Yamaha tech here, modern boat engine plugs don't "foul" like your typical carbureted atv, motorcycle, generator where you pull it out and it's jet black/wet/stinky/carbon packed etc They kind of get effected by lack of use/stale fuel and moisture more than age. ESPECIALLY here in Florida. The humidity actually rusts the plug tips as well even though the engine is spotless. As a rule of thumb, we change plugs during the annual service in March at my shop as standard so the customer won't develop a poor run, go into limp mode etc. getting stranded and calling seatow is more expensive than changing plugs every year. But stick with NGK! They're the best. And keep those extras. Maintenance is key. Enjoyed the video! Just added this trip to my bucket list.

The boat you passed is ST 479 Tiger, the World War II-era tugboat that was built in DeLand and has been in Europe for the last 78 years. It recently made the return voyage to Volusia county.

Those walls you wondered about in Lake George are there to mark the river channel; they predate a screen with a GPS connection. Years ago boats leaving the lake on either end were prevented from missing the channel if they went through those open gates that were designed to keep boats from running aground outside the channel.

I watch these and think how brilliant it would be to just go on a boat, on my own, leave the stresses of life behind and travel on the water! Great work and thanks for sharing

What a blessing having a Cabin Cruiser. Protection from lightning here in FL is very important. Have fun in the water!

Would having paper charts helped with knowing water depth? Suggestions: wear a PLB, hinge the 360 cabin top light. If you stop under a known aircraft bridge dimension and take a tape measure to see what your actual clearance is. Plus I would mount a 9.9hp trolling motor as a “ get home engine “

I used to spend 9 days on my little boat with full canvas and sleeper seats. I love the mornings.

Me and my girlfriend booked a trip on a tiny houseboat on this river after you made a video on it 3 years ago.

The nap I could get in during that rain.

I did this trip in a J16 Carolina skiff about 15 years ago.

Thanks for the heads up Trip. I'm really looking forward to this series.

Great video. Cool boat. Beautiful trip. Thank you and I can't wait for the next one!

as soon as i saw the C-Dory on the thumbnail, i knew it was gonna be good! another adventure,and i'm here for it! have fun, Trip.

You’re living the life, Trip. Thanks for bringing us along. I hate that you run into unforeseen issues, but on the bright side, your suffering, inconvenience and personal expenses make great content!

I'd be real tempted to strap two engines on for a trip like this - very, very cool

Your C-Dory videos just keep getting better Trip! Always a pleasure watching your content.

Glad i came across your channel. Love the videos. And the c dory is a beautiful boat man

Passing under that bridge was scary as heck! 🤯 You just barely missed it 🤢 😅. MAN! Thats some clleeeeeaar water! Clear as the Bahamas 🇧🇸 👌 My present boat of choice is a 1975 Aquasport 170 and it's got a 2000 Yamaha 115 which sets me to thinkin you're under-powered. My last boat was a 1986(?) ProLine 21 Walkaround and it had a 200hp Johnson Ocean Runner, so...but, to each his own...I'm not really in a real hurry most of the time but its nice to have the power when needed, every once in a while. The USNS Westwind is a Submarine and Special Warfare support vessel. Launched 2009 and commissioned 2015 🤷 Based somewhere in Louisiana. Again 🤷

Cool thumbnail Trip. WE READY! 🌞🏝️🛥️😎

Goodness gracious that Yamahamma was singing after you gave it some fresh NGKs! Excellent. I had an outboard Yamaha for several seasons and I would change the plugs probably twice a season. They just sing so perfectly with fresh plugs. Fair wind and following seas Brother! I look forward to the rest!

I was going to say I remember when a tornado came and sucked ALL the water out of the Glen so we had to hold the boats from cruising each other… and then you said tornado!!! Lolol too funny

Seeing that bridge @ 1:12:00 brought back so many memories of being on the water in my dad's old boat.

