An Okeechobee Waterway Crossing by Greg Allard
Once again, Greg Allard has blessed us with his descriptive narrative and beautiful photography as he and wife Barbara crossed Lake Okeechobee on April 27th. For more of Greg’s work, type Allard Letters in the Search Window of our Homepage. Thank you so very much Greg and Barbara!
We crossed the Okeechobee Waterway from east to west, departing on April 27, 2021. The Route 1 Lake Level was at 14.07’ which means that the Navigation Route 1 level (directly across the lake) was just over 8’. Our boat has a 5’ draft. The depth report from the Corp of Engineers was accurate, as we never had less than 3′ under the keel.
Currently (as of the report on May 5, 2021) the level is at 13.88’, or 7.82’ for Nav Route 1.
We used the Aqua Maps charts with the US Army Corp of Engineers depth shadings. The shallowest part of the crossing is generally in the Clewiston cut, in the SW corner of the lake. If you carefully adhere to channels, and do not stray or drift out of them, you will maintain the reported depths under your boat. Don’t let the wind push you sideways between the aids to navigation – the outside edges of the Clewiston channel are unforgiving rock. The lake level can change, so be sure to check the current depths on the Corp of Engineers site before your crossing: https://w3.saj.usace.army.mil/h2o/currentLL.shtml
We saw minimal evidence of algae: in the St. Lucie section, there was only one area with very small patches of green algae along one short stretch along the edge of the canal, on the south side.
In the Port Myacca lock (which was a mere 6” lift into the lake), there was light green line at the upper edge of the 6” water mark, along the north lock wall, but no evidence of algae in the lock. We saw no other algae on the entire Okeechobee Waterway. One boater did report that his sea chest had some showing of green color but it had not affected anything.
RIVER HOUSE MARINA: In 2021 we have stayed twice at the newly refurbished docks in Moore Haven at the River House, which is immediately west of the Moore Haven city dock. The location is a perfect layover stop for cruising boats – almost equidistant from the west and east coasts. For years we had stayed at the city docks ($1 a foot, with electric and water). But the River House now offers so much more, for the same price: $1 a foot includes free WiFi, (which is decent, but the owner intends to improve it), 30A & 50A electric and water, a swimming pool, bathrooms and showers, security gates onto the docks, and most importantly, they accept reservations through Dockwa. This is a huge benefit: if you have used the Okeechobee Waterway and wondered if you would find a place at the city docks when you arrived there in the afternoon, having a reservation at River House eliminates that concern.
The docks at River House have been completely refurbished. There are two fixed docks. The easterly dock is good for 40’+ boats, with drafts about 5’ or so; the westerly dock is for larger boats, and will hold three 60’ boats. The water depth there is 10’ plus. One small concern is that the new pilings on the westerly dock are low, so if your boat has a flared bow, you need to be certain that your stern is first brought against the well-cushioned pilings, to prevent the bow from going up against the tops of the pilings. The attentive owner of River House, Bob Holden, understands this issue, and is always on-hand to assist in docking. Again, you can make reservations through Dockwa, or call Bob Holden directly at 863-946-0466 to discuss your needs.
We have used the Okeechobee Waterway dozens of time, and it never disappoints us. It is always interesting – a step back in time to old Florida. Don’t worry about the locks; once you learn the basics of using them it becomes routine. Just tell the lockmaster if this is your first trip – they are very helpful. The Waterway also allows you to travel in conditions which would be prohibitive in the Gulf or through the Keys, and it saves time and fuel.
Some highlights of this trip:
A fiery sunrise on the Caloosahatchee portion of the Waterway.
After an early morning lock-through at Moore Haven. (photo by Ellen Pope).
Often there are cows, and sometimes horses, by water’s edge.
A small alligator “blocks” our exit from a lock. Manatees often go through the locks. One dockmaster told us that manatees hated the sound of a bow thruster, so giving it a short burst or two is a good way to safely move them along, out our your path. It works.
The affable bridge keeper at Fort Denaud. The day before this picture was taken, she had a lot of fun, when someone drove through the road gate, which was in the down position. The gate crashed through his windshield. The driver was not injured. He didn’t speak any English, so the dockmaster managed to have him call a friend who could translate. The translator said that the driver was texting. The bridge was closed for several hours.
The Okeechobee Waterway is always full of surprises. Along the western stretch, on April 29, 2021, we came upon this American bald eagle, peering down into the water.
He immediately threw himself into the river, and came out with a rather large fish, which is in his talons (not visible in the photo). He then flew off, with the fish in tow, to eat somewhere in peace.
Some people have told us they would never use the Okeechobee Waterway; they are missing a lot.
Greg Allard
M/V Meander
Text and Photos copyright by Greg Allard, 2021
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