Boating in St Lucie River (Palm City, Stuart: HOA, purchase, maintenance)

[Chuck12020123]

I'm seriously looking to relocated to the Treasure Coast area & I have some questions about boating. I'm not an open ocean boater & will primarily use the intercosatal and St Lucie Rivers. I'm looking at an approx. 18' center console type boat with a bimini top I can lower.

My Questions are:
1. How far can I travel up (north) the north fork of the St. Lucie River?
2. It is all or mostly no wake zones?
3. Am I correct that I can go all the way south on the South Fork?
4. Is any of that no wake zones?
5. Am I correct that via 2 locks, I can go all the way to Lake Okeechobee?
6, Is that a no wake zone?
7. And lastly, is much of the intercoastal a no wake zone in that area.

Thanks in advance

[JERSEY MAN]

Originally Posted by Chuck12020123

I'm seriously looking to relocated to the Treasure Coast area & I have some questions about boating. I'm not an open ocean boater & will primarily use the intercosatal and St Lucie Rivers. I'm looking at an approx. 18' center console type boat with a bimini top I can lower.

My Questions are:
1. How far can I travel up (north) the north fork of the St. Lucie River?
2. It is all or mostly no wake zones?
3. Am I correct that I can go all the way south on the South Fork?
4. Is any of that no wake zones?
5. Am I correct that via 2 locks, I can go all the way to Lake Okeechobee?
6, Is that a no wake zone?
7. And lastly, is much of the intercoastal a no wake zone in that area.

Thanks in advance

U can travel for miles up the north fork, most of it is NOT a no wake zone. It's a nice scenic ride and fishing is pretty good up there. Going on the south fork, yes it goes all the way to Lake O. which u can cross and continue all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. I'm not sure if that area is mostly no wake but I've read articles where people traverse the entire trip across the state by leaving early in the morning and get to the other side by the PM. It's a nice area for boating and the town of Stuart has a free marina for daily stops with floating docks.

[FlaLadyB]

Yes you can go from here to there all the way to the other side of Florida

You need to purchase a map of the waterways from a local marine store

Here are a few sites to look at and read before you attempt it.

Florida Powerboat Club Photo Gallery - Coast to Coast Rally: Stuart to Ft. Myers Beach

Waterway Cruising Guide | Navigation Updates

[stxer]

Wondered what part of river or canal(s) are better suited for 29ft to 32 ft power boat, sport fisher style inboards and trailerable?

Weighing waterfront with own dock vs boat ramps, marinas, or community's with cluhouse and docks

Have seen online and with google maps, properties in sevral areas but not familar with local canal depths, bridges, water level rise or surge if waterfront

Mud cove area
C23 waterfront
C24 waterfront
Oak Hammock Park area
Stuart
Palm City

Retired, no children but don't mind family and kid friendly areas, kayakers, fishing, and not golfers, not a fan of hoa or at least high priced ones, don't really use all the amenities and do our own yard/pool maintenance.

Hope that isn't too much, but wanted to throw out as much as can for overall picture.

Thanks in advance for your input!

[gv28]

Chuck,

Did you find answers to your questions?
If not I can help some.


Here are a couple of my photos of the North Fork of the St Lucie River.

[Chuck12020123]

Thank you very much for the pics and the message. Looks so peaceful

[gv28]

Welcome! Found a few more.



north fork of the st lucie river












this last one gets up toward white city park / midway rd. Maybe still half mile away though.







-

[funathleticboy77]

I actually live right on mud cover on the North Fork. There are no fixed bridges all the way to inlet and one no wake zone right outside mudcove about 1/4 mile of no wake and then you are free to DT stuart. About 3 or 4 miles from mud cove to Roosevelt bridge in DT stuart. Another 7 miles to inlet from DT Stuart.

[funathleticboy77]

The other 2 no wake zones to inlet are at the Roosevelt bridge (2 mins) and again at the Sewall's point bridge. This is only 500ft before and after bridge.