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Started By
Message
re: America's Great Loop, 6000 NM Around the Eastern US
Posted on 11/9/23 at 8:46 am to slacker130
Posted on 11/9/23 at 8:46 am to slacker130
It is more than my bucket list item, it is a plan being executed. Hell, the loop is one reason I am thinking about dating again. Doing it solo is possible but seems like it would add a challenge - docking and what not.
I have friends who are interested as well. They are married and we get along awesomely. To make sure our friendship continues we are planning on separate boats. Being in that space together for a year doesn't seem like a good way to preserve friendships.
quote:
My issue is our close friends want to do it too, so we've been looking for a boat that has 2 master state rooms, and they are difficult to find. Especially if you're trying to stay in a reasonable budget.
I have friends who are interested as well. They are married and we get along awesomely. To make sure our friendship continues we are planning on separate boats. Being in that space together for a year doesn't seem like a good way to preserve friendships.
Posted on 11/9/23 at 8:49 am to Klark Kent
quote:
i’m wondering if (too lazy to look on my own) there are any youtube series of folks doing the “Great Loop” worth watching.
Some are ok, but the reality is it is watching someone drive a boat slowly for the most part.
This one - What Yacht To Do is pretty decent. He is a retired airline pilot and explains a lot along the way. They have done multiple loops.
Posted on 11/9/23 at 8:52 am to slacker130
My father bought a 46 ft Grand Banks in his early to mid 70s, spent a few years fixing it up and growing acquainted with it, then with my mother in their mid-late 70s became loopers over 2 consecutive summers. I am still in awe
Posted on 11/9/23 at 9:04 am to FieldEngineer
quote:
I’m adding this to the list of possibilities for after the last kid moves out. Sell the house, live on a boat for a few years
Had a distant cousin do the loop 10 years ago. It was great to watch their progress on their blog:
https://www.cruisingonnoschedule.com/category/the-great-loop/
quote:
The journey began in September 2014 and the "No Schedule" returned Sept. 16.
"We went 7,500 miles," John said. "That included the Loop, plus other areas."
The journey took the Tysselands from the Tennessee River, to the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, down to the Gulf Coast, around Florida, then up the East Coast, the Great Lakes, Illinois River, Mississippi River and back to the Tennessee River.
Along the way, they detoured to the Bahamas for awhile.
Posted on 11/9/23 at 9:31 am to Mid Iowa Tiger
quote:
hey are married and we get along awesomely. To make sure our friendship continues we are planning on separate boats.
I get that, ours is more of a pipe dream. Two boats are definitely easier and you have some built in mutual support.
However, our friends are out of the ordinary friends. My college roommate and my wife's roommate got married and we've kinda done all kinds of trips, vacations, births, deaths, engagements, etc for the last 33 years. We see them nearly daily and our group chat is "Another Round," the name of the future boat.
Maybe we go 2 boats, but one of us will essentially be sailing alone half the time because the wives will be together. Maybe we get the wives comfortable handling the boats so we can split evenly once in a while.
quote:how far are you in your plan?
it is a plan being executed
Posted on 11/9/23 at 9:36 am to slacker130
Had a colleague that did it after he retired.
He did over a two year period. He planned his route for almost a year.
He did over a two year period. He planned his route for almost a year.
Posted on 11/9/23 at 9:38 am to Draconian Sanctions
You're goddamned port (or starboard) depending on direction.
Posted on 11/9/23 at 9:39 am to TigerFred
I have a good friend that has done it twice. He would send me pics and I would send him pics back of me flipping him the bird! So jealous. Anyway there is a Facebook group with lots of pics and good advice
Posted on 11/9/23 at 9:41 am to IAmNERD
quote:
Stopping and going home ends the challenge.
There is no challenge, because it's not challenging. It's not as though you are climbing Mount Everest. It's the boat that's doing the actual work.
This post was edited on 11/9/23 at 9:42 am
Posted on 11/9/23 at 9:43 am to slacker130
quote:
My issue is our close friends want to do it too, so we've been looking for a boat that has 2 master state rooms, and they are difficult to find. Especially if you're trying to stay in a reasonable budget.
