I lived in Florida for 15 years, I have also done boating in the UK. Much easier to do long boat trips in Florida then in the UK, first the weather is calmer and wamer, and 2nd , you dont have tidal locks. And boats are cheaper in Florida, you get alot more bang for your buck.
As usual your vids are very well done & informative . God speed from my friend .. My sweetheart Pam, Wife of 40 recently had OH surgery Monday and asked today.>>>, day3 into recovery >>> hows Marty n crew doing on OUR adventure.. Ok hunny ill check - I ansered, Hearing the spark of adventure returning to her . All is well with ship n crew I exclaimed . she replied ,,, Im craving a cheese burger.. well Well its trew Giver what she needs n alls well that ends well in Cardio ICU .. ps don't tell her i wrote this }: aApproved by others in ICU u Go Girl ... aint life a HOOT todays post of Yourall doing great No Stress right MM lol CU soon OUR FRIEND : ).
For some reason your videos stopped showing up in my recommendation. Last time I watched your videos you had just bought the boat and was in the process of fixing it up. Your boat has come along way. It looks awesome. Your videos helped me buy a kayak. Now I might have to buy a boat too.
Enjoyed this video. Thanks for sharing! Driven by okeechobee but had no idea it was that big. We’re on the west coast. Just sold a 45 silverton. Do we EVER understand your comment about bow thrusters. The wind was always a problem getting into our slip, but once we repaired the bow thrusters it was so much easier!
Hi i just like to thank you for all of the videos i enjoy them all . i no i most like lee i won`t be able to do what you tow are doing so i am in joying threw you guys doing this big gurney so Thank you both .
At 9:10 if you look at the position of your boat to the dock, what you need to do at that exact moment is to turn you wheel hard left and give it a little bump or two of gas and it will stop and straighten out the boat for a perfect landing. It will also bring your stern towards the dock. It works every time and do the opposite for a Starboard docking. Good luck! Steve, Brown Eyed Girl, Fort Myers - PS- with a little practice, this will make for a smoother and much more enjoyable docking experience for you.
Hi buddy Michael here from Atlanta Georgia. Appreciate that video I liked it, I am a new B for boats as well. I am going to get one soon. I'm learning but I want to say I appreciate your video ,keep them coming bro see you.
Capt. you have to give yourself more credit. You handle that boat just fine. You were presented a certain weather condition when entering the lock, and then it changed, Which all Captains can relate, You adjusted just fine and laid her in Starboard side nicely. Great Job!! Stop being so hard on yourself......
This is all really interesting. I am also learning about the Great Loop. I am looking up certain areas you are passing by on Wikipedia to learn about them. Would never have bothered if it weren't for your trip. Thanks.
Great video! Thank you for the ride across the lake. I have ridden in fishing boats on Okeechobee when the wind came up and had a good blow. Nice to see you had a first mate along for the ride.
My uncle drowned in Lake Okeechobee in 1973. He had a speedboat with 4 outboard engines. He had an automatic captain machine he built, so he wasnt in control. He was guzzling gin & laughing & would on occasion dance near the bow, my aunt would scream at him to not do this. He didnt listen. Finally, one time, he fell overboard, my aunt was screaming & didnt know how to operate the boat or use the radio. She was in the boat screaming & crying for 3 hours until it ran aground. My uncle a bit immature.
I'm sorry to hear of your Uncle's Drowning; Maybe even more sorry to hear your Aunt knew Nothing of operating Boat. Your Uncle sounds Fun and perhaps a bit silly, tho died Happy ~ i imagine. : }
@Karen O Look, dont celebrate what my uncle did, as a matter of fact many people thought of him as lowlife garbage. Now that we've gotten into the details, let it be known he was a wife beater, he also had beaten his elderly mother, MY GRANDMOTHER, on occasion while in a drunken rage. He stole other peoples cars, committed many small acts of theft because he never worked. He shoplifted everyday from what everyone has told me. He put dead fish in my Aunt's car & she wouldnt know for days, & to do that in Florida was beyond sickening. She would drive while vomiting on herself because the odor was just that awful. Hopefully my uncle is burning for eternity.
