11,000 miles on a Sea Doo
Adventurer aims for world record on personal watercraft
By Dolly A. Butz Journal staff writer | Posted: Wednesday, August 15, 2007
John Moffatt wants to be the best in the world.
John Moffatt wants to be the best in the world.
That has led the 43-year-old adventurer and former associate producer of ABC's hit television show "Full House" on a quest to travel more than 11,000 miles on his Sea Doo in hopes of shattering the personal watercraft distance world record of 10,300 miles.
"I like to think that people have an interest to be the best in the world," Moffatt said. "I'm just trying to be the best I can be."
In 2000, Moffatt set the personal watercraft distance world record by riding 5,604 miles in 80 days. Teams from Australia and South Africa have since broken his record.
Moffatt took off from Miami on June 8 in effort to break the current world record. He had completed about half of his route when he arrived in Sioux City on Monday.
"The first month was horrific," Moffatt said Tuesday. "I was in so much pain I couldn't walk straight. I couldn't move my neck. My legs were sore. My skin was crawling. I was sunburnt. It was awful."
Nearly 6,000 miles later, Moffatt said his body has adjusted to being out in the elements.
"I feel great," he said. "I feel like I can run a marathon now. I'm in better shape to do it now than when I started."
Moffatt said he isn't the stereotypical water enthusiast. In fact, he said he has only ridden a personal water craft twice, when he broke his first world record, and his current quest to break the record again.
"I grew up on the water," he said. "I just enjoy the water. It's very calming to me."
Moffatt spends between 8 and 10 hours a day on his Sea Doo. He tries to log 100 miles a day in order to stay on pace to complete the trip in 120 days.
"I treat it like a job," he said. "This job is seven days a week. Somedays the weather dictates whether you go out or not. I'd hate to take a beautiful day off just because I'm being a wimp and find out I can't go the next day because it's raining."
When darkness falls, Moffatt docks his Sea Doo and retires to his sleeping bag, or a motel if he is lucky enough to find one. His diet consists mostly of trail mix and beef jerky.
In Sioux City, Moffatt said he felt like a king. He slept at the Quality Inn, refueled his Sea Doo at the marina and feasted on a meal at Bev's on the River.
"It's heaven," he said.
Moffatt's journey is tracked daily on www.seadooworldrecord.com. He is also using his platform to raise awareness for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America. Because his sister suffers from the disease, Moffatt encourages those inspired by his quest to support the foundation's research.
John Moffatt wants to be the best in the world.
That has led the 43-year-old adventurer and former associate producer of ABC's hit television show "Full House" on a quest to travel more than 11,000 miles on his Sea Doo in hopes of shattering the personal watercraft distance world record of 10,300 miles.
"I like to think that people have an interest to be the best in the world," Moffatt said. "I'm just trying to be the best I can be."
In 2000, Moffatt set the personal watercraft distance world record by riding 5,604 miles in 80 days. Teams from Australia and South Africa have since broken his record.
Moffatt took off from Miami on June 8 in effort to break the current world record. He had completed about half of his route when he arrived in Sioux City on Monday.
"The first month was horrific," Moffatt said Tuesday. "I was in so much pain I couldn't walk straight. I couldn't move my neck. My legs were sore. My skin was crawling. I was sunburnt. It was awful."
Nearly 6,000 miles later, Moffatt said his body has adjusted to being out in the elements.
"I feel great," he said. "I feel like I can run a marathon now. I'm in better shape to do it now than when I started."
Moffatt said he isn't the stereotypical water enthusiast. In fact, he said he has only ridden a personal water craft twice, when he broke his first world record, and his current quest to break the record again.
"I grew up on the water," he said. "I just enjoy the water. It's very calming to me."
Moffatt spends between 8 and 10 hours a day on his Sea Doo. He tries to log 100 miles a day in order to stay on pace to complete the trip in 120 days.
"I treat it like a job," he said. "This job is seven days a week. Somedays the weather dictates whether you go out or not. I'd hate to take a beautiful day off just because I'm being a wimp and find out I can't go the next day because it's raining."
When darkness falls, Moffatt docks his Sea Doo and retires to his sleeping bag, or a motel if he is lucky enough to find one. His diet consists mostly of trail mix and beef jerky.
In Sioux City, Moffatt said he felt like a king. He slept at the Quality Inn, refueled his Sea Doo at the marina and feasted on a meal at Bev's on the River.
"It's heaven," he said.
Moffatt's journey is tracked daily on www.seadooworldrecord.com. He is also using his platform to raise awareness for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America. Because his sister suffers from the disease, Moffatt encourages those inspired by his quest to support the foundation's research.
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DMS wrote on Aug 15, 2007 10:05 AM: