EXTENSIVE GREAT LOOP BOAT TOUR (Features we Love for the Great Loop and Full-Time Cruising)

[@SchoandJo]

Thank you for watching! This video was filmed on Aug 21st. Sign up here if you are interested in Pivot after we are finished cruising! eepurl.com/isWcsM 💰 Find out how much the Great Loop Costs: schoandjo.com/great-loop-expenses/ 🔒 Learn how to lock: schoandjo.com/how-to-lock 💌 Want to keep up with us in real time? Sign up for our weekly email to be filled in our current cruising plans and adventures. schoandjo.com/sunday-summary

[@outofbounds218]

Abbsolutley the best detailed boat tour by far. I am looking for a trawler and you both hit a grand slam. Thank you for the tour. Love you guys and your awesome videos. Next time you are near Stuart, dinner/drinks on us :)

[@mikepech6822]

I give you guys so much credit for what you've done. Took an older boat with some issues and turned into yours. Took a little boat and made it do big things. I love your videos and are so good at making them. Doing it all at a reasonable budget. The beauty of things are all mentioned in detail and no bull when you have problems and figured out solutions and mentioned them which may help others in the future. I boated for 30 years before I got the boat I wanted. A little bit bigger than yours but was about 30 years older than you you guys when I got it. I loved my twins but would have loved to had a bow thruster. I had my fly bridge named that for a different reason lol. Boating at dusk or early dawn, you had to sit with your mouth closed or you had some not so good tasting meat with your coffee. lol. But thanks so much for your videos, They put me back in Georgian Bay and the North Channel and Trent. I'm an old guy now so get to watch others enjoy all these places.

[@donaldmoore6345]

Watching you two is a high point of my week. Enjoy every minute out there. 🙂

[@SchoandJo]

Thank you Donald!

[@carldevries178]

Seriously, that boat is perfect for the Loop. You two have done a bangup job of repairing the boat and setting it up for cruising. I am thoroughly enjoying your journey. Fair winds and calm seas(lakes).

[@suzanneaydelotte801]

Such a fantastic and thorough tour! Loved seeing every nook and cranny of your home on the water,PIVOT!💞❤️💞

[@charlesnolting818]

I have so enjoyed the Canadian portion of your journey as I see so many places that have been a part of my past and present: the 1000 Islands, which is the area I grew up in, worked in Kingston, Belleville, and Trenton, toured around Manitoulin Island when we lived in Northern Ontario, and now living in Peterborough. Thank you so much for videos that are both informative and entertaining. Best wishes for the future.

[@dennisknudsen3063]

Hey Jen and Elliot! I’d love to know a little bit about the inverter and solar setup on Pivot. Great videos!! Thanks!

[@dr.laurav8013]

What a great tour! Your storage space is incredible! I would love to hear the details of your electrical system, including your solar panels and inverter. thanks for the wonderful tour! As, always, inspiring!

[@SchoandJo]

Thanks, Laura! We have 600-ah lithium batteries with a 3000W Inverter and Solar + Alternator charging. We have 700W of solar split up 4 ways attached to our bimini!

[@SchoandJo]

Happy to answer any other questions if you have any :)

[@josephrobichaud5198]

Change the bulbs on the patio lights to yellow for less bugs. Refinish that bright work with Bristol Finish, it's fast drying, high build, self leveling, long lasting. I've done 3 coats in one day with no sanding. It's not cheap, but it's what pro antique boat owners use.

[@johnschieffelin3226]

Thorough tour, thank you for showing us how you live aboard Pivot. You have made very sensible use of every nook and cranny on the boat, and are able to live with the drawbacks of a slow, smallish boat very well. You state the second stateroom is great for guests -- I think it is a huge asset for a couple. For each of you to have your own head and own clothes storage spaces must make life much more friction-free than if you had to share such tiny spaces. I would think a major annoyance for Eliot would be less-than-standing headroom in the aft stateroom. As a tall guy I hate having to crouch slightly in most boats -- it is terribly uncomfortable. When looking for my latest boat, I ruled out 85% of the boats I looked at simply because there were head-banging spaces. I admire your patience and appreciation for cruising aboard a single-screw, 7-knot boat. If I did the Great Loop, I'd need a boat that could cruise nicely at 9 or 10 knots and get up and go at 15-18 knots if needed. Your Great Lakes scenic ports and beautiful water will not be replicated from Chicago south. I've read many Loopers find some sections between Chicago and the Gulf stressful, some sections dull and charmless, and a few sections appealing and fun.

