard, who not only had no chart but also had no clue! They both asked how you find the opening at the other end? It is so shallow you must follow the channel and that is not always easy. You are looking at water all day long and about the only excitement is seeing the white pelicans STANDING in the water nearby. No anchorages, you must stay at Indian Town on the east and the free dock right next to the lock on the west and
neither is at all interesting. My memory fails me about the name of the place you can stay on the south west end, a little town with a dock at a restaurant in a narrow channel that is not fun to turn in and noisy at night. It sure beats the alternative though!
Marge Griffith

We found the Okeechobee very interesting. We took the rim route going west because we wanted to check out all the facilities for Skipper Bob’s guides and we came back east through the middle of the lake. The rim route proved to be full of wild life, We saw plenty of alligators, birds, and fishermen in FAST boats. (They did not speed in the channel) I put fishermen in the category
because the are a different breed from regular boaters. We enjoyed out trip, took a few days because of stopping at every place there is to stop and found it to be relaxing and peaceful. Sorry that Marg was bored on her crossing. I do agree about the charts. So many people leave the dock without a chart and that is so wrong.
Elaine Reib
Co-founder, Skipper Bob Publications

Years ago our last crossing [ the forth time ] had to be across the lake because the rim route was full of downed trees. Now I think I have heard lately that the COE was going to clean it out. Even before all the storms crossed Florida [ in '06, '07 ] the rim route was shallow. I’d check with the COE before starting out. Also there was a bridge near the fish camp about half way around that would only open at 7 AM. Not that you would want to continue on anyway. Slow trawlers would take most of the next day to get to the R.R. bridge at Port Mayaka. That is unless you have a fast boat. And even if I did I would NEVER run the rim at
more that a crawl. I do recall the last time we were heading east after leaving the Morehaven Lock and heading down to Rollin Martins we were amazed at the number of Alligators along the banks.
Tom B.

To each his or her I guess. But I’ve never found the trip boring.
Following the channel is very easy IMO, as it is clearly marked. If you have an autopilot it’s almost a no brainer. And there are a few anchorages. Plus you can tie up to the dolphin pilings located near the locks for the night if you wish. Indiantown has a couple of good restaurants and good marina.
The other marina you seem to be talking about would be Roland Martin’s in Clewiston. Which can have a bit of a bar crowd on weekends now that they have added a Tiki bar, which some folks (myself included) just might find appealing at times. They have some good bands from time to time and you can always call the Clewiston Inn to send a car for you so you can get a bite to eat and check out the very cool Florida wildlife mural in their bar while getting away from the marina for a while. As to turning around in the marina channel, there is a fair sized turning basin just before the marina docks. So it’s just a simple
matter of backing down to it and then turning around. Or turning around first and then backing down to your slip.
Capt. Bill

Been there done that Several times, Loved it each time. It you want to know the Fun and interesting parts of the Okeechobee, email me. It’s a great trip, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT!
See you in Paradise!!
Capt. Sterling

Totally agree, see the real Florida, one of our favorite cruising areas. Just be sure to avoid Ms Martins Marina in Clewistown, it has become a very unfriendly place. Last time we were there they would not meet you at the dock or help with fueling.In addition the owner was running around inside yelling and screaming at all her helpers. With that said we like the docks and facilities at Moore Haven and LaBelle is always a favorite.
David Doyle

