Information On Cruising The Great Loop

On this week's episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast, our guest is Ed Tillett, Editor-in-Chief and General Manager of Waterway Guide Media. Ed and I will discuss how the Corona Virus is affecting the boating community, including details about marina closures and where boaters can go for up-to-date information. 

Our guest on this week's episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast is Scott Draper.  Scott is the lobbyist hired by recreational boaters to help with a legislative fix to Georgia's restrictive boating regulations.  Scott will have current information on the status of HB-833, the bill filed by Rep. Ron Stephens to reopen most of Georgia's waterways to anchoring and put Georgia's discharge rules in line with federal EPA requirements.

On this week's episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast, Ben Stein joins us to talk about some of the products that won Innovation Awards earlier this month at the Miami Boat Show.  Ben co-chaired the judging panel and he'll share details of the winners in categories pertinent to Loopers. 

On this week's episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast, Jeremy Dann joins us to share information on how to effectively communicate using your VHF radio.  We'll cover details on what channels to use, contacting commercial vessels, contacting other recreational vessels, and what to do and say in an emergency.

On this week's episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast, we're gearing up for the Spring Rendezvous.  The Home Port Crew answers the most frequently asked questions about the event and gives all of the details you'll need to register and attend.

On this week's episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast, Wendy Wilson joins us to share her thoughts and suggestions on how to handle the things you leave behind while you're on the Loop.  We'll include tips on what to do with your house, car, bills, mail, and more.

On this week's episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast, we'll discuss bills filed at the Florida Statehouse to ban overnight anchoring in the Ortega and Cedar Rivers in the Jacksonville area, with an amendment to also ban overnight anchoring in Crystal River and Kings Bay.  Our guest is Jerry Paul with Capitol Access, who has been representing recreational boaters in Tallahassee for several years.  Jerry will walk us through the history of anti-anchoring bills in Florida and give us the status of the current bills.  He'll also give details on what boaters can do to help prevent these bills from passing.

Effective January 1st, an Administrative Order implementing Georgia's new anchoring law took affect.  The order disallows anchoring within 1,000-feet of waterfront structures.  Our guest on this week's Great Loop Radio podcast is Jack White.  Jack is a long-term, long-distance boater who is also a former Georgia State Representative.  He'll share insight on how these restrictive rules came to be and what boaters can do to help fight them.

On this week's episode of the Great Loop Radio Podcast, Wendy Wilson and her daughter, AnnaMay, talk about what it's like to celebrate holidays aboard a boat.  They also share helpful tips on adapting the traditions you may have at home so that you can continue them aboard while on the Great Loop.

On this week's episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast, we continue our discussion on some of the basic knowledge and skills needed to safely cruise the Great Loop.  If you've been watching our forum and social media discussions, you know that there are varying opinions on how much preparation should be done.  Some say "just do it" while others prefer extensive preparation, knowledge & skills.  We invited Gold Looper Dave Fuller to join us for this discussion.  Dave serves as the Deputy Director of Education for the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary at the national level.  His group is responsible for producing all public education content for the Auxiliary, so he is an ideal person to share his thoughts on this topic. This week's discussion is part 2.  The first part of the discussion aired on December 6th.

On this week's episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast, we discuss some of the basic knowledge and skills needed to safely cruise the Great Loop.  If you've been watching our forum and social media discussions, you know that there are varying opinions on how much preparation should be done.  Some say "just do it" while others prefer extensive preparation, knowledge & skills.  We invited Gold Looper Dave Fuller to join us for this discussion.  Dave serves as the Deputy Director of Education for the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary at the national level.  His group is responsible for producing all public education content for the Auxiliary, so he is an ideal person to share his thoughts on this topic. This week's discussion is part 1.  The rest of the discussion will air on December 13th.

With the holidays upon us, it seems like a good time to talk about having guests join you for part of the Great Loop.  So, on this week's episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast, Scott & Karen DeVoll of Capable Cruising give tips on how to prepare your guests for spending time with you aboard your boat.  

On this week's episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast, we're joined by Mike Walsh, Chief, Lock and Dam Section, Illinois Waterway.  Mike will share lessons learned from the 2019 lock closures on the Illinois Waterway and give us an overview of the closures planned for 2020.  Listen to learn what to expect during the 2020 "Looping Season" on this inland river. The site Mike mentions during the podcast that lists closure dates is available here: https://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/Missions/Navigation/Navigation-Status/

On this week's episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast, Cherie Ve Ard and Chris Dunphy share tips on how to do the Great Loop in small segments over a long period of time.  Listen to learn the benefits and potential drawbacks of this type of Great Loop plan.

On this week's episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast, Kim Russo and Karen Nettles from the Home Port Crew give all of the details of the upcoming Looper-palooza event.  Whether you're new to the idea of the Great Loop, you're cruising the Loop now, or you've completed the route, there's something at Looper-palooza for everyone!  Kim & Karen share all of the details of the agendas, what's included, and how to register.

On this week's episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast, Gold Looper Dave Fuller shares the details of his recent cruise of the Down East Loop.  TThe discussion covers information about the Down East Loop route including distances, weather concerns, favorite stops, and whale sightings!  Dave and fellow Down East Loopers Vicki and Mack McGahee have also shared their cruise plans for the Down East Loop.  AGLCA Members may download them by visiting the Document Library on our website (https://www.greatloop.org/content.aspx?page_id=86&club_id=574480)  and selecting the Down East Loop folder near the bottom of the file navigation on the left.

On this week's episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast, Curtis Stokes of Admiral Sponsor Curtis Stokes & Associates joins us to talk about a topic of recent interest on the GreatLoop.org members' forum -- what to expect for sales and use taxes when buying a boat and cruising the Great Loop.

It's been a tough year for the Tenn-Tom Waterway.  After historic spring floods that left the waterway closed for several weeks earlier this year, more than 100,000 gallons of crude oil spilled in one of the locks on the Tenn-Tom last month.  On this week's episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast, Mitch Mays, Administrator of The Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority, updates us on the Tenn-Tom's recovery.  Spoiler-alert:  They're ready for Loopers to come through!

On this week's episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast, Tom Hale tells us about different types of marine sanitation devices.  Tom also clears up misconceptions about No Discharge Zones (NDZs), what they are, and where they are located.

On this week's episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast, Captains Chris and Alyse Caldwell of Captain Chris Yacht Services share some timely advice and information on how to use whistle signals to communicate with other vessels on the waterways.