FREE DOCKS on the Virginia Cut in our Trawler (and Learning about the Battle at Great Bridge)

[@SchoandJo]

Thank you for watching! This video was filmed on April 27th. Find out how much the Great Loop Costs: schoandjo.com/great-loop-expenses/ 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 Do you have recommendations for future stops along America’s Great Loop? Please share them with us here! bit.ly/great-loop-recommendations

[@buckpowers4837]

Looks like a successful easy day. The kind you deserve once in a while. Free dock, good food, easy land access, and you made all openings on time. What more can you ask for? Enjoy

[@SchoandJo]

That's right! It had it all 🤙

[@bradirby2355]

So nice to see that some couples still hold hands. It’s important and not as common as it once was.

[@SpreaderF15]

That double click on the radio, also called a “zipper”, simply is an acknowledgment of a radio transmission; it’s the same as saying “copy” but without clobbering up the frequency with more voices.

[@SchoandJo]

Very interesting - thanks for sharing!

[@SpreaderF15]

We use it in aviation all the time, that's only one of the many similarities between boating and flying. Your content is great, enjoy the way you articulate the thought processes. I would guess your videos appeal to the entire spectrum from people who've been on the water for years to absolute neophytes because of that; experienced folks can relive their similar experiences and newbies can get some insight.

[@cmichaelhaugh8517]

Nice cruise. Interested to learn about the Battle of Great Bridge. I’m surprised I had not known if it earlier.

[@billmead5052]

It's so cool how you come across all those cameras that can catch you walking up and down trails and pulling in and out of dingy docks 😉

[@SchoandJo]

Isn't that just wild? 😁😁😁

[@suzanneaydelotte801]

I’m glad you had a short cruise day and you could get work done and also have tine to walk around the area and learn some history. Thanks for sharing! I hope you had a nice chill day! Keep traveling safe! 🤗💞

[@SchoandJo]

Thanks Suzanne ☺️

[@TakeATripTogether]

I like how you tell us the historical significance of the area you're in. So interesting! Enjoy your chill day!!!

[@SchoandJo]

Thanks!! It was definitely an interesting area, and that's what's cool about the Loop. You visit unique places that you might not visit on other trips 😁

[@TakeATripTogether]

@@SchoandJo For sure! That's one of the reasons we want to go on circle tours of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. So many interesting spots to explore that are off the beaten path.

[@KnoxWill]

So happy that you are catching up on the videos. Please keep them coming. It is great that you keep it real. Not every minute is great boat time but the great boat times do make up for it.

[@SchoandJo]

Thanks Will! We hope to continue releasing regularly from now on (as we say frequently haha) Thanks for watching!

[@ClassXIRoads]

Thanks for the excellent video, one more to catch up, but that will have to wait until tomorrow. Olly has a rough lifr.

[@SchoandJo]

Ruff life for sure 😁

[@alfsphone]

I love your videos.

[@hterrebrood]

At 2:30, the “new” Pungo Bridge!

[@brendasteen4016]

We LOVE the free dock at Great Bridge lock.

[@SchoandJo]

it was a winner!

[@cwgruber1]

awesome job guys ...love bringing some civility to the boating community, letting others past, nice work!

[@SchoandJo]

Thanks Carl!

[@michaelhensley4102]

Thank you for the work you do on these videos. They are great as always.

[@SchoandJo]

Thanks Michael!

[@annhysell6064]

Nice job guys. Just found your channel. I've done the ICW twice (when I was younger, lol) , now hoping for another chance in the next few years. Great job communicating! Be well & safe travels. When you travel through the Great Lakes, Ashtabula Yacht Club, Ohio.

[@SchoandJo]

Awesome! Good luck getting out there again! The plan right now is to go into Canada so unfortunately we'll be missing Lake Eerie - have to add that to a future trip!

[@jeromeanderson3007]

I just found your channel and I'm loving it. My wife and I are retiring so and are planing to do the great loop. And hour channel has been a God send of info and great scenery. Thanks and keep it up.

