Motor Yacht Cruising⎮How To Go Through A Lock⎮Okeechobee Waterway
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- Опубліковано 11 лип 2024
- Planning to transit the Okeechobee Waterway in Florida? Want to know what to expect when you lock through? This quick primer will give you the basics you need to know so you're prepared.
This is a breakout from a longer video where the OLOH Crew travelled from Labelle to Fort Myers and we've released it after frequent requests for information on the procedure of "locking through" the five locks boaters will experience crossing the Caloosahatchee Canal between coasts.
You'll find that complete video here: • Motor Yacht Cruising O...
Please note that this video and the information herein is for informational purposes only and all vessel operators are responsible for the safe operation and navigation of their vessel.
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00:00 Intro
00:39 Hailing the Lockmaster
01:10 Waiting for the green light
01:32 Heading in and arrival instructions
01:59 In the lock
02:34 Heading out
I've told you before but I'll say it again. Yours is the best boating channel on YT by far. Two cool guys (who are also very skilled boaters) on a cool boat out have adventures. Stay safe and Merry Christmas!
Thanks so much Bill - you are too kind. Happy holidays!
Very professional and calm the way you both approach all aspects of your cruising. It's impressive. We did 2 locks on the Trent Severn waterway a few years back in our small bowrider, and I can tell you it was intimidating coming into a packed lock. But all the boaters were super friendly, and helped us loose moor. Worked out just fine. Keep up the good work!
Thanks so much!
Wife and I did this on the ohio last year for the first time on jetskis. Didn't know what to expect so we were excited. Wasn't exciting at all but it was a cool experience that took a little over an hour
I sure enjoy watching you guys you look like your having so much fun. It's been a dream of mine for years to do what your doing so I enjoy riding along as if I were there.also your videos are so informative I really enjoy them so keep them coming and stay safe!!
Thanks Larry - much appreciated. Cheers!
I love your channel. I wish you posted more often.
Thanks Keith. We do our best to document/share the lifestyle without shooting and editing so much that it interferes with actually living and enjoying it. That said, we hope to have much more content coming in the new year. Cheers!
Hi AJ & Tim . Wishing you both (& Jasper) a Blessed & Merry Christmas . Mark (Toronto) 🎄
Mark - wishing the very same to you from our entire Crew! 😎
Excellent Videos. thanks for sharing them
So glad you enjoy them - thanks!
Locked my boat then for the first time, the SooLocks in Northern Michigan, between Lake Superior and Lake Michigan, it was intimated at first, but proved to be a simple process.enjoyed
Some are definitely more challenging than others, but as with everything, having a sense of what to expect helps. Cheers!
Love the videos keep up the good work maybe I’ll pass by you guys one day!
Thanks Chad. Hope to see you out there!
Years ago locked thru fairly often. Things have not changed much since back in the day? Thanks for a great video👍😊
Our pleasure - thanks for watching.
Well done. Hurry back to Key West. Eddie and Joanne.
Lekker man lekker
Great video guys! Is there a dedicated site to let mariners know if there are any disruptions along the crossing? I noticed a while back they had construction of a bridge, and were not letting anyone to travel through? Thanks again, can’t wait till next years videos!
Hey Stephen - thanks so much - glad you enjoyed it! The following government site is a great catch-all for all things related to the locks and OWW (plus the Canaveral lock). It includes the latest navigational notices and other important info: www.saj.usace.army.mil/NTN/
More realtime information can be found on sites like Waterway Guide and the apps that parse its information and the Salty Southeast Cruisers Net.
More videos on the way. Cheers!
Great job, guys. Love your commentary and how organized you are. Question… what brand and model of stabilizing binoculars do you use?
Thanks so much Forrest. We have and love our Canon 18x50 IS Image Stabilized Binoculars model 4624A002 - a good balance of features and price, although they don't seem to be readily available lately (we get asked about them all the time). Friends of ours bought the more available 15x50 version of them and love them as well. Cheers!
Everyone must wear a life jacket. What about Captain Jasper? 🤣🤣🤣
But of course! Look closely 😎
@@OLOH
Oops! I apologize! That’s what happens when you are 67 and try to watch without your glasses! 🥺
😄
Nice information, I am curious if you were in a larger vessel can you request permission to leave your engines in idle rather than having to stop / start them ??
Thanks Glen. Not sure about that - we just do as we're instructed and leave it at that. We have been in one of the locks on the OWW where the time in the lock was going to be pretty short and there was only one other boat so the Lockmaster told us not to bother shutting down. We've been in locks elsewhere where you are not required to shut down and it can be pretty nasty sucking up fumes when you're down in the chamber. We imagine there's also a CO concern when there are gas powered boats in there. We do leave our generator running and that is common practice for boats that cruise with their generators.
Thanks for all your great videos. We are hoping to travel from Ft.Meyers to West Palm Beach across the Okeechobee this March/April 2022. Today the USAC of E states the Navigational Depth of 9.52 ft. We have a 6' draft on a 60' with a single screw and stabilizers. Any concerns?
Thanks for the kind words. That's a great trip to look forward to. For your planning purposes here's a good place to keep an eye on the lake levels: w3.saj.usace.army.mil/h2o/currentLL.shtml
The minimum stage for a 6' draft is 12.06' (you will be taking Route 1 only). As long as that's the minimum reading you should be fine although a bit more water is obviously better. The key is to not deviate from the channel. In the southwest portion of the lake where there are a couple of course changes just take your time and go as slow as you need you to stay on course. Let us know how it goes and enjoy!
@@OLOH Thanks you, We really appreciate your reply.
Where do you guys get the shirts with a model of the boat on the back?
How would you deal with the locking process if you're single handed, solo captain, no crew? If you couldn't hold bow & stern lines at the same time, would the dockmaster assist?
Well, neither of us have had to single-hand through a lock, but as long as you are well-fended at any potential point of contact, you could make do with single line on a mid-ship cleat, being careful not to allow for much slack. It would be much easier on a smaller boat - personally wouldn't want to do it on a boat OLOH's size or bigger. While we like to minimize the use of thrusters in a lock, having them along with our Yacht Controller remote would make it easier if things got squirrelly. From our understanding Lockmasters can't assist beyond tossing you a line unless things go awry.
Sup guys, where are the new videos?
Thanks for your patience... they're coming!
How are depths?
The federal project depth for the Okeechobee Waterway is 8' from the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway near Stuart via Okeechobee Lake Route 1 to Fort Myers.
When u guys shoot down to florida on the intercostal do u cut through the dismal swamp canal
Hi Jay - as much as we would like to, we do not cut through the Dismal Swamp canal. With our draft of five feet we're just too close to the canal's minimum depths for our comfort level.