Sunset Bay Marina to River Forest Yachting Center to Ft Myers Yacht Basin

November 12-13, 2015

The locks on the Okeechobee Waterway don’t have floating bollards like most of the locks on the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, and Tenn-Tom river systems.  Instead they have ropes that are secured along the lock walls, and when a boat enters the lock, someone has to grab one of the lines from both the bow and the stern.  If the boat is too big for 1 person to hold both lines – since the lines are relatively short – then 2 people are needed.  Since we had plenty of crew aboard Tamure, this was no problem at all.  Like the Lorelei IV, many cruising boats have only 2 people, so in that case, after 1 person grabs either a bow or stern line, the pilot would then need to run out and grab the other line.

There were six boats, including Tamure, waiting to lock up at the first lock, St Lucie Lock, since there were some eastbound boats already in the chamber locking down.  Once they were clear, the lockmaster called the boats in one at a time since space would be relatively tight in the 250 x 50 ft lock.  Since most of the locks on the river systems we had traveled so far have been at least 600 x 110 ft, we did feel a bit cramped, especially since we were the last boat in.  Since the lock didn’t have floating bollards and we would have to take in line as we went up, we only did half of a wrap around our cleats – enough to keep tension without too much effort when we wanted to but not so much that we couldn’t pull in line when needed.  The lift was only about 14 ft, so it didn’t take too long and then we were on our way to Port Mayaca Lock which was about 20 miles away

Okeechobee Waterway

When we got to Port Mayaca Lock, the gates on both ends were open so we only had to do a No Wake pass-through.  What a lucky break!  There were seagulls and cormorants lined up on the approach walls to the lock, first welcoming us in and then wishing us “bon voyage”.

Port Mayaca Lock

Seagulls on the approach fender

Cormorants lined up to wish us Bon Voyage and Godspeed

Once we were through the lock, we were on Lake Okeechobee.  It was a calm sunny day with little wind, so the 30 miles or so across the lake was a beautiful easy cruise.  On the other side of the lake, we came to a marshy area, and then turned into a narrow canal.  We went through one more lock, Moore Haven lock, which had just a 4 ft drop.

Lake Okeechobee

Marshy area on the west end of the lake

Narrow canal with marsh on one side

Since it was about 80 miles from Sunset Bay Marina to Ortona Lock, we weren’t sure we would make it there in time to lock through and then get somewhere to dock before dark.  Rob called River Forest Yachting Center, which is just east of Ortona Lock, and fortunately, they had room for us there.  River Forest is a hurricane storage facility as well as a full service marine repair and maintenance shop.  They have large fenced secure grounds, which was perfect for Sasha.

Tamure docked at River Forest Yachting Center

Sasha like playing Frisbee on this large grassy lawn

The next morning we were underway fairly early since we wanted to get to Ortona Lock by 7 a.m. in the hopes of making the first lock-through.  It was a bit foggy above the lock, but the fog had cleared by the time we locked down about 4 ft.

Foggy morning at Ortona Lock

Campground along the canal near Ortona Lock

28 miles later, we locked through the fifth and final lock, W.P. Franklin Lock, for a drop of only 1.5 ft.  When locking down, the lockmaster opens the lower gate a small amount to allow the water in the chamber to flow out until the levels equalize.  Somehow it doesn’t seem to take as long when you can see the process in action.

Lower lock gate slightly open to allow water to drain out of the chamber

In no time at all it seemed, we were on the Caloosahatchie River and could see the taller buildings of the Ft Myers downtown riverfront area.  It was about this time that we also saw our first dolphins of the whole trip.

Most railroad bridges are left in the up position unless a train needs to cross

Ft Myers in sight!

Dolphin playing in Tamure's wake

We reached the Ft Myers Yacht Basin before noon, and Captain Ray backed Tamure right into her new slip on E dock beside Lorelei IV.  All too soon, it was time to say goodbye to him when Linda and 2 of their friends came to pick him up.  He really did a great job for Jim – both in serving as captain for the trip and giving Jim pointers about boat handling -- and we would recommend him to anyone who needs a boat delivery or marine repair work done.

Ft Myers Yacht Basin

Tamure (large boat just in front of the red Fire Dept boat canopy) with Lorelei IV to the right