While I agree with a lot of what Capt. Bill said in those short sentences, I would like to add to it. But first, I’d like to say that we find the Okeechobee Waterway very interesting. The lake crossing is just another open water crossing, but the sights and sounds along the route are very cool, and to us, well worth it.
West-to-east, the route starts at the Caloosahatche River “delta.” At the gulf end at San Carlos Bay, which is wide, but there are many shallows and shoal areas, so the marked channels do need to be honored. It’s not difficult at all. At and after Ft. Myers, the river follows a narrow channel that you must honor.
At Alva, past the western-most CoE WP Franklin Lock, the character of the river changes slowly from narrow river to man-made canal. It’s like that all the way to Clewiston. Then there is a 5-mile long channel from Clewiston out to the open-water lake crossing to Port Mayaca. Port Mayaca to St. Lucie is cut man-made canal. The St. Lucie River from the CoE St. Lucie lock to Stuart is narrow and shallow.
The Roland Martin marina at Clewiston is located in a very shallow pool behind a
CoE lock [flood gate actually - editor] that is almost always open on both ends. If you stop there, be very mindful of lake water depths and very careful in the Clewiston Harbor if you draw more than 3 to 3-1/2 ft. The Clewiston Harbor carries less depth than the published lake crossing, Route 1. We tried to get in once with our 4 ft draft, but grounded in the mud before we could get to their dock. The girl at the marina told us they had 5′ of water at the docks. Not! NG.
The channel from Clewiston Harbor to the open lake can be deceiving. The markers near Clewiston are fairly close together, but they get progressively farther and farther apart out in the lake. However, the Clewiston Channel itself remains very narrow. Winds in the region will generally try to blow boats sideways out of the channel, so YOU MUST BE ABLE TO BACK-SIGHT MARKERS YOU
HAVE ALREADY PASSED AS WELL AS SEE THE MARKERS IN FRONT OF YOU to be sure you actually stay WITHIN the channel. Two key questions are: how good is the astern visibility you’ll have on your boat, and how good is your eyesight? I’m not kidding here; both factors can/will affect you in this area! There are two areas in the Clewiston channel known to be very shallow, but the real problem when lake waters are down is the channel edges. There is no margin; the markers mark the channel edges. The channel is man-made, and the dredged cut penetrates a shallow and thin limestone layer. That is rock, and it will damage a prop if you manage to get over to it. See Claiborne Young’s web site for details; also checkActiveCaptain.com. In my opinion, I do not recommend autopilot use in the Clewiston channel or the upper St. Lucie River. In Clewiston, even in light winds, it’s just too likely that you’ll wind up drifting sideways. The upper St. Lucie is very significantly shoal; follow
outside curves.
If the lake sounding levels for Route 1 are down, also be aware that prolonged winds will drive water to the lee shore; so, south winds will pile lake water up on the north, leaving water levels in the south noticeably less than published. North winds will pile up water to the south, which causes water levels at Port Mayaca to be, likewise, less than published. Port Mayaca is soft mud, but not so, as mentioned, Clewiston. Depending on specific wind conditions, the day you cross and in the preceding 24 hrs, published depths can mislead you into thinking there’s more water than there actually is at the other end.
All this is just to make you aware, not nervous. Conditions like this are common in SE Florida. Just be careful! Plan to cross on calm days if possible. For deeper draft boats, Moore Haven town dock is better than Roland Martin for draft and docking convenience, although there ain’t much at Moore Haven, and what there is is a 3/4 mile walk. Indiantown Marina is nice, and very busy when the Canadian enclave boats are splashing in fall and hauling in spring; call ahead for reservations. Sanctuary draws 4’2″, and we have crossed in calm conditions uneventfully and successfully when the daily lake datum was 4′ 5″. Did I mention: conditions were “calm.” We have also crossed in 25 knot winds (a different crossing); 2′ – 3′ short period seas were not particularly “fun.” Incidentally, the water in Lake “O” is not water at all; it’s a nice, dark chocolate mix; and, Palm Beach County drinks it.
Hope this helps.
Jim
Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary

The Okeechobee Waterway is a delightful trip! We have taken this in a 16 foot Boston Whaler, a 34 foot SeaRay Express & a 56 foot SeaRay Bridge boat many times with & without dogs. You see parts of Florida and her nature that you might not see otherwise such as the possibility of flocks of storks, pelicans, alligators along the banks, ranches with cattle and more.
There are two ways across Lake Okeechobee. One is across the middle of the lake & the other is around the South rim. If you plan a round trip, then, we recommend trying each option. There are a half dozen marinas along the waterway to spend the night, each with their own personalities from quiet, more elegant to fun. We have tried most several times including Roland Martins. We had a good experience with all of them. Some marinas have seaweed or grasses in the water so if this is an issue for you, just ask in advance. None of the marinas are the “Ritz” but more of a homey or back country feel. A waterway guide would be helpful to learn about the marinas, their depths and amenities, as well, anything neat to see along the waterway.
You can make the trip in one day. However, if you have crowds in the locks or have to wait much, you may want to prepare for an overnight trip. The lock masters are helpful and will guide you. Reading the protocol about how to go through locks,
setting the lines, where & how to position your boat in advance would be beneficial. We recommend taking a chart for directions, locations and to monitor the water depths.
It is a great, short trip! Enjoy!
Fran Johnson

