Okeechobee Waterway Advice (Cat 30)

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Christopher Weider

Hi gang, I'm in the process of buying a 79 Catalina 30; the boat is currently on the East coast of FL and I'm on the Gulf coast. Most of my sailing "experience" (2 yrs) has been in a much smaller boat (Com-Pac 16) and that was on a Pennsylvania lake. My question is, with a larger boat that's brand new to me, coupled with only book knowledge of the waterway, am I biting off more than I can chew in taking it down the FL ICW, across the Okeechobee waterway, and up the gulf coast to St. Pete? As a flight instructor/commercial pilot, I'm used to pretty accurately assessing the inherent risk in a proposed flight based on the type (and condition)of the airplane, weather, and the planned route; but in the marine world, I have no experience to draw from in at least two of those variables above. :) I'd appreciate anyone's advice that they could give; such as how accurate the charts are vs. just having "local knowledge" of the locks, shallow areas, and/or any other "trickiness" I might face on this route. Thanks to all for your input! Chris
 
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Paul Mieszczenski

Great trip!!

Chris, I did this trip many years ago, and I can't wait to do it again. Right now Lake O is up and passable but needs to be taken in a good weather window. Afternoon thunderstorms get pretty wild in this area this time of year. Also be aware of the railroad bridge; 45' clearence just before the eastern entrance to the lake. The water is a little thin around the Sanibel area, but it is beautiful cruising. Enjoy, PM
 
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John

Your bite depends on your draft

Chris, I bought my Hunter 31 up in your neck of the woods ( South Pasadena, FL ) 5 years ago and brought it down the west coast, across the lake and up to North Carolina. Three years ago, I moved down here, so I brought it back down and across the lake again. In general, depths aren't a problem on the east coast but as Paul hinted, the water gets skinny on the Gulf Coast ICW, especially at low tide. I mention this because I know the the deep keel Catalina drafts something between 5 and 6 feet. I draft 4 feet and sail Charlotte Harbor and the west coast with no problem. The mast height restriction is the Port Mayacca Rail Road bridge and it's 49 feet. My boat needs 47'6" for the mast plus windex plus VHF ant. I think your's is pretty close to the same but do check. There is a service from Indiantown that will heel you over with water ballast to get under if you need it. You probably won't do much sailing if you stay in the ditches, so, take time to make sure the engine is behaving before you depart. Also, being that this is a new boat to you, check to make sure you are not taking on water anywhere - stuffing box, thru-hull, etc. Paul is right about the storms, but you probably see the same in St. Pete. I don't know what you are using for charts but there is a great waterproof chart that covers just the lake and the St. Lucie & Okeechobee waterways. If you get a chance, overnight on a Vero Beach Municipal Marina mooring, and the Indiantown Marina. If it works, try an overnite at LaBelle( free med moor town docks ) and the Fort Myers Municipal Marina. I'll stop now before I get too carried away. Don't let any of the concerns turn you off - Just Do it !
 
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steven f.

creative anchoring

We brought our H33 over from Canaveral area five years ago and had no problems coming across the ditch. The other responses to your question make some very good points. The height restriction is about 49' but you can squeeze under with some help at Indian Town with their water barrels if you are taller than that. The next was anchoring. We had to get very creative when it came to anchoring. We spoted some wide spots in the river and anchored there right next to the shore (two anchors). The biggest issue was the thunderstorms in the big lake. We crossed in June and they were hellish at best. The weather out there builds up almost instantly in the summer, be very careful, that lake is shallow and we got cought in one hell of a squall with those square waves in 10' of water, not pretty. All in all you are not bitting off more than you can chew, that is a great trip. You will probably never see this part of old Florida any other way. Have fun and enjoy the mosquitoes, they will sure be enjoying you.
 
