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02-11-2019, 04:31 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
City: New Orleans
Vessel Name: Stella
Vessel Model: Seaton 56
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 272
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Lake Okeechobee?
We are closing in on Ft Meyers and have to choose Lake O or go around the Keys. Would like to cross the Lake and stay a while in Stuart before the Bahamas. The lake has been fairly steady at 6.7’, with some rain in the forecast. We draw 5.7’ so would need a calm day.
Any experiences/advice? Thanks.
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02-11-2019, 05:53 PM
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#2
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Guru
City: Cape May, NJ
Vessel Name: Irish Lady
Vessel Model: Monk 36
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,966
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If you hit bottom do you just bump the keel or mangle props?
Does your draft measurement include warm, fresh water which is less dense than salt?
__________________
Archie
Irish Lady
1984 Monk 36 Hull #46
Currently in Cape May, NJ
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02-11-2019, 06:28 PM
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#3
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Guru
City: North Carolina for now
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,348
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You'd be missing a lot of very nice cruising grounds if you skipped the Keys, 10,000 Islands etc. . They also make a nice segue into island life. I take it you have some compelling personal reasons for needing to be in Stuart for awhile. ? And yes at 6.7 you'll be puckering as you cross the lake, though my guess is that a Seaton will have protected running gear, so nothing really bad can happen.
__________________
George
"There's the Right Way, the Wrong Way, and what some guy says he's gotten away with"
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02-12-2019, 03:15 AM
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#4
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Guru
City: Edgewater, MD
Vessel Name: Catalina Jack
Vessel Model: Defever 44
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,585
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Quote:
Originally Posted by caltexflanc
You'd be missing a lot of very nice cruising grounds if you skipped the Keys, 10,000 Islands etc. . They also make a nice segue into island life. I take it you have some compelling personal reasons for needing to be in Stuart for awhile. ? And yes at 6.7 you'll be puckering as you cross the lake, though my guess is that a Seaton will have protected running gear, so nothing really bad can happen.
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It is not the entire lake that is problematic, just the four miles or so in the channel going east from Clewiston. We transited five days ago when the lake had a minimum depth of 6.6 feet. We draft five feet. No touches. Once clear of the channel one can relax the rest of the way. Yes, some nice cruising will be missed by not going around the Keys. We had no desire to do so. If you do go across the lake, keep yours eyes peeled for the Honey Fitz, the former presidential yacht used by Truman through Nixon. It is named after JFK's grandfather. You will pass by her on the St. Lucie Canal about 20 miles west of Stuart. By the way, except for the boredom of the 28 miles crossing the lake itself, the trip is quite pleasant. Be sure to spend a night at Roland Martin Marina in Clewiston. Great tiki bar there. Courtesy car also.
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02-12-2019, 06:40 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
City: New Orleans
Vessel Name: Stella
Vessel Model: Seaton 56
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 272
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Thanks for the replies and information.
We measured draft from the waterline when on the hard at 5'10" and are now riding 4" below waterline in salt water. Stella has a full keel with props/rudder protection above bottom of keel.
We purchased the boat in Stuart and spent a month on maintenance, including a few weeks at Whiticar's South Yard. Highly recommend. We enjoyed the area and made some friends. Still need to do a few jobs before the Bahamas and Stuart has all the parts.
Also thinking of showing up, informally, at the Ft. Pierce get together later this month.
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04-06-2019, 07:41 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
City: East Coast
Vessel Name: Inspiration
Vessel Model: 420DB
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 232
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I'm looking at the latest report from WWG:
FL: Lake Okeechobee Lake Stage and Marine Weather Forecast
Date Reported: Apr 6, 2019
Reporter: Ted Stehle
Source: USACE Jacksonville
Description:
Today's Lake Okeechobee Stage = 11.81 (Feet-NGVD29)
Today's Route 1 Navigational Depth 5.75 Feet
Today's Route 2 Navigational Depth 3.95 Feet
I've read somewhere that the only shallow area is to be concerned about is between R2 and G19, just east of Clewiston. Is this an accurate observation or are there more low spots I need to be concerned about?
I draw 4'.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NYM...ew?usp=sharing
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04-06-2019, 11:16 PM
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#7
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Guru
City: Fort Myers, FL... Summers in the Great Lakes
Vessel Name: Slow Hand
Vessel Model: Cherubini Independence 45
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,834
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I draw 4.5' and did the straight across route today. Watched the death gauges carefully and saw less than 8' bot not less than 7'. I'm guessing there is a 1' safety buffer between actual and advertised depth. Depth alarms are set at 7' and never went off.
Ted
__________________
Blog: mvslowhand.com
I'm tired of fast moves, I've got a slow groove, on my mind.....
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"Slow Hand" by The Pointer Sisters
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04-07-2019, 06:28 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
City: Buffalo
Vessel Name: Almost Perfect
Vessel Model: Kadey-Krogen 48
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 232
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex F
I'm looking at the latest report from WWG:
I've read somewhere that the only shallow area is to be concerned about is between R2 and G19, just east of Clewiston. Is this an accurate observation or are there more low spots I need to be concerned about?