[@garycasey5788]

Thanks for the most excellent tour. However, I have to take one exception. Remember that propane is a gas heavier than air. Therefore any leak will result in propane settling in low areas of the boat. To warn of a propane leak at least one hydrocarbon sensor (sniffer) should be located in a low area, preferably in the bilge. A second one mounted low in the main salon below the stove is advisablehelpful. In new boats these are required to be wired to a solenoid valve that will shut off the gas if there a leak is detected. The carbon monoxide (CO) monitor will NOT detect a propane leak. If the stove burners are misadjusted it is possible that the burners will produce CO, but this is not likely. In a boat a CO monitor mostly just gives a false sense of security.

[@karlbass7895]

Gary is correct about the CO detector being ineffective for detecting a propane leak. You need a propane leak alarm or a combined leak detector/alarm/automated solenoid control unit. As he mentioned, any detector or its sensor should be positioned low in the area of the propane appliance (the stove). Optimally a continuous power source would be connected, similar to uninterrupted power for a bilge pump. Propane is heavier than air and will sink to the lowest point available to it. There are relatively inexpensive (

[@bobr9689]

Thanks for the boat tour - you have personalized your boat to perfection. Continued great weather as you finish up the Canadian lakes and re-enter the USA.

[@SchoandJo]

Thanks Bob!

[@timgreen4137]

Pivot is obviously designed as a live aboard, comfortable cruiser. My '67 Grand Banks 36, began her life as an actual fishing trawler. So, some of the amenities are comparatively "crude". Upgrades over the years have helped with the comfort. You have a great boat there.

[@SchoandJo]

Thanks, Tim! Totally agree 👍

[@fredjones7705]

Right on sister. Hate the wide bodies and love the side decks.

[@chrism1164]

Wow! - so much storage!! Great boat tour! Thanks. ❤

[@kimdelorme6314]

All the best to you both, and of course Olliie(such a cute pupper)❤❤

[@mikeramsey9747]

You definitely need larger chart plotters, I know you use your tablets for navigation but having larger plotters allows you to see more depth information and can allow you to see un-plotted sand bars or if you have structure scan it allows you to easy see objects ahead of your boat. I'd also recommend a small Halon extinguisher for any potential engine room / fuel fires.

[@carolguezen5829]

I have been following your journey and each episode I am so excited for you and your courageous epic journey. Happy sails!

[@tinalouisehenderson8545]

Loved this video. Could you post a picture of short video of your electrical connections with the inverter, solar panels and the main panel? I am really looking into doing something similar with my boat and am trying to wrap my head around what that might look like

[@gabehartley2008]

Nicely detailed boat tour. You all are set up perfectly for the loop.

[@SchoandJo]

Thanks Gabe!

[@richardowens9061]

Great tour of your boat! Thanks for sharing it with us! You mentioned the generator, the solar panels, and the inverter; but, I don't think there was any discussion of the generator capacity, the solar charge controller, or the house batteries (lead-acid, LiFePO4, voltage of the system, etc.) I would appreciate a little info about those things. Thanks, again! Happy and safe travels!

[@SchoandJo]

Hi Richard, thanks for watching! Generator: 5kWh Inverter: 3kW Solar: Victron MPPT with 700W of flexible solar Batteries: LiFeP04 12V system with 300ah We have some more information here if you're interested: schoandjo.com/our-boat/

[@Artist_Kevin]

Thank you for telling us how tall you are. I'm 6'4" looking at boats for the Loop or a simpler voyage and my height is really a boat choice factor. Thank you for this detailed walkthrough.

