Okeechobee

[woodscrew]

We’ll be heading from Palm Coast Florida to Fort Myers the day after Christmas across Okeechobee, for the first time. I’m looking at the rim route (#2) as an alternative to the lake crossing (route 1) if it blows hard from anywhere out of the east or south. I see the shallow stretch south of Port Mayaca can be avoided by running just offshore and coming back in at Pahokee. The rest of route looks deep and protected from any winds without an N in them. Any perils along the way, or experiences I should know about please advise. Thanks.

 

[fgarriso]

What is your draft?

How fast can you cruse?

I have made 6 - 8 trips both ways across the center route.

 

[woodscrew]

Oops. Vital info. 4’6” draft, 8 knot cruise. Single screw with big keel and well protected wheel and rudder.

 

[O C Diver]

Probably no reason not to do it with the Lake being up, but it's rare for the lake to be too ruff to cross in the middle. While it might be fun to take the alternate route, hard to imagine a 42' boat having an issue crossing the center of the lake over 95% of the time.

Ted

 

[fgarriso]

Go for it, but check the water level first.

 

[woodscrew]

That’s another question. Having been knocked in other shallow waters with long fetch ( Albemarle sound comes to mind), I’m wondering how the lake acts in various wind conditions?

 

[fgarriso]

2-3' @30mph

The lake 25' at it's deepest point. plan on traveling in 10-15'

 

[O C Diver]

That’s another question. Having been knocked in other shallow waters with long fetch ( Albemarle sound comes to mind), I’m wondering how the lake acts in various wind conditions?

Northwest through North winds have a longer fetch which can make them short period and steep. Northeast through Southwest are easier to contend with when West bound. I would be ok with winds to 20 knots depending on direction.

Ted

 

[fgarriso]

You will be traveling SSW all the way across the lake.

Be sure to stay in the channel, you can run aground in the middle !

 

[fryedaze]

Just did the rim route the first week in Dec. Always wanted to do it. Glad we did. It is longer but interesting. The manually operated bridge is an experience. We anchored in a cool bay just past the bridge. Lake levels are close to 16feet. No problem in the rim route.

 

[fgarriso]

We did it one night with 30knt winds and 3-4' out of the north. But, I wouldn't do it again. We went aground 30' out of the 10' deep channel.

 

[woodscrew]

Figarriso, was that on route 1 across the lake? Not much room for error. Thanks all for the input.

 

[fgarriso]

Yes it was across the lake. When you get to the south end the channel is not very wide.

Plan on an morning crossing.

 

[JD5652]

Don't want to hijack this thread, but trying to gain some knowledge here as a "new" cruiser that will be headed to Florida in winter 2021 and very likely to consider this crossing.

My draft is 6' so slightly more than the OP.

Can someone point me to or explain the "rim route" and any potential issues with lake crossing with 6' Draft.

Thanks!

 

[cardude01]

Don't want to hijack this thread, but trying to gain some knowledge here as a "new" cruiser that will be headed to Florida in winter 2021 and very likely to consider this crossing.



My draft is 6' so slightly more than the OP.



Can someone point me to or explain the "rim route" and any potential issues with lake crossing with 6' Draft.



Thanks!

Don’t have the chart in front of me, but pretty sure you won’t make the rim route with 6’ of draft. The rim route goes along the edges of the lake basically and is protected from the wind/waves and an alternate to going straight across.

I’ve done a couple of middle of the lake crossings in my 4’ draft boat when the water was low and I bumped the bottom at the entrance of the eastern lock, the name of which escapes me now.

 

[Spike]

Don't want to hijack this thread, but trying to gain some knowledge here as a "new" cruiser that will be headed to Florida in winter 2021 and very likely to consider this crossing.

My draft is 6' so slightly more than the OP.

Can someone point me to or explain the "rim route" and any potential issues with lake crossing with 6' Draft.

Thanks!

This link https://www.offshoreblue.com/cruise/okeechobee-depths.php has good info on both lake routes. This site also has other pages for planning the trip.

I draw 4.5 and my cutoff for crossing is 12' datum which gives me about 6' across the lake. This year with higher water levels you may be able to make the rim route with 6' draft.

 

[fryedaze]

Don't want to hijack this thread, but trying to gain some knowledge here as a "new" cruiser that will be headed to Florida in winter 2021 and very likely to consider this crossing.

My draft is 6' so slightly more than the OP.

Can someone point me to or explain the "rim route" and any potential issues with lake crossing with 6' Draft.

Thanks!

You could do the Rim route with today's lake level. Here is the link for daily updates.
https://w3.saj.usace.army.mil/h2o/currentLL.shtml
Route 2 is the Rim route.

 

[High Wire]

Personally I would not do the rim Route 2 with a 6 ft draft. There’s no high tide if you mess up. Take your time. Route 1 will be ok unless low lake levels.

 

[JD5652]

Thanks for the links and the info!

 

[Knot Fast]

Here's the link for the Okeechobee Lake Weather Forecast:
https://forecast.weather.gov/shmrn.php?mz=amz610
This was hard for me to find, so I am passing it along.
OP Woodscrew: Saturday looks ideal for either route.
The Lake is currently high, so more forgiving of course divergences.
Rim route is +3-4 hours @ 7kts due to distance and bridges.
Both routes are interesting.
In Nov20, we had Verizon cell internet all the way across the lake; in fact, perfect the entire OWW.
Last lockage at Moore Haven is 430p sharp. City dock is just West of the lock.
[I'd take Route #1 if I wanted to make Moore Haven before 430p]

 

[Dougcole]

We have gone through the OWW quite a few times now. We crossed the lake once about 15 years ago in a strong 25 to 30 knot N wind. I won’t do that again.

Admittedly, it was in our old Gulfstar 36 which would roll the peanut butter out of the jar, but man it was rough. Not so much the size, it was 3 to 5 but super steep with almost no period and breaking at times. When we finally got across there was mud all over every inch of the boat, including the top of the bimini.