sailboat great loop

My Cruiser Life Magazine

The Best Boat for the Great Loop in 2023: Your 6 Boat Options

Embarking on this nautical quest called the Great Loop demands more than wanderlust alone. Selecting the optimal vessel to navigate the Loop’s diverse waterways makes all the difference on this marathon route. Whether you covet the comforts of a spacious trawler, prefer the performance of an agile cruiser or need maximum versatility to “trailer hop” inland rivers, the choice of boat profoundly impacts the journey. In today’s post, I give my recommendations the perfect Great Loop boat.

Table of Contents

6 best boat types for the great loop, what is the great loop, what is involved with the great loop boating adventure, classic trawlers, fast trawlers and downeasts, tug style trawlers, cruisers and motor yachts, power catamarans, the boat you’ve got, great loop size limits, comfortable cabin aboard and long-term living space, engine choices: gas vs. diesel, single vs. twin, 1. draft and height limitations, 2. fuel range and efficiency, 3. living quarters, 4. navigability and handling, 5. type of boat, 6. accessibility and safety features, 8. personal preferences and experience level, 9. research and planning, boat requirements for the great loop, which is your best boat for the great loop, best boat for the great loop faqs.

• Unconventional Boats

The Great Loop stands as one of the premier long-term boating adventures in North America, and arguably, across the globe. Spanning over 6,000 miles, this journey offers boaters an experience akin to a cross-country RV road trip, but on water. It presents a unique opportunity to view the countryside through a different lens, as you navigate through a mix of seaways, canals, and rivers at a relaxed pace.

Let’s explore the ideal boats to embark on this remarkable journey.

Let’s get this out of the way – what’s the Great Loop in the first place?

The Great Loop is an adventure for recreational boaters that takes you on a giant circuit of the eastern half of the United States and Canada . It’s the joining of many smaller waterways, open water stretches, rivers, and canals to make an entire journey that’s about 6,000 nautical miles long. 

Where you begin and end your Great Loop journey usually depends on where you buy or keep your vessel.

Here’s an overview using Norfolk, Virginia, as the starting point.

• Norfolk northbound through Chesapeake Bay, through the C&D Canal, and seaward on Delaware Bay to Cape May, New Jersey.
• Northbound along the Atlantic coast of New Jersey to New York harbor.
• North on the Hudson River to upstate New York. From here, you have several choices depending on how one wants to transit the Great Lakes and how much of the Canadian Heritage Canals one would like to cruise.
• Westbound through the Erie Canal.
• West through the Great Lakes to Chicago.
• South from Chicago through the inland rivers to the Gulf Coast.
• Eastbound along the Gulf Coast to Florida, then southbound on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.
• Either through the Okeechobee Waterway in south Florida or around the tip of the state, through the Florida Keys.
• North from south Florida on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) back to Norfolk.

There are many choices to make the Great Loop your own adventure.

Loopers usually put between 5,000 and 7,000 miles under their keels while making the trip. However, it’s not a race, and there are plenty of opportunities to make side trips and adventures off the main route.

For example, the Downeast Loop is an extension that adds Maine, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edwards Island. The St. Lawrence Seaway will then take you west to the Great Lakes by way of Montreal. Another good example is extending your trip on the south end by adding an adventure in the Islands of The Bahamas.

For the most part, the Great Loop is a motorboat adventure . There are many open water spaces where you might sail, but it’s often constrained to a narrow navigable channel, making sailing much less appealing. In other words, even sailboats wind up motoring for most of the trip. 

Furthermore, the trip transits canals and waterways with many bridge spans, both fixed and opening. The fewer bridges you have to have open for you, the easier your trip. Many fixed bridges mean you’ll have to take the mast off for long sections of the trip.

The trip spans many rural areas, interspersed with small towns and a handful of big cities. Many nights you’ll be anchored or docked in the middle of nowhere. Other times, you’ll have a new city to explore and check out. 

Your boat should suit both styles. You will want the best family boat that is comfortable to live on, with sleeping, bathroom, and cooking facilities that you and your crew find comfortable. Yes, you can do the Loop in an open go-fast boat–but you will miss what many consider the best parts of the Loop. 

Six Best Great Loop Boat Options By Type of Boat

There are too many makes and models of boats in the world for anyone to make a specific recommendation here. Instead, here is a list of six types of boats you’ll find doing the Loop and what makes them well suited for this particular adventure. 

