From: Margery Griffith grandsturdy410@yahoo.com
Subject: GL: Okeechobee
"The?Okeechobee?FUN?
Not in my mind it isn't! Boring is more like it. Be SURE you have a
chart. this advice may sound silly but twice when going across we met
boaters, both time?sailors?with small kids onboard, who not only had no
chart but also had no clue! They both asked how you find the opening at
the other end? It is so shallow you must follow the channel and that is
not always easy. You are looking at water all day long and about the
only excitement is seeing the white pelicans STANDING in the water
nearby. No anchorages, you must stay at Indian Town on the east and the
free dock right next to the lock on the west and neither is at all
interesting. My memory fails me about the name of the place you can stay
on the south west end, a little town with a dock at a restaurant in a
narrow channel that is not fun to turn in and noisy at night. It sure
beats the alternative though!"
To each his or her I guess. But I've never found the trip boring.
Following the channel is very easy IMO, as it is clearly marked. If you have an autopilot it's almost a no brainer. And there are a few anchorages. Plus you can tie up to the dolphin pilings located near the locks for the night if you wish. Indiantown has a couple of good restaurants and good marina.
The other marina you seem to be talking about would be Roland Martin's in Clewiston. Which can have a bit of a bar crowd on weekends now that they have added a Tiki bar, which some folks (myself included) just might find appealing at times. They have some good bands from time to time and you can always call the Clewiston Inn to send a car for you so you can get a bite to eat and check out the very cool Florida wildlife mural in their bar while getting away from the marina for a while. As to turning around in the marina channel, there is a fair sized turning basin just before the marina docks. So it's just a simple matter of backing down to it and then turning around. Or turning around first and then backing down to your slip.
Capt. Bill
From: Margery Griffith <grandsturdy410@yahoo.com>
Subject: GL: Okeechobee
"The?Okeechobee?FUN?
Not in my mind it isn't! Boring is more like it. Be SURE you have a
chart. this advice may sound silly but twice when going across we met
boaters, both time?sailors?with small kids onboard, who not only had no
chart but also had no clue! They both asked how you find the opening at
the other end? It is so shallow you must follow the channel and that is
not always easy. You are looking at water all day long and about the
only excitement is seeing the white pelicans STANDING in the water
nearby. No anchorages, you must stay at Indian Town on the east and the
free dock right next to the lock on the west and neither is at all
interesting. My memory fails me about the name of the place you can stay
on the south west end, a little town with a dock at a restaurant in a
narrow channel that is not fun to turn in and noisy at night. It sure
beats the alternative though!"
To each his or her I guess. But I've never found the trip boring.
Following the channel is very easy IMO, as it is clearly marked. If you have an autopilot it's almost a no brainer. And there are a few anchorages. Plus you can tie up to the dolphin pilings located near the locks for the night if you wish. Indiantown has a couple of good restaurants and good marina.
The other marina you seem to be talking about would be Roland Martin's in Clewiston. Which can have a bit of a bar crowd on weekends now that they have added a Tiki bar, which some folks (myself included) just might find appealing at times. They have some good bands from time to time and you can always call the Clewiston Inn to send a car for you so you can get a bite to eat and check out the very cool Florida wildlife mural in their bar while getting away from the marina for a while. As to turning around in the marina channel, there is a fair sized turning basin just before the marina docks. So it's just a simple matter of backing down to it and then turning around. Or turning around first and then backing down to your slip.
Capt. Bill
