Great Loop Radio Podcast

What's new with AGLCA? Listen to learn about our new website platform and some of its new features. We'll also share details about the upcoming Looper-palooza event in Fort Myers happening January 23-25, 2023.

What's it like for a family of four with two teenagers to cruise for a year? The Wright Family shares the story of their Great Loop adventure aboard their 42' Nordic Tug.    

Practice makes perfect! Before starting the Great Loop, learn how to effectively communicate with other recreational boats, commercial vessels, bridge tenders, lock masters, and marinas via your VHF radio.  Dave & Nan Ellen Fuller show us how.

AGLCA could not continue without support from our sponsors and assistance from our volunteers. This episode starts with an interview with Tim Konkus from the 2022 Sponsor of the Year, Delaware City Marina. You'll learn about the special services this marina provides that make it a "must stop" on the Great Loop. Then, we'll feature Dave & Claudia Fuller, winners of the 2022 Ron &...

After 10 years of boating, Ron & Jan upgraded to a Nordic Tug 34 and completed the Great Loop over the course of 3 years, storing the boat for the winter between cruising seasons. On this episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast, they share the story of their adventure.

Considering winter storage for your Great Loop boat? Tom Pirro and John Lombardi from Winter Harbor Marina talk about winter storage.  They share how boats are prepared for heated storage and relaunched in spring. They also share tips on winterizing boats that will be cold stored.

Karen and Lee completed the Great Loop aboard their 38' Chung Hwa Trawler.  Starting from the Houston area of Texas, they had a journey just to join the Great Loop route. Hear their story, along with the challenges they faced as they took on this epic adventure.

Here is the link to the video of this podcast so that you may review the slides: https://youtu.be/p-1IL4p2oAU The railroad bridge at Mile 300.5 on the Illinois Waterway is the lowest fixed bridge on the Great Loop for which there is no alternate route. Currently charted at 19.7', you must pass under this bridge if you plan to do the entire Great Loop route. Have you ever wondered why the bridge is...

Curtis Stokes of Curtis Stokes & Associates joins us to talk about how different conditions and different hull designs can affect how your Great Loop boat acts at anchor. After a comment from a Gold Looper on a Story of Our Loop episode of this podcast regarding their boat being especially "active" at anchor, we received a lot of questions. This episode provides more information on w...

Hurricane Michael devastated the Florida Panhandle in 2018, leaving homes and businesses destroyed and a shortage of dockage for Loopers transiting the area.  After some delays due to Covid, marinas are completing the rebuilding process and are open for business for Loopers this season. Get the details from our guest, Justin Bannerman from Point South Marina-Bay Point.

Deb & Fred completed America's Great Loop in May of this year aboard a Navigator 4400. They share the story of their Great Loop including their cruising preferences (anchorages vs. marinas, average miles per day, etc), what inspired them to do the Great Loop, and what they gained from the experience.

As Loopers spend time in late summer and early fall on Lake Michigan, is there any truth to the idea that you should be off the Lake by Labor Day?  Gold Looper and former Harbor Host of the Year, Foster Schucker, shares his data on the weather on Lake Michigan in the fall and gives details on how to determine the weather for yourself before heading on to the Lake. *During the discussion we mention...

Registration is open for both "Great Loop Cruising: A Guide to the Looper Lifestyle" seminar in Chicago, and the Fall Rendezvous is Tennessee. Which is right for for? We'll help you decide by discussing the agenda details, who each is aimed toward, and costs for each event. Listen for all the details!  

Greg & Cait did the Great Loop aboard their 37' Jeanneau sailboat. The couple, in their 30s, left Chicago aboard Firefly in late 2020, returning 8 months later after more than 6,000 miles underway. Their sailing included passages to the Bahamas, the Dry Tortugas, and more. Hear the stories of their Great Loop adventure including tips on anchoring, what they learned from running aground, and wh...

On this week's episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast, we give you details about two of the towns that are "must-sees" on the Western Erie Canal. First up is Bob Stopper from Lyons and second is Nancy Ragus from Fairport. They'll each tell you why their town is special and why boats that can clear the 15' bridges should consider the Western Erie Canal as part of their Great Loop adventu...

On this episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast, Chad Buchner, Manager of Canal Operations at Parks Canada, gives us an update on the recent closure on the Trent Severn and also shares some of the highlights of this historic waterway known as one of the highlights of the Great Loop.

On this week's episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast, we launch a new monthly series called "The Story of Our Loop". Each episode will feature Gold Loopers who will share details about their own Great Loop adventure. This week, our guests are Brian and Karen who completed the Great Loop in 2021 aboard their 25' Ranger Tug, "Tug Life". Brian and Karen are on their second Loop...

On this week's episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast, the Home Port Crew shares information on visiting New York City by boat as part of your Great Loop adventure. Kim Russo and the rest of the crew aboard The Perch spent several days in the past week in New York City. She'll give suggestions on where to tie up or anchor, how to get around town, and things to see and do.

On this week's episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast, the Home Port Crew gives you up-to-date information on the process for U.S. citizens to clear Canadian customs as you enter Canada aboard your boat. We'll cover how to check into Canada when you arrive there, and how to check back into the U.S. when your cruising in Canada is over.

It's not all sunshine and rainbows!  Cruising as a couple on the Great Loop can be challenging, and can sometimes put a strain on your relationship.  On this week's episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast, Bob and PM Amidon join us to discuss this topic.  They are Gold Loopers, but they bring an interesting perspective to the discussion because Bob is also a licensed marriage counselor. 

On this week's episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast, Jay Kraft of Trawlers Great Lakes joins us to give some suggestions on maintenance tasks aboard that can be done by the boat owner. From oil changes to belts and impeller replacements, you can save thousands of dollars with DIY maintenance.

On this week's episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast, Dave Fuller, Director of Education for the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, is back to provide details on the proper usage of the VHF radio while on the Great Loop.  He'll include which channels to use for which purposes, the correct procedure for hailing another vessel and much more.

On this episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast, the Home Port Crew of America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association shares some of the benefits of membership with a special focus on what you gain by joining AGLCA while you're in the planning stages for your Great Loop adventure. We also give details on the newly released Great Loop map on the www.greatloop.org website.

On this episode of the Great Loop Radio Podcast, Kim Russo (AGLCA's Director) shares more details about the boat she's Looping board, "The Perch", and Michael tells the story of how he selected this boat for his first Great Loop. If you've been following Kim's Great Loop, here are the details you've been waiting for about "The Perch". She's a 2001 Silverton 410 with two statero...

On this week's episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast, Ted Stehle of Waterway Guide joins us to talk about how to find the best fuel prices while cruising.  Ted, who is also a Gold Looper, will share how Waterway Guide compiles their fuel price reports, and will also give other tips for finding the best deal when filling up and conserving fuel while Looping.