We have done the Okeechobee Waterway three times – once over and back on our friends 39 ft raised deck Cruiser and once with our own 36 ft raised bridge cruiser. On one trip we used the lake route one way and the rim route the other way. On the other route we could only go the lake route due to low water. On both trips we stayed at Roland Martins Marina and ate at a hotel in town –
excellent choice. Both trips were very enjoyable experiences.
As a young lad and a Floridian, I well remember when the Okeechobee Waterway was built and the residents of South Florida objected because it essentially made South Florida an island! The lake at that time had a debth of 3 ft or less, until the dykes, canal and locks were built — all for the purpose of creating a fresh water reservoir to irrigate Florida’s mid state farm lands. The project also resulted in a major wildlife refuge and fishing mecca.
That is why today the Army Corps of Engineers controls the water depth of the lake and canals.
John and Judy Gill
Two J’s V, a 36 ft. Carver Mariner

We have made the trip twice, east to West across the lake both times. Enjoyed both, we have stopped at St Lucie Lock Campground, Roland Martin’s Marina in Clewiston, friends living nearby brought us to the Clewiston Inn for a very nice dinner. Moore Haven Docks which are fine to spend the night, but not much to do around there, We also spent a night at a friend’s dock near Ortona. All nice spots.
In addition to all the alligators and other Florida wildlife we cruised past someone’s canal side backyard which held a group of Llamas and a Camel!
Steve Willett
Monk 36, Gumbo

Made the trip several times, and enjoyed it every time. Great wildlife and bird watching, and if you are a people person,you WILL meet some characters!
Our favorite stops are the free dock at LaBelle (a charming little town with the most majestic live oak trees you will see this side of Savannah) and Rialto marina near Alva.
Jonathan Gorham

The destroyed marker, which is the subject of the message below extracted from the Local Notice to Mariners, normally sits in the heart of St. Lucie River’s run through the city of Stuart, Florida, a short hop east of the high-rise Roosevelt Bridge. Far more ominous is the “partially submerged” notation below. Mariners should exercise maximum caution when navigating the St. Lucie River portion of the Okeechobee Waterway.
We are declaring a Navigational Alert for these waters!

FLORIDA-ST LUCIE INLET TO FORT MEYERS AND LAKE OKEECHOBEE-OKEECHOBEE WATERWAY-ST LUCIE RIVER: Hazard to Navigation.
St Lucie River Daybeacon 22A (LLNR 50780) is destroyed and partially submerged. Mariners are advised to avoid the area. Chart 11428

January 6 we were moving west into Sunset Bay Marina (with the sun in our eyes), wondering where the daybeacon had gone to. This channel is narrow for a deeper draft sailboat, so stick to the GPS line or chart coordinates passing west or east of this area. The submerged alert is very helpful…extra caution to be taken when we leave.
Jane Bugg

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at the Position of Marker #22A on the St. Lucie River/Okeechobee Waterway

Many thanks to Captains Chuck and Susan for providing the excellent info below concerning current depths on the Okeechobee Waterway. This message is reprinted from the AGLCA forum, and Captain Chuck performs editorial work for our good friends at MarinaLife!

