We're Karly and Evan Nietzel! High school sweethearts from the Midwest and adventurers at heart. We started out as best friends who found fun in bike rides and paddle boarding together, and now we're living the married life in sunny south Florida with our pup, Ripley.
We've had our fair share of adventure over the last nine years, but we're gearing up for the biggest adventure yet...America's Great Loop! Follow along as we navigate this journey from the planning stages to actually setting off on the loop.
In the video of the 1st anchor as he was going towards the anchor it looked like some sort of jewelry or what not on the bottom just before the anchor.
We bought our loop boat end of January. Finally anchored out the week after Memorial Day at pelican bay (near Fort Myers), boy was it hot! Anchor held yahoo! Next night we stayed at Tween waters-electric and AC, slept great. We are also spending a year learning our boat skills etc. excited to watch your journey.
Hey everyone! Not sure who all will see this but I wanted to bring attention to MANY of your comments. We DID back down on our anchor but I failed to film that portion since Evan had just been in the water and we were eager to cool off in the water. Alls to say, we DID back down and I SHOULD have mentioned that somewhere in the editing of the video. Anyways, happy anchoring!
Just found your channel and like what I see and hear. Evan, get into the habit of specifying the exact type of fuel (diesel or gas) - your boat is diesel - do NOT make the mistake of pulling up to a fuel dock and filling up with gas. Definitely, change out all of the lights on the boat to LED and you might also want to look at fridge/freezer drawers instead of a front opening fridge. Good luck on your adventure!!!
I can't wait to see your journey! I love these videos! My dream is to do the loop. Unfortunately, I work at a marina in michigan lol. Pay is low due to only working half the year.
Two suggestions: Before doing the Great Loop, yo many want to try the Florida Mini-Loop (600 miles) through Lake Okeechobee, the Keys, etc. Suggest you also install some Air Conditioning, which will also give you heat when you need it (especially January/February in FL)
Hey, we enjoy your videos. I'm watching your 1st Anchorage video. When you dove the Anchor i noticed that it was just sitting on the bottom. You guys need to use your main engine to back down on your Anchor to make it dig in. Just sitting it on the bottom could let current and wind make you drag.
I dont think I would call that anchor at @ 5:00"set". You need to put the boat in reverse until it stops moving, it should be buried much deeper than that.
Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice 😊 👍🏻 🌞 Always enjoy and appreciate your first days on your new-to-you boat. Congratulations ‼️🙌🏻 See you next time. ✨ 🌊 💨 🛥️ 🏝️ 👙 🌞 ✨
when you're in the water cleaning the bottom, be sure to wear some type of ear plugs. Part of what you're scraping off is small living organisms that will find there way into your ear canal. not pleasant.
I'm not sure what the market name is but look for an item called a "potty patch" for Ripley. It's not much more than a piece of astro-turf for the dog to use. I have no experience with it but have seen other live aboards using such an item.
Sandra here from Go Thataway. We are just over half way done the Loop and are delaying finishing until next year. Instead of heading back to Canada we are in Indiantown doing massive renovations to our Marine Trader. We don't have a car but if you do and you'd like to meet up with some fellow youtubers, let us know. We can bus in to Stuart to meet. We are happy to share what we know about Marine Traders and exchange stories. We are 2.5 years in to boat ownership so the curve isn't as steep now! Very much remember the early days of anchoring! Cheers!
I hope you guys will show all of your remods on here. I've been binge watching your channel to catch up. This channel just so happened to pop up on my thread and I happened to notice your comment. Hope all is well with you guys. Looking forward to seeing what else you plan to do with your boat.
Hey Sandra! Yes I have watched many of your videos! We would LOVE to meet up. Send me an email at navigatingnietzels@gmail.com and I'll give you my number!
@theabsolutetruth2024 trying hard to keep them coming. It's been harder to get the editing done. Thanks for the kind comments and I'm glad you enjoy them. We've been following the Nietzels as they've just started pre-looping. Brings back memories!