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Jack Tyler

John's report 'right on'...plus these thoughts

Chris, the biggest risk you'll run - by the time you & your new boat reach Lake O - is that the goal of completing the trip might force you to take it faster than you really should. The entire stretch is like passing thru 3 uniquely different Florida habitats, the locks are exceptionally well managed, clean and non-violent, and there are facilities all along the way to turn a delivery trip into a exploratory cruise. John's suggestion about having the engine surveyed and serviced is spot on, plus inspecting & testing your bilge pumps and radio comms are also worth doing. A few suggestions: 1. Pick up a 2002 Waterway Guide for Florida and take some time reading about each leg of the trip you plan. You didn't say where you'll pick up the C30 and you could well find some of the ICW segments to be more challenging than the Okee Waterway. I personally think your flight training is good prep for this kind of challenge: you'll stay ahead of the vessel, your weather training will come in handy, and things happen s-l-o-w-l-y on the water compared with flying provided you stay alert, even if some of the experiences will be new ones for you. 2. Consider taking at least one other person, preferably someone you'd enjoy sharing the adventure with and ideally someone who has at least a little familiarity with boats. They'll make long days much more enjoyable, you'll have an extra pair of hands when they're needed, and sharing a good cruise is always better. 3. Draft can be a real issue on the Lake, altho' it appears to be doing much better than when we last crossed in early 2000. Talk with the Corps of Engineers or preferably the Mayaca Lock office (C of E ph #s in the WW Guide; ask them for the lock ph #) to get an update on current dpeth & channel conditions on the lake. Mayaca Lock is also an excellent source of info on the RR bridge John mentions, in case your 'vertical draft' is close to that 49'. We inverted our VHF antenna and removed our Windex to scootch under the last time, as our clearance was 49' 2". That clearance varies somewhat from one season to the next, but the lock knows the RR bridge clearance to about 1". We're in St. Pete taking a breather after returning from the Caribbean. If you want to talk about this further, send me an email and I'll pass along my phone number. Jack jack_patricia@yahoo.com
 
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Christopher Weider

Thanks to all for the replies

Thanks to all who replied, I put a very large weight on all of your collective advice in attempting this trip vs. just trucking the boat over or hiring someone experienced to do it, so I appreciate all of your replies. :) I've picked up the Maptech Chartkits for the East & West coasts of Florida along with a book titled "Cruising Guide to East Florida", by Claiborne Young. The book seems to have a pretty good chapter on the ins and outs of traversing the Okeechobee waterway. I've also downloaded all the procedures, pictures, lock maps, and phone contacts for each lock on the waterway from the Corps of Engineers site. If any of you still have float plans that you could recommend in what's reasonable progress for each day of the trip, that'd be great. It's hard for me to judge how much distance I can reasonably cover in a day, with the variables being bridge openings, locks, and whatever else I might not be considering. My only thoughts are that I'd want to stage the Okeechobee lake crossing very early in the morning to avoid the afternoon thunderstorms common this time of year. It's a lot different in airplanes in that I never had a problem with weather "catching up" to me. Five knots seems awful slow compared to a typical squall line. :) Thanks again! Chris
 
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Jack Tyler

ICW 'pace' to expect...

Chris, sounds like you're starting out on firm footing. In response to your last post: C Young's guides might be helpful reading when you want to find a restaurant or appreciate a bit of history but don't overlook using the Waterway Guide to plan your legs - that's one of its principal intended uses. Its bridge listing appendix (with most recent restrictions, mileage markers, etc.) is especially helpful in answering your question about the pace of your ICW legs. You should be able to maintain a 5 mph speed (note the ICW is not measured in knots) and only you will know how long you want to transit each day. You can allow 5-7 mins per bridge opening...but this is getting too specific and you'll find there's a certain amount of 'go with the flow' to your actual pace. (This isn't like filing an IFR flight plan, which is a good thing). Finally, don't overlook the increased traffic in many ICW stretches on the weekends; try to do most of the run on weekdays to enjoy it more. You don't need to cross the Lake early in the morning, tho' staying away from afternoon transits is a good idea. Stopping for the night at Indiantown (if you want a slip) or perhaps Turkey Creek somewhere if you want to anchor aren't bad ideas. You can also tie off or anchor adjacent to the Mayaka Lock provided that it really does close down after the last lock of the day (vs. stands by for commercial traffic, which I don't think is the case). Jack
 
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Christopher Weider

One last question, do I NEED a dinghy?

For those that have done the trip, is a dinghy a necessity? The boat does not have one, and I'm wondering how many of the harbors along the Okeechobee waterway I can pull a Catalina 30 (shoal draft) directly up to, vs. anchor/moor away from the dock and dinghy in. I'd rather not be "trapped" on the boat 24/7, but don't want to spend a chunk of cash if it's not necessary. :) Thanks in advance for your help... Chris
 
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