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It is true, Trawlers are the very most popular vessels cruising America's Great Loop. The reasons are obvious. For one, the Marinas that sell them, promote them as "the perfect Great Loop boat". In addition, they make great live a- boards, and are built (more or less) for long- distance cruising. However, they are NOT the "perfect" Great Loop vessel. (I don't really believe there is one.) The problem with Trawlers on the Great Loop is their deep V hull design. In the 40' and longer range Trawlers will normally have a 5' (or more) draft. These size Trawlers in fact, are the most frequent type of vessels we see that have run aground. Yes, we have seen a few sailboats aground, but we expect to see that. What we don't expect is to see is the "perfect boat" for cruising the Great Loop - on the rocks or stuck in the mud. Now, in fairness of course, anyone can run aground, but who wants to cruise around the Loop like a white knuckled flier when a more relaxed and carefree solution is simply a shallower draft? Trawlers in the 36' (or less) range however, often have a full load draft under 4 feet. Additionally, many Shoal-sailboats as well as both power and sailing Catamarans will have a draft of less then 3'. |
| Empty pockets never held anyone back. Empty heads and closed minds do that. If you really want to do this - you can. Just use your head. |
My best friend has a Kadey 44 and I just think it is the cat's pajamas. What a wonderful boat! He bought this $645,000 (new retail priced) baby for only $29,000 at the Insurance auction after hurricane Rita did some major design modifications. Amazingly, it only took a bit of fiberglass repair and new stainless steel rails and paint to put her back in as good as new condition again. But here is my friend's "Great Loop" situation: According to Kadey-Krogen - this 44' beauty has a DRAFT 4' 7". Now normally, that would be great, but if you get the factory specs and read the fine print, it says: "actual draft will vary and is based on 50% load capacity". This is not so good. Most Trawler owners don't ever even think about this. If you are cruising long distance, (and that is what trawlers were built to do) you have to add about 4,000 lbs of weight in clothes, provisions, equipment, and dinghy, etc. Now, add the weight of 1,050 gallons of fuel, 300 gallons of fresh water and 50 gallons in the Hot water tank . . . Now suddenly, you have draft issues. If you do the math, 50% of that liquid capacity in this vessel adds 3 tons to it's weight. Now add in an average size crew, their gear and equipment, a dinghy, and presto! You're now up to 4 tons of added weight, and we still have year to add provisions, and folks, provisions which normally include all your basic pots, pans, and food staples, plus a weeks worth of food and beverages including bottled water. . . It is easy to figure that my friend's Trawler that weighed 43,130 lbs dry, will sink 1" for every 784 lbs of added weight. So, loaded up with full fuel and storage tank water, gear, provisions, dinghy and equipment for the Great Loop, his "baby" (as he calls her) sinks an additional 12" inches in the water. Now his vessel has almost a 6' draft. This of course, is comparable to a sailboat's draft, and eliminates him from cruising the Canadian Heritage Canals - unless he dumps some weight and goes with 50% fuel. So, when a Trawler skipper is doing the Great Loop thinking his draft, is (within an inch or two) what the manufacturer stated - it is no wonder they run aground. As a footnote here: Sure enough, after we launched, fueled and loaded my friend's "Baby" for his voyage around the Great Loop, she indeed had an actually measured draft of 5' 7" which is 1 foot greater then the MFG listed draft, and this was with his dinghy floating in the water. |
ability to cruise the full length of the Erie Canal - your vessel MUST be able to pass under a 15' 6" fixed overhead clearance. If you can clear 17' but can not clear 15' 6" you can bypass the east section of the Erie Canal and exit onto the Oswego Canal and take Lake Ontario to take the northern Canada route through Canada's Heritage Canals, or you can go through the Welland Canal into Lake Erie. Finally of course, if you can't clear 19' 1", you will never make it from the Great Lakes (Lake Michigan) to the Illinois or Mississippi Rivers and therefore will not be able to complete the Loop. 2. Your draft: If you want total and unrestricted free cruising of America's Great Loop, your vessel's maximum "fully loaded" draft should be less then 5 feet. While some cruisers in the past have made it around (the American side) with 6' drafts. We suggest 5' or less for several reasons: More and more on our trips around, we have noticed the US canals along with many cuts and channels on both the Gulf and Atlantic ICW are NOT being dredged and maintained as well or as often as they have been in the past. Many or our favorite gunkholes and anchorages continue to have shallower depth then the time before. Quite honestly, with the Government's current "budget crises" we don't expect any attention (or money) will be paid on waterway maintenance outside the navigational boundaries required for use by commercial traffic. In addition, if your plans include cruising the Canadian Heritage Canals you must have a 5' or less draft. ALL the Canadian canals are maintained at a 5' minimum. Note: It is vitally important that you know your vessel's actual fully loaded draft (it will it all cases, be much greater than the Mfg. listed draft). 