[@SchoandJo]

Sweeet - y'all are going to have a fantastic time. Let us know if you have any specific questions!

[@12FlyVA]

Another great video. Great free docks there at Great Bridge, in Chesapeake. When I brought my trawler up from NC, I stopped there and met a town councilman. He provided me with info on what was in the area, and he was very proud of their new free docks. Restaurants and stores within an easy walk of the docks. Hope you got a chance to visit the business as well. Someone asked about your steering - I think I see an autopilot panel. Do you use your autopilot? Once I got mine working, I love it. I just point her in the direction I want to go, then activate it - it holds course and no hand steering.

[@SchoandJo]

We just got our Autopilot working! It's been a game changer. Thats a fun experience, its always great to get tips from a local!

[@bobr9689]

I feel like I was cheated in my high school education. I went to school in VA (grades 6 - 12), and not once did a teacher mention the Battle of Great Bridge. And I love history lessons. One history project was to write about somebody from the past. While everyone flocked to the library, to write papers on George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, etc...; I rode my 3-speed bicycle to a local cemetery, and wrote down a bunch of names, connecting everyone together. Packed a lunch, with beer, cigarettes, and a few other "goodies", with a notebook and pens - my paper was to remember the forgotten, common people of the times. Got an A+++ on the paper - the highest in the class. Remember this was well before computers; my history teacher would spend her Saturdays at the courthouse, pouring over records.

[@SchoandJo]

Quite the story Bob, thanks for sharing! Its easy for all of us to forget the "little man" and only focus on those that were deemed heroes from the past - the reality is not always so simple and there are probably many people, also very important, just lost to history 😁

[@larrydicenzo3826]

Thank you, great video. 👍

[@SchoandJo]

Thanks Larry!

[@BobEstler]

Congratulations on reaching 10k subscribers.

[@SchoandJo]

Thanks!!

[@christopherayoub9934]

I have really enjoyed watching and virtually experiencing your travels on the Great Loop. Look forward to your future travels.

[@SchoandJo]

Thanks so much Christopher!

[@jurassicporkchop4162]

Great video. I love all of your videos. Stay safe.

[@SchoandJo]

Thanks y'all!

[@jurassicporkchop4162]

@@SchoandJo LOL...You're welcome.

[@theresakeller694]

We recently found you and we just caught up to your videos! Thanks for being open and honest about boat life. It's not all sunshine and butterflies!

[@SchoandJo]

Thanks so much Theresa! Its not all sunshine and butterflies, but there are some great moments along the way 😁

[@Niki10-32]

6:43 "That's what she said" 😛

[@SchoandJo]

haha

[@woodside63]

Choices for anchoring can be very different, depending on weather, tides, etc. I think would-be cruisers might wonder what on-line sources, anchorage or cruising guides or suggestions from other cruisers you are using. Skipper Bob? Active Captain reviews? Would you choose the north side of the bridge if stopping there another time?

[@SchoandJo]

The North side of the bridge was also a 48hr free dock (even though on AC it mentions just 24hr) so we'd check out that one next time! Not sure if is any better or worse, but a benefit is that you are already through the bridge so you can take one item off the following day. We mainly use Active Captain through Navionics to mark and find good anchorages and free docks. We have some books like Skipper Bob's but don't use them as much as its just easier to find and search them digitally. We will probably make a video or blog post eventually going through all the details and nuances 😁

[@skipper051]

we live on the Great Dismal swamp we were so hoping you guys were going past our house.I wish i had done the great loop but age is now starting to interfere with things we want to do we do own a pontoon boat now and have had two 36 ft boats years ago We wish you all the best and we love the videos

[@SchoandJo]

Ahh well darn... if we come through the Dismal Swamp again maybe we will cross paths. Hope you have some fun adventures on your pontoon!

