Great Loop 2023

Hi Keith!

If you have the will, there is a way. The Great Loop has been completed by kayaks and jet skis and paddleboarders as well as at least two CD22 that I know of. We have been doing Segment Loops since 2017 on our TC255 and have completed over 3,000 of the 6000 miles and 200 locks (of the 100 on the official Loop). We had the only trailer boat at the 2022 FMB AGLCA Rendezvous and Looper Boat Crawl, with over 175 visitors (mostly Planners) of the 450 attendees.

Kittiwake:

http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t=30775

Salty has completed five loops as of 2021, although due to portages etc he might not qualify strictly for all of them under their rules but who cares? Their budget is the lowest we have ever heard of while still having a geat time.

http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t=20968

Storm Dog did about half the Loop just getting his new to him boat home:

http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t=28503

If you are not already a member of AGLCA, sign up for the blog and the GREAT option of using Harbor Host helpers. Yes, it’s expensive but well worth it!

https://www.greatloop.org/default.aspx

Sign up for the Trailer Loopers Special Interest Group,

https://www.greatloop.org/members/group ... GPCrSrt=4A

The last post is mine, and could well apply to you.

Sign up early for the NY canal system updates to get an idea of ‘problematic’ sections and locks:

https://www.canals.ny.gov/wwwapps/tas/n ... px?id=1743

You might also be interested in, or not interested in, our advice to date from the 2021 Hontoon Hoot:

http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t=30573

Assuming you go in the usual counterclockwise direction to take advantage of river flows, that 220 mile section is ‘downstream’ and a few jerry cans may be all you need esp at displacement speeds. See above sites.

We might not ever complete the ‘Loop’, although we’ve done many of the best parts multiple times. To us it’s not ‘The adventure of a lifetime (™), its ‘a lifetime of adventure’.

I predict your greatest obstacle will be your trailer (assuming you have an adequate tow vehicle). Get it near new in all respects including US made Goodyear Endurance tires with a mfg date under 8 weeks (stamped code is wk/yr) and TSP or other really good tire temp/press monitor in cab.

Good that you have lots of time to get everything right before you start. It IS an adventure of a lifetime! But, as always, the Prepared have a lot more fun and fewer emergencies.

PM me anytime, Safe Travels!

John
 
P.S. I'm wanting to also do the GL in my CD22. Probably can't do it in 2023, but maybe the year after. I will be following along your Youtube channel so I can learn from your mistakes :wink: .

Let me know when you are in SW MI. I'm in a town on the big lake.
 
The 220 mile range can be achieved by going slow--5 to 6 miles per hour. The current is with you much of the way, but not all of the way. There is also a fuel stop, where you go up a side canal, and can jerry jug fuel from a gas station near a place where you can pull the C Dory 22 in.

As John noted Jonathan Arthur, on Salty has done the loop 5 + times with a very stock 22. He does have a couple of jerry cans to portage fuel, and does not always buy fuel at marine sources, because of the increased cost on the water.
 
John,

Thanks for the great information and links.
I will research them.
I have already joined AGLCA. That is one of the first things I had done to begin planning this trip.
 
ssobol thanks for the shout out.

I'll keep you in mind when I get to Lake Michigan.
For sure follow me on Youtube as I cruise along.
As it gets closer to departure I will begin paying for a subscription to NEBO so you can see where I am at actual time.
 
Bob,

Thanks for the insight. As I studying the route and my past fuel consumption in the Puget Sound. I am thinking I will not need to carry a lot of extra fuel either.
 
Hi there Kfoote-

Joe here, down in SF. I too was contemplating the loop next year. Perhaps we will see one another.

I am just beginning my mental preparation for my 1988 22' footer.

I am also wanting to get better connected to the group.

So just saying hi and I haven't figured out yet how to span the fuel issue either!

Joe
 
Hi Joe,

Thanks for reaching out !

John posted some great links to help us prep for our trip.

You already belong to C-Brats. You should really join AGLCA.
The longest stretches are;
Kimmswick, MO to Paducah 205 miles down the Mississippi River.
The Mississippi runs pretty fast so I am thinking I will not need a lot of extra fuel for that portion.
The second longest stretch is if you decide to cut across the Gulf Coast about 135 miles. I am planning to go along the coast and not cut across.

https://www.greatloop.org/default.aspx
 
KFoote":ses2qcwt said:
The second longest stretch is if you decide to cut across the Gulf Coast about 135 miles
Click to expand...

I advise most folks to go across, perhaps to the Swanee River, but not to take the entire rim. There are a lot of shoals, and long distances in and out of potential anchorages along the "Big Bend". Many of the market are PVC poles, and require local knowledge.

Camp Thataway, is on upper Perdido Bay, and welcomes C Brats, with free laundry, a real bed and AC, plus transport to grocery stores etc.

Cape Girardeau and the Castor/Little River Diversion canal are the site of a manual fuel jug carry if you need the extra fuel.
See Pat Anderson's post.
 
