16 foot Jon Boat attempts the Great loop speed record.

Trip Smith posted on facebook about this guy and his trip. Some pretty good info. But what I got out of it, is even Trip thinks this guy is operating somewhat dangerously. (Although he still wishes this guy a lot of luck and thinks he is having the time of his life....and Trip admitted to not always running smart in his earlier days either...)Speeding through no wake zones, falling asleep at the tiller, grounding, running into sea walls. Anyway, Trip's public FB post:

A adventurous gentlemen named Robert Youens is currently in the spotlight during his Great Loop speed record run on a john boat with a custom bow.
I've had a number of people ask me what I thought about it since I've been known to take on some longer/risky voyages in similar vessels. Since those days, I've become a licensed captain with a 100 Ton Master Near Coastal credential, and have ran some larger boats thousands of miles, learned quite a lot and am loving the process.
Here has been my answer to those asking:
First, I wish Robert safe travels and that the adventure is everything he dreamt it would be and more (pretty sure it is 😉)
The moment I first saw him on Facebook, I quickly assumed a few things.
1) the choice of boat (mod-v john boat) might reflect a lack of experience on more seaworthy vessels, which would likely reflect a lack of experience on big trips/water like those found on the Loop. ***Unless the john boat was intentional for publicity reasons which another captain friend of mine mentioned
2) With that assumption, he is taking considerable risks considering the vessel and someone with that experience level (that I'm assuming)
3) Unfortunately, one day he fell asleep at the tiller while running and ran into some tall reed grass which luckily was a soft landing. He said this was due to eating too much during the day and being exhausted. That's dangerous to himself and others on the water.
4) He reported a run-in with a seawall of some sorts during rough weather. I don't know any more specifics, but that's not good.
5) He has been seen/video speeding through no wake zones. In one of the videos the gentlemen filming encouraged him to speed through the no wake zone. I saw in the comments the gentlemen defending his statement to Robert saying it was ok to do so because there were no docks or other boats present so it wasn't a big deal. He also stated there were police there observing. I'd bet they weren't marine police..... If they were, that's not a positive reflection of them. (this further reflects his possible lack of experience on the water)
Well, laws on the water should be followed no matter. They are there for reasons even if we are not aware of the reason or if the reason is illegitimate in our opinion.
Robert is trying to set a speed record for The Great Loop. If he makes it, I'm afraid it may not be valid since he is breaking laws by speeding through no wake zones..... which is extremely unfortunate considering the time, money, effort and risks he is taking to reach his goals.
How do I see it playing out? I have my thoughts which I may share in another post. But primarily, I hope he crosses his wake (completes the Loop) safely with a big grin on his face.
Some negatives....
1) He has put himself in a position where his safety and others on the water is at risk.
2) He is inspiring others to make similar attempts even if they aren't properly experience and equipped to do so safely.
I've been guilty of both of those negatives myself, and pretty much everything else here I've said 🤣
 
To each their own. Personally, I admire this 71 year old person taking on this endeavor & I’m thoroughly enjoying following him on YouTube & the In Reach.
 
Hunkydory":2bgup8l8 said:
To each their own. Personally, I admire this 71 year old person taking on this endeavor & I’m thoroughly enjoying following him on YouTube & the In Reach.
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Minus the threat to other people, I'd agree. I have no more admiration for this dangerous stunt, and IMHO it is a ridiculous stunt, than someone trying to set a time record crossing the US by speeding on the interstates and loading their car and trunk full of jerry cans of gasoline to avoid stopping at service stations. I certainly hope nobody gets hurt, but I see significant potential to endanger other people and property the way he is doing this. If he were paddling a kayak, I might admire the feat. Please tell me exactly how this is different than speeding on a highway, other than it is done on the water in a boat.
 
He has been stoping for the nights, and that is one very important change. He should be at the Statue of Liberity, the same time Lady Lora is entering the Gulf Coast ICW in Mobile Bay. They went thru all of the locks on the TenTomBigbee waterway yesterday and last light.

Ageless Wanderer the last few days has been slowing down for most of the "No Wake" Zones. There is no way he can break the record which Lady Lora should make. javascript:emoticon(':monty')
 
than someone trying to set a time record crossing the US by speeding on the interstates
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there are multiple yearly events that go back to the 70's that do exactly this in cars and motorcycles... This is nothing new or on heard of.
 
starcrafttom":jpclpqut said:
than someone trying to set a time record crossing the US by speeding on the interstates
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there are multiple yearly events that go back to the 70's that do exactly this in cars and motorcycles... This is nothing new or on heard of.
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Cannonball Run. They made a movie about it.