It's been a while since I've watched your videos, but man I love it. I understand life takes priority, but thank you for the ones we get to see

The channel guard rail entrance of lake George is for the barges who make their way up and down the St. John’s

Also, at that bridge. That is one of the most haunted sections of I4 in sanford. Should read up on the grounds there and amount of deaths that have happened in that area

I grew up on Lake George and my parents commercial fished the lake. The jetties were built to control sediment build up where the river meets the lake and allow for a barge channel deep enough for oil barges to pass through that once traveled the river.

@TripSmith Can you do a video showing your recipes for your egg salad, chicken salad, mince beef etc? Love the videos. Keep them coming!

Awesome! What an adventure! St John’s river is fabulous.

Richard Gene The Fishing Machine! He uses the same Hooky With Sloane tune. I know, random, but you'd love the Alabama fishing legend...good man. Enjoying the content so far...will watch the rest this evening as kids' soccer duties are calling now. Take care, Tripp.

When a raindrop strikes the surface of the water, it randomly creates a splash and then an eddy. Multiply this random effect by the millions of raindrops striking the surface of a lake during a heavy rainstorm and the addition of that random energy disrupts and dissipates the orderly wave train. - The More You Know

IMO the best rain jackets have pit-zips to allow for ventilation during exertion. Otherwise you just get wet from sweat instead of rain.

The level of calm that you had after spilling Sardine juice has likely confused more than just myself. You either have a miracle soap for cleanup, or no sense of smell. 🐟🤠 Thanks for sharing!

Sweet I live in the area.....Wonderful...Also, The River flows South To North

I haven't watched in awhile, then I remembered the man loved sardines like me, branch out buddy and try with Louisiana hot sauce and with mustard. My wife gags.

You’ve got a great boat there. I was trying to decide before I moved to St Aug whether to keep my boat in St John’s River or in St Aug. It’s since been sold as the kids grew up and moved. I’m really surprised at the waters you’re experiencing in your journey. Great stuff, keep watching the weather, as you know things can change fast on the water, from great to scary.

So glad I stumbled across this one, I used to binge watch all the videos from the kayak camping days. Thanks for sharing your adventures through my stomping grounds on the St. John’s river.. Lake Monroe , blue Springs, Lake Beresford, Lake George. lucky to live in this area and cruise the St John’s

The goat! You continue to make great videos:) love ur stuff I’ll watch these forever

yeah buddy! good stuff, looking forward to part 2.

Awesome cant wait!

Great video !! We are looking for a trailerable cabin cruser. Your video has helped.

We rented a houseboat and did that trip years ago.... reallly fun and highly recommended

Trip, you have always made fun, enjoyable videos.❤😊

Well, Mark Twain, thanks for sharing your adventure…from East Tennessee.

I carry new spark plugs in my 14’ Jon boat. Part of the emergency kit (whistle and such).

Glad you found Lake George on a "decent" day. I have been absolutely POUNDED rolling from that channel entrance across to Salt Springs where we always put in. That lake can turn straight nasty, and the lack of depth definitely doesn't help. Great video!!

Lake George has one of the highest concentrations of gators in Florida!

I'm 3 days into my lmnt drinking and I'm starting to notice things just being a little easier! Thanks Trip!

Thanks for not cutting the spark plug issue out. Great info for the future

I dove the cave at blue springs in the 90s. That place is amazing but I don't recommend going to the bottom, the water is violent gushing in at like 3000gal a sec or something crazy like that. Best friend lost his life down there.i went one last time to carve his name in the rock as a memorial .

Growing up, always took salt run out to the glen on lake George. This brought me back thats for sure.

Thanks for taking us on this adventure, Trip! Awesome editing and some great shots! 🤙

I'm thinking the "fences " you asked about going into the bridge are for breaking the current/rough water for safer passage under the bridge. Especially if passing with another boat nearby. Less chances of being pushed around by hard moving water. Just my instinct. I see them by most bridges up here in the NE.

