With the fly bridge the entire sides of the boat are sail area that will significantly affect the vessel’s maneuvering. Will watch out for you on the Erie Canal! I’m retired in upstate NY and hold a Masters License. I’ve traversed the Erie Canal many times as a tour boat operator. If you need a line monkey to assist your canal transit I’ll volunteer free of charge. Can meet you at the flight of five. Good luck.
Love the fact you showed the excitement of leaving the marina. Shows you just a regular captain like the rest of us 😎.. Man that's one hell of a marina to get in and out of..
You did a great job under all of that pressure. Don't blame yourself when stuff goes wrong.. It is part of the boating life. Trial run or not sh*! happens and it will happen again. Safe travels and look forward to seeing more of your 6000 mile trip of a life time .
I have a 46 foot carver fly bridge and you did a great job. That drawbridge is insane and would also be a no go for me so if you can handle that, you can handle anything. Great video.
Don’t get discouraged. You can do this and I’ll be watching. I have the same plan as you but a few years to go before I start. I need to see your success which will happen. You just had a lot of challenges to face on your first day. All that wind. That tiny bridge to squeeze through. Couple of deviations from dead center is not the end of the world. You achieved the goal of the day. Please keep the videos coming and don’t give up. You’ve got this!
Sir, If that is the worst thing that happens to you, you're in good shape. Will be following your adventure. By the way it isn't an adventure till something goes wrong.
That departure was painful to watch. I am definitely subscribing to see the future… you have challenges ahead being the only crewmember, but you’re going to have a great exploration. If you decide to take a few travelers along the way, let us know. I’m sure you’ll get lots of people who would want to join for a week or more.
Thank you for that honest account of your first official Loop day. I'm sure I will learn a lot by watching your journey as you go... as I prepare for my own journey next year. What not to do is just as important as what to do, and sometimes we only learn those lessons by doing. Kudos to you for sharing this good info with us.
Awesome Stuff! I would love to do an the Great Loop like you're doing. Probably never will so keep up the good work. I'll be watching and living through you. Thanks for the hard work and enjoy your adventure.
Good for you - that departure was a sticky situation that would challenge a lot of pilots and kudos for showing the warts and all of your trip kickoff. Subbed for the ride in the hopes of doing it one day and your honest assessment of Day 1 adventure is a good omen I think.
Every day is a good day. Some are just better than others. Look at the bright side, you were still in a good situation to get it fixed. I'm here with you for the whole trip. Thanks for sharing.
Congrats for having the balls to do it and take us along for the ride ... remember the fastest way to make god laugh is to say "i have a plan" ... as Mohamad Ali said plans last until the first punch in the face and you got that on your shake down. Can't wait to see more, couple of things to consider viewing your first drop - consider re-fitting for separate throttle and trans stations - going from 4 sticks to 2 would help as a single hander. From a content provider perspective your outside sound needs a "dead cat" or some way to cut down the wind noise and have a fixed camera looking forward and augment with the "captains view" body cam. When you get time talk about your boat, make model etc, and why you chose that one for your adventure. Thanks for taking us along for the ride ...
Shoot for the stars! Well done. "Experience and success often wait on the other side of adversity. I've subscribed to see where you go and how you grow
You will get there! Keep the faith and always remember, rudders straight and measured power over wind EVERY time! Good luck and will be following your journey!
I started the loop single handed on March 12, 2024. My boat is only 31 foot, single engine with a bow thruster. I am sure things will get better as you get used to you boat and the thought of sailing single handed gets a little more settling. Far winds and hope to see you one the loop. My vessel name is TIKA, I will keep an eye out for you on the water.
Just saw your video great work I would have crapped my pants when you were leaving the Marina the wind was blowing your bow and having to go thru that narrow exit with the bridge. Keep up the good work can't wait to see your journey. Subscribed to keep up with the journey.