I have just joined the [American Great Loop Cruisers'] Association and would like to provide info to the membership in any way I can. I noticed that this info has not been updated for a while and the Lake levels have come up considerably. All locks are on normal schedules. As of today, the lake levels are…

U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District
Lake Okeechobee and Navigation Depth Report
Data Ending 2400 hours 08 DEC 2011
Today’s Lake Okeechobee Stage = 13.71 (Feet-NGVD29)
Today’s Route 1 Navigational Depth ≈ 7.65 Feet
Today’s Route 2 Navigational Depth ≈ 5.85 Feet
Bridge Clearance = 50.37 Feet

Chuck Baier and Susan Landry

Sweetwater Landing Marina is located on the Okeechobee Waterway/Caloosahatchee River, just east of Fort Myers, near the I-75 Twin Bridges.

We kept our Monk 36 Trawler at Sweetwater Landing last winter. It was a great place. Well protected, very nice staff and close to I-75 and the airport. Their price was one of the lowest around.
Sweetwater Landing
16991 State Road 31
Fort Myers, FL 33905
239-694-3850
Fred Pfleger
Dreamchaser

How typical of a CLASS Operation and a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR like the City of Fort Myers Dockage Basin to provide a dinghy dock. And, thanks to Captain Dunham, we know there’s a Publix Supermarket within walking distance.

The City of Fort Myers Yacht Basin, located on the Caloosahatchee River, has a free dinghy dock. The marina is located in a downtown location and a Publix is .8 mile from the marina.
Susan Dunham

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Western Florida Marina Directory Listing For The City of Fort Myers Yacht Basin

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of The City of Fort Myers Yacht Basin

I have always said repair recommendations from fellow cruisers are invaluable. When one of our number has had a good experience with a repair firm or individual, chances are the rest of us will have good luck as well.

I would highly recommend Calusa Certified Marine Marine for anyone requiring Service on a Cummins/Yanmar/Volvo Penta in the Fort Myers/Cape
Coral area. They did a complete cooling systems service , timing Belt replacement and valve adjust on my Yanmar 300 HP 6LP. The Mechanic GREG
was extremely well organized, very efficient, very knowledgeable answering all my questions. He took great care servicing the engine and the work
area was left cleaner than when he arrived. He also discovered a problem with the timing belt tensioner that if had not been corrected could have
resulted in a catastrophic engine failure. The work was done on time and the price was very fair
For Service Contact Bob Miller- Calusa Certified Marine, LLC (239) 574-5053
I have no interest in this company – Just a very satisfied customer
Darrell Berge

Wow, sounds like a GREAT place to spend the winter months, whether you pick up a mooring, or coil your lines at one of the marina’s wet slips.
Sunset Bay also has the advantage of position. It lies directly on the patch of the Okeechobee Waterway, and only a few miles off the AICW, via the St. Lucie River. See you there!

We see some of you returning from the north. The Sunset Bay Moorings are alive and well and about half full. Stuart has much to offer – close shopping, close restaurants, public transportation(the moorings have private for free also) and good entertainment. The mooring offers fine facilities – lounge, outside seating with tables, ship’s store and a great riverside walking path to downtown. Join us and have a great winter!
Other things that are of interests to cruisers are arts and crafts shows, beautiful public parks, music in the downtown area on many most Sundays and a Sunday green market, all within a comfortable walking distance. There is also limo and bus transportation available to the West Palm Beach airport.
Fred and Elaine DeFoor

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Eastern Florida Marina Directory Listing For Sunset Bay Marina and Moorings

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Sunset Bay Marina and Moorings

On Sunday, 10/23/11, we received the following message from Captain Wendy Childers:

We will be heading into the Okeechobee Waterway 10/23 or 24. Corps of Engineers told us the locks are opening now on demand, not a set schedule. Does anyone know if there are facilities in Moorehaven? Can you stay at the town dock and walk to a restaurant?
Wendy Childers

A telephone call today, 9/24/11 to the St. Lucie Lock reveals that Captain Childers info is correct. As of Saturday, 9/22/11, restrictive locking hours on the Okeechobee’s easternmost St. Lucie Lock, and westernmost, W. P. Franklin Lock, were cancelled, and all locks thus returned to normal, “on-demand” scheduling. The St. Lucie lockmaster did warn us that these lockage hours are subject to change, as Florida is now entering its “dry season.”
We’ll keep an eye out for you, and notify all of any changes. For the moment though, it’s smooth sailing from Stuart to Fort Myers, or the other way around!