Remember, this is anything but an all-inclusive list. There are hundreds of boat makes out there, hundreds more that aren’t built anymore but can be bought used, and even more when you include custom and one-off designs. These lists are provided simply as a starting point for your research!

The classic trawler is basically the power version of a sailboat–slow-moving, heavy, and economical to operate. They have been around forever; tons were built in the 1970s and 1980s, many in Taiwan. That means that the design is time-tested–they are good-looking and seaworthy. Plus, you can readily find them on the used market for reasonable prices. Most have a maximum speed of about 10 knots.

The popular cruising blog Scho and Jo have set out and completed the Loop on their Albin trawler. Check out their Great Loop expenses for information on the adventure and how it’s done. For more about their boat, check out their boat tour.

Examples of Classic Trawlers:

• Monk 36 (no longer built)
• Grand Banks
• Camino Troll (no longer built)
• Nordhavn 40

The fast trawler is a classic one with a modern hull. Thanks to their improved hull design, they’re capable of faster speeds but use a lot of gas going fast. The best thing about them is probably the simple fact that they can do both comfortably–go slowly and economically or cruise faster (about 15 knots) while still giving a nice ride.

Examples of Fast Trawlers and Downeast Boats:

• Beneteau Swift Trawlers

What was once a unique niche in the boating world has caught on, and quite a few companies are now making tugboat-looking trawlers. They’re sportier than the traditional trawler and have an aesthetic that looks right at home on the rivers of the Great Loop.

Examples of Tugs Include:

• Kadey Krogen
• Lord Nelson Victory Tug (no longer made)

A cruiser is built on a planing hull to go faster. That means more miles per day, fewer nights at anchor, and more fuel consumption while doing it. 

There are many sizes and styles that are appropriate for the Loop, so the key is to find the layout that is most comfortable for you. The two most popular styles include express cruisers and aft-cabin cruisers. 

Examples of cruisers and motor yachts include:

• Sea Ray (many of the best models for the Loop are no longer made)
• Cruiser Yachts
• Bayliner Motoryachts (no longer built)
• Hatteras Cruisers (no longer built)

Power catamarans are popular for the same reason that sail cats are. Thanks to their increased interior volume, two hulls make for a more comfortable living space. Your beam should be less than 23 feet, as the Trent Severn Waterway in Canada limits this. Still, that leaves several interesting power cats that would make fantastic Loop boats. 

Examples of power cats that would be good when boating the Great Loop:

• PDQ 34 Power Catamaran (no longer built)
• Endeavour 440 TrawlerCat

Finally, it has to be mentioned that the best boat is always the boat you’ve got. Lin and Larry Pardey once famously said, “Go small, and go now.” If the Loop is on your bucket list, it’s better to find a boat you can get your hands on that will suit you well enough to travel and enjoy the ride. Don’t spend years saving up for a “maybe adventure.”

Examples of unconventional Looper boats:

• Jet skis that camp along the way
• Open runabouts, sport boats, and fishing boats
• Sailboats–just take the mast off and motor like a trawler!
• Trailerable boats that do it in sections–a trailerable boat lets you do a section and then tow the boat to the next section to cruise at your leisure

What Features Make Good Looper Boats?

So, how do you ever choose the right boat for the Loop? Here are some thoughts on what features make the best Looper boats. 

The limits for your perfect Looper boat will be based on its physical dimensions. According to the Loop Cruiser’s Association, the average looper boat is 39.5 feet long, with more than half between 35 and 45 feet. But this doesn’t tell the whole story, as you must consider each vessel’s dimension.

Air Draft (Bridge Clearance or Height Above Water)

The most limiting fixture on the Loop is a fixed railroad bridge in Chicago that will block any vessel taller than 19 feet, 6 inches. 

But, if you want to do the entire Erie Canal, two bridges offer only 15 feet, 6 inches. Another bridge in downtown Chicago is 17 feet. So, the Loop has lower limits, but most can be gone around by bigger boats. 

Four feet or less of draft is ideal and will mean the fewest problems–although caution is still warranted in many areas. Draft is how deep the hull sits in the water and dictates the minimum water depth for a boat . Any deeper than that, and you will need to be extra cautious. Boats with six-foot drafts have reportedly done it, but few recommend it.

The width of your boat is usually limited to about 16 feet due only to marina slips. 

