River Ranch News!!

[Corona Mike]

I talked to the project manager from South West Water Managment District today to find out if the Kissimmee river will be open from Lake Kissimmee south to Lake Okeechobee. He said at this time all the locks but one are open. The last lock going south is still down at this time but, should be mostly working by Feb.14th. That lock will only have one gate heading south...I think he said...that will open but if your boat is under 13' wide, you will be fine. I explained to him what type of boats we have so it's mostly all good. The only other problem mite be the water level in a couple of areas where the river has been restored...The original river...due to the lack of rain this year. So we'll just have to be careful!! Only other question is gas. YEARS AGO! there use to be a fish camp south of the last lock that had gas, but that was at least 12+ years ago, so I'm not sure about that. Also OkeTanne resort at the mouth of Okeechobee use to have 93-oct. but like I said last time I was there was a while ago. Thats the news on the South River Run that I have today. Mike T.:cheers::cheers:

[oldschoolltv]

Nice, how many miles is it to okeechobee? Matt

[Corona Mike]

Nice, how many miles is it to okeechobee? Matt

I can't remember exactly Matt but, I think it either was 90-miles from the town of Kissimmee to Okeechobee or from H.W.60 to Okeechobee. Now, that was when it was a straight shot. Now, about 60% of the ride is through the old river which has plenty of turns/curves/ and limited straight-a-ways.

[mach351]

Awesome mike! Is the restored river going to be marked? It looks confusing as hell on google earth.

[Corona Mike]

Awesome mike! Is the restored river going to be marked? It looks confusing as hell on google earth.

I'm going to say yes it is because the straight canal is suppose to be blocked off as of now. I've never seen the original river but, from the pictures it should be a very nice ride. We'll just have to keep an eye on water levels through there. See you Friday!:thumbsup::cheers::cheers:

[mach351]

We'll be there about 1pm - see ya then!

[Mr. Demeanor]

Lack of rain? This has been a very wet winter.

[Corona Mike]

Lack of rain? This has been a very wet winter.

Don't know...That's just what the guy from SWFWMD said today. I told him basicly what types of boats we have and how much water it takes to float/run them in. He said in 95%+ of the run we'll be fine just in some curves we need to kind of be careful. Now, that whole area hasn't been used in years except for the recent restoration, so it should be a intersetring boat ride for sure.

[baja200merk]

Awesome mike! Is the restored river going to be marked? It looks confusing as hell on google earth.

Me a few guys from tarpon and a few A boats went south like 3 yrs ago at RR. We went like 35miles one way (had to add 10 gals on the way back) that old river is chock full of gators and I remember Mike ( red and white xb03 i think) whacked a sand bar coming around one turn so keep an eye out there were some tight turns that sneak up. The river is barley wide enough for one boat in a few spots it was fun, I remember i was breaking my motor in it was the first time I broke 90 me and beef were in the front of the action :p . Muddy roostertails, 1 eye on the water pressure other on the river would have been more fun in a tunnel that action slides unless you have it trimmed in :D

[Corona Mike]

One thing about it, IF the water is real low, we can head over to Poluted Waters and watch the air boats race! There is a pretty good sand bar to pull up on, and the air boats are pretty interesting to watch.:eek::D Good place to change props and do a little "testing" tooo!:thumbsup:

[AwesomeBullet]

That's gonna be a long ride! I won't be making that one since I'll have a speed limit on me all weekend lol! Much over about 40mph and I start to get slapped!:eek::D

[baja200merk]

That's gonna be a long ride! I won't be making that one since I'll have a speed limit on me all weekend lol! Much over about 40mph and I start to get slapped!:eek::D

I knwo how that goes, in the mirage anything over 90 for long my left arm would kill me on monday she'd follow through... :rolleyes:

[Tom Foley]

Funny ! Thanks for the update Mike

[mrcrsr]

we do lunch almost every time at river ranch in town of kissimee, i think it comes out to 43 miles each way

[rchevelle71]

we do lunch almost every time at river ranch in town of kissimee, i think it comes out to 43 miles each way

That I can do, the 90 mile each way run I would have to stop for gas twice:rolleyes: Besides, I draft a little more than most, and tend to attract sandbars:eek:

[Li'l Toy]

We ran from Stuart across the Lake to the Kissimmee a little while ago--I think maybe Fall of 2009. They had 93 octane at Oke Tante then, and a really interesting restaurant that served cooter! Places to dock/beach were a little interesting.

Mike, if I understand it correctly, there are parts of the Kissimmee between River Ranch and the Lake that are in an Air Force bombing range. I believe there are times when it is closed.

[mrcrsr]

pat, we drove from stuart to 1 lock from river ranch, was a long ride w/ alot of waiting for locks, we did it about a year ago

[Li'l Toy]

Remember--you guys went farther than me--between losing 4 cylinders then spinning a hub. I think I made it up through 2 locks, then turned back w/Steve's spare prop jimmied on my shaft to dock it at Oke Tante and do a long empty trailer drive (one of too many lately).

That was a gorgeous run across the lake in the morning--and coming back I hitched a ride with you and you navigated by GPS down the St. Lucie while I screened my face with both arms in the downpour and tried to watch for traffic.

[mrcrsr]

thats rite pat, i forgot you were with us, that was a nice ride other then the prop problem