Posted on 08/13/2025 6:43:06 PM PDT by eastforker
I weas quite intrigued with Robert Youens trip of the great loop in a flat bottom boat with a tiller steer 60 HP outboard. His trip has inspired me to maybe make the same trip this coming spring however it will not be in a little flat bottom boat. Got my eye on a 33 foot trawler. Take the Boys and grand kids, Just one of the items on my bucket list.
I am 72, will not let age stop me, if I die on the way just dump me overboard.
Is that even with taking a full year to do it?
I don’t want to set any records, I just want to do it.
No, Robert did it in 33 days, he set a record,.
Thanks for the encouragement.
Perhaps I’ll reconsider.
A lifetime of sailing.
However for this trip, I did like the idea of a Beneteau trawler for the journey.
That’s good. You’d miss seeing a lot if you did it in less than a few months, at least.
I am looking at a 1980 Chis Craft Corinthian 33 footer, I think that would do the job,
Read the book “River Horse.”
By William Least Heat Moon
Which Trail?
No one knows, it’s all about me, me , me, me, look at me, notice me!
Rivière-du-Loup
Soup du jour and homemade preserves
Why don’t you have a bowl of our soup du jour?
The Appalachian Trail. A gentle little meander from George to Maine.
Would the boat need to have a shallow draft?
No, about 3 foot, that will accommodate most marinas .Just gotta stay out of the rocks.
I had a friend that tried it back in the last century.
Not sure if it was the same route.
Got bored with it.
Sold the boat in Florida and flew home.
Because people on the East Coast of the US are predominately idiots.
I’d rather do a Hawaii, Japan, Alaska, Canada West coast. US west coast and back to Hawaii, under sail.
Better groups of people and sailing is more of a challenge.
My old boat is up for sale but I’m too old to make such a trip today.
Wat too east coast for me.
At first, I thought the Great Loop had something to do with La Salle’s river boat ride up through the St Lawerence river.
Keep in mind that Karens do not like one pee’n and poop’n off the back of the boat.
I've charted it to the extent of cataloging the hop itinerary. That is, planning marina/fuel stops. Also over-night anchorages. No determined amount of time at any.
We're diesel, there are long stretches on the river between fuel stops. I'd look closely at capacity and consumption and note every location along the route to refuel.
I think there's also a fixed bridge in Chicago that is 19' vertical. You'll have to clear that or turn around. We'd clear it, with some minor disassembly.
Have to decide your route as well. Erie Cabal to lake Ontario or Lake Champlain to Montreal/St Lawrence. - Also Tennessee River or Mississippi. I think the Tennessee eliminates the longest fuel hop.
Consider a smaller shake-down cruise of the Florida loop. Its about 400 miles and would be a good warm-up.
There used to be several YouTube videos on the “loop”...
Some were very interesting...
You’re right. It would probably be too difficult for you.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.