Caloosahatchee River Trip

[Morpheus]

Ok when I took at MM Charting class the captain teaching the class talked about going through the state from the gulf to the atlantic.

So next weekend we will be trailering the boat down to Punta Gorda and I just realized how close we will be to the Caloosahatchee River and thought about making a trip to Lake Okeechobee and back.

I called my sales guy (he as the same boat as me) and asked him about it and he said he's done the trip many times. From Ft. Myers to the atlantic he said takes all day leaving at 7:30am and that our boat can pretty much make it all the way across on 1 tank of gas.

He said there are places along the way to get gas as well and specificly mentioned at the first lock from the gulf side at WP Franklin Lock.

Anyone here done this trip? It looks like about 20miles from Punta Gorda Isles where we will be at to the Caloosahatchee River and then I'm not sure how long it will take to get into the lake and back.

I'm looking for distance estimates and gas estimates and any tips or advice for making the trip and of course can it be done in a day I'd rather not boat at night yet.

 

[ylwjacket]

http://www.byowneryachts.com/forums/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=376

at the end of this thread is also a link to another one.

there are lots of folks here that have made that trip.

 

[Morpheus]

GOSH! That last thread Palm Beach to PC in 4 days sounds awsome.

Time to save for that upgrade now!

The only questions I have is how do you find those places with gas and food and places to stay? They mentioned calling them? How via cell or VHF and how do you contact them.

 

[chuck1]

My mapsource Blue Chart has marinas on it. Also do a Google search, cruise books, some times Google earth. Will also post a message on some of the other boards to see if anybody has done the river I'm thinking about going on. Another link it
http://www.cruisersnet.net/index.php?categoryid=37
Its the Salty Southeast Cruiser Net.

 

[Morpheus]

Thanks chuck1.

I actually started looking at all the maps I've bought and what do you know I have a marine map of the whole thing and then in the 2007 Southern Waterway Guide that I got for Christmas it has everything I need to know.

Looks about 70 miles from the beginning of the river on the gulf side to the lake.

Then atleast another 20 miles to Punta Gorda from the river so looks like a doable trip with atleast 1-2 gas stops.

Thanks for the help guys. I'm pretty excited about going ugg to have to wait a week and a half now.

 

[chuck1]

Make sure you check out the link. It was saying that the lake is way down and they are only opening the locks a couple times a day.

 

[Morpheus]

oh dang thanks for pointing that out, sounds like it might be a shorter trip that sucks dang it. Maybe we will get alot of rain between now and next weekend and it will change thanks though now I know to check on it before we go.

 

[Morpheus]

Chris,

You are correct that the W.P. Franklin and St. Lucie Locks will be locking
vessels just two times a day when you had planned to transit the OWW.

Also, the draft clearance of the waterway is very low at this time currently:

++Navigation Depths (Based on 2001 Channel Condition Survey)
Route 1 = 3.32'
Route 2 = 0.72'


If your vessel drafts any where near 3 feet or more, I would not recommend
you making the journey at this time.

So, the OWW is not under the best of circumstances to facilitate your planned
trip and it will take many months of average or above average rainfall to
correct the situation.

Thanks
Mark D. Abshire
Supervisory Facility Management Specialist

Looks like my trip is out going to the lake. Maybe after the rainy season we will try it or go all the way across and spend the night and come back.

Good info though and very responsive to questions (responded in like 2 minutes of me emailing them)

I think we will still take a trip to the first lock and then head back just to check it out.

Here are two good links for people who have never done the trip:
http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/conops/structures/LT pdf4.pdf
http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/sfoo/images/maps/owwmap/owwmap.pdf

 

[chazaroo]

Wow we were thinking about doing that trip in reverse (Atlantic to Gulf) next month. Looks like we need an alternate plan... Mmmm Key Largo?

Chazaroo

 

[STIHLBOLTS]

Till we get some rain in south Georgia and North Central Florida, all the water tables will be low. :smt089

 

[BSenzina]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DONT TRY THE LAKE ! ! It is teribbly low. The rim canal is rough even in the channels and the open lake is a nightmare....Even in the channels there are rocks all around....especially in front of Port Myaca locks....People are doing bad damage to engines trying it. And there is no SeaTow or TowboatUS out there.....last i heard ther were 2 services out there...1 out of Clewiston at Roland Martins, and 1 ot of Pahokee Marine...unless things have changed, you pay them and recoup with your tow service. I canceled my April trip, and i guess its out til next year now.