I can’t look away...

Y

Yakmandu

New member
First, sorry if this is old news on this site...

I bumped into a series on Amazon Prime. It is home video quality of two guys who take a flats boat to Europe in 2018. Yes, a flats boat!

I can’t say if they make it, I’ve only watched three episodes. But, I can’t stop watching!

Let’s just say that watching will make you believe in God - no radar, inadequate funding, lots of repairs, and constantly losing things overboard. But, these guys are tough!

Hold my beer!

https://www.amazon.com/Second-Smallest- ... /ref=nodl_
 
People do some really stupid things and survive. I have been aware of this, and a number of others who want to do it in a smaller or at least a similar boat. Reason: Because it can be done....and you can use your life.

These are basic coastal voyages from one port to another, but that is a wild ocean and not always predictable.
 
I watched this series about a year ago, and despite the home video production quality, I too could not stop watching. As Bob pointed out it's a port to port voyage but still those are some big open crossings from Labrador to Greenland, Greenland to Iceland, and Iceland to the Faroe Islands they make in a completely open boat with similar outboard as what many of us run (a Suzuki 115, IIRC).

Some pretty big seas that make you think even the biggest of wind waves around here are nothing by comparison! And the logistics of doing maintenance in some of those remote locations.

Apologies for lack of spoiler alert but the title of the show kind of gives it away, yes they make it (although getting the boat back to the US is another question). Can't recall where they eventually landed, somewhere in UK probably?

I was pretty amazed they actually completed it alive considering the lack of experience, equipment, and planning involved, other than a strong will to raise money for wounded vets. I think also a publicity stunt to prove the hull design by one of the brothers (although it has a pretty major failure too, not surprising considering how hard they drove it).
-Mike
 
In episode 8, in the 36th to the 39th minute, I was expecting to see the boat flip in the heavy seas. The captain does a great job in keeping it upright while staying on course. It was scary to watch the boat being tossed about so violently.
 
Anyone that hasn't heard of Ben Carlon's adventures circumnavigating the earth in his amphibious car in the late 1940s should read the story. He was made from a different mold from the rest of us.
 
A few of my friends and I have met Mr Brown he was trying to raise cash for his journey This was for a bigger boat to circumnavigate the world I’ve seen the boat that made the crossing these guys have watermelon b—— crazy just thinking about it
He is building these small boat somewhere near Tampa We wished him luck and returned home with our checkbooks in tact
 
I can't say that I admire this sort of thing, as success or disaster is mostly a matter of luck, and success can inspire others to attempt the same. There is no reason for such a voyage.
 
Marty, those Mustang Survival Jackets they wear are a PFD. Both JoLee & I have had them, including the bibs since out time exploring remote lakes & rivers on a rubber inflatable in the Yukon & Northwest Territory’s in 2001.

Jay
 
This is JoLee wearing her’s as we arrived in Haines, Alaska from Skagway in 2001. This was a side trip that year from exploring in the Yukon. What these guys are doing isn’t something that I would care to do, but I think maybe I have a more personal understanding of why they want to. That day the conditions were a bit rough as we were about to leave Haines back to Skagway & were severely chastised by a person on a sailboat who thought we were wrong to do so. I think his perception of us at that time likely mirrors those here who have commented so negatively on these guys & their fulfilling a personal dream adventure. We ignored him & made it safely back to Skagway. I prefer to let others follow their dreams, whether I think them ill advised & crazy or not.

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Thanks for that Jay. I thoroughly enjoyed binge-watching the series . I can't help but admire them, the gal in the kayak, and you and JoLee.
 
Can't find a positive thought about those 2 guys in a flats boat
crossing to Europe except, apparently, they didn't have to row...

Aye.
 
I finally suffered through the series. One can learn two valuable lessons from viewing. How to not plan a trip and how not to plan a trip. Dumb luck was the only thing from them placing emergency personnel in harms way.

Darwin did have a consolation prize for the one brother who burned his own house down after his return. Now they want to go around the world?
 
Well, I'm jealous because I've wanted to do something like that my whole life. They did well, made it across to their destination, met some awesome people and saw some places I'd never seen. And their boat was junk when they finished. I'd say they planned it perfectly. The highlight of the trip was when they paddled around the iceberg.

For years my dream was to take a bike to the tip of South America. Never got to do that but had some great adventures. So I can enjoy their adventures and say "go for it."

One can criticize some of the execution, such as hanging around when the weather was good, but all in all it want well. Id'a joined them in a heartbeat. And may I point out that we all have flat bottom boats that we feel are tough little buggers. any one for taking a 19 C-Dory across the Atlantic and claiming the record? At least it would have a cabin.

Boris
 
journey on":19alphan said:
Well, I'm jealous because I've wanted to do something like that my whole life. They did well, made it across to their destination, met some awesome people and saw some places I'd never seen. And their boat was junk when they finished. I'd say they planned it perfectly. The highlight of the trip was when they paddled around the iceberg.

For years my dream was to take a bike to the tip of South America. Never got to do that but had some great adventures. So I can enjoy their adventures and say "go for it."

One can criticize some of the execution, such as hanging around when the weather was good, but all in all it want well. Id'a joined them in a heartbeat. And may I point out that we all have flat bottom boats that we feel are tough little buggers. any one for taking a 19 C-Dory across the Atlantic and claiming the record? At least it would have a cabin.

Boris
Click to expand...

:thup :thup
 
I've always been intrigued by how to distinguish an "extreme sport" from "stupidity." (The same is true with "body art" and "self-mutilation.") Too often the "adventure" appears to be a failed suicide attempt recorded with a GoPro.

I suppose it depends on the "goal" and "why," both of which are often claimed to be "personal," as if that justifies everything. For me, the goal and why seems to be to make a YouTube video. Maybe I just don't appreciate the personal growth, maturity, success, and happiness resulting from appearing in a "viral" YouTube video.

Without the video, it's just a tree falling in the forest with nobody there. I recently did a seal launch off of the Tacoma Narrows bridge in my CD 16, but failed to push "record." I could have been a contender. I could have been somebody.

Mark

Marlon Brando explains the importance of YouTube at 1:20.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBiewQrpBBA
 
Finished the series. I think their lack of sponsors and funding was a direct result of their duct tape and bailing wire approach to the trip. Who would want their name on the boat when it hits the news...

I still can’t believe they did the trip with only the default Garmin world map on their GPS. They sure didn’t impress the local authorities along the way.

I’m exhausted just watching it!
 
In my opinion distinguishing between extreme, stupid or a valid valuable undertaking should be left to the one doing it. All others will have differing opinions as evidenced in this thread. That’s why to me, the overriding decision on the safety & validity of an adventure should be left to the one or group doing it & the use of “this could endanger those involved in a possible rescue” just another means of control over who does what. No one is forced into the vocations involving search & rescue & most pay taxes that go toward paying for these services. I have never had to be rescued in any of my life’s adventures & would not have wanted to miss a one, whether these service’s were available or not. I would rather have all of the search & rescue services be discontinued, then their completely dictating who can do where, when & what.

Presently SPOT, In Reach & Sat phones do create the problem of to many having them be Plan A, if dream turns to nightmare, instead of good planning & execution in the full filling of dreams. I would not be against the use of these service plans to require a insurance policy, that payed for being rescued, but foremost feel to either risk ones own life or when to end it, the most fundamental individual right of all.
 
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