3. Your beam: As it pertains to pleasure craft, your beam is virtually unrestricted in the US. For unrestricted cruising in Canada's Heritage Canals, you have a beam restriction of 23 feet. My vessel has a 16' beam. However, I often find myself "out on the T" and on the outside, or in a more undesirable dock or slip because most Marinas have yet to construct facilities to accommodate the wider beam Catamarans. Therefore, we have to suggest that a 13' beam is most desirable for easier docking and better slips, but (if you're planning on cruising Canada) anything up to 23' is OK. 4. Your fuel capacity: If you want worry free fuel capacity for totally unrestricted cruising of America's Great Loop including the Lower Mississippi River route, your vessel needs enough fuel capacity to maintain a cruising range of 500 miles. This is a "comfort level" (with a tiny bit of reserve) for the 440 miles between fuel stops on the Lower Mississippi River. There are no pleasure boat Marinas between Memphis, TN and the Gulf ICW, but there are several to choose from on the Gulf ICW which is 440 miles away. Alternate route: If however, you plan to take the Tennessee-Tombigbee to the Gulf, you need a comfortable fuel capacity range of about 300 miles. There is a run of 250 miles between Hoppies Marina near St. Louis and Green Turtle Bay in Kentucky where you have several Marinas to choose from in the are. Our fuel concern: Our fuel concern involves two key Marina locations on the Great Loop. The first one of course is Hoppies Marina which is located at mile 158 on the Upper Mississippi River. If Hoppies were to close, then the 250 miles distance between fuel becomes 320 miles from Grafton Landing to Green Turtle Marina on the Tennessee-Tombigbee route. Furthermore, If Hoppies closed, it would add another 440 mile leg between fuel stops on the Lower Mississippi River route, as the distance between Grafton on the Upper Mississippi River and Mud Island Marinas at Memphis on the Lower Mississippi River (Mile Marker 735.8) is 440 miles. The same distance between fuel from Memphis, TN and the very only and next Marina (Seabrook Marina) on the Gulf ICW. Bobby's Fish Camp is another concern. Bobby passed away lin 2010. His daughter is now trying to keep the camp going. If Bobby's stops selling fuel, this adds a distance between fuel stops on the Tennessee-Tombigbee route of 370 miles between Demopolis Yacht Basin and Eastern Shore Marina at Fairhope, AL or Dog Bay Marina in Mobile Bay. Therefore, these two rather isolated fuel stops are the reasons we highly recommend a 400 mile cruising range, along with calling ahead. We obviously love both these locations and the people (Lora at Bobby's and Fern at Hoppies) but still, under the circumstance combined with current economic conditions, we feel that marine fuel at both these locations could become unavailable. 5. Ocean capable: The bottom line (and the most expensive of all the Great Loop boat specifications and requirements) is that you need an ocean capable vessel. Ocean going vessels have an incredible amount of strength in the design and construction of bulkheaded freeboard. This, is that portion of a boat's hull that extends above the waterline to the top deck or bulkhead. Then it is shaped further upward as it tapers forward at the bow to reflect the water. What most people don't realize is that a "moderate breeze" of 11 knots will often generate 4' waves. One square yard of a 4' wave packs an average wallop of 7.5 tons. This is why pontoons and pontoon houseboats (and yes, we have seen it happen more then once) head out to sea on a calm day looking like rectangles, and quickly come crippling back looking more like trapezoids. The ocean, even that small portion of the Gulf you have to cross, is no place for a pontoon boat, pontoon houseboat, or otherwise, non-coastal, non-ocean capable vessel. Just the other day a reader (whom a year ago) emailed us asking about taking his pontoon houseboat around the Great Loop, sent us a kind of "thank you for your advise" along with an article about a horrific experience of another boater attempting to take his "Catamaran Aqua Cruiser houseboat" across the Gulf from Carrabelle. The article ended with the owner's statement: "Don't try this! We are lucky to be alive." In the article the man stated he "bought the Catamaran Cruiser for the purpose of doing the Great Loop". It furthermore goes to prove, you can't always trust that boat salesman to know anything about what he is selling you. |
| Great Loop boat specifications are: |
It would be one with an unrestricted height above the water of less then 15' 6". It would also have a full load draft (depth under the water) of 5' or less. It would have a beam (or width) of 13' (because most of the better slips are available) It would also have a cruise range of at least 500 miles without refueling. It would have to be an ocean capable vessel for crossing the Gulf & the Great Lakes. In addition: Of course, it should be safe, seaworthy, comfortable, and fully paid for. Furthermore, it should be extremely economical. The Loop itself is about 5,800 miles and offers a tempting 24,000 miles of tempting navigable detours and side trips. At $6.00 (or more) for fuel, you will want a very economical vessel to operate. |
| Sailing around America's Great Loop |