After watching this video I'm glad I settled on 22 feet. Thanks for sharing. What a process driving that beast is. I'm gonna follow along on your trip. Be good or be good at it Captain. God bless ya. 🙏
Enjoy watching your video and your Great Loop start - I have a 2024 Ranger Tug 29CB which just happens to be named CHECKMATE / wishing you success on your journey 👍🏼👊🏻
Thank you for sharing your intended journey with us. It's, indeed a bold one. Watching you, though painful, at the start, made me smile. You did the right things, like stopping, backing down and starting over, even the decision to return to the dock, and starting from the beginning. I will watch you throughout this journey. You had some pretty good comments from several folks. My only suggestion would to bring a experienced friend along for a couple days just to help out. Then sail on,,, and practice, practice, practice. Best of luck to you.. and remember, the minute you're not certain of anything, STOP, figure it out, then go on. Jerry
Have confidence in yourself,enjoy the adventure,ive been watching the great loop videos,has me wanting to do it also,subscribed, cant wait to ride along,keep us updated
Congratulations on your retirement. Hope you really enjoy your trip. Wish I could do it. I will one day. Be safe and I will be following you on your voyage.
Very glad I stumbled across your new You Tube channel. Will very much enjoy sharing the highs and lows of your adventure. Would love to know more details about the boat -- make, engines, layout etc. -- and why you chose a fairly big boat with multiple staterooms for a single-handed trip. I did the entire length of the Erie Canal with my wife in a single-engine 35-footer and some of the locks were not easy even for the two of us. I hope your side decks are wide and easy to pass through -- there will be quite a bit of racing from bow to stern to handle locks and docking during the trip. Good luck!
Go for it! Believe in yourself - self doubt will get you into trouble. Identify your weaknesses, if any & strengthen those areas eg professional training single-handed boating skills. You’re a great pilot, threading the needle out of the Harbour.
Just watched your video and I’m very excited for your adventure. We have the same boat. I operate by myself quite a bit and it’s not easy. Going through that Draw Bridge was crazy and a ass puckerer, even for me, watching it on TV. I heard that wind blowing when you were putting the water in 😳 If it helps, I’m a third generation commercial captain and can’t remember a trip that went smoothly. “A SMOOTH SEA NEVER MADE A SKILLED SAILOR” I’ll be following you on your journey. Good Luck, i’m rooting for you.
Good luck to you. At least from your starting point you will have plenty of time to get familiar with the boat and more confident in your maneuvers before you reach the tighter water and locks. Safe travels...
Had me hitting the subscribe button after 1 minute. I didn’t get you name but am so looking forward to your channel. Congratulations and best of luck. I’m 63 and so want to do this.
I'll give you some advice and hope you are willing to listen. You are doing WAY too much with the transmissions!!!! Please stop slamming them from forward to reverse. They are not meant to operate like that. You will cause a catastrophic failure in your gear in short order. They should be bumped in and out of gear. Then pause and let the boat correct. It isn't a car and takes time to react. You are chasing your own tail with forward, back, forward again. Adding throttle usually brings disaster for new boaters. Remain calm and go SLOW. If you need to add throttle, do so and then return engine to idle, wait for the boat to correct.. Good luck on the trip!
True. Though I think he panicked a bit. I admit I have been known the throw it into reverse if I am in a really bad situation and need that reverse right then and their. Its definitely bad for the boat, and bad for the transmission, plus you will walk your rear all over the place in a single screw boat, but with experience you can hopefully avoid those situations. Hell a Sailboat I use to charter if you did that it would actually unscrew the prop and it would fall off. As for what to do better. I would say go slow, account for wind and current, know where your boats pivot point is, and if you are single screw account for propwalk. Like anything else the more you do it the better you get.
Future looper here. 2 years to go for me. Sometimes the biggest lessons we learn are from our own mistakes (eg. no shakedown cruise). You'll be all the better for it later on. Best of luck. I will be following.
Omg we've been to the restaurant on the port side as you were leaving your marina. I could never attempt that passage under that bridge. You also went right by Harbortown marina where we live. We will be following you on RU-vid for sure. Excited to see this loop thru your channel.