[@SchoandJo]

Ahh boats are tough for taller people... I can say that you do get used to it, so as long as you have some spaces you can fully stand up, others (like the cabins) can be a bit less and not impact you as much. Cheers!

[@arthurcitron9774]

Spot on!👊🏻🇺🇸

[@martinbowers852]

what a wonderful tour, the best i have ever watched, good luck on your travels

[@SchoandJo]

Thanks you Martin!

[@ldirk58601]

The sink pulls out?!🤯Didnt see that coming! I hope the folks you bought Pivot from (I cant recall her retired name) watch your videos. Because, how cool to see how well suited you 3 were to her. I love all of her quirks and I wish you would go around the loop again! But, whatever you do I hope she stays in your life. I have enjoyed being a YT tagalong on your journey. In real time I hope all is well!!

[@jeremystory6981]

The grill 😮😮😮😮

[@carpediemwithLesli]

I absolutely love this video!!! Now for an in depth video about how you installed the solar panels!😊

[@franatkins3736]

Have enjoyed your presentation of the Loop.

[@SchoandJo]

Thank you Frances!

[@dalekuykendall737]

Really great tour! Appreciated the detail.

[@SchoandJo]

Thanks for watching!

[@tammyvincent9417]

A lot of v berths have a piece that connects the two beds, making one big bed. It's a little bit of an unconventional shape, but on many boats it is comparable to a king, and should be at least a queen on your boat. I'll bet Elliott could make something to connect these beds, so yall could sleep together in a nice size bed, in your favorite cabin. I love your boat, the only thing I don't like is that both your heads are wet. That's ok for young people but some of us older folks need a little more comfort. We love your channel and can't wait to see you finish. I believe you've finished the loop but you know you can take that boat anywhere, on adventures as you work towards 100,000 + subscribers and live the boat life. Keep it up, we love seeing your adventures. 37:08

[@deborahledane120]

Thank you so much for your videos Love the scenery and Ollie with the rocks Congratulations on your completion of the loop Looking forward to the many videos yet to put be put up

[@kimdelorme6314]

I really wish, I had found your videos sooner. We live on a lake, which gives of access to the Trent Severn . Would have loved to have met you both, Buckhorn or Bobcaygeon!

[@davemajor1884]

Nice tour of your boat. Travel safe 😊😊😊

[@SchoandJo]

Thanks Dave!

[@UnrealVideoDuke]

Nice night shot of Starlink satellite launch at the end there

[@SchoandJo]

Thanks!

[@chrisinsd4590]

Enjoyed this! You’ve made the best of this vessel for sure. Really would be good to sand and seal all the wood trim that is deteriorating or it will rot and fail :( And it will look spiffier too. Great job on everything tho!

[@The442nd]

I love PIVOT!!!!!

[@EdEdelenbos]

As usual, really well done and full of great information. Excellent for planners like me.

[@SchoandJo]

Thanks Ed!

[@danpease8395]

“Flying Bridge” (not fly bridge) has been attributed to Hemingway as he put an upper helm on his fishing boat and he said it was like flying on the water when he could pilot from atop the cabin while looking over the side and watching the bottom of the ocean go by.

[@SchoandJo]

Interesting!

[@5VABrowns]

You two did a great job on your boat tour. My wife and I watched it last night and were cracking up at the outtakes and Ollie chasing rocks. I know you touched on several electrical items, but I was expecting more electrical description on your boat's systems and what works and what you'd change. I have just installed a full Victron system, including some of what you have on Pivot, and would be interested in your experiences.

[@MrWilliamwalther]

Hello, Saw Pivot on Memorial Day weekend on the ST. Johns River tried to radio you but you were outside on the back deck. Hope you enjoyed the little side trip from the Great Loop.

[@SchoandJo]

Oooh right on William! Thanks for reaching out and trying to say hi 😅 that was quite the spot for Memorial Day, we enjoyed it quite a lot!

