Information On Cruising The Great Loop

Ever wondered if you should get a vessel safety check on your boat before starting the Great Loop? Rob Rice joins us on this episode to talk about vessel safety exams.  We'll cover what they are, why you should get one, and how to schedule it. Resources mentioned in the episode: List of required safety equipment can be found in this document: https://bdept.cgaux.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/420.pdfOnline form to request a vessel safety check: https://wow.uscgaux.info/i_want_a_vsc/index.phpRules for US boaters visiting Canadian waters. Mostly, you comply with your home (US) requirements as long as you are in Canada for 45 days or under. https://tc.canada.ca/en/marine-transportation/preparing-operate-your-vessel/visitor-information?pedisable=trueCanadian boaters travelling in US waters: The situation is less clear. The US rules talk about foreign boaters "temporarily" in US waters. Temporarily is not defined in the US regulations.

Do you know Chad Pregracke? If not, you should! For 25 years he's been helping remove trash from America's inland rivers. Chad founded Living Lands and Waters in 1998 at the age of 25 when he realized nothing was being done to clean up the waterways. He is the winner of many awards and accolades, most notably, Chad was the recipient of the Jefferson Award for Public Service. Chad accepted this award in 2002 at the United States Supreme Court with other award recipients Rudolph Giuliani, Bill and Melinda Gates and Lilly Tartikoff. In 2013, he was named CNN's Hero of the Year. Chad is also the author of From the Bottom Up: One Man’s Crusade to Clean America’s Rivers.  Chad is the guest on this week's episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast as we discuss what it takes to keep the inland rivers section of the Great Loop route free of trash and how Loopers can get involved.

From fire extinguishers to life rafts to personal locator beacons, distress and safety equipment is important for your Great Loop cruise. After presenting an enlightening seminar at our Spring Rendezvous, Jeremy McConnell of Northwest Creek Marina is our guest this week to talk about this important topic.  Northwest Creek Marina is an AGLCA sponsor, and Jeremy, a retired U.S. Coast Guard Master Chief, is the General Manager there. In his role in the Coast Guard, Jeremy managed and executed thousands of Search and Rescue operations. He'll tell us from his firsthand experience why having distress and safety equipment, and knowing how to use it, can make all the difference in the unlikely event that something goes wrong while your on the Great Loop.

Diane & Tim Vandersall earned their Gold Burgee and then decided to give back to the boating community and the waters they frequented while on the Loop. They've spent two months volunteering in some of Florida's beautiful state parks. While the work is sometimes strenuous, they've found it rewarding, and they earned free dockage during the period of their volunteer service!  Listen to this week's episode to learn more. 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.

Weather forecasts may be the most important piece of information you can gather before heading out for a day on the water.  This week, Kennard "Chip" Kasper, Meteorologist-in-Charge at NOAA/Florida Keys National Weather Service, joins us to talk about NOAA's mission and the important work they do in marine weather forecasting. With hurricane season right around the corner, we'll also discuss how storms are tracked and what the implications are for boaters. The Great Loop is a 6,000-mile route through interconnected waterways that allows boaters to circumnavigate the eastern U.S. and part of Canada. Learn more at www.greatloop.org.

Kip & Insel have completed the Great Loop three times! They share the stories of their Great Loop adventures aboard two different boats including how they've grown as boaters via the many miles they've cruised, tips on how they deal with having a 60 pound dog aboard, advice for those new to Looping, and more. America's Great Loop is the boating adventure of a lifetime! Loopers cruise the 6,000-mile Great Loop route aboard their own boats completing a circumnavigation of the eastern U.S. and part of Canada via mostly protected inland waterways. The Great Loop route follows the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, the Chesapeake Bay, and the New York Canals northwards, goes across the Great Lakes, south on the Inland Rivers, and then east Gulf Coast to complete the Loop.

***This episode references the needed DTOPS sticker but we left out one detail. Only boats 30 feet and over must have a DTOPS sticker. The AGLCA Home Port Crew walks you through what U.S. citizens must do to legally enter Canada as part of their Great Loop.  We cover what to do before you go, the things you can and cannot bring with you, the procedure for entry, and flag etiquette as part of our discussion. America's Great Loop is the boating adventure of a lifetime! Loopers cruise the 6,000-mile Great Loop route aboard their own boats completing a circumnavigation of the eastern U.S. and part of Canada via mostly protected inland waterways. The Great Loop route follows the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, the Chesapeake Bay, and the New York Canals northwards, goes across the Great Lakes, south on the Inland Rivers, and then east Gulf Coast to complete the Loop.    

Join us as America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association's Home Port Crew updates you on our Advocacy efforts including what we do on behalf of members and the boating community as a whole, what we're working on including a long-term issue in Florida, and how you can help. America's Great Loop is the boating adventure of a lifetime! Loopers cruise the 6,000-mile Great Loop route aboard their own boats completing a circumnavigation of the eastern U.S. and part of Canada via mostly protected inland waterways. The Great Loop route follows the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, the Chesapeake Bay, and the New York Canals northwards, goes across the Great Lakes, south on the Inland Rivers, and then east Gulf Coast to complete the Loop.

