You know where the Great Loop route goes (if not, check out our map or our FAQs), but how do you decide which cities and towns to visit along the way? Join us as April Smith aboard One Eye Dog shares how she plans their stops during their long-distance cruises including the Great Loop. The Great Loop is a circumnavigation of the eastern U.S., and part of Canada. The route includes the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, the New York State Canals, the Canadian Canals, the Great Lakes, the inland rive...
Nov 22, 2024•33 min•Ep. 38
Docking and other close-quarters maneuvering can be some of the most stressful parts of a day of boating on the Great Loop. Join us as experienced boater and current Looper, Elaine Stern, shares some of the things she wishes someone had told her when she first started boating that can improve teamwork and communication while docking. The Great Loop is a circumnavigation of the eastern U.S., and part of Canada. The route includes the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, the New York State Canals, the ...
Nov 15, 2024•34 min•Ep. 37
What does it take to do the Great Loop without fossil fuels? Bryan Verhulp is underway on the Great Loop aboard his trawler that he converted from diesel-powered to electric. Find our how he made the conversion, including the mechanical components (both those he removed and those installed), the cost, and the vessel's performance so far on the Loop. 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 circ...
Nov 08, 2024•40 min•Ep. 36
Join us as we discuss the recent issues at the Wilson Lock on the Tennessee River with Cline Jones, Executive Director of the Tennessee River Valley Association and the Tennessee-Cumberland Waterways Council. Cline provides information on past and current issues with this lock and why we should be concerned about similar problems that could happen throughout the nation's system of locks. We'll also explain the economic impact of locking delays on the commerical sector, and what Loopers can do to...
Nov 01, 2024•38 min•Ep. 35
This week we share another installment of our popular series where Gold Loopers share the stories of their Great Loop adventure. In this episode, Bob & Mary, who were new to boating when they decided they wanted to cruise the Great Loop, share the details of their Ranger R-27 and why it was the prefect Great Loop boat for them. They also tell us about their cruising preferences and the festivals and volunteer opportunities they found along the way that helped them immerse themselves into the...
Oct 18, 2024•34 min•Ep. 34
Heritage Harbor Marina on the Illinois River is AGLCA's Sponsor of the Year! Find out why Loopers selected this marina as the sponsor most deserving of this award as we interview Jeff Heimsoth and Bryce & Samantha Wallace. Many thanks to the entire Heritage Harbor community for their outstanding support of Loopers! 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...
Oct 11, 2024•29 min•Ep. 33
We often get questions about what's included in AGLCA membership, so in response, this episode talks about what America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association provides to anyone interested in the Great Loop. We also give details on what membership offers to those who are still planning, those who are currently cruising, and those who have completed the Great Loop. Often described as the adventure of a lifetime, America's Great Loop boasts a 'low risk, high reward' travel experience. Boaters journey ...
Oct 04, 2024•30 min•Ep. 32
We continue our popular "Story of Our Loop" series this week with Gold Loopers Terri & Aubrey Smoot sharing the tales of their Great Loop adventure aboard their Aspen C108 Power Cat, "ShoreBilly Too". Often described as the adventure of a lifetime, America's Great Loop boasts a 'low risk, high reward' travel experience. Boaters journey over 5,000 miles around the Eastern part of the United States and into parts of Canada. The Great Loop was once a route known only to lifelong boaters and lon...
Sep 20, 2024•40 min•Ep. 31
Ever wonder how far you can cruise on different rivers off the main Great Loop route? Join us this week as David Fuller, a frequent AGLCA speaker, talks about the many side trips you can take as part of your Great Loop adventure. The Great Loop Route is a 6,000-mile nautical adventure that takes you through some of North America's greatest cities, historic sites and heartlands. At its essensce, it's a circumnavigation of the U.S. and part of Canada that Loopers cruise aboard their own boats, oft...
Sep 13, 2024•46 min•Ep. 30
AGLCA members cruising in Michigan this season reported some challenges with the reservation system used by many marinas, so this week, we talk to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources about the marina reservation process to get some tips on finding and reserving a slip. 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 an...