[@pkswift]

Everything ok with the emergency? We are glad for another video!

[@cmichaelhaugh8517]

Neat boat folks!

[@mcouture8169]

Fantastic tour, but you're just going to leave us hanging with the UFO sighting during bloops? Thank you, as always, for being such wonderful YT hosts 🙂!

[@SchoandJo]

Haha I know right! Current consensus (of everyone there) is that it may have been a deployment of Starlink satellites? Who knows! 👽👽👽

[@donaldbrown9437]

That was very interesting, thanks for sharing.😊

[@mr.bill.8236]

No matter what anyone else says, just be as cool as you can.

[@SchoandJo]

Right on!

[@tcchief2919]

Great job with the tour. Super boat. Small and mighty. I noticed you had a/c on the boat. As most Marine Traders don't, could you talk about whether you installed it or if it came that way, what size unit it is, and if it's marine a/c unit or not. Love that you don't have to have portable a/c onboard taking up all that extra room. Congrats and keep Ollie happy! Thanks

[@paulleroy4606]

Well done, very informative.

[@BullisticFan]

52:19 you filmed Starlink!

[@royr8824]

Enjoyed the video! Do you have a video going over the details of taking a dog along on the loop?

[@SchoandJo]

Thanks for watching! No we don't have a specific vlog detailing Ollie on the Loop, although you'll see bits and pieces, every video, here and there with her! We do have an article about looping with a dog on our website, feel free to check that out! schoandjo.com/boating-with-a-dog/

[@ozcanucal7062]

Good luck I did not see the frıdge and water tanks clean and dirty Take care

[@AnDrey-wf4gl]

I like this boat ❤

[@kaseyhopkins327]

Hello, great video. Can you share what you use for a mattress for you beds? Thank so much! 😊

[@clintterrill6886]

Omg, put some oil on that poor teak! Thanks for the tour, nice boat.

[@SchoandJo]

👍

[@detroitphotography]

excellent boar tour

[@SchoandJo]

Thanks!

[@Apando3]

Thank you.

[@jackiegaudette6225]

Nice boat !

[@TheMikesylv]

Just a suggestion take a few days with some sand paper and polyurethane and cover that wood before it starts splitting

[@russelloakes4852]

Great video y'all. Love watching your adventures. I'd like to hear a bit more detail on your solar. We're getting our trawler ready for some extended time away from the dock and would like to be a little less reliant on generator power. We have no solar yet but a rather large Bimini like yours. Did you install your panels and charging system or was it already onboard? In a future video, could you talk more about your electrical set up? Thank you so much. Fair winds and following seas. Cheers y'all.

[@SchoandJo]

Thanks Russell! We love our solar set up, and I set it all up after we purchased Pivot. We have 4 x 175W flexible solar panels (2 in series and the groups in parallel), routed to a Victron solar charge controller and then fed into our 600ah lithium battery bank. We only had to run our generator after very extend time on anchor, like weeks, or when we wanted to run the AC or Heater traveling down the rivers. Happy to answer any other questions and I also wrote an e-book on website store going over our entire electrical set up in further detail! Cheers!

[@Wv8675]

So cool

[@4437RR]

Did I miss the generator? Great video🎉

[@MV_Checkmate]

As others have said, Many homeowners mistakenly think that a carbon monoxide detector will detect a propane problem. Unfortunately, that’s not the case.

[@doncritzer2798]

I met a couple in Florida who lived on a grand banks 36 for 14 years, they said most important thing on boat was a big 12 volt freezer........

[@SchoandJo]

We didn't quite realize the value of the freezer until really getting into boating. It has been awesome!

[@brianmcnamee7098]

Great video guys! question... what do you do about garbage and organic storage during extended anchorages?

[@doncritzer2798]

Flybridge......when yur up there feels like yur flyin

[@SchoandJo]

✈️

[@jeremystory6981]

😂😂 ,,,,,,old pivot,,,,,you guys made her the boat she is great video

[@SchoandJo]

Thanks Jeremy!!