[@jorgetrinidad1492]

I always watch your videos and i am noticing the new affection between the both of you. I think that is great. I have a 38 sea ray sunsport 1995. Its definetly a fast boat. When i go 8 knotts i have to build patients. Would you prefer a faster boat or do you like going slow? Thank you for your videos. They are very entertaining. I talk ablut pivot like its one of my family members😀

[@SchoandJo]

Haha Jorge thats great... There are definitely times that we'd appreciate a faster boat 😁

[@FloridaYachtInsuranceGuy]

No thumbs up after the engine starts? lol

[@SchoandJo]

Shoot must have missed it today 😂

[@Bubba-tx1vx]

👍👍👍👌

[@daveprather6548]

Enjoy your videos . Did you adjust your engines idle speed yet?

[@SchoandJo]

Thanks Dave! Nope, and I don't think we will (at least before we finish the loop). It is idling at 800 and in gear a bit lower.

[@daveprather6548]

@@SchoandJo I don't think 800 rpm is all that high. It probably should be around 6 or 700 but with your need to keep batteries up and supply power to so many devices, 800 aint that high. Best of luck. Enjoy!

[@SchoandJo]

Thanks Dave!

[@sledzep01]

If you had a catamaran like 25ft wide... does the other side of the first bridge open?

[@SchoandJo]

In this case they were working on the bridge so the catamaran would have not been able to pass. I don't know how long it was out of order for!

[@sledzep01]

@@SchoandJo thank you

[@captainkrunch6372]

Whatever they say wind is we add 5

[@SchoandJo]

Solid plan!

[@fred7843]

Your trawler seems to move along pretty smoothly. What kind of mileage are you getting with the price recently doubling?

[@SchoandJo]

The price increases definitely hurt but we are hitting them in stride. Just had 6.40 in NYC and will be refueling before we enter Canda. We are running about 2.5 gph lately at roughly 7 kts 👍

[@martinmartin7176]

Do you always contact every bridge , we never do that , i feel like they do not like to be bothered.

[@SchoandJo]

Yes we do! Most bridges over here won’t open for you, if you don’t hail them. If you are riding with a pack and don’t hail them they we sometimes get perturbed and ask what your intentions are 😅

[@martinmartin7176]

Different country, Different customs.

[@SchoandJo]

Sounds like it! Cheers

[@johnwarren7155]

What’s with all the oversteering?

[@SchoandJo]

That's what our boat requires in any kind of wind or current...

[@johnsummers9434]

Your still oversteering. Set your course and let it go . Your boat has a long straight keel, it has to go in a straight line until you alter course. What you are doing is constantly turning to port then to starboard. Check the wake its all over the place. Classic rookie error! Did either of you take a motorboat course before you set off or buy the boat and go? Apart from that your doing well and learning as you travel. Enjoyable videos well done

[@SchoandJo]

Thanks for the comment John! We have tried your suggestion but the boat requires constant corrections, could be a lot of play in our rudder, wind, current, not sure. Believe me, we would steer less if we could 😁

[@johnsummers9434]

@@SchoandJo In that case you really need to check the steering cables, there will be a tensioner somewhere in the system probably near the quadrant. Unlikely to be the rudder unless its damaged. Wind maybe but all the time? Somethings wrong because your boat should not do that.

[@SchoandJo]

We have hydraulic steering, we did bleed our system recently but it didn't change anything 🤷

[@johnsummers9434]

@@SchoandJo well your doing all the right things. is the oil up to max level? maybe next time your swimming get Jo to wiggle wheel and see if that is transmitted to rudder unless you can easily see the rudder stock

[@SchoandJo]

We'll be in the lakes in the next week or so and should be doing a bottom check then - we'll give a it a go. Thanks!

[@tmac709]

You two deserve some laid-back time. Enjoy it...and take Ollie out....seems to have been cooped for a couple of days. :-)

[@SchoandJo]

Absolutely! Thanks T Mac!

[@gregsullivan8956]

Hello yo

[@SchoandJo]

yo yo Greg!