Okechobee Cruise; South Carolina Waterway Cruise

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Author Topic:   Okechobee Cruise; South Carolina Waterway Cruise

Powergroove803 posted 01-02-2012 10:12 AM ET (US)
Anyone taken [a trip from Stuart, Florida via the Okechobee to the Gulf of Mexico]? Is it worth it for sights and adventure? Or, is it a tourist trap?
I was watching [Ship Shape TV, a cable television program] this weekend and on the intro it shows the boatyard where he works from and talks about being able to go from Stuart, Florida through the Okechobee to the Gulf.
Here in my hometown of Columbia, South Carolina, we can jump on the Congaree river and travel through the Santee down through lake Marion then into Lake Moultrie where the Pinopolis locks will take you down to the Cooper river and into Charleston harbor. Its quite a cool trip and can be done in one day (~120 miles). The locks are cool, and Charleston Harbor, well, its awesome. Just FYI
Tohsgib posted 01-02-2012 12:20 PM ET (US)
I almost made that trip a few years back when Boston Whaler had a rendezvous in Stuart. Problem is finding somebody to meet you at the end with your trailer as you won't want to do it twice.
jimh posted 01-02-2012 01:00 PM ET (US)
Moved to TRIPS and RENDEZVOUS.
John W posted 01-06-2012 04:51 PM ET (US)
I'll admit that I haven't made the complete trip you're describing, but if you are willing to trailer your boat to south Florida, I can think of better cruising grounds than that...the Florida Keys and the barrier islands in the Charlotte Harbor/Pine Island Sound area on the Gulf for starters.
Tohsgib posted 01-07-2012 12:50 AM ET (US)
How much?? :)
Powergroove803 posted 01-12-2012 04:15 PM ET (US)
Charlotte Harbor is beautiful, seems like a great trip. The triler on the other end may pose some issues...
L H G posted 01-12-2012 07:49 PM ET (US)
I have done the leg from Stuart to the Lake on a round trip about 24 years ago, in my Outrage 18, but it is not very exciting, mostly just running a "ditch with two locks.
I have nevertheless been interested in doing the whole trip across, so last winter on a return from the West coast to the East coast, did it by car to check things out. The area around the Lake has turned pretty grim, run down and seedy. Clewiston and the other little Lake towns looked downright scary to me. Suffice it to say it is now a heavy agricultural area. We took a side road over to see one of the locks, and quickly got out of there! I definitely would not want to boat through the area.
The river leg from the Lake down to the Gulf might be a little more intesting and scenic, and could be worthwhile round day trip. But I doubt if it this crossing is now one of Florida's more desireable cruises. There was not much boat traffic at all in March.

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Author	Topic: Okechobee Cruise; South Carolina Waterway Cruise
Powergroove803	posted 01-02-2012 10:12 AM ET (US) Anyone taken [a trip from Stuart, Florida via the Okechobee to the Gulf of Mexico]? Is it worth it for sights and adventure? Or, is it a tourist trap? I was watching [Ship Shape TV, a cable television program] this weekend and on the intro it shows the boatyard where he works from and talks about being able to go from Stuart, Florida through the Okechobee to the Gulf. Here in my hometown of Columbia, South Carolina, we can jump on the Congaree river and travel through the Santee down through lake Marion then into Lake Moultrie where the Pinopolis locks will take you down to the Cooper river and into Charleston harbor. Its quite a cool trip and can be done in one day (~120 miles). The locks are cool, and Charleston Harbor, well, its awesome. Just FYI
Tohsgib	posted 01-02-2012 12:20 PM ET (US) I almost made that trip a few years back when Boston Whaler had a rendezvous in Stuart. Problem is finding somebody to meet you at the end with your trailer as you won't want to do it twice.
jimh	posted 01-02-2012 01:00 PM ET (US) Moved to TRIPS and RENDEZVOUS.
John W	posted 01-06-2012 04:51 PM ET (US) I'll admit that I haven't made the complete trip you're describing, but if you are willing to trailer your boat to south Florida, I can think of better cruising grounds than that...the Florida Keys and the barrier islands in the Charlotte Harbor/Pine Island Sound area on the Gulf for starters.
Tohsgib	posted 01-07-2012 12:50 AM ET (US) How much?? :)
Powergroove803	posted 01-12-2012 04:15 PM ET (US) Charlotte Harbor is beautiful, seems like a great trip. The triler on the other end may pose some issues...
L H G	posted 01-12-2012 07:49 PM ET (US) I have done the leg from Stuart to the Lake on a round trip about 24 years ago, in my Outrage 18, but it is not very exciting, mostly just running a "ditch with two locks. I have nevertheless been interested in doing the whole trip across, so last winter on a return from the West coast to the East coast, did it by car to check things out. The area around the Lake has turned pretty grim, run down and seedy. Clewiston and the other little Lake towns looked downright scary to me. Suffice it to say it is now a heavy agricultural area. We took a side road over to see one of the locks, and quickly got out of there! I definitely would not want to boat through the area. The river leg from the Lake down to the Gulf might be a little more intesting and scenic, and could be worthwhile round day trip. But I doubt if it this crossing is now one of Florida's more desireable cruises. There was not much boat traffic at all in March.