Catamarans with 23 feet or less can make the trip but require T-heads at most marinas. As a result, finding slips on this trip will be difficult, and finding a place to haul out for boat maintenance is even harder. In addition, there are sections where you’ll need to take a slip occasionally, so anchoring isn’t always an option. 

There’s no limit to length. Some yachts up to 70 feet have made the journey, but it’s a tight fit and most boats that long won’t make it under the bridges. Most Looper boats are under 50 feet, after all, for many reasons.

Think of the Great Loop as an RV adventure where you’re taking your home with you. To that end, realize you’ll be spending a lot of time living aboard your boat. Therefore, the boat should be comfortable, with indoor and outdoor living space and all the amenities you’d want or need. 

Here’s a list of things most people want their boat equipped with when they set off on the Great Loop. Many of these are similar to the considerations people make when living on a sailboat , but some are quite different.

• A comfortable bed, usually an “island queen” (not a v-berth)
• A large galley (kitchen) with plenty of cooking space and the appliances they’re used to (fridge, microwave, coffee maker, stove, oven, etc.)
• A comfortable living room (salon) that has a good view, lots of light, and plenty of ventilation
• An outdoor patio (cockpit) area for open-air dining, socializing, and relaxing
• A descent-sized bathroom area with a separate shower
• Air conditioning and heating (which may require a generator if you plan to anchor overnight extensively)
• Inside and outside helm positions (upper deck on a trawler)

Tankage refers to your boat’s storage space for liquids–water, fuel, and sewage. The larger the tanks are, the longer you can stay away from marinas for refills or pump-outs. 

The Loop has several long stretches through the inland river system that go hundreds of miles between facilities and services. Therefore, your boat should have a fuel range of at least 450 nautical miles and hold enough water for at least a week. 

Some river stretches have fewer gasoline sellers, meaning gas-powered boats need a greater range than diesel boats. They’ll need about 450 miles of range, whereas diesel boats can get by with less.

Beyond that, gas and diesel engines will both work fine on the Loop. Generally, the most popular trawlers and boats of this size come with diesels, which are praised for their longevity and reliable, simple operation. In addition, diesel is safer on a boat because it is less explosive, which could lower your insurance premiums.

Likewise, having a single or twin screw boat is a matter of preference. Single-engine boats can make the journey without problems, but two engines give you redundancy should something go wrong with one and better maneuverability in tight spaces. But, of course, operating and maintenance costs are higher with two engines.

How to Find the Best Boat for You for Sailing the Great Loop

The ideal boat will vary based on personal preferences, budget, and specific requirements for the journey. Here are key considerations to help you find the best boat for your Great Loop adventure:

• Draft: The Great Loop has areas with shallow waters, especially in places like the western rivers and parts of the Intracoastal Waterway. A boat with a shallow draft (ideally less than 5 feet) will have more flexibility and fewer navigation concerns.
• Air Draft: Bridges with fixed heights are a consideration along the Great Loop. To avoid detours, your boat’s air draft (the height from the waterline to the highest fixed point on the boat) should be less than 19 feet, though lower is often better to accommodate all routes.
• Opt for a fuel-efficient boat that has a range of at least 300 miles to comfortably reach fueling stations along the Loop without anxiety, considering both the boat’s fuel capacity and its consumption rate.
• Comfort is key for the long journey. Look for boats that offer adequate living space, a functional galley, comfortable sleeping quarters, and sufficient storage. The size and amenities should match your tolerance for space constraints and your lifestyle needs.
• Choose a boat that handles well in various water conditions. Both inland rivers and lakes, as well as coastal sections of the Loop, can present challenges like currents, tides, and weather changes.
• Trawlers, Sailboats (with a retractable mast for bridges), and Motor Yachts are popular choices because they balance living space, fuel efficiency, and navigability.
• Sailboats can offer the advantage of wind power but consider the need to lower the mast for certain sections of the Loop.
• Catamarans are another option, offering stability, shallow draft, and spacious living areas, but be mindful of their beam (width) and how it may limit access to certain marinas or slips.
• Look for boats with easy access to the bow and stern, strong handholds, and a cockpit or helm that offers good visibility and protection from the elements.
• Safety features should include reliable navigation and communication systems, life-saving equipment, and possibly a dinghy for exploring shallow or narrow areas.
• Consider both the purchase price and the ongoing costs, including maintenance, fuel, marina fees, and potential upgrades. Buying a used boat can be a cost-effective option, but ensure a thorough inspection to assess its condition and suitability for the Loop.
• Your comfort with the boat’s operation, maintenance requirements, and overall feel is crucial. Choose a boat that fits your level of boating experience or one that you’re willing and able to learn to handle confidently.
• Join forums and groups, such as America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association (AGLCA), to gain insights from experienced Loopers.
• Consider renting or chartering different types of boats for short trips to gain firsthand experience before making a decision.
• Size/Draft: Boats should generally be less than 60 feet with a draft of 6 feet or under to navigate the various locks, rivers, and waterways along the route.
• Propulsion: Twin engines or a single engine with a bow or stern thruster provides the best maneuverability and redundancy for covering long distances.
• Fuel Capacity: A range of 350-400 miles between refueling is recommended to have a buffer given the distances between marinas in some regions.
• Accommodations: Comfortable sleeping quarters, a functional galley, and enclosed head are needed for multi-day and multi-week trips.
• Hull Type: Displacement hull trawlers, cruisers, and motor yachts are well-suited for the journey. Planing hulls can complete it but will take a fuel efficiency hit at slower canal speeds.
• Navigation: GPS chartplotters, radar, depth finders, and other instruments and marine electronics for navigating varying conditions.
• Operation: Vessel and systems should be completely reliable and redundant where possible given the several thousand mile journey.
• Insurance/Documentation: Vessel documentation and insurance is required for coastal, Great Lakes portions.

