Sam and Rev Crouse created What Yacht To Do to show how you can be sitting in your living room one day and then living on the water the next.
Sam is a former AF pilot and retiree from American Airlines. Rev’s background is in education and marketing.
A few years ago on a trip for work, Sam found out about America’s Great Loop. He learned more about it on Captain John’s website and started to get obsessed.
So the search was on for a boat.
We had planned to look for a year and then get ready for the loop in a year.
Well, we found a boat in about three months. In Baltimore. We live in the DFW area.
We bought the boat in November 2017 and immediately winterized it. Did I mention that Rev hadn’t seen the boat before we bought it? But she was 100% in favor of the purchase.
Also, we didn’t know how to turn it on much less move a boat that size from point A to point B.
Even though there is so much we don’t know, we aren’t going to let that keep us from going for it.
So, we invite you to come along with us as here on What Yacht To Do as we learn how to turn it on, move it around, live aboard and go around America’s Great Loop.
Maybe someday, we will see you out here.
Contact Us
If you have a question about America’s Great Loop, send us an email at Crew@WhatYachtToDo.com or find us on Facebook or leave a comment on YouTube.
We know what it’s like to search for answers and not be able to find them so if you want to know, just ask.
ABOUT THE CREW OF WHAT YACHT TO DO:
Sam: Sam is a USCG 100 Ton Master Captain and has been boating since his teens. He completed a career in the USAF initially trained as a Navigator, then selected and trained as a Pilot. He flew the B-52G and U-2R, instructed as both a primary and advanced jet instructor, and served on staff in three director positions. Sam then went on to commercial aviation to fly the Boeing-747, 737, DC-9, Fokker-100, and the Airbus 320 family. Sam founded Crouse Training and Consulting, Inc. in 2004 where he served private and government organizations. He holds a Masters from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a Doctorate from the University of Texas at Dallas.
Rev: Rev is a retired elementary education teacher and former executive director for the second largest school district in Texas. She first taught elementary school, followed by a director position in technology where she led a program to help teachers use technology in the classroom. Rev was selected to implement a learning system for 220 campuses in Dallas, Texas. Rev was then promoted to Executive Director coordinating district-wide goals. She is a graduate of The University of Oklahoma and holds a Masters from the University of North Texas in Instructional Technology. Rev, along with Sam, founded What Yacht To Do in 2019 and Great Loop Academy in 2021.
I’m so excited for you two and your great adventure! Keep us posted!
Thanks! and Will do!
Loved your crossing video, we did the crossing from Dog River to Tampa over a two day period. So appreciated your perspective. When you get along the East coast of Florida we would love to watch you go by.
Craig
Fantastic! Look forward to being over there and waving!
Anxious to hear all about it !
We are glad you are coming along with us on this journey! Thanks for subscribing. 🙂
I don’t think this falls under more courage than common sense but I could be wrong. I will enjoy watching your travels. And how does an ugly old guy like you get a cute wife several years younger. OH, that’s right, you’re a PILOT.
Hey, I think you are seriously underestimating Sam’s winning personality!
Safe travels
Thank you, Lois.
I love it! Great site, we are waiting for your adventure stories!
Thanks Keith. It certainly should be interesting!
Safe travels Rev and Sam, sure do love you and am excited for you!!!!!!
Thanks Aunt Kaye! We love you, too.
Great site to share your travels! I can’t wait to see all of the adventure unfold throughout the next 12 months. Congrats, you have worked hard & planned for this.
Thanks, Paul, for keeping us on track! Are you taking any more clients? We would love to promote you here and when we start our YouTube channel.
Yes, I am still accepting clients in all 50 states as a flat-fee fiduciary advisor. http://www.ProvidentFinancialPlanning.com
Thanks in advance for any referrals. Rest assured, I’ll treat them as a neighbor.
Cheers!
Safe travels and keep the stories and pictures coming!
I envy you.
Thanks, Berrie. We are glad you are coming along with us!
ENJOY the Fun Adventure!!! Great plan and more to come. Happy Trails to You…..
Bob & Laura
Thank you, Bob and Laura!
Hi, wife and I are inspired by your looping. We see your approaching Hammond (where we moor) and have a question on your bridge height? Your BEAUTIFUL boat looks extremely tall . Going down the Cal sag there are height restrictions?
