Locking through Florida

While traveling the Okeechobee Waterway to cross the state of Florida  from the east  coast to the West Coast,  locks are needed to raise the boater  from sea level to the level of Lake Okeechobee and once past the lake to lower them back down to sea level on the other side.

There are five locks on the Okeechobee Waterway.  From East to West they are:  the St Lucie Lock, the Port Mayaca Lock, the Moore Haven Lock, the Ortona Lock, and the W. P. Franklin Lock.

The St. Lucie, Moore Haven, and Ortona Locks have a length of 250’ and a width of 50’ and a depth over the sills of 10’. The (2) remaining locks, the Port Mayaca and the W.P. Franklin have a length of 400’ and a width of 56’. The Port Mayaca Lock has a depth over the sills of 16’, while the W.P. Franklin Lock has 14’ over the sills.

Boat coming out of the lock as we are approaching

Southern Belle ahead of us approaching the lock

This boat needed to be secured more safely

Closing Slowly

Caught in midflight

Opening!