Information On Cruising The Great Loop

Reviewing anchorages and marinas helps all boaters coming behind you and is also a great way to "pay it forward" for help you received along the way. Ted Stehle from Waterway Guide is our guest this week.  Ted shares how to post reviews on Waterway Guide and the process he goes through to vet all crowd sourced information received.  The Great Loop is the boating adventure of a lifetime. Loopers follow the 6,000-mile route in their own boats, cruising up the east coast, into the Great Lakes, through the inland rivers, and through the Gulf of Mexico. Learn more at www.greatloop.org.  

The International Seakeepers Society joins us this week to tell us how Loopers can help with marine science research while Looping. They'll also share details on how Loopers can be more environmentally friendly (and save money!) with tips from their Green Guide to Boating. The Great Loop is the boating adventure of a lifetime. Loopers follow the 6,000-mile route in their own boats, cruising up the east coast, into the Great Lakes, through the inland rivers, and through the Gulf of Mexico. Learn more at www.greatloop.org.

Our "Story of our Loop" series continues with Lee & Bake. They share the story of their Great Loop adventure aboard their 42' Grand Banks. Former sailors, Lee & Bake Looped in segments over three years. They'll talk about why they opted for a power boat for their Loop, how they handled the logistics of returning home and leaving the boat behind at the end of each segment, and much more.   What is the Great Loop? It's a 6,000 mile route that circumnavigates the eastern part of the U.S., and a small part of Canada if you choose. Loopers cruise aboard their own boats, mostly on protected waterways, along the east coast, the New York Canals, the Great Lakes, the inland rivers, and the Guld of Mexico. America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association provides information and inspiration for those planning for, currently cruising, or dreaming about a Great Loop adventure. Join us for events, members-only forum access, marina and fuel discounts, and more! www.greatloop.org/joinus

Cruising the Great Loop can be strenuous for the body and mind. Soon-to-be-Looper and live aboard fitness expert, Kevin Williams, joins us this week to discuss how to stay (or get) fit while Looping.  Whether you're looking to increase strength and balance for line handling, lifting things on and off the boat, or other Loop-y tasks, or you're already fit and want to know how to maintain that while Looping, Kevin has suggestions for you. Want to learn more about the Great Loop? How about building camaraderie with others who have done the whole route so you can find out what it's actually like? Join AGLCA for accurate and thorough Great Loop information and access to other members. Find out more at www.greatloop.org/joinus.  

This year's Loopers may have time for extra side trips while they wait for the Illinois Waterway locks to reopen. Mike & Deb Hervey, who have made multiple trips to the largest of the Great Lakes, tell you why you should consider cruising Lake Superior. They'll share the details on visiting the south shore and what you'll find there, as well as the more rugged and remote north shore. Join us for more on this amazing side trip to your Great Loop adventure. The Great Loop is a 6,000-mile circumnavigation of the eastern U.S. and a part of Canada. Loopers undertake this adventure of a lifetime aboard their own boats, often taking a year or more to complete the route. America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association provides information and inspiration for those planning for, currently cruising, or dreaming about a Great Loop adventure. Join us for events, members-only forum access, marina and fuel discounts, and more! www.greatloop.org/joinus #GreatLoop #Greatloopers #bucketlist #adventureofalifetime #boating #loop

Jay Kraft from Trawlers Great Lakes is back to give advice on how you can learn to better handle your boat during docking and other close quarters maneuvering. He'll share ideas on how to master these skills in preparation for your own Great Loop adventure.

Listen to hear the stories of Karen & Dave's Great Loop adventure aboard their Maine Cat P47. Karen & Dave talk about why they wanted to cruise the Great Loop, how they found their boat, how they prepared for the trip, and their highlights and challenges. Listen now! America's Great Loop is a 6,000-mile boating route that includes the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, Chesapeake Bay, the coast of New Jersey, New York Harbor, the New York Canals, the Great Lakes, the Illinois, Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee Rivers, the Tombigbee Waterway, and the Gulf of Mexico. Loopers follow the route aboard their own boats, circumnavigating the eastern U.S. and part of Canada. America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association is your one stop shop for information and inspiration about the Great Loop. Learn more at www.greatloop.org #greatloopers #greatloopers #aglca #bucketlist #boatlife #looplife #adventureofalifetime

The Great Loop will take you through some busy waterways, including New York Harbor. Our guest this week is Joseph Moceri, a Tug Captain who operates in New York. Joe will share his background and some insight into what his job is like. He'll also share what he wants Loopers and other recreational boaters to know about encountering commercial traffic in a busy harbor.

Robert Rice with the US Coast Guard Auxiliary joins us this week to talk about the Basic Rules of the Road. This is must-know information before starting the Great Loop. Whether you're a new boater or ready for a refresher, don't miss this episode. Want to learn more about the Great Loop? How about building camaraderie with others who have done the whole route so you can find out what it's actually like? Join AGLCA for accurate and thorough Great Loop information and access to other members. Find out more at www.greatloop.org/joinus.