Thanks, Bryan. We just got to Hammond today. The bridge at mile marker 300.6 on Cal-Sag is 19.7 feet. The lowest we can get (folding antennas down) is 17’1″ so we’ll make it. We were tempted to go through downtown Chicago but probably won’t. Thanks for being here.
Love what you guys are doing. Our boat is at green turtle bay this week , leaving next for Clearwater Fl on the 13 th of October. Hope our paths cross. With our arch down , we were 19”1’ and had a foot of clearance back in August.
Hey Keith! Hopefully, we will be back to St. Louis soon and then heading south next week. Looking forward to being at Green Turtle Bay. We have heard such great things about it. And we will be going toward Clearwater in November or December so our paths could cross. See you out there!
I really enjoy all your videos, some make me laugh! You gave my daughter your business card back in July I believe she worked at the Rosedale lock on the Trent canal.
Anyways keep them coming guys you’re great! ❤
Yes, we remember her! It was so beautiful. We spent the night there and thoroughly enjoyed Canada. Parks Canada has done such a great job hiring friendly staff. It left such an impression on us we can’t wait to get back! Tell your daughter that we said hello. Thanks so much for the encouragement!
I came across the great loop idea last year. The more I read up on it and videos I watch, the more I want to do it. Your videos have been great! Be safe and have fun
Hey Brian! Really glad you are joining us until you can go yourself. Welcome aboard.
Thanks for recording your cruise!
Although I’ve been a captain of a fishing boat (17’) on the upper Mississippi River for the last 15 years, yachts are new to us. I’m not interested in The Loop yet but am interested is seeing your experiences with the hopes of leaving Red Wing MN and traveling to Lake Michigan.
Since our Lake Pepin is frozen, I felt it was the perfect time to get pneumonia and catch up on your videos!
Happy sailing on the rest of your journey and watch out for the other guy!
Hey Captain! So sorry to hear about your illness. Sounds like you have a whole lot of experience on the water. So much more than we do! We appreciate you coming along on this journey with us. You take care and get well asap!
Thanks! Remember the Captain in the Rooster Bridge accident had a ton of experience.
Hey two questions for you. Now remember I haven’t had a chance to view all of your videos.
Do you have radar installed?
Also I noticed in two videos you port engines throttle “looked” at about 1/2 and the starboard appears to be in the idle position. It also appears you were in a fairly narrow channel judging by the channel markers.
Is it just the angle of the camera?
Thanks for the tip about the whisky compass! My lower helm compass is right on but the fly bridge is off about 10 degrees.
Hi Brian, Yes and the last words from the Captain of the Edmund Fitzgerald was…. “We are holding our own”
Yes, I put a new Garmin Radar on when I did the plotter, cameras and autopilot upgrade.
The synchronizer (if selected) requires the port throttle to be full forward, then the port RPM slaves to the starboard throttle position to keep the RPMs matched.
Regarding the whisky compass, in the airplane business, we called the difference “installation error” and it had to be compensated each time a new piece of equipment was installed that might affect the magnetic field. I have seen a difference in it, since installing the new equipment. The “error” will not be the same on all headings. It will vary depending on E W N or S.
Cheers, Sam
Great following you all along your trip. Jeri and I have a sailboat which we are selling but will be buying a trawler style to do the loop in ’23. See you are close to St. Augustine now. The public marina is nice and walking to lots of stuff. Harry’s right on the ICW is nice and about 300 yards from the marina. Best ice cream is at “Bucket of Burgers” Obviously everything is order out. My best to you two as you continue on this adventure.
Patrick Felderman
Thanks, Patrick. Glad that you and Jeri are coming along with us. Your plan sounds fantastic and hopefully, we’ll still be doing the loop in 2023 and see you out there. Thanks for the recommendations. We are always looking for great places.
Greetings from South Carolina…….I did not know Sam’s back ground when I first found you guys as I told my wife “this guy has some sort of military flight back ground..” . Then I heard you talk about your Air Force career! ( Thank You for your service) Your back ground came in handy on this journey for sure.. Found your channel by accident and have been there ever since. Congrats as the trip is winding down…. . It has been incredible to watch! Thanks for sharing!
So glad that you found us, Jon. Sam has really mastered this boating thing! I’m really impressed with him. Thanks for watching.
Hello from the Great Lake State!…Really enjoy following your story… You’ve also inspired us to do the same. We are currently looking at a 48′ trawler and starting a new chapter in our lives. Keep up the great story!
That’s so fantastic! Good luck finding your boat. Looking forward to seeing you out there!