Great video Trip! I hate that feeling of when the motor does something weird. Not a fun way to start an adventure but the rest looked like a bunch of fun! Thanks for sharing the adventure!

Shine On ☝️✝️🤗🪶

I don’t think the kayak ever had propulsion issues! 😂 💪🏻

I'm a 6th generation to live near where you squeezed under the railroad bridge... we have talked for years about bull sharks being around silver Glen springs... heard a lot of stories but never saw one😂

I just did 250 miles on the Cape Fear River in a 12 foot jon boat and a 7hp longtail mud motor. I love this video! took me 5 days. And I'm jealous of your setup!

Awesome Trip! Love everything about your videos, but honestly it's your positive enthusiasm for boating and life that really makes them what they are. Heck you could be making videos of paint drying and they'd probably be worth watching 🙂

Looks by the shadow you have your ceiling fan going 😮😂😂😂😂.

I've been patiently waiting for this one!

great video Trip,there's a lot that goes into shooting these vids,camera angle,sound and music plus all the editing,thanks for sharing, I really enjoy watching all your adventures!

Marvelous, marvelous video. Love the boat!

Hey Trip. I was in the Palatka area when that storm rolled through. I’m a upstate NY guy and man that was some of the heaviest rain I’ve ever seen it was legit raining sideways .. glad to see you out on the boat. I’m jealous of all your expeditions. Stay safe

I Iive here in deland fl, born and raised here. Nice to see a KZfaqr pass through Lemon Bluff , Lake Monroe, all the way up through Lake George into Astor.. Lake George is definitely known as a nasty lake on some days haha. Imagine being on a bass boat, that’s what I own. Can definitely be crazy sometimes lol but, I love the st Johns river, Glad you enjoyed it man! And that boat you seen on Lake Beresford in Deland is a WW2 Tugboat, that they brought over here from somewhere in Europe I’m pretty sure? But Lake Beresford is where those boats were made and luckily they found one that still made it. Look it up, if you’re interested. There’s articles on it. P.S AWESOME TASTE IN MUSIC LOVE THE OLD COUNTRY !!

The hype up for this series on IG was well worth the wait!! Killer intro! Definitely should put the Okeechobee Waterway on the to do list!

That Wsstwind supply boat works for Miltary Sealift Command and was bought from Hornbeck, an offshore supply boat company that operates in the Gulf and other parts of the world.

Is it just me, or after the first time Trip showed the motor and had the issue, every time he had a shot of the motor I was waiting for there another issue? I was always relieved when there wasn't. GREAT VIDEO!

I was crossing over that 17-92 bridge at the same time you got to it in the video that’s awesome 😂

1:15:24 USNS Westwind (T-AGSE-2) is a Black Powder-class submarine and special warfare support vessel acquired by the U.S. Navy in 2015. I used to be a helmsman for M.S.C. who owns that vessel. Fairwinds.

Trip!! I played laser tag on the Orleck. It used to be docked in Lake Charles, where I currently live.

Blue springs has salt water fish like tarpon, snook and more in it. Odd right?😂

That was a really enjoyable trip to watch. Looking forward to part 2.

Great video. Great women's sandals!

Learning about taking spares Trip. Especially on a boat ride that far.

I live off highway 46 in Mims, right down the road from where you put in at. Wish I could have bumped into you to say hey and check the boat out. I love all your adventure videos, be safe!

Awesome trip man. Glad the engine was a easy fix take care out there👍✌️🛥🎣

Mr Trip Smith!! Trip Dip O.G😂!!!! ,We Been enjoying your adventures over here , the very same spring they asked you to leave from , in one of your other videos, awhile back, no gas motors and no free diving!! Prettty blue waters, ring a bell? 😂 just last weekend we had just about all the kayakers and swimmers doing the “TRIP DIP” after we did a vlog there,😅 thanks for sharing brother! lol. (Daddy & Daughter ) be safe n Blessed.