They aren't difficult at all, there are plenty of trawlers with twin state rooms. Maybe not as similar or nice as a single state room layout, but still that's a VERY common layout. I'm not sure your budget but you can get an older Grand Banks, Mainship, etc with 2 state rooms for under $50k pretty easily. Certainly 100k or more budget is better, but hell I'd try and do it in 6 months with 4 people. You could have someone drive more. As cool as some of the areas will be there will also be plenty of boring spots you just want to chug through.
I would 100% go with twin motors for that sort of trip.
Posted on 11/9/23 at 9:54 am to slacker130
With that map, it’d be a shame to do a trip like that and not see the upper Mississippi, but looks like that would be a hell of a detour.
Posted on 11/9/23 at 10:07 am to slacker130
Slacker,
Which one of you guys is the engine mechanic? Can either of you weld? Who is certified for scuba (for freeing up a fouled proppller?
Seriously, those skills might be needed.
Which one of you guys is the engine mechanic? Can either of you weld? Who is certified for scuba (for freeing up a fouled proppller?
Seriously, those skills might be needed.
Posted on 11/9/23 at 10:15 am to slacker130
There is an inordinate amount of interest in the Great Loop since 2020. I would bet that in a couple of years it is so crowded it will be like rush hour traffic in Atlanta. And in 10 years boats will be a dime dozen as people realize that shite is not for them.
My wife and have planned it for years but the amount of interest we have seen from other people has us backing off. I am convinced that over the next 10 years the route is going to be so congested in areas that it will be more of a chore than a pleasure....
My wife and have planned it for years but the amount of interest we have seen from other people has us backing off. I am convinced that over the next 10 years the route is going to be so congested in areas that it will be more of a chore than a pleasure....
Posted on 11/9/23 at 10:22 am to real turf fan
quote:
Which one of you guys is the engine mechanic? Can either of you weld? Who is certified for scuba (for freeing up a fouled proppller?
Seriously, those skills might be needed.
I'm a pretty decent mechanic, but my buddy can fix anything. He can also weld way better than me, although I don't believe I've ever welded much on a fiberglass boat.
Neither are certified divers, but that's not needed.
Posted on 11/9/23 at 10:22 am to AwgustaDawg
quote:
There is an inordinate amount of interest in the Great Loop since 2020. I would bet that in a couple of years it is so crowded it will be like rush hour traffic in Atlanta. And in 10 years boats will be a dime dozen as people realize that shite is not for them.
I think the Covid shutdown made it very appealing. Hopefully, it will slow down in the next few years.
Posted on 11/9/23 at 10:25 am to AwgustaDawg
quote:
There is an inordinate amount of interest in the Great Loop since 2020.
Yeah, the article I read was in 2014 and I've noticed way more articles, videos, blogs popping up recently.
Posted on 11/9/23 at 10:43 am to slacker130
My neighbors are currently on the Ohio River near Paducah having left North Carolina in July.
We traveled with them from NC up to Baltimore but we're not retired so had to go back to work. Its definitely a bucket list item for us.
I check their progress regularly on Marine Traffic. MoWhisky is the vessel name.
We traveled with them from NC up to Baltimore but we're not retired so had to go back to work. Its definitely a bucket list item for us.
I check their progress regularly on Marine Traffic. MoWhisky is the vessel name.
This post was edited on 11/9/23 at 10:45 am
Posted on 11/9/23 at 11:10 am to IAmNERD
quote:
Meh, that doesn't really count then, imo. If that were something I was interested in doing and wanted to gain "Looper" status, I would only feel like I accomplished it if it was all in one go.
Stopping and going home ends the challenge. It would be different if you stayed for several days or even a week in some spots. But you don't get to pull the boat out and go home because you have to coach your kid's rec league vasketball game.
This isn't a Lewis & Clark expedition, it's recreational travel boating. It would be a nice, leisurely trip for me. Oh, look, it's lunchtime, time to dock. Then sightsee, go shopping, maybe have dinner and some drinks. Crash on the boat, roll out the next day.
Posted on 11/9/23 at 11:20 am to slacker130
Having been a boater, this is not a trip for the faint of heart....or poor. Fuel, food, marina fees, lock fees, maintenance, and repairs will kick your arse. I'm not saying don't do it, but take what you think your budget will be and double it.
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