Captain Chet's observations and reported depths below are very different from what others are reporting here on the Cruisers' Net. Maybe he just found all the deep spots. I would still caution everyone to proceed very carefully, PARTICULARLY on the Rim Route!

Subject: Okeechobee Waterway
Cruising News: On Mon. Apr. 20 I left Port Charlotte, FL leading 5 boats to the lake and back.  We spent the night of Apr. 21 at Roland Martin's Marina in Clewiston.  On Apr. 22 we took Route 2, "The Rim Route" to Pahokee and spent the night at Loggerhead Marina.  The lowest depth I saw on my depth gage was 7 feet and that was about 1 mile east of Slim\'s Fish Camp / Torry Island Bridge.  The bigest boat in our group was a 34\' Sea Ray and they had no problems.  On Apr. 23, we left Loggerhead and proceeded directly westward to Route 1 marker green 7, thence to Clewiston.  Never saw less than 7' crossing the lake. 
Strongly recommend the "Rim Route" as the scenery is great and the water is deep.
Chet Parham