AGLCA's Director, Kim Russo, shares one of her favorite areas on the Great Loop, the Thousand Island. This area along the St Lawrence River near where it meets Lake Ontario straddles the U.S./Canada border and includes scenic cruising, quaint towns, and castles you can tour. Here are some additional resources about the Thousand Islands: Great Loop LIfestyle Video on the Thousand Islands: https://youtu.be/zd7nnNql_6Y Great Loop Cruising Info Video-Oswego, NY to Clayton, NY: https://youtu.be/K7WDyzsUDLw Great Loop Cruising Info Video-Clayton, NY to Wellesley Island, NY: https://youtu.be/MyZSdkvMcyk Great Loop Cruising Info Video-Welleslay Island, NY to Kingston, ON: https://youtu.be/cEgULevp7do The Great Loop is the boating adventure of a lifetime. Loopers follow the 6,000-mile route in their own boats, cruising up the east coast, into the Great Lakes, through the inland rivers, and through the Gulf of Mexico. Learn more at www.greatloop.org.

With Hurricane Season upon us, we brought in John Fitzgerald, President and CEO of Saunders Yachtworks, to share what you should do now to be ready in case a storm heads your way. We'll talk about options like hauling out, moving to a safer location on the water, what to remove from a boat that is in the path of a storm, and more.

AGLCA Director, Kim Russo, shares why the Hudson River was one of her favorite parts of the Great Loop. She'll share suggested stops and things to see and do along this 150-mile stretch that takes you from New York City to the start of the Erie Canal. Want to learn more about the Great Loop? How about building camaraderie with others who have done the whole route so you can find out what it's actually like? Join AGLCA for accurate and thorough Great Loop information and access to other members. Find out more at www.greatloop.org/joinus. #GreatLoop #GreatLoopers #AGLCA #AdventureofaLifetime #BucketList

Chris & Roger share the story of their Great Loop adventure aboard their Mainship 400 including details about the boat and why it was the perfect Great Loop boat for them. They'll also share how they went from being new to boating to being comfortable and competent handling their boat and what they think are the highlights of cruising the Great Loop. America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association provides information and inspiration for those planning for, currently cruising, or dreaming about a Great Loop adventure. Join us for events, members-only forum access, marina and fuel discounts, and more! www.greatloop.org/joinus #GreatLoop#Greatloopers#bucketlist#adventureofalifetime#boating#looplife#aglca#boatlife

Are you (or your partner) reluctant to jump aboard for the Great Loop? This episode of our podcast offers advice for those who may not share their partner's enthusiasm about the Great Loop.  Jacque Bentley and Claudia Fuller are our guests, and they give their best suggestions on how to address some of the fears or apprehensions some have about cruising the Great Loop. The Great Loop is the boating adventure of a lifetime. Loopers follow the 6,000-mile route in their own boats, cruising up the east coast, into the Great Lakes, down the inland rivers, and through the Gulf of Mexico. Learn more at www.greatloop.org. #GreatLoop #GreatLoopers #BucketList #BoatingAdventure #LoopLife #boatlife #aglca

What's the best boat for YOUR Loop?  Brent Bowlin and Michael Martin of Great Loop Yacht Sales share some things all Loopers should consider when buying their Great Loop boat and talk about some of the more popular makes and models. They also talk about specific makes and models for different non-negotiable needs, like those cruising with a family, those cruising solo, those on a budget, and more.

Curious about the best way to stay connected on the Loop? This week, Ben Stein of Panbo.com join us to talk about Starlink. He'll share which service plans and which hardware options are applicable for Loopers. We'll also cover Starlink's recent changes and what could be down the road as the service continues to evolve.

Randy and Cathy share the story of their Great Loop adventure aboard their 58' West Bay Sonship including why they chose their boat, how they carry a motorcycle aboard, and how having it flagged in Honduras affected their Great Loop. 

At the request of one of our listeners, this week's episode talks about what a "standard" day is like on the Loop, what makes a great day, and what makes a stressful day.  Michael Martin is our guest and the two of us tackle this topic by sharing experiences on our own Loop. We'll also update you on the status of my planned wake crossing.

Most Loopers will encounter more than 100 locks on their Great Loop adventure. On this episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast, Kim Russo shares some tips she learned along the way on how to handle all those locks.

Wendy & Hal share the story of their Great Loop adventure aboard their Grand Banks 42 Classic, Patriot. They'll tell why they chose the Grand Banks, what they did to prepare for the trip, their cruising preferences like how many miles they traveled per day and at what speed, and offer their best advice to future Loopers. America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association offers information and inspiration for those actively cruising, planning for, or dreaming about an adventure on the Great Loop -- a 6,000 boat trip around the eastern part of North America. www.greatloop.org/joinus.