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Our Mission
Our mission is to provide you with the essential information you need to make a smart well-informed decision about whether - or not, cruising America's Great Loop is right for you. your boat, budget and cruising companion.
THE ADVENTURE
Frugal or Flamboyant, new boat, old boat, big boat or small boat; there really is no wrong way to cruise America's Great Loop. Some ways are much better than others. Some ways are a lot safer & more comfortable than others. Some boats are bigger than others, some take longer than others. Some Loopers have raced around the Loop in less than 90 days. While most Loopers spend a year or more cruising, exploring, stopping, shopping, eating out, and lingering longer - as they enjoy all the very safest & best boating weather in each geographical area, while cruising by the seasons. Rest assured, no matter how you cruise the Loop, we end up at the same places having the same amount of fun!
Someone once said, “You will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory”, and cherished memories are the ultimate truth about cruising America's Great Loop. Your positive memories will begin the moment you head out on this adventure and last for the rest of your days.
Long before this voyage is over, you will discover that the real secret of cruising the Great Loop is not found in any book, blog, or website. It is found in the powerful life-changing effect it has on all of us. Among all the fabulous destinations, awe-inspiring waterways and beautiful sunsets, you will discover some profound insights about yourself and your cruising companion. It will undoubtedly transform your ordinary ways into extraordinary days. Every day begins with great expectations and ends with eager anticipation of your tomorrow's.
America’s Great Loop is truly a melting pot where travel, adventure, new experiences, and new friends blend into a bowl of unexpected daily delights and cherished memories. It begins with doing what melts your butter and ends having written the greatest chapter of your life’s story.
Bring Your Own Boat
Your boat can be new or used, big or small, power or sail, one engine or two. . . but it must be safe, suitable, seaworthy, and we strongly suggest at least semi-comfortable and extremely fuel-efficient. To navigate the Great Loop successfully, your boat must clear a 19' 7" fixed bridge, should have a draft of 5' or less, and an absolute minimum fuel range of 240 miles. Most Loopers are in humble boats, purchased used, and typically between 29' and 39' in length. While some are bigger and some are smaller.
Frugal or Flamboyant
This adventure can be surprisingly frugal or outrageously expensive - In our group, some have made this voyage on less than $12,000 for fuel and marina expenses, while some have reported spending more than $42,000 for fuel and marinas. A 45' vessel could easily spend $40,000 just staying every night they can in a marina or spend $13,000 staying in a marina just on weekends. This, while a 27' boat staying in a marina just on weekends would spend $6,768. Your expenses will depend on your lifestyle and your vessel's type, size, number of engines, cruising speed as well as how many nights you pay to stay in a marina vs anchoring out.
`On our last voyage, our 7-boat caravan spent a low of $13,262 (26' C-Dory) and a high of $17,322 (36' Trawler) in just fuel and marina fees. Our total 'BOAT RELATED' Looping expenses, included fuel, marina fees, groceries and provisions on the boat, maintenance, oil changes, boat liability insurance, canal fees, and Boat US & Sea//Tow memberships came to a low of $19,071 and a high of $23,746 among all 7-boats. We also spent a low of $17,008, and a high of $21,197 having fun ashore, which included dining out and being a tourist.
When we add it all together, our 'boat related expenses' plus our 'Fun Money' expenditures - totaled $36,079 on the 26' boat and $44,943 on the 36' boat.
NOTE: Some Loopers will spend $44,943 or more just on fuel and marina fees!
Lots of Fun Ashore
That's right! And I'm going to repeat it, 'Each of our 7-boats spent more money eating out and being a tourist having fun ashore than we spent on fuel, marina fees and total boat & boat related cruising expenses. That is because we all adopted Capt. John's "More Fun than Fuel" Looping philosophy.
This voyage is amazingly fun on shore. While it takes you directly to 140, you will cruise by 300 or more incredible destinations along the way that are guaranteed to tempt you and your cruising companion off your boat to stop, shop, eat out, stay, and linger. We cannot emphasize enough the importance of budgeting for having fun ashore.
FACT: Not stopping staying and lingering longer to eat out and be a tourist is the #1 most frequently mentioned regret expressed by previous Loopers.