Yes Wendy, we have docked overnight at Moorehaven City docks twice. I think there is a small fee, and there are places to eat within reasonable walking distance. Enjoy!
Bob Whitehurst

Wendy, there is a really good restaurant about 1/3 mile from the dock. They only serve breakfast and lunch from, as i remember, 6:00 to 2:00. We had some great fried chicken and good vegetables there in early 12/11. There was no sign out. Ask for directions where you pay for your dockage.
Ralph

Below, my “long lost cousin,” Captain Wendy Young and her partner, Captain Calvin Cornish, present the Net’s first detailed Okeechobee crossing report in several weeks. The detailed info here should prove to be VERY useful for ALL cruisers taking this useful passage for the next several months.

We crossed Okeechobee waterway westbound yesterday and today (10/12-13).
Port Mayaca lock opened both gates for us to pass through. Port Mayaca lockmaster warned us to stay to the green side of the channel exiting the lock into the lake. We found minimal depth at 5.3′ in this channel toward the green markers.
Depth was just at or under 6′ around Red 14 and sometimes closer to 5.5′ west from the center of the lake in the channel toward Clewiston with a southwest 10-19k wind. As usual when crossing Lake Okeechobee, we found it essential to stay in the middle of the channel by watching the markers behind as well as in front of us, as the channel is narrow with little margin for error. Our boat has 4′ draft and we did not touch bottom.
After exiting Moore Haven lock westbound, we found almost solid lettuce or hyacinth floating in the channel between the railroad bridge supports.
Calvin Cornish and Wendy Young
aboard “Blue Crab” 32′ Island Gypsy headed home to Punta Gorda FL

Glad to hear 4′ can now pass the Okeechobee route – I draw 4′ and hope to be crossing mid-February. Maybe all this snow will melt and add another foot or two of depth by then??
Peter TenHaagen

Now, here’s an astute questions. With an OPEN vertical clearance of 49 feet, did Captain Wendy do the “Okeechobee Limbo” to get through. For those who don’t know, this procedure involves lashing water jugs on one side of a sailcraft, and filling them with enough water to introduce an artificial list, such that their mast can pass under this pesky bridge! Quite a sight!

How do (did) you manage the Port Mayaca railroad bridge?
Mike Mcgee

Of course, if you are going to cruise the very useful Okeechobee Waterway between Florida’s eastern and western coastline, or the other way around, you must include a passage across Lake Okeechobee as part of that sojourn. Sometime, but less often than many captain’s inexperienced with these waters think, you can bypass rough conditions on Lake Okeechobee, by taking the so-called, “Rim Route.” HOWEVER, this passage is a bear in northerly winds, it is much shallower, and more subject to debris. So, most cruisers choose to take the “Lake Route,” also known as “Route #1,” from the Port Mayacca Lock to Clewiston (or, again, the other way around).
Captain Moore’s remarks below are, in my opinion, right on the money when it comes to crossing the great lake in foul weather. Better to stay in port until the weather turns fair, while pouring one more round of Mount Gay Rum, and playing a few more hands to bridge.

As to Lake Okeechobee being safe “because the waves cannot be higher than the depth of the water,” some of my most fearsome experiences sailing (50+ years) have been on the Big O. Because the lake is shallow and fresh, the waves are square and close together. Fresh water becomes airborne more easily in a storm than in salt water. Coming off a wave and having the bow of your boat bury in the next wave while still on the first can be very exciting. Watch the depth sounder when that happens and the 4′ wave you have just navigated sends you toward the VERY nearby bottom. The most severe lightning I have ever encountered has been on Lake O. In addition, suggesting the rim canal during a norther puts the lee shore just an engine hiccup away. Oh, and I came across this last May and encountered epic swarms of love bugs the entire way across. I have also spent many idyllic crossings under sail with fair winds and flat water.
Capt. Jeff Moore