Sep 06, 2024•36 min•Ep. 29
Join the celebration of AGLCA's 25th Anniversary! The Home Port Crew talks about how AGLCA started, how it's grown over the years, what has changed, and what's remained the same. We also touch on plans for the future in this "Happy Annviersary" episode. The Great Loop is a circumnavigation of the eastern U.S., and part of Canada. The route includes the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, the New York State Canals, the Canadian Canals, the Great Lakes, the inland rivers, and the Gulf of Mexico. "Loop...
Aug 30, 2024•30 min•Ep. 610
Gary & Lisa aboard PerfectSeas (a 42' Carver Aft Cabin Motor Yacht) are our guests this week. They share details about their 6,000 mile nautical adventure on America's Great Loop, including how they got started, what they found the most challenging, and what they learned along the way. 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.
Aug 23, 2024•36 min•Ep. 28
Door County, Wisconsin, is one of the Great Loop's gems. Find out what there is to see and do in this area as local Gold Loopers, Pete & Cheryl Glassen (Varlabania), share the details about cruising Door County as part of your Great Loop adventure. 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 Grea...
Aug 10, 2024•39 min•Ep. 27
All of us will, at some point, sell our boats. This week, Michael Martin of Great Loop Yacht Sales joins us to talk about the boat selling process. He'll provide tips on how to get the boat ready for sale, what photos to include in the listing, the popular sites where you'll want your listing included, and pitfalls to avoid. Whether you plan to sell your boat yourself or engage a broker, this episode includes practical information on ensuring the process goes smoothly. Want to learn more about t...
Aug 02, 2024•30 min•Ep. 26
Our "Story of our Loop" series is back with Michael MacLeod sharing the stories of his two Great Loop trips. After a career in music that included travel around the globe, Michael began the Great Loop and completed it the first time aboard a 22' C-Dory and a second time aboard a 25' C-Dory. Join us to hear what drew Michael to the Great Loop, why his boats were perfect for his style of Looping, what leg he found most challenging, and more. The Great Loop is a 6,000-mile route through interconnec...
Jul 26, 2024•42 min•Ep. 25
Join the Home Port Crew as we provide details on the many virtual and in-person events coming up this summer and into fall. We'll cover our Virtual Docktails free events where AGLCA members can join Zoom breakout rooms to discuss specific topics, our "Must Have Apps for the Great Loop" webinar series that is free for members, our upcoming "Looper Lifestyle" seminar coming to Milwaukee, and our ever-popular Fall Rendezvous. Find more information on all these events at www.greatloop.org and select...
Jul 19, 2024•32 min•Ep. 24
Mackinac Island has long been a Looper favorite stop. Get all the details of what you'll find on this unique, historic, and quaint island when stopping there as part of your Great Loop adventure. Tad & Libbie Sheldon talk about the Island and the waterways surrounding it on this episode. 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 mos...
Jul 12, 2024•31 min•Ep. 23
Some of the finest cruising on the Great Loop is found on Georgian Bay! Join us as Dale Anderson shares the details of cruising these waters that he calls home. Our disussion includes likely stops for Loopers, favorite anchorages, things to see and do, and calming the anxiety of navigating the 30,000 Islands. 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, a...
Jul 05, 2024•38 min•Ep. 22
Join us as Chris & Beth share the story of their Great Loop adventure aboard their 31' Camano. Our conversation includes details about their boat, their planning, and what they gained from taking on this challenge. 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.or...
Jun 28, 2024•37 min•Ep. 21
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.phpRu...
Jun 21, 2024•34 min•Ep. 20
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...
Jun 14, 2024•22 min•Ep. 19
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 thousa...
Jun 07, 2024•38 min•Ep. 18
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 ...
May 24, 2024•37 min•Ep. 17
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 thr...
May 17, 2024•32 min•Ep. 16
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 ...
May 03, 2024•32 min•Ep. 15
***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...
Apr 26, 2024•30 min•Ep. 14
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 w...
Apr 19, 2024•29 min•Ep. 13
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 ri...
Apr 12, 2024•25 min•Ep. 12
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 easte...
Mar 29, 2024•32 min•Ep. 11
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 ...
Mar 22, 2024•45 min•Ep. 10