The Cannonball Run was a real thing.
 
starcrafttom":24pxehqx said:
Please tell me exactly how this is different than speeding on a highway,
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its legal....
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I'm sorry I am being too critical of this guy. My boating experiences include being hit on the port side by a pontoon boat (I was in a canoe), on Park Lake, WA. Passengers screamed and he did manage to slow down. There was no damage to the plastic canoe. Just two days ago, a boat tried to cross in front of the Anderson Island ferry from the port side and the captain had to reverse and alter course after they didn't respond to his horn.

Legal requirements of boating include:

- maintaining a watch and control ...the guy already ran aground, and he could have hit another boater. At WOT throttle the consequences could be severe.

- no wake in a no-wake and no speeding in a posted zone.

He has already violated both of these.

Perhaps he is now not as intent on setting a record by doing unsafe or potentially destructive behavior. In that case, I'll admire him for his guts and hope that he makes the loop safely and enjoyably.

As for organized racing events on land...I helped organize a fun run in Vancouver, WA and my wife organized one for the Woman's Caucus of the American Statistical Association, I think Cincinnatti, OH. The reason they need sponsors and have high entry fees is the requirements of making them safe for participants and the public, marking routes, taping hazard areas, hiring police to direct traffic, etc. I would assume legal motorized racing events have the same requirements. Movies like Cannonball Run are not real life.
 
????? a Stunt women was killed while doing her job performing a stunt on a moive about the cannon ball run NOT while driving on the cannon ball run. Spend more time reading what you are quoting then quickly searching for a head line to make your moat point.... just a tip. never mind , I will do the search you should have done. Oh look no one ever got killed or die in the cannon ball run and only one person was hurt when in a single car accident that only involved a racer not the public. On the other hand an Aussi version of the run but with rules and safety committees and judges resulted in three deaths. "those that can should and those that cant should stay out of my way" Me.
 
Meanwhile, back on the water, the jon boat is on the Erie canal, and going 5 mph (not the. 30 he speculated he could achieve because he boat does not make much wake. He stopped yesterday since the lock near there closed at 4PM.

Lady Lor has crossed the Gulf of Mexico, and is currently fueling in Venice. She may have enough fuel to get to the crossing point near Key Largo as soon as tonight, if she can keep up speed. This will wipe out the old record. Also this route is longer because the Jon boat went across the middle of Florida--the Contender (Lady Lou) went around (mostly) Florida.

The question is over what course would be the valid record time? It will be valid for overall doing the loop, but only for the class of boat: single outboard, multiple outboards, single inboard diesel, and gas;;
 
I think a few are missing the point. That is the scenery if you are in a hurry just to make a record! If you want to race, go find a race to participate in. I look at the Great Loop, the Inside Passage, the PNW, as beautiful places to enjoy nature and scenery. Or to meet people from other locales. There are enough fools on the water that think everyone should get out of their way! Or are the reason for some of the laws that are written. I too like to go fast at times. But with consideration for the boaters, critters, and shore around me. Colby
 
Colby is spot and walks the walk. We see the Loop as a great vehicle to look at America. You can go into the small towns, eat a lunch or dinner there, meet local people. The people you meet are a lot of the cruising. When you travel with a group of C Dorys (and we have a lot, because it is fun, and we enjoy the good company. But I feel we get more out of our cruises when we are solol, and get to see the small museums, which show the town's history. Meet the people and see how they live. Listen to the storys they have to tell.

The scenery is also important. We have really enjoyed the 20 or so years we cruised the C Dory: mostly on inland waters. We had already covered most of the major anchorages and ports from Icy Straights AK, to The Maine Canadian Border in our larger cruising sail boats. We also lived on the James River in VA and that gave us a lot of time to explore the Chespaeake. I spent 4 years in Med School in Houston--13' "Wolverine" cold molded boat, and 25 hp evinrude--water skiied, and camper cruised the
The Texas Gulf Coast from Brownsville to the Lousiania boarder.

The only major area we did not see was the Bay of Campche in the Western Gulf of Mexico.


There are so many wonderful towns, great scenery to see in all of the USA--and any one of the C Dorys can be the perfect vehicle to do that with!
 
I have zero interest in my own racing anywhere, but as I said before “to each their own”. This guy has drawn much interest from many & overall from what I’ve seen it’s more positive than negative. It appears to me, it’s not the race, that draws the interest, but the unique way this older gentleman is taking on the challenge to himself .

Personally, I also have no interest in doing the grand loop & little in even reading about others doing it. There’s still way to many people & to little wildlife along the route with also having already seen many of these small towns along the way by RV. The exception being the following of those like Pat & Patty, who I know & respect & shared a good tale of the doing. Then this guy pops up here & many other places on social media & again, I’m enjoying following along, not to see the possible wreck as many do in racing events, but rather how he meets the challenges of trying & to see if he succeeds in just making the loop in this little boat, whether any records are broken or not.