I would put a lateral line from the stern to the bow through the fenders when using them on pilings. Stops in them from bouncing out if you get some wake.
Great update thanks Marty! It's not difficult to track you guys and look it up on Google, but it's so much easier when you put a map up as part of the video. I reckon it makes a nice change for you to have some company on board! Stay safe & well.
enjoy watching marty-just so you know i have had 3 of my handles break on my bass raider probably not the best place to hook to rope-gonna like watching these videos but gotta say your boat mods were really good
Marty, you need a Garmin InReach Explorer! That way, it wouldn't be so confusing to watch you cross Okeechobee today knowing you were in Titusville last week! With an InReach, the GPS updates your coordinates at your selected interval on a map that you can publish a link to for us to track you. And, that's only a side benefit of the InReach...it's actually an emergency personal locator beacon with an "I need help NOW" button and satellite communications when you don't have cell service. You also get weather forecasts, and maybe NTM with it (?).
This was NICE! Love Okeechobee, was sent to work over there, tho feel really saddened & stupid Not having explored Waterways. One would never believe i actually grew up on the Water with my lack of attempt. {{sigh}} THANKS!
I was in Titusville on Monday, saw you moored out in the bay. I honked the horn, hollered, but the wind was against me. Would have loved to buy you a beer. Or several...
Am following your adventure fairly closely......Just sold my canal shack (doublewide just of Boatdrinksasota Bay)....Buying 19' travel trailer to call home, then a new tundra to drag it around (my taco is 14 yrs old....good for 100K+ more miles, but want bigger tow twuck)....Hopefully, within a couple years will be able to score a 25' pocket trawler to cruise/liveaboard the coast of Florida/Keys....It might be big 'nuf to do the loop, so might try it....Dig your vids....Keep 'em coming, buddy....Hope to meet ya some day.... ;o)
Great vid cap! Have you ever tried using a mid cleat line when docking? Much more control when single handing to a person on the dock. Pulling a line midship towards dock will keep both bow and stern under control from slipping away in wind or current and give you control while you secure bow and stern lines. It’s my # 1 line to use when docking.
Marty, I have an inflatable PFD from West Marine in adult size in wonderful condition. I have it up for sale but nobody seems to want it. I would love to donate it to you for use to your 1st mate. If you want it please tell me how to ship it to you.
Hi Mark! I need a PFD for my canoe and the last one was blown away by the wind off my deck recently. If Marty doesn't take you up on your offer, 'd be interested in yours. Either way, I'm having a hard time figuring out which is the safest/best for my use off-shore. Any quick tips or advice?
@@jaredschutz8486 I would watch some You Tubers videos who go offshore and see what they wear. Are you in a kayak or canoe. I never saw a canoe offshore, one good wave and I think they would be full of water. I would wear mine inflatable PFD only inshore.
@@marklafavexseamansinstitut3628 Thanks for the advice Mark! From your comment, I realized I had the wrong idea of what off-shore meant. I indeed have an aluminum canoe with a trolling motor and diy outriggers, but only go through my local harbors and bays here on Long Island.
@@jaredschutz8486 You could probably get away with an inflatable PFD then. I am still waiting for Marty to reply to my offer, maybe he has not read it yet. I had it listed for $50 plus shipping.
Marty, last time I brought a 16 ft. aluminum fishing boat into a dock when it was windy it cost me a set of $200 glasses, practice adds up, I need more. Looking forward to more of your adventure. Mike in beautiful west coast Canada where the water temperature will kill you in 1 hour or less, haha.
I'd like to make several trips like this to gain experience myself. I have a 35' houseboat that I'd like to feel confident and in controll of for long distance boat trips. My boat is in the Kissimmee chain Central Florida.
That's what I thought too. A mis spoke methinks. Happens when ya in front of a mike. The brain thinks one thing and the mouth says something completely random.
I enjoy the videos. But your boat can withstand more than 2-3 footers comfortably and can handle in 5-6 footers easily. You have a 30+ some foot boat no need to worry about waves unless it’s anything bigger than 7 footers . I understand the caution. And I understand docking could be a concern in winds. I own a 426 Chris craft Catalina and it does get sloppy docking in a lot of wind. But as a veteran boater I think you could ease off of the concern.
I'm going to by buying a boat, and I will have a washer and dryer onboard. I know that's a little much for most people, but at least I've stepped down from thinking about a 70 foot houseboat with a hot tub, head, and a bar on the top deck, to a 50 footer with just a washer and dryer. :-)
@@lcjohn51 - Nice. Glad you edited. I thought 730,000 acres was a bit much. I have always found that lake to be fascinating due to the size and yet how shallow the lake is.
Easier to grab lines from mid ship, or use a boat pole...Also instruct crew..DO NOT jump off the vessel on to a dock, it's sometimes a farther drop then they realize... And you should already know, Captain, the most important line on the dock is a spring line... Fair Winds!!!
In case someone else hasn't already pointed out, Okeechobee isn't 730 acres, it's 730 square miles! It's huge. I was going to walk around it for a challenging hike until I learned that it's 112 miles in circumference!
The locks on the west side of the loop do not have ropes hanging, drop and raise much higher and those wall are slimy gross! You'll want some help getting through the Tom Bigbee
Love south Florida and the afternoon rain storms, one of the big things I miss about Florida, among many other things.
Yes the rain storms where it dumps for 20min lots of lightning then the Sun comes out and you see the steam rising off the treetops
REALLY enjoying this series Marty, like a lot of other folk, I am living every step of this with you. Greetings from Rossendale, UK.
I lived in Florida for 15 years, I have also done boating in the UK. Much easier to do long boat trips in Florida then in the UK, first the weather is calmer and wamer, and 2nd , you dont have tidal locks. And boats are cheaper in Florida, you get alot more bang for your buck.
Humility and caution are good Marty, but you are better than you know. Good on you mate! ...Mike too!
As usual your vids are very well done & informative . God speed from my friend .. My sweetheart Pam, Wife of 40 recently had OH surgery Monday and asked today.>>>, day3 into recovery >>> hows Marty n crew doing on OUR adventure.. Ok hunny ill check - I ansered, Hearing the spark of adventure returning to her . All is well with ship n crew I exclaimed . she replied ,,, Im craving a cheese burger.. well Well its trew Giver what she needs n alls well that ends well in Cardio ICU .. ps don't tell her i wrote this }: aApproved by others in ICU u Go Girl ... aint life a HOOT
todays post of Yourall doing great No Stress right MM lol CU soon OUR FRIEND : ).
For some reason your videos stopped showing up in my recommendation. Last time I watched your videos you had just bought the boat and was in the process of fixing it up. Your boat has come along way. It looks awesome. Your videos helped me buy a kayak. Now I might have to buy a boat too.
Oh man I wish you had a show the lock opening and y'all going all the way through I would have really liked to have sing that
Hahah, love the Tron clip in there, first thing I thought of when I saw that bridge!!
Living the dream marty. Thanks for sharing
I appreciate the effort that you make by sharing these videos . Thanks for posting.
I remember being on Okeechobee as a kid during a storm and it felt like crossing an ocean to get back to the rim canal.
We are planning to go across Lake Okeechobee next time around. Thanks for showing us what to expect. 😀
I’ve been following this adventure since the beginning. It’s been a very enjoyable viewing so far ! Enjoy your liberty call at Indian Town guys ! 🍺
always have appreciated your humility, friend. I bet you are a great teacher..... :)
I can watch this all day! I really enjoy your videos!
Enjoyed this video. Thanks for sharing! Driven by okeechobee but had no idea it was that big. We’re on the west coast. Just sold a 45 silverton. Do we EVER understand your comment about bow thrusters. The wind was always a problem getting into our slip, but once we repaired the bow thrusters it was so much easier!
Hi i just like to thank you for all of the videos i enjoy them all . i no i most like lee i won`t be able to do what you tow are doing so i am in joying threw you guys doing this big gurney so Thank you both .
Great video Marty. Okeechobee is a beast of a lake. Glad you crossed on a calm day.
At 9:10 if you look at the position of your boat to the dock, what you need to do at that exact moment is to turn you wheel hard left and give it a little bump or two of gas and it will stop and straighten out the boat for a perfect landing. It will also bring your stern towards the dock. It works every time and do the opposite for a Starboard docking. Good luck! Steve, Brown Eyed Girl, Fort Myers - PS- with a little practice, this will make for a smoother and much more enjoyable docking experience for you.
Thx for sharing, nice trip. You’re right, boat hooks are your best friend when trying to maneuver, especially in tight slips
Congrats on the lake crossing captain 👌job well done with the narrating, lessons well taught😉👍👍😎
Sweet channel. Makes me want to explore inland waters!
don't stress about making "great" videos, they are all great. I love all your videos
Hi buddy Michael here from Atlanta Georgia. Appreciate that video I liked it, I am a new B for boats as well. I am going to get one soon. I'm learning but I want to say I appreciate your video ,keep them coming bro see you.
hey Marty, I like you adding your mistakes. Thanks to mistakes I will never run out of things for me to make videos on.😎👌
Capt. you have to give yourself more credit. You handle that boat just fine. You were presented a certain weather condition when entering the lock, and then it changed, Which all Captains can relate, You adjusted just fine and laid her in Starboard side nicely. Great Job!! Stop being so hard on yourself......
Marty, after a little over 60 years I realize that I ONLY learn from what I do wrong. Your doing well. As Always, May God Bless you and yours!
thanks so much for the adventure !!! my winter go to....online..
This is all really interesting. I am also learning about the Great Loop. I am looking up certain areas you are passing by on Wikipedia to learn about them. Would never have bothered if it weren't for your trip. Thanks.
Great video! That is a BIG lake and the canal seems pretty cool to travel as well! Up here in Maryland, we’ll be getting back out in the water soon.
New sub. Great videos mate greetings from Australia 🇦🇺👍
Good video. It is good learning watching how you get things done throughout the trip.
Loving your adventures on that boat. Even with the mechanic problems , even a better adventure !!
Great video! Thank you for the ride across the lake. I have ridden in fishing boats on Okeechobee when the wind came up and had a good blow. Nice to see you had a first mate along for the ride.
My uncle drowned in Lake Okeechobee in 1973.
He had a speedboat with 4 outboard engines. He had an automatic captain machine he built, so he wasnt in control. He was guzzling gin & laughing & would on occasion dance near the bow, my aunt would scream at him to not do this. He didnt listen.
Finally, one time, he fell overboard, my aunt was screaming & didnt know how to operate the boat or use the radio. She was in the boat screaming & crying for 3 hours until it ran aground.
My uncle a bit immature.
I'm sorry to hear of your Uncle's Drowning; Maybe even more sorry to hear your Aunt knew Nothing of operating Boat.
Your Uncle sounds Fun and perhaps a bit silly, tho died Happy ~ i imagine. : }
@Karen O
Look, dont celebrate what my uncle did, as a matter of fact many people thought of him as lowlife garbage. Now that we've gotten into the details, let it be known he was a wife beater, he also had beaten his elderly mother, MY GRANDMOTHER, on occasion while in a drunken rage. He stole other peoples cars, committed many small acts of theft because he never worked. He shoplifted everyday from what everyone has told me.
He put dead fish in my Aunt's car & she wouldnt know for days, & to do that in Florida was beyond sickening. She would drive while vomiting on herself because the odor was just that awful.
Hopefully my uncle is burning for eternity.
@@jennajobasiaz5559 he was a legend.
Love your reflective tone, keep up the good work!
Marty, should you travel by Wilber -By -The -Sea a little Hamlet south of Daytona, check out Boondocks. Excellent food, service, and company!
Marty, You guys have a fun trip and be safe!
Love your channel Marty Zoffinger
Thanks for taking us along
I's interesting to watch your video skills and your boat handling skills improve. I'm looking forward to coming along for the ride.
Journey is really coming together, so awesome what you all are doing, rooting for you here in NC
Glad to see you making progress and learning on the fly. You'll be an old salt in no time!
Thrilled to see you on the east coast.
Great videos looking forward to seeing you up in ny
Always good to have the boating knowledge than to need the boating knowledge :o)
Great video to follow you around the great loop!
I would put a lateral line from the stern to the bow through the fenders when using them on pilings. Stops in them from bouncing out if you get some wake.
Great update thanks Marty! It's not difficult to track you guys and look it up on Google, but it's so much easier when you put a map up as part of the video. I reckon it makes a nice change for you to have some company on board! Stay safe & well.
Love the videos keep up the good work.. going to keep an eye out for you. When you are in the Buffalo ny area.
enjoy watching marty-just so you know i have had 3 of my handles break on my bass raider probably not the best place to hook to rope-gonna like watching these videos but gotta say your boat mods were really good
Marty, you need a Garmin InReach Explorer! That way, it wouldn't be so confusing to watch you cross Okeechobee today knowing you were in Titusville last week! With an InReach, the GPS updates your coordinates at your selected interval on a map that you can publish a link to for us to track you. And, that's only a side benefit of the InReach...it's actually an emergency personal locator beacon with an "I need help NOW" button and satellite communications when you don't have cell service. You also get weather forecasts, and maybe NTM with it (?).
Teach those dogs to hold lines and do laundry and you are GOLDEN!!! :P No freeloaders!! Be safe, have fun!
thanks for sharing I want to do that trip on future
This was NICE! Love Okeechobee, was sent to work over there, tho feel really saddened & stupid Not having explored Waterways.
One would never believe i actually grew up on the Water with my lack of attempt. {{sigh}} THANKS!
Congrats on the license!
I was in Titusville on Monday, saw you moored out in the bay. I honked the horn, hollered, but the wind was against me. Would have loved to buy you a beer. Or several...
Am following your adventure fairly closely......Just sold my canal shack (doublewide just of Boatdrinksasota Bay)....Buying 19' travel trailer to call home, then a new tundra to drag it around (my taco is 14 yrs old....good for 100K+ more miles, but want bigger tow twuck)....Hopefully, within a couple years will be able to score a 25' pocket trawler to cruise/liveaboard the coast of Florida/Keys....It might be big 'nuf to do the loop, so might try it....Dig your vids....Keep 'em coming, buddy....Hope to meet ya some day.... ;o)
Uneventful is a great video as long as you're safe
Awsome! Love every minute of your vids!
Great vid cap! Have you ever tried using a mid cleat line when docking? Much more control when single handing to a person on the dock. Pulling a line midship towards dock will keep both bow and stern under control from slipping away in wind or current and give you control while you secure bow and stern lines. It’s my # 1 line to use when docking.
Great video - thanks Marty.
Marty, I have an inflatable PFD from West Marine in adult size in wonderful condition. I have it up for sale but nobody seems to want it. I would love to donate it to you for use to your 1st mate. If you want it please tell me how to ship it to you.
Hi Mark! I need a PFD for my canoe and the last one was blown away by the wind off my deck recently. If Marty doesn't take you up on your offer, 'd be interested in yours. Either way, I'm having a hard time figuring out which is the safest/best for my use off-shore. Any quick tips or advice?
@@jaredschutz8486 I would watch some You Tubers videos who go offshore and see what they wear. Are you in a kayak or canoe. I never saw a canoe offshore, one good wave and I think they would be full of water. I would wear mine inflatable PFD only inshore.
@@marklafavexseamansinstitut3628 Thanks for the advice Mark! From your comment, I realized I had the wrong idea of what off-shore meant. I indeed have an aluminum canoe with a trolling motor and diy outriggers, but only go through my local harbors and bays here on Long Island.
@@jaredschutz8486 You could probably get away with an inflatable PFD then. I am still waiting for Marty to reply to my offer, maybe he has not read it yet. I had it listed for $50 plus shipping.
@@marklafavexseamansinstitut3628 Thanks again! And feel free to let me know if you decide to list it again. Have a great Friday!
These videos are so good!
Marty, last time I brought a 16 ft. aluminum fishing boat into a dock when it was windy it cost me a set of $200 glasses, practice adds up, I need more. Looking forward to more of your adventure. Mike in beautiful west coast Canada where the water temperature will kill you in 1 hour or less, haha.
its crazy that ive been driving around within miles of you for the last few weeks for work, would love to meet you someday!
