Cruising Charleston to Ft Myers

[DeeRow]

I just completed a trip to thru the Okeechobee Waterway from Stuart to Captiva Island and back. I would call the lock operator about 15 minutes prior to your expected arrival. This will give them time to lower/raise the lock before you arrive. Sometimes they are too buzy to change anything, but sometimes it will make a difference. And sometimes, like at Port Mayaca, the lock operator will remind you to stay south of red marker 52, cause if you don't you will hit the old underwater spillway like I did and like an 85' motoryacht did the following morning (I'll post more info about my trip on another thread). We ran 18kts when we could and at minimum wake all other times (in no wake zones, when we encountered a canoe, bass boat, or a camper mounted on a pontoon boat that was half sunk already) We averaged 13 kts between Stuart (just south of the Roosevelt bridge) and Clewiston (50 nm). We average 8.8 kts between Clewiston and Ft Meyers (60 nm).

If you want to spend the night in the Stuart area in a marina, I would recommend Pirates Cove in the manatee pocket, Port Salerno. If you want to stop after 60 miles from Port Salerno, Roland Martin Fish Camp is the only place in Clewiston. We were there New Year's Eve and it was interesting

Mark

 

[Freebird]

Thanks guys for all the useful info as well as the humor. I can certainly use both.

Looks like I'm headed into negotiations tonight which may lead to the loss of half my computer.

Should I ask for the monitor or the cpu?

Do e-mails, cruise plans, and dirty pictures show up on monitors after they get unplugged? Do I have to give half of you guys to her too?

 

[34Hatt]

Do e-mails, cruise plans, and dirty pictures show up on monitors after they get unplugged? Do I have to give half of you guys to her too?

Randy who I never heard of the Guy
I see you got your smiles back was it my hint

 

[Freebird]

Don't worry, TN law only takes 1/4 of geographically challenged friends of the groom. I'll make sure she ends up with Byron instead of you. He should count for 1/2 if I did the math right! Just kiddin' "son". How's that shaving problem coming along?

Actually, I switched computers because I thought my laptop was having problems. Turned out to be problems with the site. Not smiley face problems but on and off problems.

When I made the switch, my smiley faces were back!

Thanks for the help though. BTW Be proud you're a rebel (honorary) cause the south's gonna do it again!

 

[(Nobody You Know)]

Hey "hard-to-get-through-to" Reggie,

Check out the USCG's "Local Notice To Mariners" before you set sail. Sometimes it's amazin how the US guuuuv can get it right with changes, shallows, and things. http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/lnm/default.htm

Remember, whiles you will be cruisin NC, some inlets are no longer marked. Sumpin about low budget (mean lower low budegt? ). Runnin aground is a big problem in them waters, and there's a mighty hand full a yards thats right happy to haul ya out and straighten things out for a mere $65 per hr. (you'll come out under 25K).

And remember, them folks in Flordy think mighty big of them sea cows, so you gotta slow that thing down so as to not hurt one of em. It's a real problem in them waters.

Rumor has it that around '96 a couple of em was spotted on the upper Cape Fear River. Some good ole boys took the mater in hand and came up with a good recipee for bar-b-qued manatee. Best thing that ever happened cause now weuns don't haffta slow down none like them displaced yankees in FL!

"Mean lower low budegt". I kill myself. So much for TUI!

 

[Freebird]

Okay, it's semi-official. Departure date is January 13 from Charleston. I'll keep you posted as to changes/progress of the trip. No firm plans yet as to course or arrival dates

Man I'm looking forward to this trip, I haven't been on a Hatt since, uh, this morning. But I haven't been on a Hatt on the ocean since, uh, December 22, 2006. Heck, that was last year!

I need a vacation.

Oh yeah, I asked this question before. What is a blog and how do I get one? I'll have my laptop onboard, but I don't have wireless capabilities except for at my marina in FL. How far offshore will these things work? Is it like a cell phone?

I will try my best to hook up with as many of you as possible on the way down. I'll certainly see Guzboy as the plan is for me to fly back to Charleston from Ft Myers to retrieve my car. I suppose departure will depend on whether or not I have anything to rush home for.

I need a hug...from an Amazon.

 

[Boatsb]

I think you need a guided tour of the Amazon

I may be able to arrainge it. I will try to get to that "travel agency" again soon.

 

[Freebird]

And remember, them folks in Flordy think mighty big of them sea cows, so you gotta slow that thing down so as to not hurt one of em. It's a real problem in them waters.

Rumor has it that around '96 a couple of em was spotted on the upper Cape Fear River. Some good ole boys took the mater in hand and came up with a good recipee for bar-b-qued manatee. Best thing that ever happened cause now weuns don't haffta slow down none like them displaced yankees in FL!

"Mean lower low budegt". I kill myself. So much for TUI!

Now don't be badmouthin' my alma madder TUI (Tennessee University for the Insane).

You reckon some of that vinegar based eastern carolina bbq sauce would be good for manaque?

Thanks for the help, I know you are doing the best you can with what God gave you. I reckon now you know it ain't a good thing to be an atheist.

 

[Wild Bill]

We purtekt r manity's caus they taste soooo good. We don't want to run out.

 

[Freebird]

UPDATE Departure from Charleston has been moved up to next Friday with anticipated arrival at Ft Myers on the 15th.

Route will be across Lake O unless current water depth dictates otherwise. Trust me, five feet won't be enough!

Other than that, I'm not sure of our exact route or ports of entry. Hopefully we can still meet up with some of you guys or I can provide more detail info as to allow you to run to the beach or dock in order to view my salute to many of you who I think are number 1.

Man, this is gonna be fun!

 

[Paul45c]

Oh yeah, I asked this question before. What is a blog and how do I get one?

blog = weblog; it's basically an online diary open to whomever you specify. Lots of us here followed Mario's blog on his trip down to Florida. Check it out. You'll, of course, have to paper over yours (if you do one) with parental notifications!

 

[Freebird]

Hey JB, glad to see you found electricity and a computer in the great white north.

I gave your name to another member who was asking about the inlet at Boynton. I couldn't remember if we did that one or not.

Call me. I missed you.

 

[Norm Mayer]

Give me a holler when you hit Ft Myers, maybe we can tip a beer together. I am across the river in N Ft Myers on a 44 Hat. PM me and I will give you a cell number!