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Boaters attempting the Great Loop typically choose comfortable cruisers, efficient trawlers, or high-performance center consoles. But Robert Youens is charting his own course—solo in a 16-foot jon boat.
Departing from Pensacola, Florida, Robert is attempting to complete the 6,000-mile Great Loop at record pace. His boat, originally built for shallow bayous and duck hunting, has been outfitted with seven fuel tanks, a 60-horsepower motor, and just enough gear to get him through long days on the water. His goal: set a solo speed benchmark and, if conditions allow, challenge the overall Loop record.
Supported by a small team of route strategists monitoring weather and navigation, Robert has planned a tightly timed route through the Gulf Coast, East Coast, Hudson River, Erie Canal, Great Lakes, and inland river system back to the Gulf. With a live GPS tracker refreshing every two minutes and daily updates posted to Facebook, he has invited the public to follow his progress and cheer him on along the way.
It's an ambitious, physically demanding, and highly visible journey that proves the Great Loop can still surprise us.
Follow Robert's journey on the following channels:
- 4,000 Marinas
- Thousands of anchorages
- Updated Charts
- Mile-by-Mile Navigation
- Highlighted Alerts & Cautions
- Full-Color Aerial Photographs
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