America's Great Loop - The Crossing - EP#33

[@AdventuresCG]

Micheal, Great to see what others carry in their ditch bag. It is helps others that my not have considered a ditch bag.I have a slightly large bag from ACR that I carry things like spare eye glasses and such. Thanks for letting TIKA and I tag along on this leg as well as the following one.

[@johnschieffelin3226]

Very smooth passage. Like your ditch bag and practicing ditching -- well-thought out.

[@MV_Checkmate]

Thanks! I think it's important to be prepared.

[@karikarr6377]

Congrats on a successful crossing - hope your headache improved as you cruised. Can’t even imagine having to stare into the sun and the glare off of the water with a migraine - ugh! Your ditch bag ‘tour’ was interesting and informative.

[@MV_Checkmate]

Yep, migraines suck. Thanks for watching.

[@stevea9604]

The migraine could be damage to your eyes from looking thru the binoculars…Please go get them checked

[@renatrepanier8125]

Another excellent video with important information included. Thank you so much.

[@MV_Checkmate]

Thanks for watching!

[@mikaelpedersen1327]

Great episode. Enjoyed the emergency information and the longer trip!

[@MV_Checkmate]

Glad you liked it!

[@danielsalazar8835]

Michael Good job. Keep it up Big Bend was one of our favorite Rum Runner on the side

[@MV_Checkmate]

Cool, thanks!

[@thedubosegrouprealestatete129]

That looked like a great day to be on the water. Watching you fight the sun I thought that it would be great if someone put heavy tint on a piece of plexiglass that it could be attached to the bimini frame and hinged so it could be folded up. Enjoying the trip and jealous that I am not out there. - Casey

[@MV_Checkmate]

Thanks, I like that idea, I may try that on my next trip!

[@tascosaeagle]

You’re correct about pointing the laser toward people / particularly pilots.I used mine in Iraq almost nightly . The handheld will not blind anyone but it can certainly damage the retina if it is of a certain frequency . Damaged retinas affect vision permanently I talked to a medical officer at Camp Taji Iraq & he said that he has certified vision for helicopter pilots @ the beginning of their tour & then decertified their vision due to being flashed 2 days prior to the examination. Also the VA has issued disability payments for eye damage from handheld lasers .

[@MV_Checkmate]

Thanks for the information.

[@MattGrant-d2x]

Great video 👍👍👍

[@MV_Checkmate]

I appreciate it!

[@jetlag4754]

What an awesome adventure! Would love to do the loop someday but not with the boat I currently have.

[@MV_Checkmate]

You can do it! It's definitely a dream trip.

[@UnderwayDriftingNDreaming]

Ten seconds amazing. Fast and furious is so important. Job well done. I know if we lost a stabilizer we have less than 4 minutes. Fire 🔥 is worse. Stand by need to pull anchor in bayou of Louisiana I was keeping an eye on our buddy heading to Bradenton, 30 hour trip and saw that you made it safely to the dock.

[@MV_Checkmate]

Yep, you never know. Thanks for your input.

[@Steve-qn8gn]

People don’t usually go around those floating grass beds only because of the debris, it’s because they are havens for smaller animals and you could kill a bunch of them.

[@dreed7312]

Looks like a proper kit and I'm guessing you left out documents and keys because you plan to have them in your pockets. Make sure your phone is kept charged and you should get a quick charger for it. Youll need your wallet, ids, boat registration, cash, and HOUSE and CAR keys when you make it home! Make sure you have extra batteries for vhf and a sharp pocket knife. A Swiss Army knife is probably best because you can get screwdriver, awl with it. That's probably enough water for inshore situations too.

[@MV_Checkmate]

Yep, my wallet and phone stay in my pocket. I have a complete duplicate set of boat papers at home. I also have a more complete ditch bag for open water like the Bahamas crossing. Cheers

[@RonnFolk]

Don't forget to program your MMSI number into your vhf radio including your handheld.

[@MV_Checkmate]

Yes, I have that already programmed in, I should have mentioned that in the video, but thanks for the tip!

[@Steve-qn8gn]

I’m surprised you guys weren’t moving faster on that crossing. Seems like the right time to let her rip with the calm seas like that.

[@MV_Checkmate]

Both of the boats I was traveling with have small single engine Ford Leman engines that only can do 7 1/2 kn.

[@LeeUtke]

If you had a choice, what speed would you have done the crossing. Assuming at a faster speed so how would that translate to a higher fuel cost??

[@MV_Checkmate]

@@LeeUtke probably about 20 mph. Fuel consumption would go from 2 mpg to about .7 mpg.

[@joenoll6864]

Cedar. Key took a serious hit also but is is worth a stop if you can get there.

[@MV_Checkmate]

I did. Next video.

[@lordTowle]

So Milton hadn't hit yet? and you still had a ways to go?

[@MV_Checkmate]

Milton hit several weeks ago. My videos are only one week behind.

[@lordTowle]

@@MV_Checkmate Oh, you said the damage you saw was due to Helenin. Milton tore up that part of Florida also.

[@MV_Checkmate]

@@lordTowleactually Milton entered Sarasota and exited around Cape Canaveral. That’s several hundred miles south of Stienhatchee.

[@lordTowle]

@MV_Checkmate I know at our place, Cape Coral, we had 120mph winds and 5 foot surge. Safe travels.

[@michaelgrimes8828]

Great video, Michael, what is your home port in Florida?

[@MV_Checkmate]

Cocoa Beach area

[@michaelgrimes8828]

Let us know when you’re getting close, like to come and greet you as you come home.

[@dreed7312]

If your hands are cold and trembling, changing batteries may be difficult. You may have trouble popping the cover off. You may need a phillips head to open it. Id add gloves or mittens to the kit to get your hands warmed good before trying anything requiring finesse. You should wrap something, perhaps that water bottle with 3' of duct tape. If you lose screws changing batteries you may need it. Duct tape isnt very water proof so maybe flex tape or something would work better. You have room in that bag for those extra items theyre small and lightweight. I like your philosophy and methods though. I applied same when doing the AT years ago. Saved my body considerable wear and tear. I was never more than 3-5 days from civilization.

[@MV_Checkmate]

Good point, I appreciate the advice.

[@johnmarschalk1977]

Doesn't Starlink limit you to under 10 miles an hour unless you have a mobile plan? Looks like you were right on the edge

[@MV_Checkmate]

They upped the speed limit to 100mph last month when they raised the price to $165 pr month.

[@johnmarschalk1977]

@@MV_Checkmate Made the comment right before you put the graphic up. Did everyone go to $165? My dish damaged by Helene, so gave me 3 months of service. Guess I'll find out in 2 months

[@marcel-escape]

I saw all the video in 1 week. love it. I have a boat in the Netherlands. The great loop is a dream. Thanks for the videos. This is sailing through the city of Utrecht. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHe3ZYCBmKuor8ksi=5CQg0EeJOJBQKpUY

[@sdot6737]

It is flat!

[@sjeffreyw]

You don't keep any documents of the boat or yourself.

[@MV_Checkmate]

Not necessary as I have duplicates of everything at home as well. If in a real emergency I found that I had time I probably would grab my boat pouch as well. I was just emphasizing what I plan on doing if I had to exit immediately to save my rear end. Thanks for your input.

[@dreed7312]

😅 I assumed he had wallet in pocket. You need phone, id and bank cards to get Uber, hotel room, car rentals, flight home etc. 😅