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A Boat Trip Across the Okeechobee Waterway 2012 MacGregor 26M 1
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The Okeechobee Waterway 2 Rt 1: 154 sm Rt 2: 165 sm Source: USACE Digital Visual Library
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1928 Okeechobee Hurricane -- 2 nd deadliest in U.S. history: 2,500 killed in FL Result today: 30’ Hoover Dike surrounds the lake 145 mph winds at West Palm Beach landfall Eye passed over Lake Okeechobee Flooding to 20’ on south then north shores NOAA.gov taylorengineering.comhistoricpalmbeach.blog South shore 3
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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 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 2012 MacGregor 26M www.macgregor26.com
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Seen Along the Way 5 104-ft Trumpy wood motor yacht Freedom Built 1926. Refurbished for $6 million Near-sister ship of former presidential yacht Sequoia
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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
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7 Locks in Action Ortona Moore Haven St. Lucie--12.5 ft this day
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Okeechobee Waterway Bridges 8 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 Source: Hendry County Engineer 9
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Where We Stayed 9 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 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
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10 Port LaBelle Marina and Inn There are now a lot more slips than this shows -- and alligators…. Inn Gas dock Large Marina Sign Source: https://marinas.com
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Our End-Point 11 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. 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 Source: Martin County Parks & Rec
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Questions? 12 billsueeckert@aol.com
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Along the Modern Lewis & Clark Trail -- August 2014 Article at: www.usafa68.org/Bulletins/bu28.htm 13 Onawa, IA St. Louis Kansas City, MO Amelia Earhart Home Atchison, KS
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