Great loop boating

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Shadowcruzr

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We did the ditch from Orlando (St Johns River) to Norfolk Va in our 26 ft cruiser. I want to do the great loop. The wife asked if it could be done in our current boat. I suspect for the most part it could be. are there stretches where this would be unfeasible?

What areas are to be avoided and what detours options are there?
 
While there are some considerations, it can certainly be done (it's been done on jet skis).
The AGLCA's website would be a great place to start.
 
Paul, it is certainly doable in that boat.
As an added plus there are a number of RO's here connected with yacht Clubs.
Planning in advance will certainly get you invites to stay over at various places
and in many cases a free slip for the night.
If my area is on your radar for the great loop I welcome visiting RO's with a free overnight slip
and may even loan you my truck to go to the grocery store.

It hepls that I am the dockmaster. www.fairportyachtclub.ca
 
I think the area after St. Louis down around IL to the OH river might have a long stretch with no fule stops available. You'll need to make sure you have that covered (ie; extra fuel). Good luck.
 
I have a Bayliner 265 and would not hesitate to take it anywhere that the poor range will allow. It has an 80 US gallon tank and gets 2.0 mpg which might be too short for some parts of the loop as golfman pointed out.
 
I've read a lot about the Loop and wouuldn't hesitate to do it in my Carver. How long does the average trip take?

Bob
 
quote:
Originally posted by Golfman25

I think the area after St. Louis down around IL to the OH river might have a long stretch with no fule stops available. You'll need to make sure you have that covered (ie; extra fuel). Good luck.

Click to expand...

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Much safer to head north at Mobile, up the Tenntom Waterway and intersect the Ohio at the confluence of the Ohio and Cumberland Rivers. No fuel or marina issues that way.
 
You could totally do the loop in a 26 express. As I understand it, based on the extensive research I have done, your biggest area of concern will be going down the rivers where there is one section of considerable distance between fuel stops. That is from St. Lois to Green Turtle Bay, KY which is about 250 miles. It can easily be done though. As mentioned, people have done the loop in jetskis, bowriders, etc.

DEFINITELY join the AGLCA!
 
Google great loop and you will find a few web sites with a lot of good information.
 
Some friends, Rick and Betsy Johnson, did the loop in a 26 glacier bay. Their blog has a lot of info:

http://www.betsyrick.com/

They live in Sneads Ferry, just south of you. Great folks, belong to the New River Power Squadron.
 
Thanks guys. Excellent info. If I can pull it off, I will definitely let everyone know. it would be nice to get some faces to the RO numbers.

One are of concern is transiting the Great Lakes. I am interested in some of the cross-country canals in Canada as an alternative.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Shadowcruzr

We did the ditch from Orlando (St Johns River) to Norfolk Va in our 26 ft cruiser. I want to do the great loop. The wife asked if it could be done in our current boat. I suspect for the most part it could be. are there stretches where this would be unfeasible?

Click to expand...


Off topic, but since you posted; My "dream trip" for now is from Charleston, SC to FL and up the St Johns river to Sanford and back. My wife now informs me that she is "not ready" to spend three to four weeks on the boat. I'm not getting any younger. My boat is a trawler and while slow, it has all the comforts of home. Head, shower, full galley, etc.

Please tell me about the St Johns and why my wife would enjoy the trip.
 
quote:
Originally posted by rawidman

quote:
Originally posted by Shadowcruzr

We did the ditch from Orlando (St Johns River) to Norfolk Va in our 26 ft cruiser. I want to do the great loop. The wife asked if it could be done in our current boat. I suspect for the most part it could be. are there stretches where this would be unfeasible?

Click to expand...


Off topic, but since you posted; My "dream trip" for now is from Charleston, SC to FL and up the St Johns river to Sanford and back. My wife now informs me that she is "not ready" to spend three to four weeks on the boat. I'm not getting any younger. My boat is a trawler and while slow, it has all the comforts of home. Head, shower, full galley, etc.

Please tell me about the St Johns and why my wife would enjoy the trip.

Click to expand...


Once you get past Jacksonville the St. Johns cruise is really nice. Lots of stops and marinas with fuel and good restaurants near by.

But, not to high jack this thread why not start another one? :)

Bob
 
I guess I should have. And I will. The original post just reminded me about it.
 
We did the Great Loop and the Down East Loop. The Great Loop we did in a gas driven boat with only a 200 miles range. The run from St. Louis to KY is about that range with a little left over. Yes on no fuel for gas engines, but there is a dock where diesel can be had. Our Great Loop site is: http://my.att.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=16&groupid=300518&ck= Sorry that many pictures are not there as they got lost due to computer error. Our Down East Loop site is www.mytripjournal.com/justrelax As for boat size, many have done in in Sea Ray type boats of 26' lengths and it is fine. In fact, the loop should be done in the smallest boat that you are comfortable with living on. THe only issue we had with gas engines is that we were filling up more often than the trawlers and we also had less holding tank and water tank capacity. But it is cheaper than buying a diesel boat just for doing that trip. Gas at $3.50/gallon will run you about $20-24K for fuel depending on that you go slow most of the time (not on plane) and take the normal route that is about 6K miles. If you take many of the side trips that many loopers do, then count on as much as 7,500 miles (i.e. Bahamas. FL Keys, Lake Champlain versus Erie Canal, rivers in Tenn/Ala, etc.
 
To me the objective of the loop seems to be how to use the most fuel in one year.
 
To me the objective of the loop is to cruise some of the most beautiful and historic waterways we have in the US and Canada. Also, enjoy our cruising boats to the fullest and the challenge of a great experience.
 
quote:
Originally posted by vriceflyer

To me the objective of the loop is to cruise some of the most beautiful and historic waterways we have in the US and Canada. Also, enjoy our cruising boats to the fullest and the challenge of a great experience.
Click to expand...

That would be my objective also. I don't think I could cruise for months away from home, I'm just not wired that way. I do enjoy shorter cruises for the same reasons.
 
My wife and I plan to do the loop when we retire but this is a long way off. I expect to take my time and do it over the course of a year or so. We would take a few breaks and fly home then return and continue where we left off. I will purchase a Trawler for this trip and spend many nights on a hook along the way. I'm looking forward to all the great sights and people we will meant along the way. We may be so sick of boating when we are done but at the moment we are both very into the idea of the trip. I love reading the blogs of boaters that have made the trip and the great stories they have to tell.
 
quote:
To me the objective of the loop is to cruise some of the most beautiful and historic waterways we have in the US and Canada. Also, enjoy our cruising boats to the fullest and the challenge of a great experience.

Click to expand...


I certainly agree that you pass many interesting places, but it all seems too fast to me to really experience much.
 
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