16 foot Jon Boat attempts the Great loop speed record.

[thataway]

The "Ageless Wander" has attempted a number of adventures with his 16 foot modified Jon Boat. He lelt Pensacola Pass on Saturday, July 12, morning at about 7:30 AM, and arrived in Fort Myers on Sunday Evening. By the next morning he was offshore off the East Coast of Florida, with the intent of riding the Gulf Stream current up. Last night apparently there was a gear failure with his tiller pilot steering the 60 hp tiller steered outboard Tohatsu outboard. He set off from Cape Canaveral this morning, and seems to have some issues today. The record is 19 day, 19 hours and 50 minutes, set by a 28 foot boat in 2024. Currently a 41' express go fast is also attempting the record. In one video the "Ageless Wanderer tells why he believes that he can beat this 3 engine go fast, with 4 crew aboard. Apparently he has done the Inland Passage, so boating in AK, and an aborted attempt to do the "North West Passage". A C Dory 16' cruiser would have been a much better boat, if he wanted a small boat. The smallest to do the great loop is a 12' PWC. Several 16 foot aluminum boats have done the Great Loop, crewed by two Gals in their 20's who were the daughters of the owners of "DuroBoat"

Here is a link to his U Tube channel. . Start with the tour of his boat, and then the one on why he thinks he can beat the 41 go fast boat....

Here is the link to his Garmin tracking app.. There is also a facebook page, but so far it does not seem to be much information. This is also being followed closely on The Hull Truth.

I think this is an extremely bad idea--and it seems to be shaking out today, with his attempt to run many miles out in the Atlantic to try and pick up the Gulf Stream, and get a "push"--problem is that instead of running at 20 to 30 mph, he has been running at 5 to 17 mph--much at 10 or so miles per hour. Apparently he sleeps when under way at night--or did so on the trip from Pensacola to Fort Meyers....Not a good idea--only an AIS reciever and a 7" Simrad chart plotter with depth sounder and side scan. He has 400 mile range with multiple gas cans, lining the interior of the alumnum jon boat. He has some type of tarp tent; not sure if it is under the Bimini or the Bimni is part of it. No EPIRB or PLB mentioned. No fixed VHF radio--probably a hand held VHF, but I didn't see it mentioned in his gear.

Please give your comments, and enjoy! God watches over Fools and young Children.

[JamesTXSD]

This is a problem with "doing the Loop": people who regard it as something to "check off a list" or make it a competition. In this particular instance, the guy sounds like a candidate for a Darwin Award.

Having boat cruised for the absolute joy of it, I'm a believer in taking time to enjoy the journey, not just rack up the miles or see who can do it the fastest. But, that is my take on it.

You may remember me writing about the gentleman who wanted to complete the ICW in his C-Dory, running it to its ending point at the Port Isabel Turning Basin (NOT the Port of Brownsville, like some seem to think). He contacted me and I told him I would give him cruising information for the GICW and places to anchor or finding a dock in the portion between Galveston Island and Port Isabel, and interesting stops along the way... he didn't use any of it. He just wanted to complete that section of the ICW. He arrived in Port Isabel days earlier than what he told me and expected me to drop what I was doing to "get him to a rental car company (50 miles away) so he could go back to Louisiana to get his truck and trailer." I did, and put his boat at our dock. He was back the next day (no notice) wanting to know how to get into our gated community so he could pick up his boat and head for home.

To each his own, but I don't see any pleasure in just making miles, whether by boat or land vehicle. This situation seems more foolhardy than just making miles.

[robhwa]

You ask for comments, Bob! Besides enjoying a wide variety of boating, I am also a long-distance trail hiker, and we usually would say "hike your own hike" when people start commenting on or criticizing an individuals plans and gear for hiking/camping. I think the same concept may hold true here except that a powered boat can be very dangerous to other people when not properly handled, and it certainly is NOT being handled well if a single occupant is sleeping while underway, tired, or not fully aware. My future plans may include a Great Loop, but I certainly won't be trying to set any speed records. I want to enjoy and savor every minute on the water and make those trips as safe as possible for everyone!