Hopefully, this article has provided some ideas and examples of what your best Great Loop boat might be. Beyond a few hard limitations, it’s a matter of taste and style. There’s no right or wrong answer–you’ll often see many unexpected vessels doing the Loop. 

If you’re considering the Loop, check out the America’s Great Loop Cruisers Association for more details.

What size boat is best for the Great Loop?

There’s no set size limit for length, but all boats looking to complete the Loop must pass under a low fixed bridge in the Chicago area. If your boat is more than 19 feet, 6 inches above the water, thou shall not pass.

What is the largest boat to complete the Great Loop?

Some people have reported that boats as long as 70 feet have completed the Loop. But taking a vessel of this size is not recommended, as you must navigate numerous tight locks and low bridges along the route. Most Loopers choose boats less than 50 feet long.

What is the smallest recommended boat for the Great Loop?

The smallest boat is the one that you’re comfortable on. Jet skis have completed the Loop, but they’re limited to staying in hotels or camping. It’s best to have a boat that will be comfortable to live on for the better part of a year. Most people want a boat at least 35 feet long to do that.

What is the average time to complete the Great Loop?

Most cruisers take about a year to do the Loop. Several factors affect this plan, and it’s always an individual choice. Generally, you’ll be northbound in the spring to be westbound through the Great Lakes in the summer. Then you “fall down” the rivers in the autumn so that you can over-winter in Florida. But many people take breaks, leave their boats in storage, and complete the Loop in sections. Furthermore, many folks want to take their time and enjoy the scenery. It’s not a race, after all.

Matt has been boating around Florida for over 25 years in everything from small powerboats to large cruising catamarans. He currently lives aboard a 38-foot Cabo Rico sailboat with his wife Lucy and adventure dog Chelsea. Together, they cruise between winters in The Bahamas and summers in the Chesapeake Bay.

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Sailing America’s Great Loop on a Small Boat

• By Bianca Dumas
• June 13, 2023

We were cruising down the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, the canal that links Pickwick Lake in Mississippi with Mobile Bay in Alabama. It was November. The sky was gray, and some of the raindrops were starting to resemble snow flurries. The captain was dressed head to heel in gray wool. I was in pink, equally bundled. We stood in the open cockpit of our Nor’Sea 27, insulated mugs of coffee in hand, and sang sea shanties while the captain steered by tiller.

We’d taught our kids these songs on a weekend trip through the desert when they were little. We had sung “Farewell Nova Scotia” as we pulled away from Hovenweep National Monument, chanted “Cape Cod Girls” as we passed through Monument Valley, and learned every line to “All for Me Grog” as we gazed at the red rocks of Moab, Utah. At that time, my husband was a newly obsessed sailor, and we kept our first sailboat on the Great Salt Lake.

Thirteen boats passed us that day on the Tenn-Tom, but we were the only sailboat. The rest were trawlers and motoryachts, all of their captains steering from enclosed and heated flybridges. We were all flying the swallow-tailed burgee of the America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association, and we were all going to spend the next year or so on the Great Loop, a 6,000-mile route around the eastern United States. 

