I'd heard of him before. Amazing, the lengths people will go to in order to get out of Northam.
He strikes me as an absolute idiot. Didn't conduct any sea trials, no idea of fuel consumption (originally set off with 200 galleons, final successful trip took 735 and still ran out, refueled by a ship). No idea of handling of car/boat, and had to construct new rudders to make it steer.
An absolute idiot. His only virtue was perseverance.