Great Loop Jon Boat

[Noah Shaver]

Not sure if anyone else has been following along with Robert, but last night he completed the Great Loop in 19 days, 13 Hours, and 1 Minute, breaking not only the Solo record, but the Crew record as well.

Mr. Youens tackled this 6,000 mile journey in a 1648 Weldbilt Jon Boat with a 60HP Tohatsu 4 stroke rightly named "The Ageless Wanderer."

The previous record was set by a 3 man crew in a 28 foot cabin cruiser. Their record was just broken by a 71 year old man solo in a Jon Boat.

Truly an inspiring journey. If you haven't looked Robert up, please do. To tackle the Atlantic Ocean, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, The Mississippi River, and countless other large bodies of water in a small jon boat is quite a feat.

 

[Clinton John]

Congrats to the gent.

 

[Steven Alexander]

I kept up with it some. Awesome feat. Congrats to him!

 

[Ed L.]

Not sure if anyone else has been following along with Robert, but last night he completed the Great Loop in 19 days, 13 Hours, and 1 Minute, breaking not only the Solo record, but the Crew record as well.

Mr. Youens tackled this 6,000 mile journey in a 1648 Weldbilt Jon Boat with a 60HP Tohatsu 4 stroke rightly named "The Ageless Wanderer."

The previous record was set by a 3 man crew in a 28 foot cabin cruiser. Their record was just broken by a 71 year old man solo in a Jon Boat.

Truly an inspiring journey. If you haven't looked Robert up, please do. To tackle the Atlantic Ocean, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, The Mississippi River, and countless other large bodies of water in a small jon boat is quite a feat.


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Interesting dude with quite a history. I enjoyed the adventure. I had hoped he would have taken the route across Illinois to the Mississippi River where I live rather than the Illinois River. I would have loved to have traveled with him a bit but then he wouldn't have beat the record. Too many short pools to lock through.

 

[Noah Shaver]

Interesting dude with quite a history. I enjoyed the adventure. I had hoped he would have taken the route across Illinois to the Mississippi River where I live rather than the Illinois River. I would have loved to have traveled with him a bit but then he wouldn't have beat the record. Too many short pools to lock through.

He said he ended up going through something like 65 Locks

 

[Dave Diefenderfer]

I followed it closely, and watched the live stream as he crossed is wake. John Bourbon and I have been talking about this ourselves. Not for a record, but for an adventure. He in his Snowgoose, me in my Scaup. It was so cool to see folks step up and help in a moments notice, cheer him along and bring him food and drink.

 

[HenryHawthorne]

I followed it closely, and watched the live stream as he crossed is wake. John Bourbon and I have been talking about this ourselves. Not for a record, but for an adventure. He in his Snowgoose, me in my Scaup. It was so cool to see folks step up and help in a moments notice, cheer him along and bring him food and drink.

Keep us posted if you do. From our various locales, we can bring resupply provisions and do a ridealong in our duckboats as you pass by. I'll be glad to provide escort from the SC/NC line to Morehead.

 

[RM Anderson]

Awesome trip! When I was younger I always wanted to retrace Eric Sevareid's canoe trip to Hudson Bay. His journey was the subject of his book, "Canoeing With The Cree." RM

 

[Steve Sanford]

Awesome trip! When I was younger I always wanted to retrace Eric Sevareid's canoe trip to Hudson Bay. His journey was the subject of his book, "Canoeing With The Cree." RM

All~
Thanks for the heads ups....
Noah~ I was completely oblivious. As I am within an hour of where the Erie Canal joins the Hudson River, it would have been fun to offer support!
RM~

Thanks for the lead to Eric Sevareid's book. I read about the journey in his biography many years ago - but just ordered Canoeing with the Cree in the Kindle version (on which I must now read most things...).



I once took the train up to Moosonee - and paddled up to James Bay circa 1980. Always dreamed of the much longer adventure.

I imagine most of us have read Nathaniel Bishop's Four Months in a Sneakbox - and some recent homage journeys (see Small Boats Magazine) as well.


I just completed my own Great Loop yesterday. From here in dairy country to my Mom's on Long Island (my boyhood home) and back. Leaving at 2:00 AM after horrendous rains was enough adventure for this 72-year-old. No trailer or even roof rack on this voyage - just delivering a bunch of parts for another South Bay Duckboat - and visiting my 96-year-old Mom for a few days. Stats: 7:00 AM Tuesday to 7:00 AM Friday - about 500 miles.


BTW: Just as I was about to hit SEND a family of Barred Owls began to wonder - loudly and clearly - Who cooks for you? - right outside my dining room window.

All the best,

SJS