Photo Guide to Crossing Lake Okeechobee Florida by Boat

This posting reviews the crossing of Lake Okeechobee by boat complete with photos and videos aboard a beautiful 1995, 42 foot Grand Banks Classic trawler.

And as always, I offer after-the-sale services to customers to assist them in learning about their boats, navigating and much more.

This customer Philippe and his wife Bridgett are from Normandy France. They had some boating knowledge from their lives in France but had little understanding of US boating legalities, practices and customs here in the States.

In this posting, I'm going to guide you through our trip together across Lake Okeechobee.

12/8/2008

I arrived at the Treasure Island Yacht Club just south of Clearwater Florida today. The owner moved the boat there for final delivery. As Philippe and his wife were running a little late, I proceeded to check the vessel out to make sure everything was as it should have been. And it was; her previous owner had taken real good care of her.

Move your mouse over the photo and you'll get another view of her.

Her new owners appeared just before 11 and were anxious to get aboard. After some visual looking around, we set out to get some lunch and provisions.

One shopping cart load at West Marine, 2 carts full at Walmart and 2 at a local grocery store; we were set. After all, the new owners had to have all the basics.

Oh, I spent much time in the grocery store and Walmart explaining new things to them such as plantains, pomegranates, and papaya.

We did not return to the boat until after dark. It took 6 trips to the car to get all of the provisions aboard.

Tomorrow we will start our journey down the west coast of Florida and cross Lake Okeechobee. The lake crossing was preferred as this s the high season in south Florida and dockage could be an issue in the Florida Keys.

Move you mouse over the photo to see our route.

A toast of champagne to celebrate their new boat and we were off to bed.

12/9/2008

We were all up reasonably early, and had a quick breakfast.

Before we could get underway, I wanted to make sure Philippe understood everything he needed to know about the mechanicals on his new boat.

We proceeded down below where I found and explained how to check and clean the strainers, where to check engine and transmission oil levels, and coolant levels etc. We examined and discussed the air conditioning condensers, the fuel system, Racor fuel filter replacement, bilge pump floats and much more.

So 2.5 hours later, at 10:30, we were set to get underway.

We left the dock and proceeded towards the Intracoastal Waterway with Philippe at the wheel. The weather was clear but a little cool in the low 70s.

My first task was to orient Philippe to the ICW (Intracoastal Waterway) and its markings. Philippe explained that in France there is no such waterway and markers are few; they largely boat on large open waters.

After Philippe got the hang of "reading" the waterway, I gave Bridgett some instruction on reading the paper charts. Electronic charts are good but they should never take the place of paper charts!

We made good time taking the Sunshine Channel shortcut on the west side of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in St. Petersburg, taking about 6 miles off our trip.

There was good water beneath us for the time being. But the waters on Florida's west coast are shallow outside of the channels and caution must be taken to stay within the markings.

Low bridges are common on the west coast so I demonstrated how to hail the bridge-tender on channel 9 and ask for an opening or sometimes be told to stand by.

Normally bridge -tenders are very polite but occasionally you get a bad apple. I had to bite my tongue one time at the Stickney Point bridge north of Venice; the tender would not answer the radio.

First night's layover was at the Crow's Nest marina in Venice, Florida. Philippe got more good experience with his docking here; practice makes perfect.

Mouse over photo to see different photo

60 miles today, 6 hours averaging 10 knots

12/10/2008

Up early in Venice today. After showing Philippe how to perform a pumpout, we got underway a little after 8AM.

The weather is 78 degrees and clear, winds 5-10 out of the south.

The waterway continues to maintain its depths. I recommend having a Dozier's Waterway Guide with you, available at most marine stores and marinas. The guide will give you much information about the route, area and facilities that will be in your planned cruising areas.

Toady we further reviewed navigation, chart reading, VHF procedures and channels, reading the waters, and engine fuel efficiencies. Bridgett ran the boat today too.

