Information On Cruising The Great Loop

Don't miss this week's episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast.  Our guest this week is the very popular Carolyn Shearlock of The Boat Galley.  Carolyn will join us to talk about celebrating the holidays and preparing a festive meal aboard! 

On this episode, we cover how to use your VHF radio in emergency situations.  Gold Looper John Pitney joins us to go over important checklists he's developed for issuing distress calls, and the situations in which you should use them.

On this week's episode of Great Loop Radio, AGLCA Members Roger and Chris VanHoozer join us to discuss cruising the Downeast Loop.  We'll cover information about the route itself, cruising stats, and highlights of the trip.

On this week's episode of Great Loop Radio, marine weather expert, Lee Chesneau, joins us to share information about marine weather and his thoughts on why it's important for boaters to go beyond reading the forecast and actually understand weather.

Join us for this week's episode of the Great Loop Radio Podcast when Gold Looper Larry Cook joins us to explain what to expect from a vessel safety check.  He'll share what equipment you must have aboard as well as why you should complete this important safety check regularly.

On this week's Great Loop Radio, safety-at-sea expert Mario Vittone teaches the three most important drills to perform regularly to ensure you and your crew are ready to handle emergencies aboard including engine failure, man overboard, and medical emergencies.  Don't miss this important episode!

On this week's episode of Great Loop Radio, Kevin Ewbank, Supervisory Park Ranger with the Illinois Waterway Project of the US Army Corp of Engineers, joins us to talk about the COE locks, how to handle them safely, and what to expect in terms of lock maintenance.

As we brace Hurricane Irma, this week's Great Loop Radio podcast will feature weather expert Lee Chesneau giving us up-to-the minute details about the storm's expected impact.  The episode will be coming to you live so you can call in with your questions. Lee Chesneau is a senior marine meteorologist, lecturer, & a graduate from one of the elite universities that offer degrees in meteorology, the University of Wisconsin (Madison). His B.S. Degree in Meteorology was Lee’s ticket to a distinguished & extensive career with NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS), NOAA Satellite Service (NESDIS),  U.S. Navy Ship Routing Officer (SRO), a Route Analyst for a commercial weather & ship routing company (Ocean Routes, Inc.), & his first career start as a naval officer.   Today, in addition to being a highly seasoned & experienced professional marine meteorologist, Lee is an accomplished U.S. Coast Guard certified instructor for basic and advanced meteorology at six continuing training institutions for

Join us for a very special interview on this week's Great Loop Radio podcast.  Connie Bowman, one of our new Gold Loopers, will tell the story of how she and her husband, Bill, started the Great Loop together. After Bill's unexpected passing, Connie completed the Great Loop without him, fulfilling the couple's dream of becoming Gold Loopers. Listen to hear this inspirational Looper tell the story of how she prepared herself for Looping without Bill and how it felt when she finished the Great Loop. 

On this week's episode of Great Loop Radio, we'll discuss what to do to prepare your fresh water boat for the salt water found on parts on the Great Loop route.  Our guests, Captains Chris & Alyse Caldwell, will share tips about your engine coolant, anodes, and the age old question of whether fresh water boats hold their value better than salt water boats.

On this episode of Great Loop Radio, Larry Dostal of the Chicago Harbor Safety Committee will join us to provide advice on safe boating to Loopers heading to Chicago.   

On this week's episode of Great Loop Radio, Tom Hale joins us to talk about common causes of fire aboard.  Tom also shares what to do if fire breaks out. 

After the popular thread in the forum this week regarding when a sea trial should happen on a boat you're interested in purchasing, we thought it was a great time to do an episode of Great Loop Radio on what to expect from the boat buying process.  Curtis Stokes of Curtis Stokes & Associates joins us to explain the ins and outs, including details on the sea trial, the survey, the closing, and more.

Join us as Chris Kealey of the Canada Border Services Agency explains the procedure to follow when arriving in Ontario by boat. 

On this week's episode of Great Loop Radio, Boat U.S. Vice President of Public Affairs, Scott Croft, shares details about  boating infrastructure grants (BIG) just awarded for facilities that cater to transient boaters.  We also discuss two important current issues, electric shock drowning and keeping your outboard and electronics safe from theft.

This week's episode is a rebroadcast of two episodes that originally aired in 2016 covering cruising both sides of Lake Michigan. Foster Schucker and Susan Wilson cover cruising the Wisconsin side, while Pat & George Hospodar cover the Michigan side.

Join us as Chad Buchner, Manager of Canal Operations for the Trent-Severn Waterway, tells us what to expect along this historic canal as they prepare to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday. 

A new transient dock will soon open in Paducah, Kentucky, providing a much needed fuel stop for Loopers.  Paducah's Director of Park Services, Mark Thompson, will be our guest on this episode to tell us more about the new facility and what services will be offered there.

AGLCA members, Captains Ed & Sue Kelly, are two prairie-raised Iowans who sold everything, bought a boat, and sailed off into retirement.  Sounds familiar to many Great Loopers, but this couple's first Great Loop was not in North America.  It was the Great Loop of Europe!  Listen to learn about this fascinating 6,000 mile trip aboard their 40' catamaran.  

It's National Safe Boating Week and Rachel Johnson, Executive Director of the National Safe Boating Council, is our guest!  Rachel will share information on staying safe on the water, including tips on finding the right life jacket, the importance of safe boating courses, technology that can help keep you safe, and more!