Good morning to you too.
I’ve been sailing Florida’s West coast (grew up in Bradenton in the 50′s, taught school for 40 years up and down the coast) and have made the Lake O crossing more times than I can count in boats from 24′ to 70′. One thing I’ve never seen addressed is wind direction relative to the orientation of the lock. The only one where this is absolutely critical is the Port Myakka lock in a westerly. That lock is right at the edge of the lake with breakwaters extending into the lake and oriented a little south of west. In the winter, our cold fronts shift SW before they go north. In a sou’wester I have see 4′ rollers IN the lock when the doors open. Conversely, if you are in the lock heading into the lake, when they open the doors, you will think you are in a washing machine. The good news is that the lock masters are very helpful in analyzing the situation and will give you lots of info so as to what to expect, even to the point of suggesting waiting for a more favorable wind direction.
Capt. Jeff Moore

Here’s some really GOOD news for the cruising community. The short version is that the US Army Corps of Engineers, in a meeting which took place during the evening of 9/1/11, changed course, thankfully, and decided to indefinitely delay  previously scheduled maintenance work on the Moore Haven Lock. That’s a very good thing for cruisers, because when one lock on the OWW is closed, the entire Waterway is shut down.

Back on 8/11/11, we posted a message informing our readers that the Moore Haven Lock would be closed for maintenance from 9/19/11 to 11/14/11. We reproduced a copy of the official Army Corps of Engineers Notice notifying one and all of this impending closure, and I personally called and spoke with the Moore Haven lockmaster, further confirming the scheduled closure. A copy of the original (earlier) notice can be viewed at:
http://www.CruisersNet.net/okeechobee-waterway-to-be-closed-91911-to-111411

As part of this closure notice, we opined that this was a very strange time of the year to be closing the Okeechobee Waterway for maintenance work. Even the Moore Have Lockmaster told this writer, “I have no idea why they’ve waited so long to do this work.”

Well, since that time, marine related businesses in both Stuart and Fort Myers have been making noise about the timing of this closure. SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR Fort Myers Yacht Basin copied the Cruisers’ Net on their protest.

Well, apparently those protests did not fall on deaf ears. As alluded to above, the Army Corps of Engineers, in a meeting conducted 9/1/11, decided to indefinitely postpone the proposed maintenance work on the Moore Haven Lock!

Hooray, happy days are here again. Now the cruising community can make use of this useful route for cruising from Florida’s eastern to western coastline (or the other way around), without man-made impediment.

Notice that I said “man-made impediment.” That because below average rainfall has seriously lowered water levels on Lake Okeechobee, particularly on the approach channel (westbound) to Clewiston. Recent rains have improved depths somewhat, but the route is still shallower than normal. We’ll keep the cruising community up to date on the Okeechobee Waterway depth situation as the fall cruising season progresses. For now though, the announced change in the maintenance schedule is very GOOD NEWS for the cruising community.

A copy of the official Army Corps of Engineers Notice announcing the lock maintenance delay can be viewed at:
http://tinyurl.com/442phbk

For as far as the eye can see the St. Lucie Canal is literally inundated with water lilly just east of the St. Lucie lock. Where did these planters come from?
Bruce Hansbrough

We have no explanation for why a USACOE Park Ranger is issuing tickets to boats anchored on the Caloosahatchee River portion of the Okeechobee Waterway, but it’s a safe bet it has something to do with the low water levels on Lake Okeechobee. Perhaps the Corps is simply trying to keep as many boats as possible off the OWW during these times of historic low water.

