Okeechobee water trip

I'm thinking of making this trip starting in Ft. Pierce and spending some time in Ft. Myers area. Has anyone made this trip? Anything in particular to look out for? Any suggestions on what to do once we are over by Captiva?

We love South Seas resort. Cabbage key is a short ride up the ditch. Very nice area, we are going there in March.

Great, thanks. We are excited to take the trip. We might be making it in March as well.

I asked about a month ago for feedback about his crossing. I did get consistent feedback that you need to really stay in the channel or it gets shallow. We never did make the crossing but I really wanted too. Enjoy.


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Thanks for reply. Was it on this forum? Would like to see thread.

Current plans are to cross over first weekend in March, will post what I see.

Weekender the tread was titled St. Pete to NC.


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Great, thank you!

This was a good thread to run across. I bought a boat in the Tampa area and I'm bringing it to FT Lauderdale this weekend. Horrible forecast for the Keys so I'm coming through the water way. New boat and new route. I'd do 1 but not both so I'm using a captain that runs the Okeechobee water way all the time and he's run it in the same boat as mine 12 times.

Should be an interesting trip.

Everyone will be passing my house , let know when your going though and I'll run out a beer

Did you make the trip? If so how was it?

I like beer!!

Made the trip both ways in early March.

First trip we had gone up to Stuart to visit some friends for a couple of days. Left on a Sunday morning out of Sunset Marina in Florida at around 7:20 headed west.

I have the specific times of all the locks, just not next to me as I am typing this. A very wise captain had advised me that if we were going west, and we passed Roland Martins at the bottom of the lake by 2:00pm we would easily make the rest of the locks before they closed. We passed Roland Martins a few minutes before noon and made it to the city marina in Fort Meyers around 5:30 that afternoon.

The biggest slow down was in the Calahoochie river after we had left the last lock. Sunday afternoon with wonderful weather, the river was full of kyaks, pontoon boats, and everything that someone could float on - so very slow going.

Original plans had been to drop down to Naples, Marco, then go to the Keys, around to the south going back home. When we were there weather did not look pleasant on the leg from the keys back to home marina in North Miami. We had some items that had that home up, we could not linger and wait for weather - we had to get back. So returning we decided to cross the lake again since it provided us a path home relatively isolated from weather.

We left South Seas resort (north Captiva Island) around 9 AM. Stopped at Fort Meyers City marina for fuel around 12, then started east arriving at Roland Martins around 5ish.

Next morning was to Palm Beach, next day home.

From Stuart south we stayed in the ICW. Winds were bad outside.

That was the slowest part of the journey, Stuart to N Miami in the ditch. Will avoid that whenever I can. It was nice to be able to keep moving with bad seas outside, but wow, that was slow.

Overall crossing the lake is fun. Very well marked, good water all the way across. Worst water was at the intersection of the Okeechobee waterway and the ICW, just inside the Stuart inlet.
The Roland Martin's place is about halfway - not sure I would call it a resort - but a very hospitable place to stop over night. Great people.

I did see announcements along the way that the locks are closing at 5:00PM starting April 1st. Not sure if that is an every year schedule or new this year.

You will see every type of bridge that I had ever heard of. Bascule, Swing, Draw, and Cantilever. Saw 2 Aligators.

Mark

Wow, sounds like you had a blast.We really cant wait to take the trip. I am laid up with back surgery for a little bit. Thanks for the details of your trip. How was Captiva Island?

We love the area, south seas resort, and the west coast of FL.

Had been to south seas before. This trip took the dinghy up to cabbage key one day. Another day went out redfish pass, hung out on the sand bars.

That sounds awesome. Thanks for the feed back. Now I cant wait.