Ep 21: 80 Mile Boat Trip From Key West to the Dry Tortugas on Our Sea Ray

[@travisjones780]

Is that Mallory Square your taking off from? I used to do back flips off the deep draft vessels as a kid

[@The1rockerman]

I would like to try this run in my 19 ft Mako Skiff. I know it sounds suicidal but I hear that 13ft sailboats do it and I once seen a 12 foot HAND MADE boat loaded with Cubans with two 5-HP motors using 2 liter soda bottles for fuel tanks make it 90 miles from Cuba to KW, so I guess anything is possible. So, I guess what I am asking from your perspective, IF I were to try this run, what month are the seas relatively the calmest?

[@TeamWiff]

Summer months are usually the calmest and have better visibility if you like to dive/snorkel. You just may have to dodge squalls on the way. Also make sure you have enough fuel for getting there and back plus all the extra putting around to fishing grounds/dive spots.

[@aquaticthumb5193]

Lol 14:50 starving cat clamed not to have eaten in weeks.

[@brownsrvlifecampground9322]

You made a very nice video We are planning on making this trip this year 2022 hopefully we have to drive down from Georgia to key West We have our own boat also not near that big like you have but our boat does get very good gas mileage for its size Is y'all headed to the Bahamas anytime soon or headed back to Dry Tortugas this year ?

[@Idieallot75]

The song from around the middle of the vid reminds me of Miami Vice.

[@ulisesmedrano3382]

I want to purchase a boat just like yours to do the same trips from florida. My question is what is the smallest i can make that journey with I've been looking at 30ft-35ft.

[@blewyd]

There is no definitive answer to it. It depends on your price range and what style of boat you want. You have to do your own research on different boats.

[@khoatran9482]

Whoever picks your music has great taste. The 80's retro is fabulous. lol

[@TeamWiff]

Thanks! Glad you enjoy. I think it’s perfect music.

[@bradbarrett9236]

Amen

[@ThisGuyCody]

Lovin it. Dry Tortugas now on my list.

[@TeamWiff]

It’s a must do. Talking about going back sooner than later. I’m gonna fb message you tonight or tomorrow morning btw.

[@id7131]

Hi, just want to ask is there a cellphone signal at Dry Tortugas?

[@GodsCarpenters]

HA ! HA ! HA ! What you can not live with out a cell phone ? Stay on the beach where you belong

[@The1rockerman]

No, you will lose your signal between 15-20 miles out. Leave the phone at home anyway. Unplug. Just invest in a good EPIRB.

[@derrickclemons2862]

Love it

[@TeamWiff]

Thanks!

[@travishorn1847]

I think your skiff should have been about an half mile further out

[@4.9copblank49]

great video!

[@swtnurse365]

Just got our 480 purchased and home to Perdido Key! Maybe we'll run into y'all down there some day. Have fun!

[@TeamWiff]

Congrats! That would be awesome. Let us know if you ever have any questions about anything.

[@gerrynylese414]

Love that place. We used to sail straight from Ft Myers beach or hop down to Marco first. Curious why you didn't anchor on the inside? Much calmer though it is fairly shallow. We used to wake up to Goliath Grouper under the boat. One trip we had a 7 foot bull shark under us for a couple days. Love the video. New Subscriber.

[@TeamWiff]

This is a special place indeed. There were a good amount of boats in there, not leaving us much room for error. Plus we were okay with being further away and not having so much sea plane noise. Turns out the commercial boats are way more annoying than seaplanes so we ended up moving closer after the second night.

[@gerrynylese414]

@@TeamWiff Yea seaplanes are only a couple times a day. We always brought an extra 6 pack of beer the fishermen will trade grouper etc for a 6 pack.

[@TeamWiff]

We definitely considered making a trade.... but it would’ve cost us our drinks. Next time we’ll bring extra. 😆

[@gerrynylese414]

@@TeamWiff Just bring a 12 pack of something you wouldnt otherwise consume. I think we had bush light or something. Cost a few bucks and we got 4lbs of grouper filet.

[@RIDETHESUNSHINE]

“Flexibility is a learned mental skill. In today’s dynamic world, your effectiveness as a professional depends on your readiness to adjust quickly to the moments of need or opportunity, adversity, and change.” Jennifer Touma, Capt; when I am asked; "What quality makes a Captain better than the rest?”, my answer is his ability to capitalize on his situational awareness. Your video perfectly illustrates what that looks like in the real world. There is an old adage which goes along the lines. "The highest part of the insignia of a Captain is an Eagle, because a captain is above all, sees all, and knows all." I applaud how you stay on top of every facet of operation. It appears that you delegate duties, clearly, and diplomatically. Your crew can make you, or break you. Early on, I was given sage advice, if I wanted a good first mate, I'd better marry one. One day I hope that my Bride to be, and I, can cross wakes with you, and buy you and yours a cold one. Please Be Well, and Stay Strong, Will, and his "Boop"

[@TeamWiff]

I love this... Those are great quotes and very kind words. We hope so too. Hope all is well with you both. Take care!