Ted
Time to get the bloggers going. A USACOE park ranger from the Franklin Locks is writing $100.00 fine United States District Court Violation Notices to boaters on the Caloosahatchee. If you don’t pay, you get a federal warrant sworn out for your arrest.
Apparently the Park Ranger can write these boating tickets based on the 1948 Flood Control Act, Central and South Florida Project, that governs the Caloosahatchee, Lake O and the St. Lucie Canal.
I asked the attorney from the Jacksonville Office why a park ranger from the Franklin Locks is writing tickets on the River now when there hadn’t seemed to be any in the past. Of course the attorney didn’t know anything about it….. (they don’t seem to know much up there..)
Chilling effect on local businesses along the River?
Best regards,
Jody Foster

The tickets are being written to those anchored off (or Mediterranean moored to) the LaBelle City Dock. At least one arrest warrant has already been issued.
W.E. “Ted” Guy, Jr.
Stuart, FL

I’ve also heard an ACOE ranger is writing tickets by the Indiantown Marina.
Jody Foster

Here’s a update from Captain Foster, as of 7/8/11:

Thanks for your continued interest. I’m very concerned that an Army Corp park ranger is cruising up and down the Caloosahatchee writing tickets that may or may not be legitimate even under the federal statute. Of course the big problem is the expense of fighting the ticket in federal court in Fort Myers rather than paying the $100.00 fine. The only response I got from the Army Corp is they have authority to write them under Title 36. And of course getting any response from the Army Corp took about 10 phone calls on my part. Good to know our federal tax dollars are being put to such good use….
Neither the Hendry County sheriff nor FWC were aware of these tickets. If I hear any more I’ll let you know.
Best regards,
Jody Foster

Assuming the boaters were doing nothing illegal, I would suggest they immediately contact the larger local newspapers and television stations with their story.
John Kettlewell

Didn’t the word get out? Everything is illegal.
Richard Glenn

Did not see anything in the title that shows anchoring as a violation, maybe it’s hidden somewhere else or would someone post the details on the actual ticket…
SUMMARY: Section 4 of this Act authorizes the Corps, under the supervision of the Secretary of the Army, to construct, maintain and operate public park and recreational facilities at water resources development projects (16 U.S.C. 460(d)). Local interests are also permitted to construct, operate and maintain such facilities with permission from the Secretary of the Army. Water areas of all such projects shall be open to public use generally, for boating, swimming, bathing, fishing, and other recreational purposes, and ready access to and exit from such water areas along the shores of such reservoirs shall be maintained for general public use, when such use is not found to be contrary to the public interest. The lease of public lands and structures at water projects is also authorized. Recreational uses must be consistent with State laws for the protection of fish and game. All persons designated by the Chief of Engineers for enforcement shall have the authority to issue a citation for violation of the regulations adopted by the Secretary of the Army. Amendments to this Act extend the development of recreation to non-reservoir projects.
Dennis McMurtry

The intersection of the AICW, St Lucie River/Okeechobee Waterway, and St. Lucie Inlet, just east of Stuart, Florida, is known locally as “the crossroads.” Shoaling is ALWAYS a problem here, but from Skipper Tom’s report below, it looks as if the the sands are really filling in fast just inside the mouth of the St. Lucie River. Of course, this stream also acts as the easterly genesis for the Okeechobee Waterway, and a ready route to the marina facilities in nearby Manatee Pocket and Stuart.
Having studied Skipper Tom’s remarks and chart 11472, it appears that, at least for the moment, the worst of the shoaling is not affecting the AICW channel, but that could change FAST! And, it is most certainly affecting the Okeechobee Waterway and passage to Manatee Pocket and Stuart!
Please let us hear from you if you have navigated through the southeastern mouth of the St.Lucie lately. Just click the “Comment on This Posting/Marina/Anchorage/Bridge” link below, and share your information with the cruising community.
We are designating a “Navigation Alert” on southeastern St. Lucie River as a result of this posting!