If you wanted to save precious countertop space, get a 3 or 5 stage filter and place it near your main drinking source, inline with your water tanks. Far less expensive than a Berkey
You guys are killing it for first time anchoring out👍🏼 Solar a must if you like to be on the hook. With good batteries and solar it’s so nice not having to constantly worry about the state of your batteries. That being said, if you have a generator it’s always a good idea to run it for a bit every couple days because they are meant to run. For drinking water, we keep a couple 5 gallon water jugs on board with a battery electric pump (from Amazon) works great!
Buzz kill here, but hopefully I'll do it with a little class. 1. Your briddle needs correcting. The hook on the briddle should hold the chain UP (let some chain out between the bow and briddle hook). Hope that is descriptive enough. 2. You must back-down on your anchor to set it. Secure the anchor chain to a cleat (probable with the briddle hook temporarily tied to one side) and reverse with both engines to over 1000 rpm in the direction the current will take you until there is no motion backwards, then set your briddle. This will assure a good night's sleep. Have fun!
I believe more scope would be in order. If the depth is 10 feet then you should have 40 to 50 (depending on who you ask) feet out. And… you should add the height from the water to the anchor roller to the depth. Hard to say for sure, but it looked like you had 2:1 scope. Many mark their chain at intervals. There is a “standard” color system if you want. But… I would have the code where it is easily seen from where you stand while deploying the anchor. Then if it is 9.6 feet depth you likely want 50 feet of chain out.
@AbNomal621 Rub Your Balls With Grease = Red, Yellow, Blue, White, Green then I paint the last 10 feet with red to warn of the upcoming bitter end, which should be tied off with line so you can cut it if you get in trouble but you won't lose the anchor and chain if you roll the full wad out without knowing it...JIM!
Great job docking!! Love, love Ripley doing so well learning Boat life. Keep these videos coming, love seeing you grow your boat skills. Carly, amazingas well. ,
Solar is the way to go we been using them for 15 plus years in lake Huron and North channel verry seldom start the genny when anchored out weeks at a time. Thanks for the Video.
I will be retiring soon early 60s my wife late 50s retired a year ago and I am slowly talking her into doing the loop. This is the type of boat we will need and she’s short and small and would need a front opening fridge also 🤷 looking forward to watching and learning from you guys and others and maybe some day get to do the loop. Great job 👏
Reccomend you have a training day with a certified captain like Capt Chris .Its all good on calm days ,when the weather comes up things happen fast.Good luck on your adventure.Another thing to check is comms,you can ask any boat for a radio check .Channels 71,72 .Look up VHF channels and keep a list handy .
Looking forward too following your journey! Do you have thrusters on the boat to help maneuver in tight quarters since only a single engine? Wishing you the Best.
Great questions and honest answers! The timing of everything sounds perfect...at least on paper! You guys clearly make a great team. If the timing works, my wife and I would love to buy you guys dinner and bring you any fun or necessary provisions somewhere along your route when you hit the Upper Chesapeake Bay in 2025.
Florida has a boating operation requirement. Other states do as well. See FWC safety course . I strongly recommend taking US Coast Guard Auxiliary course for both of you. USCG Captain license has days on water requirements. Have fun, be safe, be smart. Knowledge is power.
Great informative video!! You two are so inspiring to this ‘ole mom!😊. I cannot wait to share in a few of those memories with you guys along this journey!
Welcome to the boating world we have been boating for fifty years we live on lake Huron 50 miles south of Tobermory Ont. ( Port Elgin ) Canada and boat the North channel which has many islands to anchor behind and the clearest fresh water is in Georgian bay .The home of the biggest fresh water island in the world that has a few hundred years of history The North Channel is .just another place that is on your trip.
If you haven't already, check out Scho and Jo's Great Loop vlogs. The finalj ust dropped and you may changee your mind after seeingi it.. PRACTICE YOUR TEAMWORK!
