Information On Cruising The Great Loop

What color is your engine oil?  Join us as Captains Chris and Alyse Caldwell of Captain Chris Yacht Services tell us what to look for to determine if your fuel and oil are contaminated.  We'll include causes and cures for several common engine oil and transmission fluid problems.

Loopers will be heading up the Atlantic Intracoastal soon as they migrate north.  Join us as Brad Pickel, Director of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association, gives us current information on the status of the Waterway after Hurricane Matthew and how changes in Washington will effect the waterway.

This week's Great Loop Radio podcast will provide a status update on the Dismal Swamp Canal which is currently closed due to damage sustained during Hurricane Matthew.  Our guest is Donna Stewart, the Director of the Dismal Swamp Welcome Center. 

There's been a popular discussion about dinghies in this forum? recently, so we thought it would be nice to cover that topic on our Great Loop Radio podcast this week.  Capts. Chris & Alyse Caldwell of Captain Chris Yacht Services will join us to discuss types of dinghies, outboard engines, required safety equipment, and where to stow your dinghy.

Kim Russo and Janice Kromer discuss the additional features and benefits AGLCA released in 2016 and share information on what we're working on for 2017.  Listen to learn more about the Association's new developments for both members and non-members.

This episode of Great Loop Radio gives details on the upcoming "Looper-palooza" events in Fort Myers, Florida.  Our guest this week is Robert Creech who is presenting at two of the three tracks during the event, and attending the third as a participant.  Join us for details on this event happening January 20-21, 2017.  More information is available at www.greatloop.org.

Our guests on this week's episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast are AGLCA members Kate Payne & Tom DeBacco. Tom & Kate are not your average Loopers.  Listen to hear how these 30-somethings were able to leave life behind for a year while they take on the Great Loop.

On this week's Great Loop Radio podcast we'll be discussing engine room fire suppression systems with AGLCA members Blair Bugher and Curt Corda.  Blair will talk about some of the features and techincal information about these systems, and Curt will share his personal experiences with an engine room fire.

Are you confident in your maintenance skills? Do it yourself Maintenance aboard your boat can make the difference between cruising or waiting for the repairs to be completed while you are stuck at the dock. Captains Chris and Alyse Caldwell of Captain Chris Yacht Services share details about the systems you have aboard your boat and teach you which ones you can maintain yourself. This episode of Great Loop Radio includes: Engine Cooling systemsFuel Filtering SystemDepth Gauge OffsetAir Conditioners and Heat PumpAuto Pilot Electronic Compass

If you have the Great Loop on your bucket list but you or your mate need some help getting started then listen as Captains Chris and Alyse Caldwell of Captain Chris Yacht Services talk about cruising FUNdamentals! This episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast will open your eyes to the life of a Looper and all the essentials you and your crew should master before you leave the dock.

Join us as one of our Gold Loopers, Tom Ray, shares details of his most recent boating adventure, a cruise down the Lower Mississippi River. Tom talks about what it's like to be a pleasure craft on this area of the river system that many Loopers avoid. Spoiler Alert: It was an enjoyable trip!  Tom found a lot of typical Looper fears about the Lower Mississippi to be unfounded.

Listen to hear details about the 2017 Spring Rendezvous and its new home, New Bern, NC! My guest is Millissa True with New Bern Grand Marina and Yacht Club.  We'll discuss the marina, the hotel/meeting space, and details of what there is to see and do during your visit to New Bern.

The topic for this week's Great Loop Radio podcast is "Crossing the Gulf Without Drama".  Listen as Eddy Johnsen provides some of the information from his 90 minute seminar and shares details about his daily Weather WAG. 

Join us for information on the status of marinas, atons, and other marine infrastructure along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew.  Our guest is Ed Tillett of Waterway Guide.  Waterway Guide has been collecting and verifying information on the storm's impact and providing regular updates for the boating community

We hope all of our Loopers and other listeners in the path of Hurricane Matthew are taking precautions and preparing their boats for the storm.  Listen now as Captains Chris & Alyse Caldwell of Captain Chris Yacht Services give advice on making your boat storm-ready.  You're bound to hear some tips you hadn't considered.

Platinum Looper Joe Pica shares details on a popular side trip up the Cumberland River to Nashville.  Find out why this 160-mile trip up the river is the perfect Great Loop side trip for the fall season.

This week's episode of Great Loop Radio shares information on what many consider the most moving and somber historic site along the Great Loop route, Shiloh National Military Park.  Charlie Spearman, a Park Ranger at Shiloh, shares details of this Civil War battle that saw more casualties than all previous American wars leading up to that time. 

Join us for an important discussion on safety!  Captain Henry Marx of Landfall talks about the gear needed to safely navigate the Great Loop, including what items to have aboard for crossing open water.

Two AGLCA members are currently paddling the Great Loop in support of some great causes!  Matthew Pierce is doing the Great Loop on a stand-up paddle board in support of the non-profit "A Kid Again" and Margo Pelligrino is kayaking to raise awareness of the need for clean water.  Listen as we interview both about their epic adventures.

Tanya Binford, who single-handed the Great Loop, joins us to discuss her new book "Crossing the Wake". Listen as Tanya shares details about why she decided to do the Great Loop, the challenges and "Pride Buster" moments she faced along the way, and what life is like for her after the Loop.