Cruising the Okeechobee Waterway from East to West
Join us (and a tree full of pelicans) as we begin cruising east to west on the Okeechobee Waterway. Not many sailboats our size have the ability to cruise the Okeechobee Waterway. Because we are gaff-rigged, our masts are shorter, giving us the clearance we need to pass under the many bridges and power lines along the route.
Before we jump into the St. Lucie River from Fort Pierce, Robin tries her hand at dropping the anchor using our windlass. I explain some of the factors I consider when choosing where to drop the anchor, especially in the ICW where sand bars can take you by surprise (as we learned up by Daytona).
We do some provisioning in Stuart before jumping aboard and heading into our first of five locks on the Okeechobee. The St. Lucie South Campground, operated by the Army Corps of Engineers, is just past the first lock, and they have a few slips available for cruisers on the Okeechobee. We booked two nights, but Arabella was too big for the slip, so we ended up anchoring with the alligators across the way. The campground showers made paying for a slip worth every penny.
Bug-o-clock hits hard in Florida—it’s like something out of a horror movie. We quickly get the bug screens into our portholes to save ourselves (and our skin).
After a rainy day, we’re excited to explore the St. Lucie Nature Trails before getting underway again. We make our way to the Port Mayaca lock and into Lake Okeechobee. I finally got to raise the sails and turn off the motor for a while. Lake Okeechobee is filled with beautiful birds, ‘gators, and incredible flora—from Cyprus trees to mangroves.
Through the Moore Haven lock (where we leave our mark), we’re officially west of Lake Okeechobee in the Caloosahatchee River. We head to an anchorage called “Lollipop” near the Ortona Lock, taking Victoria through a network of wild canals to the dock at the Ortona Tavern for a bite to eat…and an ice cream sundae.
Cruising the Okeechobee Waterway by sailboat is an experience we never expected to have, but are so glad we did. Join us next week, as we explore some of the keys of Southwest Florida.
————————–
00:00 Intro
01:30 Robin Learns the Windlass
06:18 Re-checking the Charts
10:35 St. Lucie Lock
12:19 Gotta Stop Sometimes
14:38 Arabella’s First Gator
16:20 Down the St. Lucie Canal
18:13 Into the Lake
20:51 Moore Haven Lock
21:45 Anchoring in Ortona
————————–
Sign up for our email newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hn3Qyv
Acorn to Arabella started as a wooden boat building project in Granby, Massachusetts. Steve began the journey as an amateur wooden boat builder crafting a 38′ wooden sailboat in his backyard: designer William Atkin’s Ingrid with a Stormy Petrel’s gaff rig. These videos follow the journey from tree felling, to lumber milling, to lofting, to the lead keel pour and now sailing the boat—sharing details of the woodworking, carpentry, metal smithing, tool building, and tool maintenance that traditional wooden boats command. This ultimate DIY project continues beyond the boat shop, as Steve and crew travel and learn to cruise aboard the handmade wooden boat that they’ve built. Just kidding about all that, this channel is about a Siberian Laika named Akiva.
————————–
If you are interested in supporting/helping here are a few ways:
https://www.acorntoarabella.com/how-to-help
Acorn to Arabella’s wishlist:
https://www.acorntoarabella.com/wishlistpriority
TotalBoat supports A2A! Please consider using our Total Boat referral code. Click here, then shop: https://www.totalboat.com/acorntoarabella They’ll kick 10% our way!
To offer recurring support via Patreon, CLICK BELOW. Just $5 a month gets you an invite to our monthly patron-only livestream Q&A sessions!
https://www.patreon.com/acorntoarabella
Original Soundtrack available at benfundis.bandcamp.com
FOLLOW US:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/acorntoarabella
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acorntoarabella/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acorntoarabella
Website: http://www.acorntoarabella.com
Join us (and a tree full of pelicans) as we begin cruising east to west on the Okeechobee Waterway. Not many sailboats our size have the ability to cruise the Okeechobee Waterway. Because we are gaff-rigged, our masts are shorter, giving us the clearance we need to pass under the many bridges and power lines along the route.
Before we jump into the St. Lucie River from Fort Pierce, Robin tries her hand at dropping the anchor using our windlass. I explain some of the factors I consider when choosing where to drop the anchor, especially in the ICW where sand bars can take you by surprise (as we learned up by Daytona).
We do some provisioning in Stuart before jumping aboard and heading into our first of five locks on the Okeechobee. The St. Lucie South Campground, operated by the Army Corps of Engineers, is just past the first lock, and they have a few slips available for cruisers on the Okeechobee. We booked two nights, but Arabella was too big for the slip, so we ended up anchoring with the alligators across the way. The campground showers made paying for a slip worth every penny.
Bug-o-clock hits hard in Florida—it’s like something out of a horror movie. We quickly get the bug screens into our portholes to save ourselves (and our skin).
After a rainy day, we’re excited to explore the St. Lucie Nature Trails before getting underway again. We make our way to the Port Mayaca lock and into Lake Okeechobee. I finally got to raise the sails and turn off the motor for a while. Lake Okeechobee is filled with beautiful birds, ‘gators, and incredible flora—from Cyprus trees to mangroves.
Through the Moore Haven lock (where we leave our mark), we’re officially west of Lake Okeechobee in the Caloosahatchee River. We head to an anchorage called “Lollipop” near the Ortona Lock, taking Victoria through a network of wild canals to the dock at the Ortona Tavern for a bite to eat…and an ice cream sundae.