That is where the similarities ended. Ours was not the kind of boat—an open-cockpit sailboat with its mast up—that most people expected to see on the route. Most Loopers didn’t know what to think of us, and most other sailors were headed to the Bahamas, not to Chicago the long way around via the Intracoastal Waterway and the Erie Canal.

But Sonny got it. He waved and honked from the enclosed flybridge of his Mainship 40 trawler as he passed. Later, when we met on the docks in Columbus, Mississippi, he told us how happy he had been to see us. 

“My wife was worried about you two,” he said. “She told me, ‘Sonny, don’t you think they’re cold?’ I said, ‘Phyllis, they don’t even know they’re cold. They’re having the time of their lives.’”

Everyone who travels the Great Loop has the time of their lives, but most Loopers choose trawlers and motoryachts in the 40- to 50-foot range. These boats make sense for the route. They provide all the comforts of home for those who cruise on mostly flat water. They’re air-conditioned and heated, with multiple staterooms, large galleys, washers and dryers, multiple heads with showers, and sprawling decks full of furniture. As one Looper said, “It’s like boating in a luxury condominium.” 

Our decision to cruise the Loop on a sailboat was a compromise of sorts; not just a compromise between captain and first mate, but also a compromise with life itself.

Guy, the captain, wanted to do a big sailing trip, but he has a small business. He needed a route that would offer predictable Wi-Fi and cell service, and allow him to be in US time zones, give him quick access to airports, and make no requirement for a work visa. I was plenty willing to live aboard and sail, but I needed to ease into the idea of big water and passages. I had sailed only on inland lakes.

Also, we wanted to travel cheap. A small diesel engine would beat any motorboat’s 1-nautical-mile-per-gallon rate, and we’d travel for free under sail. That was a real necessity for people saving for retirement. 

Our boat would need a draft less than 4 feet to anchor out along the shores of the Florida Keys, get through the shallows of the Southern tidal flats, and make countless skinny marina entrances along the route. And we’d have to be able to step the mast for low bridges on the Erie Canal.

All these factors led us to purchase the Nor’Sea 27 we found parked in a gravel driveway in southern Utah, another place where you might be surprised to find yourself humming sea shanties. The boat was designed by Lyle Hess, who created Seraffyn and Taleisin for Lin and Larry Pardey, a little bit of pocket-cruiser royalty. And the boat is trailerable, which was a necessity considering where we found it. The Nor’Sea 27 is also bluewater-capable, a quality that would let us choose big water anytime we had the chance. The 8 hp Yanmar diesel would push us along at 4 knots on motoring days, and would get us 33 miles to the gallon. The sailboat has an on-deck tabernacle that would let us step the 40-foot mast ourselves. 

The sailboat had not been modernized, and we weren’t going to spend our time trying to change that fact. We stowed our cold food in the ice chest, spent our nights in sleeping bags in the V-berth, and scrounged onshore for luxuries such as showers and cold drinks. Cruising on a Nor’Sea 27 would be camping, plain and simple. And we didn’t mind. We christened the boat Jackalope and hired a truck to drive her to a marina on the Tennessee River to start our trip. 

In late fall, we emerged from the ­Tenn-Tom ready to cross Mobile Bay and skirt along the Florida Panhandle to Carrabelle. From there, we would make our first open-water passage. 

The conversation on the Looper chat groups was all about the weather. When would it be calm (preferably glassy) with wind under 5 knots? Tall boats don’t do well in the waves, and most Loopers wanted to make the smoothest and shortest possible crossing across Apalachee Bay from Carrabelle to Steinhatchee.

In contrast, the crew of Jackalope was well-practiced and ready for some wind and a long Gulf passage. We left Carrabelle at sunset and crossed 150 miles to Clearwater—and it was perfect. Nothing but dolphins leaping in the moonlight. We stayed a few weeks in Clearwater Beach so that our kids could meet us for Christmas, then motored down the Intracoastal Waterway to our next jumping-off point.

Rather than follow the ICW from Fort Myers Beach to Marco Island, and then motor the yacht channel along the Everglades to Key Largo, we cut out on the Gulf again. This time, we sailed 90 miles from Fort Myers Beach to Key West. After waiting out a storm on anchor in the “bowling alley” between Fleming Key and Wisteria Island, we sailed out of the Gulf and into the Straits of Florida to take a swim at Alligator Reef Lighthouse.

