Great Loop Radio Podcast

Most Loopers have their favorite sayings that apply to the Great Loop. This week, we share some of the best "Looper Lore" that you'll hear during docktails and other discussions on the Great Loop. Tsali and Jacque Bentley, platinum Loopers and AGLCA award winners, are my guests this week as we reveal and explain some of the favorite Looper Lore submitted by our members. The Great Loop is the boati...

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 th...

Some states along the Great Loop Route require even transiting boaters to have taken a safe boating course. This means that every Looper should have taken a NASBLA approved course. This epsiode of our podcast talks about which states require a course for transiting boaters, what's covered in the courses, and where you can take one. The Great Loop is a 6,000-mile Great Loop route that Loopers cruis...

As this year's fleet of Loopers gets ready to head up the east coast of Florida, a side trip on the St. Johns River will be on the cruising plan of many. This week, Tim & Diane Vandersall join us to share details on this pristine river that's teeming with wildlife. They'll talk about navigating the river, the places they stopped along the way, the facilities available, and the options for places t...

Two bills filed in Florida would further limit anchoring, and one bill would create free permits to anchor for more than 14 days. This week's podcast explains the history of the issue, gives the details of the bills, and shares why AGLCA supports one and opposes two. Most importantly, please help us fund our efforts on your behalf to protect anchoring in Florida by contributing at www.greatloop.or...

Our "Story of Our Loop" series continues this week with Scott Wake sharing the details of his Great Loop adventure aboard his Krogen Express 52 with his wife, Lauren, and dog, Sully. Some of you may have followed Sully Does the Loop on social media. Scott shares how they made the Loop work for them before retiring, including how Lauren traveled between work and the boat, how they welcomed many gue...

This week we share stats about boats completing the Great Loop in 2024. Brent Bowlin of Great Loop Yacht Sales will be our guest as we unveil our list of top 10 boat makes that crossed their wakes last year, the average boat size, and the overall number of Loop completions reported to AGLCA. Visit our sponsor, Great Loop Yacht Sales, at www. GreatLoopYachtSales.com Often described as the adventure...

For several years, obtaining insurance has been one of the bigger challenges in buying a Great Loop boat. This week, Jon Horton of Jack Martin & Associates returns to our podcast to update us on what to expect in 2025. Is it becoming easier to get insurance your Great Loop boat? Listen to find out! The Great Loop is a waterway route followed by "Loopers" who cruise the 6,000-mile Great Loop route...

What can we expect when buying or selling a Great Loop boat in 2025? Michael Martin from Great Loop Yacht Sales join us with details on the current market and information on how the boat buying process works. If you're planning to buy a boat for the Great Loop, be sure to catch this episode. The Great Loop is a 6,000-mile water route that Loopers cruiser aboard their own boats. At its essence, it'...

As our 2025 update to our boat buying series continues, Scott Miller of Miller Marine Consulting joins us to talk about the importance of a pre-purchase survey on your chosen Great Loop boat. Our discussion includes details on how to choose a surveyor and what to expect both during and after the survey. The Great Loop is the boating adventure of a lifetime! Loopers cruise the 6,000-mile Great Loop...

This week we kick off our "2025 Update" series where we'll report on different parts of the process for buying a Great Loop boat. In the coming weeks we'll talk about the current state of the Great Loop boat market, marine insurance, and surveys. This week, Cindy Lewis of Sterling Associates is our guest. Cindy shares her expertise and covers what to expect from interest rates, lender terms and co...

This week the Home Port Crew talks about what's new at AGLCA for 2025! Learn about new things coming up, existing efforts that are changing, and upcoming deadlines for participating in events, fleet shirts, stats, 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...

As interest in the Great Loop grows overseas, this episode features Clive and Anne from Australia. They share the story of their Great Loop aboard their Mainship 390, including all the details on how they were able to abide by customs and immigration laws whle buying their boat and cruising the 6,000 miles of the Great Loop. The Great Loop Route is a 6,000-mile nautical adventure that takes you th...

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 In...

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 pa...

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 o...

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 als...

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 festiva...

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...

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...

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 pa...

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...

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...

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, t...

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...