I am a long time boater with time on both coasts. Your marina exit would challenge anyone. A few hopefully positive suggestions: If you are not able to do basic work (like installing an alternator) you are going to face a lot of challenges. Maybe too late now but try to learn to do these things and you will not be stuck waiting for an unknown mechanic as you continue on. Plus next time you can handle it. In 6,000 miles you are highly likely to see systems fail, maybe multiple times. The average boaterputs 50-75 hours per year on their engines. Your trip trip will equal many years of average use. I know you still would have needed to source the part but it beats 6+ hours round trip, fuel cost and another passage under that bridge. Swapping an alternator (most likely just the regulator if external) would be 1-2 hours. Also be careful as it seemed like you were rapidly shifting transmission. If you can pause in neutral between it will be less strain on the transmission. I will subscribe, best of luck to you!
Well Captain, you're alive, no damage to boat, and you are going to get her fixed in a safe harbor. Hopefully start off with more sleep this time and no wind day. Cheers!
Sometimes in order to move forward you must take a few steps back. Your about to head out on a journey of a life time enjoy every minute the good ones and the bad. 🥳🍾👏🏽👌🏽💪🏾🥂🤘🏾👊🏽
Kudos too you for going after it solo. No wonder your takin a 40’ solo you need the capacity to carry your balls! Over a journey like that I’d honestly pack spares. I’ve got 2 alternators, water pump, hyd pump and a starter not to mention the belts and required fluids and tools. Just a thought take it or leave it. Looking forward to your next trip out of the marina.
This will be a great video to watch. I myself will be doing the Great Loop ( in a couple of years after the boat refit ) by myself. See how you handle yourself, going through locks, anchoring, ect. Keep the videos goming. This is going to be interesting.
@@glenngray1201 My boat is 40'. When I brought it down from Road Island to North Carolina, I was very surprised how gentle it handled. Right now it's on the hard for a massive refite. Maybe in a year I'll be doing the great loop.
Hire a captain to give you some docking lessons, there is no shame with asking for help and it will give you the confidence you need to make this adventure.
You had me at Meridian. Meridians are the easiest boats to single hand with the bow and stern thrusters. Call ahead at marinas for help to grab lines at the dock. Anchor out as much as possible as it’s easiest to single hand dropping anchor. 😅
I am a Harbor Hosr with AGLCA for Beaufort & Port Royal up in South Carolina - Gimme a Hollar when you are passing through this way. I live 0.8 mi from the ICW in Pigeon Point 🚢 Happy Cruising
You did it that's the main thing. I am jealous it is what my husband d and I wanted to do but sadly life had different plans I will live it through you egg......
Not fun…but you did it and as you said…you didnt hit anything!! Thanks for being real! Hubby and I just bought a 40ft SeaRay Sedan and plan to do the loop in 3 years. Looking forward to watching your journey!
Can I make a suggestion? Instead of pinpointing a specific day to depart (and I get it- you're trying to catch the launch up the road), why not designate a week to 10 day window for departure. Be ready to go on day 1, but only if conditions are ideal considering how difficult it is to get out of that marina. Otherwise, wait until winds are low as possible, maybe even early morning if that's when it is. Seems to me that this trip is going to stressful enough doing by yourself, so why not get it off to the best possible start without struggling with getting out?
Thanks for the comment. I think you have something there. Yes, that tiny drawbridge opening with 25 mph winds was not the best idea to plan my departure. I ended up leaving 3 days later and it was almost calm. The exit of my marina was a piece of cake. The wind really blows.
@@MV_Checkmate Glad you're back underway, Captain. Good luck- just remember that you're at the mercy of the loop, so take it as it comes and navigate through it.
Geez, that marina departure was painful to watch. Are you sure you have the rudders centered while maneuvering with just the engines? Stick with it, things will get easier!
As a 40ft fly solo often skipper I’ve been there. It takes quite a while to understand how your own boat reacts in the wind, my stern catches the wind like having a mizzen sail almost. Try be more gentle on the shifters, those transmissions are expensive. Remember forward prop will always have more push than reverse . Thrusters bow or stern on their own will cause the boat to twist. The bow or stern does not stay static I watch wind really carefully when solo, for instance I try to avoid mooring on a jetty with wind blowing me off as it can be too hard to run down the bridge steps and get to the lines before I’m blown off if the wind is strong enough. I never have her pulled out on a windy day. Many thanks for the video, am now subscribed
