Florida Boat Guy Episode 5: Roughest Crossing Yet Dry Tortugas to Key West in a small boat!

[@enjoyesk8978]

We went to Ft. Jefferson / Dry Tortugas last year. Such a great experience! I would be so fun going there and back on a smaller boat. Thank you for sharing!

[@floridaboatguy]

Very cool place worth the trip on your own boat weather permitting. Appreciate you watching!

[@jacktyler7599]

Congratulations, Chris. Quite an accomplishment, given both the beginning and ending of the trip. I'm very impressed with that Grady! Looking forward to your discussion of the InReach. We almost bought one when flying into the back country out west - and probably should have - and it's once again something I need to better understand. Welcome home.

[@floridaboatguy]

Thanks so much! It was definitely a good feeling pulling back into that marina slip. Slept hard that night back haha Yes for sure will do a quick video on the Garmin. Debated it for quite some time but ended up being very happy to have it when solo away from cell coverage.

[@tripledoregon8513]

Awesome video as always man. Keep it up greetings from Oregon.

[@floridaboatguy]

Hey thanks appreciate you watching!

[@shawnmcalpine1727]

Who could ask for more water and a rollercoaster ride. See ya on the next adventure.

[@floridaboatguy]

Haha yes lots of rolling waves in this video! Was a wild ride but worth it

[@TheRemyRomano]

I see now you are in a 20 footer. I would only take a full or semi displacement hull on a trip like that. It can be brutal.

[@floridaboatguy]

Haha yes it was brutal indeed!

[@TheRemyRomano]

I never try to go that fast in rough water. It’s so much better slower.

[@joerectifier]

I take it slow….ride the throttle and usually in the 10 to 20 mph and adapt to what the water is showing me….its unpleasant in a close period chop

[@freedomwanderer91]

Thats so awesome.

[@flnative7553]

So many people make the mistake by just looking at the NOAA forecast. people need to learn how to use the wind app along with the noaa forecast then learn fetch distance. Fetch is key especially when winds are coming from Yucatan from the south or across the gulf if coming from the north. NOAA is only a lower average. there are several buoys that line the gulf coast that will get you more accurate reading to dial in what seas will be.

[@Fj4LiFe23]

dont kid yourself, that 40 was probably trolling for wahoo :)

[@floridaboatguy]

No kidding!

[@mikedefee]

First time watching your video. Do you fish or was that just a pleasure trip? Also, what Grady do you have? I have a Grady 456 Canyon.

[@floridaboatguy]

Wow a 456 is an awesome boat! Mine is the little Adventure 208 but still a tank of a boat. I just do cruising no fishing for videos, however the Tortugas amazing for anglers

[@benjuliebenjulie7414]

Hi Chris, Got the same boat . mine is 2000 208. doing some upgrades and wondering what you think of a 175 zuk. No hard top and probably never go out more than 10-15 miles. Also do you really need the trim tabs? What size are you using? Thanks for these vids, love um

[@floridaboatguy]

Awesome, great boat! I think a 175 zuk works perfect on the hull, same block as the 200. The hard top adds substantial weight to the boat so I think you will be more than happy with 175 on yours. The trim tabs are a must. I use them constantly to level side to side and adjust how much of the bow I want contacting the waves depending on conditions. They make a huge difference! Mine are 9 X 12’s

[@WalterMorrissey-v8x]

Always hard to judge seas height via camera,..and speed will make it harder to judge,..I think it is very close to 1-2 ft or less based on when you took a pause. Can’t judge the period but guess short… 3-4 secs. Fun video and very exhausting for you

[@floridaboatguy]

I cannot disagree with you, going back and watching the video the waves do not look that bad! I do wonder if the period had a lot to do with it. I’ve done the same trip last year with 1 to 2 foot waves and was able to fly at 30 mph without any issues. This trip was a completely different animal. Definitely some bigger waves in the Gulf Stream that felt much larger. Always a challenge and a small boat regardless! Thank you so much for watching the videos

[@joerectifier]

It’s always hard to judge the seas from a video….i think it is the perspective view. I can see the boat porpoising at times and that tells me it’s an unpleasant ride. I would not enjoy it….getting on plane makes it more uncomfortable in my opinion…..I’m not a hugely experienced captain, but I prefer riding the throttle - you have more experience than me.