Florida Boat Guy Episode 3: Key West to Dry Tortugas 2024 rough solo crossing in a 20ft boat!

[@LeonardCooperman]

Great job Captain, looking forward to doing the same trip myself!

[@MrFroglips69]

Groovy video

[@terriwallinger6695]

We must be cut from the same cloth. A wonderful adventure, full of the unexpected. Happy to see life vest & MOB tech around your neck. Pretty sure you aren’t on board with me as a first mate that long, but I’m ready! Love, Mom

[@floridaboatguy]

Aww thanks Mom! Wait until you see the trip back video before signing up for a boat ride haha Yes lots of safety gear and had my Garmin satellite communicator so could text and check weather forecast the entire time as well.

[@us4marine]

Great video for soul searching, sometimes a solo trip is all it takes to appreciate how lucky we are to be here. Enjoy, great trip and love the auto pilot. 👍🏻👍🏻 Take care.

[@floridaboatguy]

Amen to that! Thank you so much for watching the video

[@mikedefee]

Great video! Admire your fortitude! I assume you are using Go-Pro. What software are using to edit with? I have the 456 Canyon and am going to start videoing our fishing trips.

[@floridaboatguy]

Thank you! Yes I am just using two GoPros and FinalCut Pro for editing. Nothing fancy but it works. Wow Canyon 456 is one heck of a boat you should definitely do some videos

[@mikedefee]

@@floridaboatguy I want to do them and play with learning how to do this. I'm retiring and want to try something new. You are clearly an inspiration although you are much younger than I am. I simply admire your fortitude as the ocean is wonderfully beautiful but, can be very dangerous as well. I have spent a ton of time in the Gulf of Mexico as my Dad had a dive shop and we made many dives on the oil platforms offshore over the years. I was offshore as a guest on another person's boat diving and the boat was taking on water and sunk. We were 50 miles offshore with a hard one knot plus current running offshore. Long story for another day but easily could have been fatal for all four of us onboard. I was 18 years old at the time. Having only one engine is the only thing that concerns me but, you seem to take all of the mitigating steps that you can to make it as safe as possible. Nothing we do that is meaningful comes without risk! I'm going to catch up on all of your videos and wish you the very best. Maybe one day I'll run into you!

[@floridaboatguy]

Thank you Mike! Yes, you are right about that… Measured risk is definitely part of life. I do everything I can to mitigate that risk along with all possible safety gear. My outboard is a 2023 model and I keep it in tiptop shape. I would obviously love to have twins but that is not in the budget. Well, your story sounds terrifying and along the worst case scenarios always in the back of my mind. It all turned out OK, but I’m sure that is still haunting to this day!

[@opeyonecanopy]

They are a great boat!

[@floridaboatguy]

Yes for sure, built like a tank!

[@johnschieffelin3226]

Nice adventure, sounds like fun. Beware of your old Grady -- I had to rebuild the transom of my old Grady 283 Release when the plywood core became totally rotted. Other than that it was a great boat.

[@floridaboatguy]

Thank you John, yes the transom was my biggest concern when I bought the boat. Had it in a fiberglass shop and they removed the transom cap and everything checked out great. Glassed the entire top of the transom in and has been rock solid so hopefully all good! Thank you for watching the video

[@jacktyler7599]

Good job, Chris. And I'm impressed with you getting ~3 mpg while running in the low 20's. How much fuel do you carry (main + jugs)? I don't see nearly that same mileage with the Cutwater (which I finally finished delivering). It might sound a little odd given Grady's small'ish size but I suggest a 'tour' as a future topic. Lots of nice improvements to share.

[@floridaboatguy]

Thank you Jack! Two more videos about this trip coming up soon. Boat usually gets around 3 mpg cruising in regular conditions. On the way out I had the wind behind me and was able to cruise comfortably in the low 20s so I was happy with that. Coming home was another story averaged closer to 2. 82 gallon tank in the Grady so plenty of reserve trying to use the one third rule. Great idea doing a boat tour video!

[@opeyonecanopy]

I would love to do that!