Missed that part where did you pick up the company at . Nice is Mike following you .
I'd like to make several trips like this to gain experience myself. I have a 35' houseboat that I'd like to feel confident and in controll of for long distance boat trips. My boat is in the Kissimmee chain Central Florida.
Them engines are sounding good bro!!!
Enjoying the videos!!
Looking good! Get those bumbers out and somewhat in place b4 you ease up bro. 🤙
Thumbs up for Scott and Roland Martin!
Nice man; fine captain!
You spent the night on the canal practically in Scott Martins backyard.
Who is Scott Martin?
Geez that music at 2:00 gave me bad memories marty!
Marty!!! Meet us on Daufuskie island may 30th! Ill buy the beer!!
Love the video marty!!
Acres?? I believe that lake is 730 square "miles".
That's what I thought too. A mis spoke methinks. Happens when ya in front of a mike. The brain thinks one thing and the mouth says something completely random.
Yes Sir, a simple slip.
You saved me a comment 😂
💖💖💖
I enjoy the videos. But your boat can withstand more than 2-3 footers comfortably and can handle in 5-6 footers easily. You have a 30+ some foot boat no need to worry about waves unless it’s anything bigger than 7 footers . I understand the caution. And I understand docking could be a concern in winds. I own a 426 Chris craft Catalina and it does get sloppy docking in a lot of wind. But as a veteran boater I think you could ease off of the concern.
No shoes no shirt no worries.
It's warming up nicely in the northeast.
Can you get some old tires to hang off the side of your boat to keep from damaging your boat in the lock?
What was the point of going into the lake? I missed that part.
To get to the other side
@@richbelfiore6908 Works for the chicken.
@@jebsdaddy141 works for Marty too
I'm going to by buying a boat, and I will have a washer and dryer onboard. I know that's a little much for most people, but at least I've stepped down from thinking about a 70 foot houseboat with a hot tub, head, and a bar on the top deck, to a 50 footer with just a washer and dryer. :-)
Tron Recognizer Bridge. That’s awesome.
Marty, I missed the introduction of D'Artagnan somehow. Who is he and why is he on the boat? (He looks like your bodyguard LOL)
1:02 Who is that, Martin?
Lake Okeechobee is more like 480,000 acres. 730 square miles.
Actually, it is 730 sq/mi and 467,000 acres.
Actually it’s 467,200 acres to be precise there is 640 acres in a square mile I own one.
Oh and PS because of the curvature of the earth some square miles have more acres than a normal square mile.It’s called a make up section.
@@lcjohn51 - Nice. Glad you edited. I thought 730,000 acres was a bit much. I have always found that lake to be fascinating due to the size and yet how shallow the lake is.
So what kind of range are you getting per fill? or just general mpg/gpm
Thank you.
🏴☠️give no quarters!Lol! I don't think that statement was referring to boaters needing quarters to do their laundry.
A tron reference? 🍒
Easier to grab lines from mid ship, or use a boat pole...Also instruct crew..DO NOT jump off the vessel on to a dock, it's sometimes a farther drop then they realize... And you should already know, Captain, the most important line on the dock is a spring line... Fair Winds!!!
Fuel Consumption ???
Hello Marty, what does that boat need for fuel per mile? & how much does it cost?
In the past, they have stated 1 mile per gallon.
@@jebsdaddy141 Thank you
Original Tron at 11:54. Good one!
And blow, blow from the Okeechobee
all the way up to Micanopy
Blow across the home of the Seminole
the alligator and the gar ~
great song and video with John Anderson
@@jebsdaddy141 Yes, it sure is. And watching Marty dealing with those Okeechobee winds, it just seems fitting.
In case someone else hasn't already pointed out, Okeechobee isn't 730 acres, it's 730 square miles! It's huge. I was going to walk around it for a challenging hike until I learned that it's 112 miles in circumference!
59 seconds in got the oney out 😜
The locks on the west side of the loop do not have ropes hanging, drop and raise much higher and those wall are slimy gross! You'll want some help getting through the Tom Bigbee
Lake Okeechobee is about 448,000 acres or 730 sq. miles but only 12 ft. deep in the deepest place.
nice one