16 foot Jon Boat attempts the Great loop speed record.

[DaveInRI]

Some notes from his FB posts to date-- check out his range (!!)

* My fuel capacity allows me 680 miles range at wide open throttle and 924 miles at an optimal cruising speed of 24 mph.

* On my America's Great Loop I intend to do it as quickly as I possibly can. I'm hoping to complete AGL in 25 to 30 days, establishing several records while doing it. I will double my 2,405 mile record distance, but I hope to set a Solo Speed Record for AGL. The current multi man crew and overall record is 19 day, 19 hours and 50 minutes set in a 28' boat with a large single outboard and 3 man crew. Being me... I would love to push the big boat record... but hey... I'll be in a 16' tiller steer Jon Boat 😂.

* Sections I haven't seen before include, The Hudson River, Erie Canal, Great Lakes and Illinois River. I really look forward to seeing those sections. I will rarely step foot from my vessel during this trip. I will start with full provisions only needing to take on water and fuel. I will make one quick outhaul for engine maintenance along the way.

* I'm so looking forward to the Erie Canal! After pushing myself hard from Pensacola to the Hudson I will be looking forward to arriving at my first lock closure. 13 to 15 hours to refuel, get a shower, eat a meal in a restaurant and 9 hours sleep! Recharging to cross the Great Lakes and make the long trek South. I'm hoping to make it to the locks as the first one opens and spend no more than 2 nights in the locks.

* I've decided to go for the overall record of Americas Great Loop. The current record is 19 days, 19 hours and 50 minutes. It was set by a 28' Canyon Bay with a 400 hp Mercury and a three man crew, they brought on a fresh crew member in Chicago to take them through the rivers on their way back to the Gulf.
It may sound insane to think of a 71 year old man, alone in a 16' Weldbilt Jon Boat with a 60hp Tohatsu can complete the loop faster. I have done a detailed analysis of the record boat and the crew. I have analyzed every minute of their trip. I considered their start date / location and weather conditions they experienced. I am confident I can get it done. It will require reasonable weather and no surprise in the locks. Given this I'll get it done.

[Foggy]

Voila! Witness "extreme boating" which involves

* illusionary "fun" activity actually brutal in reality
* sensationalism, high risk w/egocentric reward to participant
* high probability of participant repressed death wish
* risk for first responders when needed financed by taxpayers
* minimal/moderate entertainment value for most observers
* minimal benefit to the average joe

Aye.
Grandpa used to say, "When you go looking for trouble, eventually, you find it."

[thataway]

He spent the night anchored in a cove, near Oriental. He made a mistake and backtracked on Pamlico Sound--then all of the way to Oregan Inlet--apparently changed his mind about running inside, or got lost?. Fueled up and headed out Oregan Inlet--he probably has the fuel to make it to Sandy Hook/mouth of Hudson River by tomorrow...We will see how he does on this trip. Hopefully he is not run down or some other catastrophic failing. Doing this he is crossing the traffic lanes into the Chesapeake and Deleware bays, which be busy with all sorts of commercial traffic....Time will tell.

[gulfcoast john]

Hi Bob,

We’re absolutely positive that we’re having a better time than he is… at Starved Rock marina at 96 degrees in the cockpit with a heat advisory, but 74 degrees and 50% humidity inside with the 15k Coleman AC on. I think he should get one. If we break the record for the longest time to complete our loop, we’ll be happy. If we don’t, we’ll be happy. Albemarle was our roughest day (forecast wrong) but Pamlico was calm. You never know, and the forecasters never KNOW. Other boat choices would make more sense to me.
John

[starcrafttom]

Well he is 20 miles offshore of Virginia beach now. Must be flat seas or a rough ride. Looks like he's going to skip the Chesapeake bay all together