Nice to run into you at Put-in-Bay’s Tipper restaurant/bar. I looked you up here, now I get your course and trip. Looks like a lot of fun. Good travels!
It was great meeting you, too! And have fun on your future travels.
Hello from “Belle”,
I’d be interested to know the background on your boat name.
We’re Doug and Nancy Jewell, currently in Wilmington, NC and getting ready to resume our Great Loop journey.
Thanks
Belle – 1976 36’ GB Classic
We have no idea. It was named, “Here’s To Us!!” when we bought her and we didn’t want to go through the voodoo ceremony to change the name. 🙂
Hello Rev and Sam, your documentation of your travels has helped me persuade my wife to consider cruising “the loop”. I would like to make a request. I enjoy the docking videos, and if possible can you include more detail. Or maybe less editing. Approaching and leaving a dock are our most stressful times. The more we see others do it successfully, the more confidence we have in our ability to do the same. You have been a great inspiration to us and we hope to meet you guys over docktales.
Safe travels, Angie and Todd
Thank you for the feedback. It is our goal to help more people do the Great Loop. Enjoy your journey. 🙂
Just started following you guys about a month ago and working my way through your videos. It’s a dream of mine (kind of “ours” with my wife Mary to cruise the ICW down to FL from MD where we live – the great loop would be a “huge dream” and probably a financial impossibility for us. But I am inspired by your videos and especially the humility with which you approach everything. I just stumbled upon your website and it’s hugely helpful. We are about to upgrade to a 33 foot express cruiser from a 19 foot deck boat and are scared/thrilled for spring of 2021. Jeff (and Mary)
Thank you for your kind comment. Boating is a thrilling, unpredictable adventure and you are sure to have some big fun in the spring! We are really excited for you. I’m so glad you found us!
Sam – can you publish your log book pages? I keep messing around with mine but never am happy. I would love to see what you cooked up.
Thanks!
Greetings from Canada Rev & Sam!!
I was curious on your thoughts about the USCG Safety Inspection. Do you think it it worthwhile for a Canadian vessel to have one completed once in US waters? Will the USCG even provide this service to non-US vessels? I’m thinking the sticker would definitely assist in future inspections along the way as one completes the Loop.
Hi Peter! This is only for US vessels.
I enjoy watching your videos. I am new to boating and Just got a Carver 370 a few months ago based in Chattanooga. I don’t plan on doing the loop but do plan on traveling maybe up to Paducah and down to Panama City. I want to invite you to come up to Chattanooga on a side trip this fall on your way back south. I think you will enjoy it, a lot to see. Will be watching. Ed Rabun on Ruby Grace.
Congrats on your Carver! We have heard that the Chattanooga side trip is awesome. We’ll have to check it out. 🙂
Please do, and give me a shout.
Love your channel! Can you tell me your top one or two weather app’s? I’m leaving on a 20 day great lakes cruise in a week and was curious what you use.
THanks!
Hi Geoff! Sam uses Passage Weather and Windy. He writes about this kind of stuff in our newsletter twice a month. Sign up and get some free boating stuff! Have fun on your cruise. That sounds awesome!
Hi Sam and Rev, I have watched over 20 of your videos (so far). After watching a couple I said to myself, I bet he is a retired Pilot. So after 20 or so videos I finally navigated my way over to your website and read your bio’s…..my hunch was correct!!!
I am loving following along with your adventures, being from Rome Ga I have traveled to Tupelo and Fulton MS many times and found your journey down the Tenn-Tom extremely interesting. Keep up the excellent content! I love how calm you remain during times of high stress, I can definitely see your flight experience within your actions.
BTW a former co-worker and his family made the leap and began their Loop journey last year, so the algorithms steered me to your channel from his….
Thanks Mark! Great to have you onboard with us. If you are not already on our Newsletter list, you can sign up at http://www.WhatYachtToDo.com or our sister site, http://www.GreatLoopAcademy.com Cheers, Sam
Hello First I would like to thank you so much for you website, YouTube and for sharing all that you share. I signed up for the Great Loop Q&A: The Journey this morning. I don’t know if I will ever get to do anything like it but I thought it would be interesting to learn more. I am from Columbus, MS and just love going to the marina and looking at the boats. (and Dreaming lol). I Just love all of your content. Thank you again.
Well, Wyatt, we are so glad that you have come along with us on our journey! And thanks so much for purchasing one of our online products. Keep dreaming. Thank you for the kind words. 🙂