While most 1st time Loopers focus their budget planning on 'boat related' expenses, they tend to overlook & underestimate expenses for eating out and having fun ashore. For couples especially, eating out and being a tourist is what makes this voyage every bit as exciting on land as it is on the water!
Some sights along the way:
Discover America's Great Loop
Our Experience
When word gets out you are planning to cruise the Loop, lots of folks you know will tell you that "you are crazy". Equally so, lots of people will tell you "How wonderful that would be, and how much they wish they could join you". But they won't. No matter how enthusiastic they seem, chances are almost zero, they will ever join you. If they really were 'that interested' in it, they would get a boat and cruise along with you.
Otherwise, the 'Logistics' can make for a very difficult situation. Are they going to join you for a weekend? Or for a leg of this voyage? When & where are you going to pick them up? Where & when are you going to drop them off? Obviously, this commonly involves car rentals, air flights and a schedule on both ends, and schedules should be anywhere on your boat. FYI - We've meet over a dozen Loopers through the years that bought bigger vessels with 2 Staterooms just to accommodate expected friends or family that never showed up. It can be a very costly mistake!
Cruising by the Seasons
Beyond doubt, cruising America's Great Loop is best when 'cruising it by the Seasons'. This puts you cruising across 'the North' in Summer - where the Erie Canal, the 1,000 Islands and the beautiful waters of the Trent Severn, Georgian Bay and North Channel averages in the mid to high 70s. You will also be in Florida for the Winter - when the average temperature around Florida averages in the low to high 70s.
In addition, we "Spring up the Atlantic ICW in Spring, arriving at the Hudson & New York State Canal System just ahead of the peak Atlantic Hurricane season which is August to October. As a result, we are 'Falling down' the Inland Rivers in Fall and avoid the peak Tornado Season in Tornado Alley during the peak months of April, May and June.
Fact is cruising by the seasons will bless you with the best of weather as you cruise through each of the four geographical areas. However, you can expect short periods of rain all the way around,
America's Great Loop
Bucket List
Ready to put America's Great Loop on your Bucket List? If so, we highly recommend Capt. John's "The Looper's Companion Guide". It should be the very first thing you read.
Prior to Capt. John's "Looper's Companion Guide" was published in 2018, our directors set out to write such a guide for future Loopers. Then, someone introduced us to Capt. John's published works, and Wow! After much thoughtful review, we determined we could not produce one as good as this. So, don't balk at the price, it is his 3-Bestsellers combined into one, so you're actually saving $80.
The #1 "Best-Seller" & Book of the Year. . . for good reasons.
It not only helps you plan, prepare, provision, equip and budget for this voyage; it provides a complete 'cruising day' Itinerary to guide you around safely. You get each day's directions, distance, fuel range, bridge heights, controlled depths, mile markers, waypoints, safe an
The #1 "Best-Seller" & Book of the Year. . . for good reasons.
It not only helps you plan, prepare, provision, equip and budget for this voyage; it provides a complete 'cruising day' Itinerary to guide you around safely. You get each day's directions, distance, fuel range, bridge heights, controlled depths, mile markers, waypoints, safe anchorages, marinas w/phone #, and what to expect along the way as well as when you arrive.
Capt. John's "Looper's Companion Guide is truly revolutionary. He takes all the time confusing and time-consuming tasks out of planning, preparing and budgeting for this voyage. You also get each cruising day's directions on the most popular and safest routes thru both the ALL-USA route & Canada, including popular detours and side trips t
Capt. John's "Looper's Companion Guide is truly revolutionary. He takes all the time confusing and time-consuming tasks out of planning, preparing and budgeting for this voyage. You also get each cruising day's directions on the most popular and safest routes thru both the ALL-USA route & Canada, including popular detours and side trips to places such as New Orleans, Nashville, Knoxville as well as Ottawa & Montreal.
Great Loop Goodies
Looper Tested
America's Great Loop Information Center was founded in 2015 by a group of previous Loopers who wanted to make it easier for people to discover the real facts about cruising the Great Loop. Our team is passionate about America's Great Loop, and we believe that 'Frugal or Flamboyant' everyone deserves to have accurate information about what it takes to cruise the Great Loop safely, comfortably and affordably.
You supporting our 'Great Loop Goodies Store' helps us support you while keeping this website FREE. Your patronage is greatly appreciated, and every item we sell comes with a 30 Day money back guarantee.