The captain always felt like sailing, so we sailed—on the outside of the Keys, on the inside, in Florida Bay. Sometimes, when the wind was right, we sailed a mile or so on the Florida ICW. Even when we got to Georgia’s Lowcountry, down in the muddy water between parallel banks of salt-grass marsh, we sailed. A lot of times, that narrow and skinny sailing was done just with the jib, to give the one-lung Yanmar a little oomph, but sometimes the wind was steady and the course was straight enough to put up the main and take a bit of a ride.

After the mud of the Deep South ICW, it was a pleasure to see the blue shores of North Carolina. In Albemarle Sound, we put up the main and jib, and sailed in the wake of the pirate Blackbeard all the way from Oriental to Elizabeth City. 

From Elizabeth City, we motored through the Great Dismal Swamp to Norfolk, Virginia, gateway to the Chesapeake Bay. We’d been looking forward to this since the Tenn-Tom. Back then, in that chilly fall air, we had encouraged each other by talking about it: “We’ll get through this, go all around Florida, through the Carolinas, and then we’re going to sail on the Chesapeake Bay!”

Our first day out of foggy Norfolk cleared into the sunniest skies and the glassiest water imaginable. It was ideal weather for the motor Loopers, but our sails went limp, so we pulled them down, bundled them and sighed. That sigh was not enough breeze to propel us forward, and we had to motor all day. But the wind always comes back, and we ended up with seven days’ worth of sailing on the bay. We zigged and zagged, south to north, past Victorian lighthouses and alongside local crabbing boats. We even nosed into the bakery dock at Smith Island for some of its famous 10-layer cake. 

And then, there was Annapolis, Maryland. It was a thrill, and a little bit intimidating, to arrive in American sailing’s home port. But once we docked, Jackalope got her due. One sailor told us that ours was the prettiest boat on the docks. Another leaned close and said, “That’s a cult boat.” Jackalope blushed at the rare but deserved compliments.

Beyond the Lens

If we were excited to sail on the Chesapeake Bay, the thought of sailing ­into New York Harbor was surreal. And yet, we did it, slightly loopy after an overnight Atlantic passage from Cape May, New Jersey. We were planning to anchor out at Sandy Hook and sleep the afternoon away, but the wind was just right, so I made cups of strong coffee, and we headed toward the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and up the Hudson River.

We tacked east toward Coney Island, west toward Staten Island, east again toward Red Hook, west toward the old Bayonne marsh. Dodging a Norwegian cruise ship, we tacked east toward Brooklyn, and then, in the culminating moment, the captain brought us right up next to the Statue of Liberty—our sails up, her torch held high. He had to manage tour boats, personal watercraft and more, but he did it without the engine or bow thrusters. Just the magic of being hove-to.

We snapped a few pictures of ourselves looking relaxed while we were ­actually keeping an intense watch in every direction, and then sailed off toward Manhattan so we could tack into the marina on the Jersey City side of the Hudson. 

After spending two days in New York City, we aimed ourselves north. By the time we got to Yonkers, New York, the cityscape had mellowed into ­countryside. We anchored out under the Bear Mountain Bridge and, the next day, gave West Point a salute as we floated past. Then it was time to unstep our mast at the town dock in Athens, New York, in preparation for cruising the Erie Canal. When the work was done, we went ashore for beers at the brewery.

The narrow, ­skinny sailing was done with just the jib, but ­sometimes the wind was steady enough to put up the main and take a bit of a ride. 

We put our mast back up after the Erie Canal so we could sail the Great Lakes. Our long journey had prepared us for the challenge. We crossed Lake Erie, skirted up Lake Huron, and rounded the top of the mitten state under Mackinac Bridge. At that point, we were concerned about the changing seasons. Weather windows on Lake Michigan are short, and a lock on the Illinois River was scheduled to close for maintenance soon. We made our way, businesslike, down Michigan’s west coast. From Frankfort, we made an overnight passage to Milwaukee, cutting many miles off the route, then sailed south to Chicago. 

Cruising through downtown Chicago, every building gleaming gold in the sunrise, was the highlight of the trip. We kept saying it: “This is incredible. This is the best part.” Then we headed down the grimy Illinois River, squeezing through the Brandon Road lock just in time. We made our way down the Mississippi with the current, up the Ohio, and finished where we started, on the Tennessee.

