Information On Cruising The Great Loop

Planning to leave your boat and head for land for the holidays?  This week's guest, Jim Healy, will share his checklist for leaving your boat.  Get the information you need to prepare your boat before you leave it.

Happy Thanksgiving!  While our staff enjoys some time with their families, we're replaying an episode from this time last year on what to see and do while cruising Florida's panhandle.  We thought this might be helpful to Loopers out there who are waiting in that area for a suitable weather window to cross the Gulf.  Enjoy!

America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association will transition to a new platform for our website and Members' Discussion Forum on Monday, November 23, 2015.  Listen for important information for Members on accessing the new site and how to use its features.

As Loopers finish their Gulf Crossing, they're landing in Tarpon springs.  Listen as Harbor Host Herb Seaton tells us what to see and do when visiting Tarpon Springs by boat.  Join us as we learn more about this unique town along the Great Loop.

Join us as Bob Schwarz of Dog River Marina guides us from the end of the Tenn-Tom waterway at Demopolis to Mobile Bay.  Bob shares suggestions on marinas where Loopers can tie up for the night or have repairs made and what there is to see and do in Mobile.

Join us as Eddy Johnsen shares details of his daily Weather Wag reports that help Loopers choose a suitable weather window for crossing the Gulf of Mexico.  He'll give information on why, and how, he analyzes weather sources each morning and determines whether his recommendation for the day is to "go" or "stay put".

This week's guest is Phil Werndli of the Concerned Cruisers Committee of the Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA).  We'll be discussing the new "Boaters Heritage Freedom Political Action Committee" recently formed by SSCA, AGLCA, and the Marine Trawler Owners' Association to help with advocacy efforts undertaken on behalf of our Members.  Listen now to learn more, or contribute to the PAC by mailing a check to: Boaters Heritage Freedom PAC c/o PAC Financial Management 8489 Cabin Hill Road Tallahassee, FL  32311

This week, AGLCA Member Services Coordinator Janice Kromer and Director Kim Russo discuss details of two new tools released to the GreatLoop.org website to help our Members plan their Great Loop adventure.  Our Loop Cost Calculator helps estimate the financial investment needed to do the Great Loop based on your boat and cruising preferences.  And our Great Loop Interactive Map lets you zoom in on any area of the route, find Sponsors, events, Harbor Hosts, and more.  Join us live to hear the details and call in with any questions you have.

Join us this week as we talk about meters for troubleshooting on your boat, with a focus on electrical problems. Our guest will be Keith Ruse of Deltaville Boatyard.

Looper Hal Baker takes us on a cruise on the Tennessee River to Chattanooga and shares details of this side trip to the Great Loop.  

Our guest for this episode is veteran Looper Joe Pica who, along with his wife Kathy (aka Punk), has completed the Loop three times and logged nearly 39,000 miles on the water in the past eight years. Joe joins us to talk about a Great Loop side trip on the Ohio River. Listen as Joe shares details of this historic and scenic waterway and the many sights to see along the way.

Members Bob and Sharon Boynton will be our guests this week to discuss ways to stay in shape while Looping.

Join us as Betsy and Rick Johnson return to pick up where we left off last week.  We'll cover the Great Loop route along the river system from Hoppies Marina through Joe Wheeler State Park, talking about what to see and do along the way.

You've made it through Chicago! Now what? Popular Rendezvous Speakers Rick & Betsy Johnson will share details on how to tackle the rivers, including navigation tips, ports of call, dealing with barges and tows, and more!  

AGLCA currently has several events on the calendar, which leads to questions about the best event to attend for your specific place in your Loop Life.  This episode provides details on the upcoming Fall Rendezvous, Looper Lifestyle Seminars, Successful Boat Buying Seminars, and the Gold Looper Reunion.

Join us as Bob Kunath, Waterway Guide's Great Lakes Cruising Editor, shares details of the Wisconsin side of lake Michigan.  Bob will talk about specific ports to visit, weather on the lake, and more!

Ed Tillett, General Manager, and Jeff Jones, Publisher of Waterway Guide Media are our guests. Our discussion was recorded at the Miami Boat Show and covers boating in the information age and new tools available that help make boating more safe and fun!

Gold Looper Barb Reinken is our guest for this episode.  Barb has been boating on Lake Michigan for more than 40 years, and just finished cruising the eastern shore on her second Great Loop trip. Barb joins us from her boat, docked in Hammond, Indiana, and shares detailed information about the ports on the Michigan side of the lake. Please note: During our discussion, we promise to provide additional information about Michigan's Habors of Refuge.  A list of Michigan Harbors from DNR, with Harbors of Refuge noted, is available here: http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10365_10884_18317---,00.html.  More information is also in the Michigan DNR Harbor Guide found here: www.michigandnr.com/Publications/PDFS/RecreationCamping/2013_harbor_guide.pdf

Join us as Lee Wheelbarger of Electric Blue tells us about his project to do the Great Loop completely under solar power, not just for propulsion, but for powering all the boat's systems!

Mike McKeown of Parkbridge Marinas is back to give us cruising information on the North Channel.  He'll share navigation tips, fishing information, anchorage suggestions, and what to see and do when in this picturesque area of Canada.