As it gets closer to departure I will begin paying for a subscription to NEBO so you can see where I am at actual time
Click to expand...


Unless things have changed, Nebo is a free app. Or at least there are no subscription costs. (I don't know if I paid a minimum fee for the app or not, but if so, it would have only been a couple of bucks.) You can follow my travels on C-Traveler (when I remember to turn it on. :roll: ) But C-Traveler is parked for the midwest winter until March. Colby
 
Colby,
I have the free version.
I just figured to track a person you needed to pay for the service.
Apparently I don't need to.

Thanks for the advice
 
Colby

I just jumped on my app.
I am going to need to spend a little time getting familiar with this app so I can share it others.
 
I believe that if you want the full features of Nebo you need to buy the device. I have one on my boat. It works great. Emails you a log report each day. The unit has GPS and a cellular node. It communicates via Verizon in the US. The unit can only send reports and position when it has a cell connection, but the unit still records data when out of cell range for later transmission. The unit lists for $149, but AGLCA members can get a discount. There are other discounts and promotions from time to time. The cell connection is $12/mo and can be activated and suspended when you want, although the minimum connection appears to be one month. I turn my connection off for the off season.

The unit is supposed to start recording when it detects a certain amount of movement. This works fine for slipped boats. For trailer boats the unit can be connected to the ignition circuit of the engine so that it only records when the engine is on (prevents recording of boat movements when on the trailer).

The only complaint I have about Nebo is that almost everything is done through the app. You can only manage your account (i.e. pay for things) via the website. I wish that all the features of the app where available via a web portal.

If you have any questions about Nebo you can contact them via their website. They are quite responsive to queries.
 
Concur with ssobol and getting the NEBO TRACKER for $89 from AGLCA. Connect it to your 12v+ tach bolt to turn it on/off with your engine. Subscription is $11/mo, start and suspend on line.

Tech support is FANTASITIC, often from the Aussie owner himself, Steve Winter.

For now download the free smartphone app to see where the fleet is (free text msg any of them).

PM bob Austin on your travels, they are the most gracious and generous hosts on the Loop. (We downsized to a tiny retirement house but will help any way we can).

Safe Travels,
John
 
KFoote":38k06v48 said:
I am getting ready to travel the Great Loop beginning mid May as soon as the channel opens.Follow along as I begin to prepare for the great adventure! The biggest question I have right now is how do I carry enough fuel to cover 220 miles?
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-P9t3 ... 0V75YPuPBQ
Click to expand...

We did the Loop in 2017, starting in La Belle, FL, on April 1, 2017, and crossing our wake September 13, 2017, back in La Belle. I blogged every day. The link to my blog is in my signature.

We were a little worried about the run from Hoppies to Green Turtle Bay, but it turned out we did not need to be. We have a CD25 with a 100 gallon fuel tank and had a Honda 150 (now Suzi 200). We fueled once in the Diversion Channel at Cape Girardeax. If you go up to the boat ramp under the freeway bridge, climb up to the road and go left, there is a gas station very close. I made three trips with a 5 gallon gas can and got 15 gallons.

Now there is fuel in Paducah, so it is a shorter run. We were in Alton, IL, September 12, at Hoppies on September 13, the Diversion Channel at Cape Girardeaux on September 15, and Paducah on September 17 - we stayed at the dock in Paducah but the fuel dock was not yet open yet. You will no doubt have several 5 gallon gas cans, kept full from Alton on, and you should be fine.You will get a tremendous push from the current going downstream on the Mississippi. It is upstream on the Ohio and Cumberland, but fueling in Paducah will make this a lot easier.

BTW, be sure to connect with Dr. Bob and Marie Austin in Pensacola and Marc Grove (Wefings Marine) in Appalachicola!

We crossed the Gulf from Appalachicola to Steinhatchee about 75 miles on October 1, 2017. This crossing lets you enjoy the best of the west coast of Florida. We loved Cedar Key, but Tarpon Springs was very cool too!




 
I use the app on my smart phone for free. Also sends me the daily reports. Just have to remember to start it each day. Not sure how much data is used but I’m thinking probably not much.
 
I believe that if you want the full features of Nebo you need to buy the device.
Click to expand...

I believe you use the same Nebo App rather you do it on your smartphone or with their NeboLink. In fact, if you go to their website, https://nebo.global/, it actually shows most features being demonstrated on a smartphone. It looks like their device, the NeboLink is just a transmitter to use instead of your smartphone, for transmitting your location and past track. The only reasons I can see for paying for the Nebolink and a subscription, is if you don't want to use your smart phone for location transmission (use of data and battery power, but how much data is used? And most of us have phone chargers on our boat), or if you desire to use the Nebolink for tracking your stolen boat when your cell phone is in your possession, not on the boat. (Assuming the Nebolink is on and working).
Colby
 
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