[@RIDETHESUNSHINE]

@@TeamWiff Capt. My “Boop” and I are very Blessed! Our love defies the numbers! Our love makes us Greater than the sum of our individual parts! At 96, my mother told me that the grave would hold NO rest for her, thinking her Seafaring son was wandering his last days alone, uncared for, and no place to call home. When my ex-missionary mother prayed, Heaven took the call. In the last months of my mother’s life Heaven delivered to me, one of their own. I am one of the most Blessed beings on this planet! I have Angels in both worlds!!! The woman I love, my “Boop”, is an Angel who walks amongst us. I to her is no doubt, some kind of penance for some slight on an otherwise perfect soul. She is the woman my mother prayed for. I have been beached for going on 11 years now, taking care of my folks in their final days. Now orphaned at 67, and my childhood home being sold off, my life is now my own. I am Blessed to have a woman who will follow me to the ends of this world, and into the next. So, when my parent's estate is settled, we will be buying our trawler, and throwing off our lines, heading outbound while others are limping home, for as long as we can. When we can no longer hold a course, God willing, we will find a patch of land haul our trawler up, and become local characters of legend and lore. Resembling the main players in Michael Smith's classic tune: "The Dutchman”. till we are called to greater imagines from this dream... “Nothing is more beautiful than the love that has weathered the storms of life. The love of the young for the young, that is the beginning of life. But the love of the old for the old, that is the beginning of things longer.” Jerome K. Jerome Please Be Well, Will PS. Now you know why Jehovah’s Witnesses avoid me…

[@sailingsvsalacia8398]

Dude, you're running 22 knots with just one motor throttled up? NICE! I just came across your channel. We're looking at getting a Sea Ray 480 Sedan Bridge also. What are you're gallons per hour at trawler speed?? We'll ve based out of Jacksonville and are looking forward to cruising the Bahamas next year.

[@TeamWiff]

We had the engines synced so I was operating both of them with just 1 throttle. We get roughly 1mpg at 9-9.5 knots.

[@aquaticthumb5193]

@Just Sam Not lucky they worked for it.

[@charlesdavenport2543]

Looks like the bots found your channel. I love watching big boats stretch the engines out. Just hate the bill later at the fuel dock.

[@TeamWiff]

No doubt. They’ve been hitting us on Instagram all day too. The fuel bills are extraordinary when we get up to cruising speed. We burned 1/8 of a tank on the first 60ish miles. We burned another 1/8th in the last 45 mins to go about 20 miles 🛥💸💨.

[@mvlivinthedream9601]

Team Wiff I need to start doing that, what was your normal cruise speed before throttling up?

[@mikemckindles4726]

@@mvlivinthedream9601 looked like 9.9 knots. should yield 1 to 1.3 mpg.

[@SethRBaron]

Do you have a Seakeeper on board? Seems like you’re rocking a lot.

[@blewyd]

Most people don't... They're very expensive for a yacht if this weight category and even worse to install.

[@ariellecraig2335]

I'm new to your channel. How do you know so much about boats to live on it? This is my dream but I know nothing about boat life 🙁

[@TeamWiff]

Welcome! We didn’t know a lot either when we first decided to live aboard. The learning curve is quite steep, but you’re forced to learn fast. Your marina neighbors will certainly be the greatest asset in helping you learn what you need to be confident. I started working in the boat industry so that helped but certainly isn’t required.

[@blewyd]

I wouldn't recommend living on a boat as your first boat. Get a smaller boat like a used cruiser to learn first then decide weather you would like to upgrade to a live aboard.

[@darrencovar6329]

Do you keep your cat indoors when you are underway?

[@TeamWiff]

Yes. They seem to do okay outside in the Flybridge but its easier for us and them to just have them inside

[@glennroberts3069]

It's 70 miles............

[@TeamWiff]

The distance in the title is indicative of OUR boat trip, not the general distance. In the video we state we went further offshore into deeper water to avoid the lobster trap minefield, so this trip was actually 82.7 miles not including the additional 4-5 miles we covered from Garrison Bight to Key West Bight................

[@glennroberts3069]

@@TeamWiff Roger that. I’ve been there a gazillion times. By boat and probably 50 times via helicopter. US military. We did a lot out there for the Park Rangers.

[@kennethhaines3229]

why dingy so far behind..

[@TeamWiff]

To get it behind our wake at cruising speeds.

[@livingonmytime1076]

Hey guys great footage 👍 what speed are you cruising at? Thanks

[@TeamWiff]

About 9 knots, give or take 1 or so for wind and current direction. When we pick it up we cruise between 20-22 knots.

[@livingonmytime1076]

Pretty good! Thanks. Stay safe! Be well 👍

[@TeamWiff]

Thanks Capt... same to you 🍻

[@markfreese3396]

Wtf was that. Down right gross

[@ulisesmedrano3382]

your wife has inspired my wife to consider purchasing a bigger boat, and she has also inspired her to fight her fear of the ocean, next time ya in Fort Myers I would like to meet you and get some tips. I got my notebook and pen ready.

[@Adippen]

Nice trip. I'm jealous 😁 Good choice of music when you went throttle up.👍

[@TeamWiff]

Thanks, glad you liked it! Finding the music is one my favorite parts of editing.

[@PatLaemmrich]

Nice job! Have fun...your vids are getting better with each one and thanks for posting more!

[@TeamWiff]

Thanks! Glad it’s noticeable improvement. I try to learn something new each time. In addition to that, I think I’ve finally figured out how to get the footage to look better on KZbin. I’ve always hated that KZbin made the footage look so bad, but I think that’s finally behind us!