America's Great Loop
America's Great Loop is a series of waterways that encircles the eastern
half of the United States. It consists of the Intracoastal Waterway,
Erie Canal, Great Lakes, Canadian Canals, Inland Rivers, Gulf of Mexico,
and Atlantic waters. It offers a truly unique way to experience the eastern
half of North America. It provides the comfort of calm waters without
losing sight of land. You will always have access to grocery stores,
hospitals, and airports if need be.
Along the Great Loop, you'll experience dolphins jumping through the
turquoise waters of the Florida Keys, cruise by the Statue of Liberty,
meander through the towering skyscrapers of downtown Chicago,
and journey down a section of the mighty Mississippi River, all from the
comforts of your floating home.
Many 'Loopers' choose to complete the loop in a counterclockwise
fashion. This way the currents and weather are literally on your side.
This not only aids your travel speed but offsets fuel consumption as well.
Great Loop Boats
What makes a boat ideal for looping? Weather it's a trawler, sport fish, or sailboat, here are the criteria that we recommend sticking to when searching for a boat to complete the Great Loop in:
- Length overall: Although the loop can be completed in anything from a canoe to a super yacht, we recommend a vessel in the 30-75ft range.
- Draft: Vessel draft should be no deeper than 5'.
- Air Draft: There are multiple fixed bridges along the loop so your vessel cannot exceed 19'6" air draft. If it does, make sure anything above the 19'6" clearance is removable. Sailboat masts will need to be unstepped for many sections of the loop.
- Fuel: Both diesel and gas are acceptable. However, depending on the route you're planning to take, diesel may be the only fuel available such as on the lower Mississippi. Fuel range should be at least 250 miles, this is the longest stretch along the Tennessee-Tombigbee waterway without access to fuel.
- Running Gear: We HIGHLY recommend a traditional prop boat with straight shafts over pod drive vessels. The inland waterways are prone to flooding and can dislodge large logs and whole trees from the riverbanks. The exposed props of pod drive vessels make them vulnerable to debris.
Ready to start cruising the Great Loop?
Contact us today! We'll help you find the right boat and plan your North American adventure!