Cape Canaveral Lock

Comment by: Jonathon Lever on Jan 7, 2025
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 41'
Draft: 4.0'

Shawn Murphy's comments were spot on. This is a challenging place to tie up with just two people on a 41' catamaran. It took us probably 15 minutes to get tied up and get on the wall. The wind was pushing us off the wall, which made it more challlenging. Honestly, I do everything I can to avoid going through here again.

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Comment by: John Tyrell on Jan 23, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 39'
Draft: 3.7'

I appreciated Shawn Murphy's review. The lock walls are horizontal beams as in a fence or corral. It requires you to be careful that a fender or railing on your boat does not get caught. It is manageable because it is only a 2 foot change in water level but requires you to be paying attention. We found lots of cleats but not at the top horizontal beam. They are scattered on different beams. Like most locks, lifejackets are required. Lockmaster was friendly.

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Comment by: Shawn Murphy, Gradle, on Mar 2, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 48'
Draft: 4.0'

Using this lock the first time can be tricky, especially for just two people. There were no dock personnel to assist in tying up. First, this is not like tying up to a dock at a marina. You are tying up to a wall of cross beams, imagine something like a fence on a corral, with one very large cleat on the top. There are more cleats but they are so spaced out as to become unusable so you have to wrap you other line(s) around one of the cross beams. More cleats would have been helpful. Second, we needed to position our fenders high on the freeboard because the side of our boat curves out from the water line. We had them at dock height to start and our boat was touching the wall. You have to manage your lines every minute and not tie them off. As the water drops, or raises, you need to let out line. Watch your fenders as the water level changes. Our fenders got stuck as the water level began to rise and we had to push away from the wall. As long as you pay attention, you will be ok. There is some current as the gates open to let you out. We had dolphins in the lock with us.

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Comment by: Douglas White, Coastal Yacht Management on Jan 22, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.9'

We had a young crew and locking thru was a great lesson for them, the staff at the lock were very informative, and included the young sailors. What a great learning experience for the younger generation, thank you

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Comment by: Cathy on Jun 16, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 22'
Draft: 2.0'

Even though signage and website say locks are open from 6AM to 9:30PM, last pass is at 8:45! I have requested this information be updated so boaters do not get stranded like we almost did one evening when we arrived at 8:58PM.

• WG Editor Comment:
  

  The USACE Jacksonville website states the last lockage starts at 9:00 pm. We have modified our listing in Explorer and called the Corps to confirm.

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Comment by: Paul, Changes in L'Attitudes, on Oct 14, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 41'
Draft: 3.7'

Contact lock tender on VHF 13 "Canaveral Locks". Provide vessel name and direction of travel. Report that you will stand by until next green light. Coast Pilot says to use south wall, but a shorter north wall section is also available. You will use your own lines and must be secured both forward and aft throughout the lock cycle. There is not much of a raise/drop even at High/Low water, but lines must be tended during the flood drain which is done by cracking open the doors. Dolphins will occasionally share the lock chamber with you, and seasonally you often will see manatee - so be ready to put your engine(s) in neutral as you glide past them.

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