The Loop was 10 trips in one. We cruised canals, mastering locks and tying up to town walls. We had access to bars, restaurants and beaches along the ICW. We cruised past a big bunch of American cities and right through the center of Miami and Chicago. And in just one incredible 6,000-mile, 12-month cruising season, we sailed on the Gulf of Mexico, the sound side of the Outer Banks, up the Chesapeake Bay, on the Atlantic, and in three of the Great Lakes—all of it without worry of hurricanes, encroaching winter weather and customs officials. 

A jackalope is an improbable little creature: a mythical combination of jackrabbit and antelope. Sailing the Great Loop was an improbable adventure for an improbable boat. And we had the time of our lives. 

Bianca Dumas and her family spent eight years traveling the US by sailboat, canoe, kayak, bicycle and on foot. She plans to settle down and write about all of it.

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The Great Loop is the epic U.S. adventure you’ve never heard of

This nautical journey charts a 6,000-mile course from the Great Lakes to the Florida Keys (and back).

The great American road trip has experienced a resurgence during the pandemic. But there’s a downside: This summer is projected to feature crowded campsites, expensive gas , and no end to long lines and traffic jams.

Luckily, there is another epic U.S. adventure that few know about—and even fewer undertake each year.

The Great Loop —a year-long, nearly 6,000-mile journey through the eastern United States and Canada ’s interconnected water passages—takes boaters counterclockwise from the Gulf and Atlantic Intracoastal Waterways to the Erie Canal, Great Lakes, Canadian Heritage Canals, and the Mississippi and Tennessee Rivers.

It’s hardly as nerve-wracking as most celebrated nautical excursions . “You can cruise to Tahiti, but you’re spending weeks in the middle of the open ocean,” says Kim Russo, director of America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association (AGLCA), a group created in 1999 that prepares boaters for the voyage. “For a lot of people, it’s daunting to be out of sight of land and without resources for that long.”

In contrast, the Great Loop is easier to visualize—and for many, easier to navigate. Most travel by powerboat. Others journey by sailboat, fishing boat, kayak, and even standup paddleboard. The experience itself is most similar to “European canal boats,” Russo says.

Much like the canals, land flanks most of the Great Loop—acting as a guardrail and guidepost. Several open-water stints, including a Gulf of Mexico crossing and portions of the Great Lakes, where shores are but a speck on the horizon, add adrenaline to the route.

( See these stunning sailing adventures around the world .)

Despite its geographical range, the Great Loop remains under the radar. Fewer than 200 “loopers” complete the trip annually, with retirees making up the majority—but things are changing thanks to a growing coterie of family loopers .

“[Families] are realizing that if they can work and learn from home, why not do so aboard a boat?” Russo says. This development harkens back to the loop’s earliest full voyage in 1906, when boat-builder Scott Matthews took his family on the epic journey. His grandson later co-produced a documentary about the voyage.

With thousands of miles of ocean, rivers, and lakes, the Great Loop is a bit more adrenaline-pumping than the typical family trip to the beach. Swells, currents, and storms can make the journey tricky. But as any looper will tell you, that’s all part of the fun.

Great Loop pioneers

The Great Loop was never officially forged or constructed. It follows existing waterways mostly maintained by federal and state governments. In the late 19th century, Ken Ransom , an 18-year-old sailor raised on the shores of Lake Michigan, was the first to see the potential for adventure in America’s nautical maze.

Despite his mother’s pleading, Ransom successfully rallied three high-school friends to join his lofty quest: a full circumnavigation of eastern U.S. In 1898 Ransom and his crew departed on their homemade vessel, a 30-foot white-oak sailboat named Gazelle . The teens faced hair-raising escapades, from navigating the Great Arctic Outbreak of 1899 that brought ice to the Mississippi River, to getting lost in Sanibel Island ’s mangrove forest, and later hiring horses to pull their boat up the Erie Canal.

Despite setbacks, Ransom succeeded; his victory opened the door to subsequent expeditions, including the first family to attempt the loop, in 1906. Unlike Ransom’s crew, Ohio boat-builder Matthews and his wife and three young children journeyed in a 70-foot yacht built by Matthews himself. Engine-powered boats like Matthews’ yacht fare on better for the Great Loop expedition. Sailboats, with deep drafts and high masts, can prove challenging with the trail’s amalgam of conditions.

( These tales of high-seas adventures will inspire you .)