The trip today was almost free of bridge delays, most accommodating us.

Few big boats out on the water; we passed only 6 the entire trip.

Always remember, you are responsible for your wake! If your wake hurts someone, you are responsible.

Arrived Fort. Myers at 4:40 PM, 8 hour day.

One of the most fascinating parts of the trip was seeing both Bridgett and Philippe watching the dolphins that rode our wake between Venice and Ft. Myers. A few of them rode the bow wake but most preferred the stern wake it being 4-5 feet high at times. Philippe explained that there were few of these to be seen in their Mediterranean waters.

As I watched from the bridge, I could spot them hundreds of yards from us racing towards the boat. I counted 12 in one pod riding the waves, and one was very small about 2 feet long. Yes, the scenes on the movie Titanic were realistic; it does happen. Having dolphins ride your wake is reported to be good luck.

12/11/2008

Awoke at 6:30 to get ship ready to depart; heavy weather forecast with 40-50 knot winds and heavy rains; we had the rain but little wind.

Departed Ft. Myers at 8 AM under cloudy skies and falling barometer.

The Okeechobee Waterway from Ft. Myers to Stuart on the east coast is marked like the ICW as necessary but for the most part no markers are needed, just keep in the center.

There are plenty of stops for layovers along the way but the 65 mile trip from Ft. Myers to Clewiston is easily manageable in one day.

The Waterway narrows substantially as you proceed towards Lake Okeechobee.

We spotted a Bald Eagle but the weather was so bad I could not get a photo of it.

Lake Okeechobee was built in the 1930s to accommodate commercial maritime traffic; today little if any commercial traffic uses the route. But the locks used to move boats 16 feet above sea level and back down on the other side still work flawlessly.

There are 3 locks on the west side of the Lake, 2 on the east side.

To negotiate the locks, approach and contact the Lockmaster on VHF channel 13 and advise him of your traveling direction and size of boat. He will respond with his schedule and the side of the lock he wishes for you to locate. Red and green lights notify you to stop or proceed into the lock.

Once inside of the lock, lines will be dropped down to you for you to hold your boat steady. This is at least a two person job; don't attempt to cross the lake single handedly.

The doors will close behind you and open in front of you allowing water to enter the lock. You will feel some turbulence as the water enters but a tight grasp will hold you in place.

Keep your engines running so you can depart once the gates are open on the other side.

The mid point for the Lake trip is Clewiston. Here another small lock awaits you, but it's only used to gain access to Clewiston itself. If you choose not to stop, it will not impede your travels. Call ahead to see if the lock is open.

Clewiston is the home to Roland Martins fishing resort that boasts the world record large mouth bass; yes, a mount of it hangs on the wall inside the office.

The lock was open the day of our arrival.

A good rustic tiki bar and restaurant awaits you here. Fuel, dockage and basic goods are also available.

From Ft. Myers, 65 miles, 7 hours; it rained hard most of the day and we were soaked.

12/12/2008

Leaving Clewiston you will pass back out of the lock then head into a marked channel for several miles; be certain to follow the markers closely as it is very shallow on both sides.

The channel markers are well marked so if you stay with your charts, you'll be fine.

Be cautious of your wake; although we had no issues today, small bass boats dart all around. A large wake like the one produced by this Grand Banks trawler could easily hurt someone.

The cruising guide mentions the wreck near the east bank at the Port Mayaca Lock and yes, it is there. You can see it above water. Be careful!

On another note, the two stacks on the horizon in the photo are seldom mentioned in any cruising guides but if you line them up on your bow or stern, it will take you to your midpoint reference buoy on the midpoint on the Lake.

Leaving Lock Mayaca to the east, we now passed the railroad bridge that is responsible for preventing high-masted sailboats from making the passage; 49 feet.

Although difficult to see, a sailboat is in position in the photo taking on water in barrels on its port side to "list' the boat enough to get under the bridge.