bridge height are of concern. You don't want to run aground, and you having to deal with raising and lowering your mast as needed. However, with rising fuel costs, the economy of a sailboat is definitely a big advantage to consider when planning to navigate the Great Loop. There are many challenges with cruising the Great Loop in a sailboat. If dealing with shallow water isn't enough, there is dealing with locks while carrying a horizontal mast that extends beyond your bow and your stern. There are low bridges and lower bridges, and the occasional battle with lowering and raising the mast which is both a hassle and costly. Still, this is trivial to the current cost of fuel per gallon. If you have a shallow draft (under 5 feet) sailing around the Great Loop is worth the hassle of dealing with your mast. The experience itself is worth the effort, the money you save in fuel however, more than just icing on the cake. Much of the Atlantic can be sailed inside or out. So can the Great Lakes, and so can your voyage across the Gulf. The Inland Rivers however can be easily (and economically) cruised with your motor running at almost idle speed. You need just enough control to keep your vessel straight and bow pointed in the direction you want to go. Still however, fuel capacity and motoring range, as well as your vessel's loaded draft may be a "veto factor" in regards to a particular sailboat, but we always meet a lot of Loopers in sailboats. On our last trip we met a couple that had "shipped" his mast from Chicago to Mobile. We also came across two couples doing the Great Loop on an old (really old) 50' sailboat on which they had cut the keel and the wooden masts off. They were simply motoring around the Loop on the vessel's small economical 39hp engine. Today, because of the depressed economy, there is a flood seaworthy sailboats on the market at almost giveaway prices. Since most Loopers (regardless of the size or speed of their vessel) can only average between about 50 miles a day, a big nice comfortable (even) non-sailing sailboat might just put you in a great economical "Looper Boat" for little money to buy and even less to operate. Update (Jan 2012): My son and I are currently doing the Loop again. This time, in a sailboat. Our goal is to see just how "cheap" one can full-fill this dream in its entirety. So, we are keeping good records of all expenses along the way. From buying the boat to crossing our wake. We purchased a great old & ugly, but seaworthy 30 footer and so far we have traveled almost 2,000 miles averaging . 4 gallon per hour. (Yes, that's "point four" as in less than 1/2 gallon). So far, we have "sailed" very little, probably less than 60 miles total, and we subtract our "sailing" miles to determine our fuel burn rate. We are currently taking our good easy time cruising around Florida, waiting for Spring to start our way North. Our sailboat is a 30' mono-hull equipped with a 9.9hp 4 stroke outboard. We had the engine checked out and tuned up before we left - and so far we have had a trouble fee voyage averaging 49 miles per cruising day, for a total fuel cost of just under $16.00 a day. If we are able to complete the Loop as anticipated, based on our current average fuel burn rate, the entire voyage will have cost us pennies less than $2,000.00 in fuel. |
"Can I take my sailboat around America's Great Loop? If so, how much trouble will it be?" Well, the answer is: Yes, you most certainly can take your sailboat around the Great Loop. There are a number of ways to do this. My oldest son is the "sailor" in our family. It is doubtful he will ever give up sailing for any reason. He has not only sailed around the world, he has cruised the Great Loop in it as well.. |
| On this page . . The answer to: What boat is best. . . For cruising the Great Loop? |
1. Know your boat as well as it's "true" fully 2. Never take ANY short cuts across Bays & Sounds or bends in the channel. 3. ALWAYS stay between the red & green buoys. 4. Always cruise shallower areas on a rising tide. 5. ALWAYS pay attention. |
| At $4.50 a gallon (or more) for marine fuel. . . It may be time to rethink "the Looper Boat". |
I know, it sounds (and is) very contradictory to own a sailboat and not know how to sail. However, many people do just that. In addition, the design of the sailboat's displacement hull makes it the very most economical vessel on the water today. If you think about it, these vessels are designed to move easily through the water in just a light breeze. As a result it only requires between 3 and 4 hp per ton of displacement weight to move these vessels through the water at their designed hull speed. Any more hp than that is useless and wasteful, as once the vessel reaches it's maximum hull speed, it can not go even as much as one mph faster. The result is, a 36' or 40' sailboat might be rated for a 25 to 40hp engine. For this reason, you can not obtain a more economical vessel, even if you never raise the sails, cut off the mast, or leave it at home. But. . . Learning to sail of course, opens your options to include a greater range of boating capabilities, such as the Caribbean. |
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| The Scoop on boating the Loop |
| Capt John's America's Great Loop |
second thought. They just assume there will be a Marina where and when they need one. But this can be a Great Loop mistake. Lower Mississippi route to New Orleans: Your major problem with cruising the Lower Mississippi River is NOT the Tows, the Tugs, the bugs, or the current; as most people (most who have actually never done it) might say. The single biggest concern, and main obstacle is fuel, or should I say lack of it. As well as lack of full service Marinas if you have trouble. Of course, there are fuel alternatives: Kidd River Fuel is one of them. They are fuel jobbers that will truck in fuel to a designated dock. This fuel comes with a premium. Kidd River Fuel has a dock located at the Upper Mississippi Mile marker 51.9. To arrange fuel, you must call at least 24 hours in advance of arrival, and they have a 100 gallon minimum, with a premium price on their fuel. Furthermore, Kidd River no longer will deliver gasoline, only diesel. There are other companies that will truck in fuel in Vicksburg, Natches, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans. Some handle gasoline & diesel, some don't. If your vessel uses gasoline, I would not count on any truck delivered fuel being available. |
| Trawlers are not only the most popular vessel for cruising the Great Loop. They are also the most common vessel to run aground. |