I can understand the negativity on this coming from most of the C-Brat community as those of us who choose a C-Dory are naturally oriented to slower more comfortable boating with good protection from bad weather with boating as Colby described the norm. The only good reason in my opinion to choose a small jon boat for doing the Grand Loop is for the challenge & adventure and as my favorite author J.R.R. Tolkien described in “The Lord of The Rings” adventure is a dangerous business.

Again to each their own. As for we, my wife & I, in the majority of our C-Dory boating, We’ve chosen the more remote places such as off the main routes in SE Alaska, the Yukon River & remote lakes where people are few, wildlife plenty & being rescued from mistakes or equipment failure not a ready option. That to us is adventure & we too have been accused of being irresponsible & putting others at risk in our pursuit of it, so perhaps why, I see this man’s endeavor in a purely positive way. The older you get, the less one has to lose, when making the judgement of risk vs reward.
 
I think a few are missing the point.
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I agree. The point is not how you want to do things its that different people have different ideas of a good time and ALL of them are valid. I get the slow going see a lot and enjoy your time, But I see the challenge of going fast and hard and that there is joy in that regardless of the landscape. Its like fishing. I really don't see why people own a boat but don't fish? I am glad that you are having a good time but I don't get it. Does not have to be the main focus but to not do it at all? kind of weird.

As for the grand loop. I would not do most of it. I don't see joy for my self in going in a circle just to get a bungee. From the great lakes to the gulf of America just looks like a ditch down a flat plain with nothing to see. have not been there but that's how I feel about it. Great lakes and the canals back to the east look great and full of history . East coast I have spend a lot of time in as a kid in the Chesapeake and later as a Marine in North and south Carolina. Other then the keys, which I have not seen, I could skip everything south of Virginia. I have had my fill of swamp and its just not that pretty to me. Also the sheer amount of people that live there was annoying to me 30 years ago. Cant imagine how it is today. I would do the intercoastal from the keys to New York and then to the great lakes but I would run as fast as I can thru Georgia and the Carolinas. Far more interested in the inside passage. Funny how many people are fans of that race that blows thru the scenery for time sake but no one has the same arguments as we are having with this guy????

Oh yeah the point. The point is different people do things different and I support them all. Even when its not my type of thing.
 
Lady Lor completed her loop this afternoon. I do't know the precise times, but am reading that 12 days and 8 hours is close to it. If so they have beaten the old "record" by 7 days and 11 hours. Despite, having the center engine outdrive fail in the Mobile Bay area. This slowed them to about 10 knots, and less effecient, the pulled the prop, and trimmed the lower unit up, but still a drag. On Sunday, they had the boat pulled at Port St. Joe for a quick haul and unbolted the lower unit. There was none available of the type they needed, They could plane again after the fuel was decreased, so they elected to not fill the fuel tanks as full, and run shorter distances between fuel fill ups. They lost a day earlier due to steering issues, and probably another day with this outdrive issue.

There are multiple routes to run the loop and many are longer. The jon boat cut across Lake Okeechobee and the middle of Florida, and that is probably nearly a day shorter than having started and finished in the keys.

The jon boat owner had to modify some of his strategies, such as being able to run very fast thru "no wake" or 5 mph zones, because his boat put out such a minimal wake. Not allowed!
He was lucky running at night with minimal running lights, that he didn't hit something, or that some other boat did not hit him. I have run thousands of hours at night, but at slower speeds, with Radar and in some cases with night vision. One thing I always worried about was hitting a small boat with no lights. One early morning I was getting a very slight blip on radar, and asked Marie to go foreward with the hand held spotlight. Yep there it was a row boat with a Mexican fisherman aboard. If there had been heavy seas, that blip occasinal blip would have been lost in the sea clutter. We did hit a cable, atatched to a styrofoam float which was holding a tuna net in the Straits of Gibralter. The 3/4" cable caught on the 26" diameter Prop, and spun the 65,000 lb boar 180 degrees in an instant. No apparent damage, but it turned out later that there was engine mount damage, not readily apparent.
 
Just back from Paris. Did the entire Louvre in 27 minutes. Evaded security and ruined a few vacations. Should make me famous on Twitter with my fellow Twits. Kowabunga!

Mark
 
Mark the best laugh in several months!! Were you able to steal the Mono Lisa?

The Ageless Wanderer, and has anchored for the night in the lee of a Canadian Spit of Land. Technically he cannot anchor in Canadian waters until he has cleared customs. However I doubt that any one would disturb him, and he would say he didn't know the law....
 
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