[@jimkonst]

Originally, there was the "flying Bridge," which was a control station on an aluminum framework tower above and separate from the cabin, used for offshore fishing. The lower helm was the bridge. The term was somehow bastardized in the seventies, I think. This was soon followed by renaming the stern rail the "push-pit, which may have hastened the decline of Western civilization.

[@gretchenritter3955]

Another question (I have a ton😅) is mold/mildew a problem on a boat, and how do you handle it?

[@SchoandJo]

It's not really a problem for where we cruised, but at certain times of the year, it's worse than others. The fix for mildew is typically prevention, keeping good airflow and when it comes up, taking care of it!

[@gretchenritter3955]

If my husband and i wanted to do the loop with another couple and a pet (a cat for us). How do you deal with trash and or litter between docks/ports? Is there a full bag of trash sitting somewhere for a day or two? I'm an inexperienced boater and can't imagine doing something like this without my pet. However, my husband really wants to do it and used to boat all the time (including deep sea fishing).

[@SchoandJo]

That sounds like an awesome plan! Yes, that is typically how it goes. We keep trash in our lazarette, so its out of sight and out of mind. A part of our boat life experience was reducing a lot of what we consume, and trying to be strategic about wrappers and trash. So in general we didn't have much trash, we had much less than when living on land. Sometimes, after extended anchoring it can pile up a bag or two at the maximum.

[@daxrrylk8716]

Nice video. Bed arrangement looks rather cramped imo 😬

[@bobmiller1973]

Awesome video. Do you guys have a house somewhere or do you live on the boat full time?

[@SchoandJo]

Thanks Bob, we don’t have a land home, this boat is our full time home 😁

[@LeafFWD]

House batteries, u forgot to show us the house batteries and solar charger control....!!

[@SchoandJo]

Woops! We have 600 ah of lithium batteries with a Victron solar charge controller managing that side. We have an earlier boat tour where I think we mention it as well, but still don't show it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q33Qm3-mlLKgnpo&ab_channel=SchoandJo Let us know if you have any other questions!

[@priyankapuvanakaran-wc3cm]

Nice

[@lil_1443]

Did you consider a Starlink system for the Loop, or is Cell service with your Weboost sufficient?

[@SchoandJo]

Absolutely! We'd totally recommend Starlink, we got it just after this boat tour and just posted a review :)

[@lil_1443]

@@SchoandJo Thx, are you still considering selling the Pivot?

[@SchoandJo]

No problem! Pivot is already sold to new loopers attempting the Loop this year!@@lil_1443

[@kevinhoffman8214]

you make me jealous ! do you have RADAR ?? and ais ?

[@SchoandJo]

No radar or AIS! Would be nice to have though!

[@JohnAnderson-sq8lt]

In your opinion , what is the best section of the Great Loop?

[@SchoandJo]

Without a doubt, North Channel! Each section of the Loop was unique and had its own "bests", North Channel just really fit our personalities :)

[@Mr91495osh]

What are the maximum dimensions, water and air draft and length for boats make the great loop?

[@melaniearbon5166]

We're interested in how you run the deep freezer? We are also thinking of adding one in for our loop, we have solar panels but no inverter and we have a Genny.

[@SchoandJo]

Our deep freezer runs directly off a wall outlet, off our inverter. We run it during the daytime and then turn it off at night. We have enough solar panels, and the freezer is relatively low power so we never have noticed the draw, compared to some of our other electronics. If you find a 12V freezer you should be able to do the same without the inverter!

[@Auberg1]

Where are you now on the loop?

