Boating Across the Okeechobee Waterway and What You Need to Know
As we start along “Smuggler’s Run” (The Florida Mini Loop), we take you through our days as we motor and even sail through the Okeechobee Waterway – the first stretch of water on our journey around the loop. Based on this experience, below are things you should know if you plan on making this trip.
Map of Okeechobee Waterway
First things First: About the Okeechobee Waterway
If you are traveling in a counter-clockwise direction on the loop like us (learn more about our full route in our blog post here), the Okeechobee waterway is the FIRST stretch of water you will boat on. This waterway was first developed to shorten the path of going around the entire peninsula to a quick pass through the state for commercial vessels. Today, this still happens but also a tremendous amount of boaters like ourselves use the waterway for recreational purposes. The waterway stretches about 154 miles in distance and at a leisurely pace will take about 2 days to complete by boat.
The Okeechobee Waterway Lock System
In order to make passage across the Okeechobee waterway, you will have to navigate through a system of individual locks and bridges (what is a lock?). There are five navigation locks you will need to know about prior to your trip:
- St. Lucie
- Port Mayaca
- Moore Haven
- Ortona
- W.P. Franklin
You will need to be on channel 13 (VHF) to communicate with the lock master. Be sure to keep your fenders out to protect your boat against the hard walls of the locks and make sure you wear a PFD while you are in the lock.
Navigating through the Okeechobee Lock System
Bridges Across the Okeechobee Waterway & Clearance
Depending on how you plan to cross the Okeechobee waterway, you will have to pass under 25-27 bridges. The lowest bridge height you will most likely encounter is the Port Mayaca RR Lift Bridge at a vertical clearance of 49′. There is no waiting for low tide to get underneath this bridge because you are already locked through from sea level. We have heard of a company that will use barrels filled with water to temporarily heal over monohulls that are a little too tall to reduce their height and get them under the bridge.
Here you can find a great resource for a complete list of the bridges, their clearances and operating restrictions publicly provided by BlueSeas: https://www.offshoreblue.com/assets/cruise/notes/oww-bridges.pdf You will also have to be on channel 13 via VHF radio in order to communicate with the opening bridges.
Stops Along the Okeechobee Waterway & Free Docking
The Okeechobee Waterway is a big part of Florida’s rich boating history and so are the towns/cities along it. There are plenty of stops you can make to take quick break from the boat. Amongst the most popular are: Stuart, Indiantown Marina, Moore Haven City Dock, Port LaBelle & Clewistown. At most of these stops you can find a free dock or a dock for cheap – be prepared to possibly have to call ahead to reserve a slip. We recommend stopping in Stuart first to load up on any last groceries or boat provisions.
If you are wanting to make the trip yourself, we hope this informational blog helped. Follow along with us as we post more updates/informational videos about our trip along the Florida Mini Loop. – Billy, Sierra & Jetty
See what it has been like living on a small sailboat as we navigate through the Okeechobee Waterway ↓
I want to live on or very near St George Island. My Love needs to visit his older brother in St Mary’s GA. Couris as if we can visit him with our sail boat with a small motor.
Just trying to buy a simple map of the Okeechobee Canal