Great Loop Radio Podcast

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Our popular "Story of our Loop" series returns this week as we feature Malcom & Rachel from "Stay Cool", a Mainship 390 that completed the Great Loop in 2023. Malcolm and Rachel share why their chose their boat, the details of their adventure, how they stayed in compliance with regualtions as Canadians traveling for an extended period time in the U.S. and advice for future Loopers. You can learn m...

Local Notice to Mariners are something that should be in every Looper's toolbox. Checking these reports can give insight into the local issues you may encounter on each movement of your boat on the Great Loop. Robert Rice joins us once again this week to discuss where to find Local Notice to Mariners and how you can use them to be more prepared for the Great Loop. RESOURCES MENTION IN THE EPISODE:...

Resources Here are a couple of articles from BoatUS on this problem  Testing Crew Overboard Maneuvers - https://www.boatus.org/findings/41 Getting that person back aboard is harder than you think. - https://www.boatus.com/expert-advice/expert-advice-archive/2012/october/man-overboard-rescue-for-powerboats MOB tips - https://www.boatus.org/crew-overboard/tips LifeSling https://www.ussailing.org/wp-...

With the Erie Canal undergoing repairs between Locks E16 and E17, that route is not yet open to Loopers needing to transit the area to continue the Great Loop route. The Lake Champlain route option is a popular choice in most years, but even more Loopers are considering it this year instead of waiting for the Erie Canal to fully open. This week, AGLCA member Bill Ogilvie joins us to discuss this r...

AGLCA members can download the handout discussed. It is available in our Resource Library on the www. GreatLoop.org website.

Update on the New York Canals! Join us as Shane Mahar, Director of Public Engagement – Canals at the New York Power Authority & New York State Canal Corporation, discusses the status of the Canals, and the delayed opening of most sections, on what was expected to be opening day system-wide. We'll also discuss the Erie Canal's Bicentennial celebration happening this season. The Great Loop is a 6,00...

Learn more at about HB 481, why it's bad for boating, and how to get involved in our veto campaign: Website: https://boatersrightscoalition.org/veto Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BoatersRightsCoalition The actual bill: https://flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/481/BillText/er/PDF Steps you can take now: Help us fund the effort: https://www.greatloop.com/product-page/advocacy-fund-contribution Ca...

If you enjoyed our episode a few weeks back on "Looper Lore", then you'll appreciate this episode as we bust some Great Loop myths. Kim & Ted from Pony are our guests as we explore some of those Looper sayings, or pieces of advice, that you might want to reconsider when planning and cruising your own Great Loop adventure. The Great Loop is the boating adventure of a lifetime. Loopers follow the 6,...

How do you know how much boat you can afford? How can you be sure you'll have enough money left after the Loop for the rest of your retirement? And how can you make sure the money you've saved for the Loop goes as far as possible? Join us for this episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast as Cathy Aull, Certified Financial Planner with Edward Jones, discusses how to plan for the financial aspects of...

The Boaters' Rights Advocacy Coalition is a group of dedicated boaters associations representing more than 20,000 members committed to advocating for the rights of all active cruisers and boaters. Our mission is to ensure safe, equitable, and sustainable access to our public waterways.  Here's how you can help protect anchoring on Florida's waterways : Contribute to our Advocacy Fund . This fund h...

When Foster & Susan did the Great Loop, they decided not to follow the pack to the "usual" Looper stops. Instead, they asked 7 questions to locals around the Loop that helped them find the hidden gems, the waterways less traveled, and ultimately, make the Loop their own. Join us this week as Foster & Susan share their 7 questions that led them to the best food, drinks, places, and sights along the...

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...