Several things on the Great Loop are easier if you maintain a good fitness level.  Our guest this week is Doreen Sharpe. She is a Gold Looper and a Physiotherapist, and she shares the reasons why maintaining fitness is important on the Great Loop and offers some tips on when and where to fit in fitness while Looping. 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.

This week's episode focuses on our friendly and helpful Harbor Hosts!  The Home Port Crew shares more about the Harbor Host program and the True North Harbor Host of the Year award. Then, the 2022 and 2023 Harbor Hosts of the Year (Tsali & Jacque Bentley and Eric & Lynda Baumer) share why they love this program and what they did that earned them the True North distinction. The Great Loop is a 6,000-mile route through interconnected waterways that allows boaters to circumnavigate the eastern U.S. and part of Canada. Learn more at www.greatloop.org.    

With a focus on locking and anchoring, this week's episode includes some of the skills you should practice before starting your own Great Loop adventure.  Our guest is Boris Hodak, a recent Gold Looper and U.S. Coast Guard 100 Ton Master. Boris shares tips on locking and docking and why you should learn the ins and outs of your boat before setting off on the Loop. The Great Loop is a 6,000-mile route through interconnected waterways that allows boaters to circumnavigate the eastern U.S. and part of Canada. Learn more at www.greatloop.org.

Considering Looping on a fast boat? In this episode, Gold Looper Tom Gutowski joins us to share details on how and why he and Jan chose to cruise the Great Loop on a faster boat. Our discussion focuses primarily on how to be sure you operate safely and courteously while cruising at higher speeds, but also includes details about how often you can travel at faster speeds and the potential additional fuel burn. If you are listening to this podcast and would like to see the photos Tom included, you can see the video on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xkzg3DuoSuM The Great Loop is the boating adventure of a lifetime. Looper 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.  

Gold Looper Kim Fleer joins us this week to talk about some of the options for sharing your Great Loop with those you leave behind. We'll discuss the pros and cons of sharing via Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, blogs, and other apps. We'll also share some things you should consider before selecting a platform and list some of the more popular Looper blogs, channels, and social media pages. Links to many of the resources mentioned in this episiode are below: Scho and Jo - https://www.youtube.com/@SchoandJo  What Yacht to Do - https://www.youtube.com/@WhatYachtToDo  The Perch - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL82Wyujruc-v-CQ4uRDdpfp1t9D-5gK2S&si=dkX_6O3vBl8XnZwZ Cruising Cavaliers - https://www.youtube.com/@crusincavaliers7140  Great Loop in a Shanty Boat - https://www.youtube.com/@backwatersandbackroads  Stay Cool - https://www.youtube.com/@staycool123   Blogs: https://www.greatloop.org/interact/blogs-websites.html Maps - https://www.aquamap.app/support/15-basic-features/14-markers 

This week we talk about watching your wake.  It's important for all Great Loopers to practice safe and courteous boating!  The biggest error we see in this area is boats not slowing enough in no wake zones, minimum wake zones, and when passing other boats, docks, marinas, and other shoreside infrastructure. We break it all down for you this week with our guest, Brian Brown. Brian is a Gold Looper who had a career in the marine industry.  Join us for this important episode.  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.

Kim Russo (AGLCA's Director) and Michael Martin share the story of their own Great Loop adventure aboard The Perch, a Silverton 410 cockpit motor yacht. They'll talk about why they did the Loop, their cruising preferences, and details about their boat. The Great Loop is a 6,000-mile route through interconnected waterways that allow boaters to circumnavigate the eastern U.S. and part of Canada. Learn more at www.greatloop.org.

This week we wrap up our 2024 update series by talking about marine insurance. Jon Horton with Jack Martin and Associates joins us to discuss what to expect when seeking insurance for your Great Loop boat in the coming year.    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 results are in! Listen to find out how many boats completed the Great Loop in 2023 and which boat makes were most popular.  Brent Bowlin and Michael Martin of Great Loop Yacht Sales join us to share some of the features of the top boats for the Great Loop in 2023 and what makes them so popular. We'll also share details of the smallest and largest boats to complete the Loop last year. The Great Loop is the boating adventure of a lifetime. Looper 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.

This week we talk about the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association (AIWA) and the work they do to keep the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway navigable. Brad Pickel, AIWA's Executive Director, is our guest and he'll share details of why the AIWA was formed, its mission, how dredging projects are funded, and come creative ways the materials removed during dredging are being used.

Join us as Cindy Lewis of Sterling Associates shares her insight on what to expect if you're considering financing a boat in 2024.  Are interest rates really that high? What kinds of terms can I expect?  What are some of the limitations on the age of the boat if I hope to finance?  Cindy answers these questions and more as she shares why financing may be advantageous in the coming year.

Curtis Stokes of Curtis Stokes & Associates is back as our guest to provide an update on what to expect if you are buying our selling a boat in 2024. Our discussion includes marketplace trends, pricing, insurance concerns, and what Loopers are looking for in boats for their Great Loop adventure. The Great Loop is the boating adventure of a lifetime. Looper 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.