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Big Boat or Little Boat We all end up at the same destinations, having the same amount of fun.

Captain John

HOW MUCH EXPERIENCE DO I NEED?

Experience is great, the more you have the better; but you don't need a metric ton of it. You simply need to be a safe boater in a safe, suitable, seaworthy boat. You need to know your boat, your gear and electronics as well as your anchoring system; and you need to know how to use them safely and correctly. You need to know the rules of the road, your vessel's limitations as well as your own. Very few boaters have all the experience they will get cruising America's Great Loop. Much of this voyage is a "learn as you go" new experience for all of us. Don't worry, it is really that safe and easy.

HOW DIFFICULT OR DANGEROUS IS IT?

The most difficult aspect of cruising the Loop is dropping those lines and beginning. Cruising it is neither difficult nor dangerous. Thousands of Loopers have made this voyage safely, and thousands are boating on portions of it every season. The Erie Canal for example, reported a few hundred boaters from 34 States docked transited the Canal last season. Parks Canada reported over 120,000 boaters' transit all or part of the Trent-Severn every season. The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association reports over 12,000 boaters, transient the ICW each year. While not everyone is cruising 'the entire' Loop, you're not alone on this voyage. You will see hundreds of boaters on every portion of this voyage and about 200 of them will be cruising the entire Great Loop.

BASIC BOAT REQUIREMENTS

It must be safe, suitable, seaworthy and comfortable. It must comfortably clear an Officially Charted fixed bridge height of 19' 7" just south of Chicago. It can't be longer than 90' if cruising Canada's Trent-Severn Canal. We strongly suggest a vessel under 40'. There is a Beam or width maximum of 23' on the Trent-Severn. We suggest 16' maximum for best slips in Marinas. Your boat's draft should be 5' or less, and we suggest 4' or less. You will need a minimum fuel range of 208-miles plus reserve. We highly recommend a 275-mile fuel range. While not a requirement, we strongly recommend an extremely FUEL-EFFICIENT vessel.

The Looper’s Companion Guide:

This 2024 Edition is the most current, the most accurate and the most complete informative cruising guide for the entire Great Loop. It is your Mile by Mile, Destination to Destination guide that provides each ‘cruising day’s’ distance, fuel range, bridge heights, controlled depths, Mile Markers, Waypoints on all the main most popular routes, detours, and side trips. It takes you to the safest anchorages, most affordable people and pet friendly marinas, and includes Marina phone numbers. You get everything you need to make this voyage safely, comfortably and affordably. From Boats to Budgets, from planning to execution, this is a huge ‘easy to read’ 8″ x 11″ x 300-page guide with full color maps & photos to make it the most important item at your helm. From planning to preparing, your budget, boat, equipment, provisions, supplies and amenities, you get the most up to date information and actual cruising costs. Safest of all, it ends each and every cruising day at a free dock, safe anchorage or marina in time to get safely settled in before dark.
From the frugal to the flamboyant, from the best restaurants, tourist attractions, and Looper favorites, our ten-time Looper & Best-Selling author, Capt. John prepares you for cruising the Great Loop like nobody else can.

It’s available in both Hardcover & Paperback. You will get the best prices on Amazon.

Get the best price on amazon.com

Over 400 Five Star Ratings