[@SchoandJo]

We made Gold in February '23 🏅🏅🏅

[@FJAdventurer]

Elliot - where in the world did you learn the phrase “bob’s your uncle”? And, what in the world does it mean? 😂

[@SchoandJo]

😂 that phrase came from Australia.. it means something like "and there you go" haha

[@scottivanoff3332]

You are the best i just wanted 😮to get drink and fat in th e aftcabin lol i would need one big fan

[@SchoandJo]

😂😂

[@richardbell5415]

How did u attach solar panels to bimini

[@SchoandJo]

We added some rubber lifts to the bottom edges to get the solar panel back off the biminy and then routed small lines through the grommets of the panels to our biminy, just via tieing them down. Then where the two panels come together in the middle we tied them together with small lines too. So basically we tied our panels down via ropes.

[@Rockabuy2002]

Did I miss generator/ inverter discussion? Does anyone make trawlers anymore of this size?

[@SchoandJo]

Nope you didn't miss it, I think we just skipped it 😅 Pivot has a 5KWH Diesel Westerbeke Generator with 600ah of Lithium and a 3000W inverter. We also have alternator charging. As for current trawlers, there's some new Mainships, beneteau swift trawler, camano trawler, Nordic tugs are similar, and the list goes on. Lots of variations!

[@Rendezvouslife]

What brand inverter and lithium ? Interested in idle consumption of inverter you used. How tough was it getting internet on the loop to do computer work?

[@Carolinaboi313]

Braces

[@robertwood9939]

So your admitting that your really full of it!

[@SchoandJo]

What?

[@danielsalazar8835]

Like to see bilge pump systems

[@SchoandJo]

Hmm maybe we will show that eventually! What do you want to know? We have a main automatic bilge pump in the lowest part of the bilge. We have a secondary high-water automatic bilge pump with an alarm that sits higher in the bilge. Other than that we have various pumps and buckets for the manual option 😁

[@danielsalazar8835]

@@SchoandJo Thanks for your response First I want to thank you for the great utube productions I've pretty much watched every one. Positive, Real world! My girlfriend and myself are currently preparing my boat to start the "loop" first quarter of next year A rather different approach in a 27yo Proline 251wa Basically the boat has been stripped down to fiberglass and reworked top two bottom (new motor 250 yamaha sho, electrical, plumbing, remodeled cabin, AC, Simrad electronics, etc) Our plan is to ship the boat to New Orleans from it's home port in Newport Beach and start from there Full Cruise speed is 25 knots We plan on shore lodging a couple times a week. Because of shallow draft (2.5' engine trimmed up) we are hoping to do some different side trips (Crystal River Florida, Flamingo Bay everglades Bahamas, St John's river) Expect to complete the loop in about 6 months I almost forgot about bilge pumps You're actually answered my question I've pretty much done the same as you have (rule 8oo auto with 2000 a little higher up and a 2nd 800 auto forward) There pumps are cheaply made and have a short lift cycle. I carry a spare for all the above Thanks again for your response

[@danielsalazar8835]

@@SchoandJo One other question I'm planning on using my cell phone paired with the Simrad units for planning and navigation We did 2500 nm in SE Alaska last summer and did pretty much the whole trip using CMAP auto route Any comments on that for the loop?

[@SchoandJo]

We used auto-route from Navionics and it was 99.999% correct. Only a couple times on the entire Loop did it veer a different way than markers. We were very impressed with it!

[@danielsalazar8835]

@@SchoandJo Thanks for the response Most loopers use Navionics Few if any discuss autoroute I think being able to pair your phone or tablet with your onboard systems is a winner I'm using the CMAP because it's owned by Simrad's parent (B&G)] I use Simrad because it's a better Bluewater fishing system I believe Garmin is better for cruising Thanks again Stay safe Be Well

[@jeremystory6981]

🌞🫠✌️

[@The442nd]

What was that in the night sky?🤔

[@seanmcguire7532]

It looked like a group of SpaceXs Starlink satellites.

[@bobwoods1302]

52:27 WTF?

[@SchoandJo]

?

[@mjrwey]

TMI. Don't need to see how a winch works or how you use a cutting board or what's in a box of misc stuff among other things. All close ups, no overview of the spaces.

[@SchoandJo]

🆗

[@danpease8395]

Illegal storage of propane forward and aft.

[@SchoandJo]

What?