Cruising the Okeechobee Waterway by sailboat is an experience we never expected to have, but are so glad we did. Join us next week, as we explore some of the keys of Southwest Florida.
--------------------------
00:00 Intro
01:30 Robin Learns the Windlass
06:18 Re-checking the Charts
10:35 St. Lucie Lock
12:19 Gotta Stop Sometimes
14:38 Arabella's First Gator
16:20 Down the St. Lucie Canal
18:13 Into the Lake
20:51 Moore Haven Lock
21:45 Anchoring in Ortona
--------------------------
Sign up for our email newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hn3Qyv
Acorn to Arabella started as a wooden boat building project in Granby, Massachusetts. Steve began the journey as an amateur wooden boat builder crafting a 38' wooden sailboat in his backyard: designer William Atkin's Ingrid with a Stormy Petrel's gaff rig. These videos follow the journey from tree felling, to lumber milling, to lofting, to the lead keel pour and now sailing the boat—sharing details of the woodworking, carpentry, metal smithing, tool building, and tool maintenance that traditional wooden boats command. This ultimate DIY project continues beyond the boat shop, as Steve and crew travel and learn to cruise aboard the handmade wooden boat that they've built. Just kidding about all that, this channel is about a Siberian Laika named Akiva.
--------------------------
If you are interested in supporting/helping here are a few ways:
https://www.acorntoarabella.com/how-to-help
Acorn to Arabella's wishlist:
https://www.acorntoarabella.com/wishlistpriority
TotalBoat supports A2A! Please consider using our Total Boat referral code. Click here, then shop: https://www.totalboat.com/acorntoarabella They'll kick 10% our way!
To offer recurring support via Patreon, CLICK BELOW. Just $5 a month gets you an invite to our monthly patron-only livestream Q&A sessions!
https://www.patreon.com/acorntoarabella
Original Soundtrack available at benfundis.bandcamp.com
FOLLOW US:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/acorntoarabella
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acorntoarabella/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acorntoarabella
Website: http://www.acorntoarabella.com
Acorn To Arabella
We are building a 38’ sailboat from stump to ship, once complete she will take us around the world. We hope to inspire and educate as many people as possible along the way. Join us on our journey and let us show you that with a bit of dedication, good company and some old school smarts even the wildest of dreams can be made to come true! For inquiries about collaborating or integrations, please email [email protected].
Channel Information:
Social Media Links:
Note of Recognition for Acorn To Arabella
At WeBoating.com, we profoundly acknowledge the unwavering dedication that Acorn To Arabella and other creators invests in crafting each and every video. Their passion for delivering exceptional content shines through every frame, and it's a labor of love that deserves your attention.
We invite you to watch their captivating videos and actively engage with their content, including their social media links above. Liking, commenting, and sharing their work goes a long way in fueling their creative fire.
We're also inviting you to explore any sponsorships and partnerships highlighted in the video description of "Cruising the Okeechobee Waterway from East to West", or directly on YouTube. By considering their offerings or purchasing services and items, you not only support Acorn To Arabella but also the brands and collaborators they're associated with.
If you have any feedback, corrections, or additional information about Acorn To Arabella or their videos, please use the comment form below to share your thoughts with us.
Thank you for being a part of our community and supporting the creators we cherish. Your time and support truly matter!
Acorn To Arabella Lastest Videos
Showing 1-6 of 413 results
Rock Climbing on Shannon Island: Training for a 2,000’ Big Wall in Newfoundland
If you can remember, back when I started this project, I was working full-time as a route setter at a local rock climbing gym. I largely set climbing aside while I built Arabella, but my goal has always been to sail Arabella to remote places where the clim...
Anchored in Terence Bay: It’s Time for Some Rock Climbing
This week, I move the boat and drop anchor in Terence Bay—which is surrounded by some of Nova Scotia’s best climbing areas. But Robin is still making her way back to Canada with the truck and all of our climbing gear. My rock climbing stoke will have t...
Single-Handing the 38’ Wooden Sailboat He Built Himself
You can still contribute to the fight against cancer at https://profile.pmc.org/bf0201 This week, we map out our passage from Shelburne to Lunenburg, NS, making sure to follow a route safely offshore enough to avoid the many shoals and exposed rocks on th...
From P-Town to Nova Scotia: Our First International Sailing Adventure
This week, we’re taking Arabella international—we’re sailing from Provincetown, MA to Shelburne, Nova Scotia. But, before we go too far, we need to calibrate our NEW Pelagic autopilot. After our autopilot broke a few hours into our last multi-day off...
We’re Over-Wintering Where? Getting Ready for Our First International Passage
This week, we're getting our homebuilt wooden boat ready for her first international passage. Sure, it’s just to Canada, but to us, it’s a big deal! First up is finishing work on the bowsprit. I needed to get the bow out of our bronze bow roller befor...
Moving the Diesel Engine Panel & A New Cockpit Nav Station
It’s Arabella Demolition Day, folks! This week, I’m dismantling our on-deck nav station and engine control panel, and rebuilding one big station to house all of our gadgets and gizmos: the chart plotter, wind reader, VHF radio, engine controls, and our...
Something AWESOME is coming!
Be the FIRST to know⛵
Sign up for exclusive updates and be the first to hear when we go live!
Get sneak peeks, exciting announcement, and special content straight to your inbox!
We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.