I draw 4'.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NYM...ew?usp=sharing
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It is also shallow near G1 east of Clewiston. There is a second shallow spot, same depth, just west of Port Mayaca lock. Ted is correct. The depths are slightly more than what is reported.
We have crossed the lake many times, and have always enjoyed the trip. We can recommend an overnight stop at Moorehaven town dock, buck a foot includes electricity.
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04-15-2019, 09:14 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
City: East Coast
Vessel Name: Inspiration
Vessel Model: 420DB
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 232
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rossland
It is also shallow near G1 east of Clewiston. There is a second shallow spot, same depth, just west of Port Mayaca lock. Ted is correct. The depths are slightly more than what is reported.
We have crossed the lake many times, and have always enjoyed the trip. We can recommend an overnight stop at Moorehaven town dock, buck a foot includes electricity.
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Thanks for the tip on G1. I added a waypoint on my chart and see the AC hazard marker, as well. As per your recommendation, I'll keep an eye on the west side of the Port Mayaca lock. I can clearly see the shallow section you're referring to. For some reason no one reported anything on AC in that area.
I crossed the lake last year, but there level was in the 14' range. So, obviously depth wasn't a concern.
Today's report is different:
Today's Lake Okeechobee Stage = 11.62 (Feet-NGVD29)
Today's Route 1 Navigational Depth ≈ 5.56 Feet
Today's Route 2 Navigational Depth ≈ 3.76 Feet
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05-07-2019, 07:51 AM
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#10
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Guru
City: Fort Myers - FL
Vessel Name: ORIGINAL
Vessel Model: Hi Star 55
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 669
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I have a doubt, between Lake Okeechobee or Matathon to go to Ft Myers, but now I’d rather Marathon [emoji6]
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05-07-2019, 08:03 AM
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#11
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Guru
City: Victoria TX
Vessel Name: Bijou
Vessel Model: 2008 Island Packet PY/SP
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 5,290
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I’ve crossed the lake before with no problems in my 4’ draft (but don’t remember lake levels), and was planning to cross again in June.
Should I rethink my plans? Seems like the 5.56 depth is OK, or no?
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05-07-2019, 10:21 AM
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#12
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TF Site Team
City: Jacksonville
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 11,682
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The lakes still going down. Route one, across the lake, is 5.17’ today. The rim route is 3.37’.
USACE Jacksonville District
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05-07-2019, 03:20 PM
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#14
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Guru
City: Victoria TX
Vessel Name: Bijou
Vessel Model: 2008 Island Packet PY/SP
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 5,290
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Thanks. Will keep watching it.
Surprised the level is dropping. I thought it rained every day in Fl. 🤪
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06-25-2019, 10:20 PM
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#15
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Guru
City: Fort Myers - FL
Vessel Name: ORIGINAL
Vessel Model: Hi Star 55
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 669
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Lake Okeechobee?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry M
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That’s why I came to home in Ft Myers, by Marathon [emoji6]
Was 22 days from St Maarten to Ft Myers.
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06-26-2019, 02:29 PM
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#16
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Guru
City: .
Vessel Name: GOTCHA
Vessel Model: Hatteras 58 LRC
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 1,103
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We came through there 4 weeks ago. Lock master said it was 6.5 we draw 6'. Were going E to W. 100 yards west of the eastern lock we hit a hard reef and powered over it. The lake was deep enough so no problems there.
2 miles out of Clewiston in the center of the channel we GROUNDED hard and had to call for a tow. It took 3 hours to get us in the 2 miles.
WAIT FOR MORE WATER!
Captain F. Lee
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06-26-2019, 04:16 PM
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#17
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Guru
City: Cape May, NJ
Vessel Name: Irish Lady
Vessel Model: Monk 36
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,966
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fgarriso
We came through there 4 weeks ago. Lock master said it was 6.5 we draw 6'. Were going E to W. 100 yards west of the eastern lock we hit a hard reef and powered over it. The lake was deep enough so no problems there.
2 miles out of Clewiston in the center of the channel we GROUNDED hard and had to call for a tow. It took 3 hours to get us in the 2 miles.
WAIT FOR MORE WATER!
Captain F. Lee
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Just curious, what company tows in Lake O and from where? I've always wondered where to go if crossing and break down.
__________________
Archie
Irish Lady
1984 Monk 36 Hull #46
Currently in Cape May, NJ
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06-26-2019, 04:29 PM
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#18
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Guru
City: .
Vessel Name: GOTCHA
Vessel Model: Hatteras 58 LRC
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 1,103
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Quote:
Originally Posted by High Wire
Just curious, what company tows in Lake O and from where? I've always wondered where to go if crossing and break down.
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BoatUS
Captain F. Lee
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