I don't know why, but I was not expecting you to finish that seal in one sitting. I thought it would be like a "snack" 🤣

When you said the length of the SJ River I thought you were starting at the headwaters at SR 60 west of Vero Beach FL. This isn't a true full length trip without that >100 miles of river.

Your still my hero!

Great video and I love the C-Dory. We probably passed you the opposite direction on 09April in a Hobo houseboat, from Sanford on 21March to Amelia Island Bridge and back to Sanford 10April. Took us 21 days at 6 mph, with a lot of side trips to springs and creeks. The wide open lakes (River of Lakes) and spring winds can be a challenge. Editing our videos as I write. We're subscribed!

Great video. Nice boat.

That single dark fish is a armor shell catfish... very invasive

Wow, great footage 🤙 my husband said to tell you to trim your engine up, while on a plane and you'll have better gas mileage , increase your speed at lower rpm's 👍 Continue safe travels 😊

Great video brother!! I live behind those condos at 1:05:14. Little town called welaka. After you went under the second train bridge, around the bend a bit is a pretty big sand bar. That giant slide you saw is on a barge. Every year they drag it out to the sand bar there, along with a bunch of floating fire pits and tiki torches, and have a huge party over night. It’s a great time! That huge yacht is also new. Apparently the owner bought all that land just to keep his boat there! lol fun stuff. Hope to see you out there sometime and stay safe!

Waylon and some Hank Jr. 👍

All right! Time for a Trip trip.

Use to camp and fish near lemons bluff shad fishing as a kid.

I’m glad to see you still out here doing what you do! 🛥️

New to your channel and love ur videos and especially the snorkeling. What an awesome thing to see

Thats great Trip ty for sharing. Planning on moving to St Augustine and hoping to get out and take up boating on the river.

Having enjoyed most of the St . Johns, this was a lot of fun to watch. Thanks for the video. btw: you can keep the Beach Cliffs. Look for the extra 10 cents in the parking lot for an upgrade. 😄

Hey man I cruise a much larger sailboat than that, and I recommend backing down on the anchor if you are going to sleep on it. Even though it’s light it can happen and it usually does in the middle of the night.

I’ve just gotten Argo and am following you on it. Love watching your adventures. I’ve got a 21’ walkaround fishing boat. You’ve definitely got more amenities on your CD than I do but we’re just starting to take trips and camp on our boat too.

Trip. Great video as always! Consider taking the food out of your large Tupperware and not dipping your fork back into food that you're saving for later. You're introducing bacteria from your mouth into it. If you ever get stranded and need food to last more than a few days you may get sick.

There is no way you can get me to try that. Thank you for doing that for us my brother desires no way I can do that.

I'm not sure if you would have been so calm about it , if you would have seen how close that bridge was at the time. Solid video , thank you.

Great video! I've been boating on the St. Johns for 50 years and have covered every mile of your trip, just never in one trip. I've got a 25 foot walk around cuddy and would love to make that trip and camp along the way. You actually passed our house between the container ships and the ICW. We would have been on your starboard side about a mile past the last set of blue cranes! You might be interested to know that straight section of river from the Dames Point bridge east to the end of Blount Island was actually dug by the Corp of Engineers in the early 1950s. That project, called Fulton Cut, created an Island which now serves as the primary cargo terminal in NE Florida. Previously the "island" was part of the mainland on the south side of the river and the river made several sharps turns as it went around the north side of what is now Blount Island. The "cut" was named after the fishing village of Fulton which was along the south bank of the river. Anyway, enough for the history lesson. Love the boat, your enthusiasm and the adventures!

I4 in Sanford was that bridge. :)

Hell yeah man. I'm just learning about how amazing Florida is. We moved to DeLand a couple of months ago and I'm kicking myself that I had to sell my RIB before we left. Maybe a Jet Ski in the future? haha The canals are so rad. I hope Florida stays clean. I feel like the water everywhere is being destroyed and no one is doing anything. Subbed bro!