Short cut for Florida boaters Closed

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This has been in the works for awhile.
It will force a large number of the winter/summer boaters and loopers to go around the tip of FL, probably add 8 to 10 days.



I'll probably take the route around the tip, but if I knew that they'd absolutely be on time, I'd wait til March 30.
 
Seevee said:
This has been in the works for awhile.
It will force a large number of the winter/summer boaters and loopers to go around the tip of FL, probably add 8 to 10 days.



I'll probably take the route around the tip, but if I knew that they'd absolutely be on time, I'd wait til March 30.
Click to expand...

As someone who has spent a bit of time working in government (and the last seven years on a board that manages a lock in FL), I have to say that I'll be pleasantly surprised if there is boat traffic going through that lock on April 1...
 
DWJensen said:
As someone who has spent a bit of time working in government (and the last seven years on a board that manages a lock in FL), I have to say that I'll be pleasantly surprised if there is boat traffic going through that lock on April 1...
Click to expand...

We will see. The Army Corps has been very good with their projections on lock closures in recent years.

The people I feel bad for are those who keep their boats just on the inside of the St. Lucie lock, including those with homes there.

Otherwise, the trip around the outside is a great trip. Adds about 400 miles to the trip, removes 5 locks. All depends on your speed. Nice time to explore the great sites along the way.
 
We decided to skip the 'short-cut' when we started our Loop last fall. Took the boat down to Marathon just before Thanksgiving and flew home from Key West. Will return late Jan and hopefully be able to cross over to the Bahamas - if Covid doesn't mess things up.
 
Seevee said:
This has been in the works for awhile.
It will force a large number of the winter/summer boaters and loopers to go around the tip of FL, probably add 8 to 10 days.



I'll probably take the route around the tip, but if I knew that they'd absolutely be on time, I'd wait til March 30.
Click to expand...
310 miles vs 135 mi. Maybe 3 extra days at trawler speed and short 60 mile days.
 
We'll be camping at the Ortona Lock March 31 thru April 3 so we should have some interesting sites.
 
O C Diver said:
Appreciate the update!
Planning on leaving next Saturday and figured I would need to call.

Ted
Click to expand...

East or West? We're planning on a Westbound crossing (St. Lucie) on the 5th.
 
Wifey B: Sure sounds like a clusterf... developing. Worse than opening day at the Erie. :eek:
 
I'll probably leave Fort Myers on Saturday and may or may not make the Ortona lock before 4:30. If I do, I'll stop at Moore Haven Saturday night. If not, I'll lock through Ortona at 7 am Sunday and hopefully be in Stuart Sunday night.

That's the plan anyway, subject to change without notice, objects in the review mirror may be larger and closer than they actually appear, your mileage may vary, and around every silver lining there's a dark cloud.

Ted
 
O C Diver said:
I'll probably leave Fort Myers on Saturday and may or may not make the Ortona lock before 4:30. If I do, I'll stop at Moore Haven Saturday night. If not, I'll lock through Ortona at 7 am Sunday and hopefully be in Stuart Sunday night.

That's the plan anyway, subject to change without notice, objects in the review mirror may be larger and closer than they actually appear, your mileage may vary, and around every silver lining there's a dark cloud.

Ted
Click to expand...

We'll watch for you. Current plan (and reservations) have us leaving Satellite Beach Sunday am and then fueling and in a slip at Vero that night. We'll then do a short day Monday and grab a ball at Jensen Beach.

New to us boat so we're going to take the first few days slow and get a feel for her.
 
DWJensen said:
We'll watch for you. Current plan (and reservations) have us leaving Satellite Beach Sunday am and then fueling and in a slip at Vero that night. We'll then do a short day Monday and grab a ball at Jensen Beach.

New to us boat so we're going to take the first few days slow and get a feel for her.
Click to expand...

I'm familiar with Jensen Beach's new mooring field. If I'm not visiting friends in Stuart, I'll be in Hogg's Cove (NE corner of the St Lucie river), a few miles as the crow flies from Jensen Beach.

Ted
 
I’m camped at the Ortona lock COE campground.
One of the volunteers told us the St Lucie lock is still closed
Not much boat traffic so check that out
 
We’re heading westbound tomorrow from Stuart. See you on the one.
 
jleonard said:
I’m camped at the Ortona lock COE campground.
One of the volunteers told us the St Lucie lock is still closed
Not much boat traffic so check that out
Click to expand...

JAX District says they opened 3/29 and posted pictures on their facebook page...

For anyone wanting to check directly: St. Lucie Lock & Dam 772-287-2665 or 863-662-9148
 
I'm not leaving before Sunday. Still taking care of house and personal stuff.

Ted
 
We went through St Lucie Lock an hour ago. Heavy traffic westbound. Arrival at 0835. Exited at 1130.
 
Greetings,
Mr. HW. WHAT????? It took you 3 hours for one lockage? Wow. It MUST have been a circus.
 
RT Firefly said:
Greetings,
Mr. HW. WHAT????? It took you 3 hours for one lockage? Wow. It MUST have been a circus.
Click to expand...

More to it then that. When we got there one boat was going through westbound already. Then an eastbound. Then a westbound tug and barge. Then no one eastbound. By then there were at least nine boats going through westbound with 13 feet of lift. I guess we will get to Moore Haven lock in the dark.
 
So interesting as I am in the PNW. How far is the trip across? Depth of the water? How many locks?
 
Alaskan Sea-Duction said:
So interesting as I am in the PNW. How far is the trip across? Depth of the water? How many locks?
Click to expand...

The Okeechobee waterway is a total of about 145 statute miles, 5 locks, and about 8-10 feet deep. There’s a few skinny spots in Lake O during low lake levels where it gets under 6 feet deep. Normally not a problem.
 
High Wire said:
The Okeechobee waterway is a total of about 145 statute miles, 5 locks, and about 8-10 feet deep. There’s a few skinny spots in Lake O during low lake levels where it gets under 6 feet deep. Normally not a problem.
Click to expand...

The locks are all small level changes, nothing substantial, normally fairly quick to clear.
 
High Wire said:
More to it then that. When we got there one boat was going through westbound already. Then an eastbound. Then a westbound tug and barge. Then no one eastbound. By then there were at least nine boats going through westbound with 13 feet of lift. I guess we will get to Moore Haven lock in the dark.
Click to expand...
I've done the rim canal in the dark, never again. The dolphins outside Moore Haven aren't the best to tie between, very low water and rocks with the wrong wind direction.

I'd consider Roland and Martin in Clewiston. Fun, people watching from the tiki bar. As bar food goes, I'd give it an 8 out of 10. Forget the dolphins outside Clewiston, unless you like billions of flying insects.

Ted
 
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