LOCAL NOTICE TO MARINERS: Week 25/11
All mariners are advised to use extreme caution when transiting in the vicinity of St. Lucie River (South Fork) area between St. Lucie River South Fork Daybeacon 29 (LLNR 51085) and St. Lucie River South Fork Buoy 30 (LLNR 51090). Due to Shoaling the channel has been narrowed by approximately 30 yards. Best water is near the green side of the channel. Chart 11428

The St. Lucie River has badly shoaled at the entrance, it is now 6′ MLW, only 4 months ago it was 8′ and it was 10′ about 8 months ago. I was in the center of the channel between R2-R4, at this rate you’ll be able to get out and walk by next fall.
Skipper Tom

I went through there today 6/8 at 9am so you can determine the tide. i had depth of 5.7ft and 5.8ft and was aware of the shoaling issue here but thought it was fixed. I guess with the combination of current and loose sand in the area its hard to keep that area deep enough. Just take it slow like a pro.
Cheers, Brad Lukens

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at the Southeastern Mouth of the St. Lucie River/Okeechobee Waterway

Captains Chuck Baier and Susan Landry, formerly general manager and editor of “Waterway Guide,” respectively, continue to provide the Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net with superb data as they cruise to their new home in Fort Myers, Florida. Sounds like they are almost home.
In the extract below, Chuck and Susan give a very complete picture of what cruises can expect in the way of depths, lock operations and some thoughts on good places to moor while cruising the Okeechobee Waterway in early summer, 2011!

Claiborne,
Wanted to give you a report on our crossing of the lake Okeechobee Waterway. We crossed via Route 1 across the lake and except for a couple of spots, found much more water than we expected. Both the St. Lucie and Franklin Locks are on twice a day schedules at this time, 9 AM and 4 PM. The Port Mayaca Locked opened for us and we motored through without tieing to the lock walls. Once outside the Port Mayaca lock you must stay on the green side for the deeper water. We found 5.1 feet just as we exited the lock and then it quickly went to 6 1/2, then 7 feet. The Lake itself was 8 to 10 feet all the way across. That is until we reached the other side of the route across the Lake. Just before marker green “1,” and between there and red “4,” we found some depths to be 5.9 feet and then 6.4 feet. Past red “4,” the depths went back to 7 1/2 feet and 8 feet. We did feel the boat bump something under the keel at statute mile 60, even though the depth sounder showed 6 1/2 feet. Another mystery. Oncwe crossed the Lake and entered the Rim Route, the depths for the most part were 13 to 17 feet. We did find a few 9 1/2 foot spots at a couple of turns, but they were brief. At 2:50 PM, we approached the Moore Haven Lock and once again, the lock opened and we were able to motor directly through. The lock tender joked as we passed him that he opened just for us. Once through the lock, we motored into the town of Moore Haven and tied up at the City Dock. This appears to be a new dock in excellent condition, with heavy fenders on the pilings and power posts with water hook-ups. City Hall is across the street and we walked over to pay the dockage. The cost was only $1.00 per foot including water, electric, heads and showers. Such a deal.
Chuck

FYI, the St. Lucie River has badly shoaled at the entrance, it is now 6′ MLW, only 4 months ago it was 8′ and it was 10′ about 8 months ago. I was in the center of the channel between R2-R4, at this rate you’ll be able to get out and walk by next fall.
Skipper Tom

We just posted a slide show, on our Beach House site, of photos from our transit across the Okeechobee Waterway for anyone interested. There are also a couple of posts detailing the transit. The current Lake Stage is at 9.89 feet and route one navigational depths are 3.83 feet. I suspect that further restrictions on the locks are coming soon. The Moore Haven Lock will be closed intermittently for one week from June 18 to 24, subject to change.
Chuck
Cruises and Projects On Board Our Trawler.
http://trawler-beach-house.blogspot.com/
Our Previous Sailing Adventures And A Lot More.
http://sea-trek.blogspot.com/

Well, it’s not like we didn’t know it was coming, but here it is. For those not familiar with the locks on the Okeechobee, St. Lucie is the easternmost and W. P. Franklin the westernmost of the five locks on the OWW. So, as these locks two are now only operating twice a day, it pretty much affects the entire passage.

Claiborne
As of today, 5/20/11, the local press here in Stuart is reporting that the Lake Stage [on Lake Okeechobee] has now dropped to 10.48 feet, and, as planned, the St. Lucie Lock and the W. P. Franklin Lock will not open only twice a day, at 9:00 am and 4:00 pm. This will change if the level on Lake Okeechobee rises, but, so far, no sign of that happening.
Skipper Fowler