From enhanced boats to upgraded marinas, much has changed on the Great Loop since the early 1900s, including the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway , a 234-mile passage erected by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1984 to connect the Tennessee and Tombigbee rivers. With this shortcut, loopers shave off the lower Mississippi River, making the trip significantly faster, and more pleasurable, since the lower Mississippi can get bogged down with barges and commercial shipping, Russo says.

Learning on the water  

With easier access to technology and the pandemic redefining the traditional workspace , many aspiring loopers took their work and education to the water—a feat families such as the Bowlins , now 5,000 miles into their trip, have mastered.

Sarah and Brent Bowlin, parents of Mary Grace, 13, and Miller, 9, live aboard their yatch, Light and Salty, with their puppy, Captain. The Bowlins spent five years planning the journey, moving Mary Grace and Miller into a hybrid mix of in-school and at-home for preparation. They sold their house and bought their new home right before the pandemic hit in early 2020. Determined, they decided to move forward with their Great Loop plans in May 2020.  

( Forget homeschooling during the pandemic. Teach life skills instead .)

As expected, family life on the loop is eventful—and a chance for Sarah and Brent to build memories with their rapidly-growing children. But their routine is not much different from life back in their former home, North Carolina. The Bowlins dock during the week for remote work and school, then cruise for fun and hands-on education each weekend.

Much of the family’s hands-on learning extends to environmental concerns. Over the past several decades, freshwater ecosystems have become the most degraded in the world, from the rampant microplastic pollution in the Tennessee River to the destructive blend of urban and agricultural pollutants affecting the Mississippi River watershed.  

“The entire [Mississippi] watershed is one of the largest and most serious challenges facing our rivers today,” says John Rumpler, clean water program director for environmental advocacy group Environment America . Each year, excess, nutrient-dense debris travels down the river into the Gulf of Mexico, where it creates an annual hypoxic “dead zone” strong enough to kill fish and marine life each summer. In 2020, Gulf of Mexico’s dead zone measured 2,116 square miles.

Rumpler notes many of the river system’s worst pollutants, such as microplastics , aren’t visible to the naked eye. Others, such as algal blooms on the Great Lakes and invasive species in the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers, are more obvious and present vital firsthand conservation lessons for loopers.

( Rivers and lakes are the most degraded ecosystems in the world. Can we save them? )  

“Reading about environmental threats in a textbook is one thing, seeing them firsthand is another,” says science writer Cynthia Berger, who explored the loop with her husband, Bill Carlsen, professor emeritus of science education at Penn State University. The duo, both trained as aquatic ecologists, tackled the loop in a solar-powered canal boat in 2010 as part of Carlsen’s sabbatical studying environmental sustainability, community development, natural history, and engineering.

Berger and Carlsen witnessed the deterioration of the waterways firsthand. Some perils, such as the invasive Asian carp species threatening the Great Lakes , left a tangible mark. “If Asian carp are startled, the whole school will jump out of the water,” Berger says, recalling when a nearly 20-pound carp leaped “like [a] bowling ball” into the air breaking a boat window. “Here’s this problem we’d heard about in the news, and it was right there in our faces on the river.”  

Try a “mini loop”

A year on the water isn’t the only way to appreciate the Great Loop. Aspiring loopers and boating enthusiasts can hit one of the AGLCA’s recommended mini loops to test the waters.

The Triangle Loop: One month

Hit two countries in one trip with the famed Triangle Loop, a 700-mile jaunt from the northeast U.S. into Canada . Embark from the Hudson River, heading up the mountain-fringed Lake Champlain and the Richelieu Canal before landing in Montreal to explore the city’s rich French history.  

Meander past the unspoiled Thousand Islands along the southwestward coast, before hitting the Oswego and Erie Canals, which spills back into the Hudson after nearly 350 culture-packed miles. (Note: The U.S.–Canada border is still closed, but loopers can enter by hiring a Canadian captain .)

The Florida Loop: Two weeks  

Explore the lower third of Florida on a voyage bursting with flora and fauna. Set sail from the Intracoastal Waterway near Stuart, Florida, gliding through the biodiverse Lake Okeechobee, before reaching Fort Myers. Wind down the gulf toward one of the loop’s main attractions: a cruise along the lush Florida Keys archipelago, where dolphins and sea turtles await. Inch up the Atlantic, from Miami to West Palm Beach, to close this scenic loop. Aspiring sailors can receive hands-on loop guidance from Capable Cruising , a Fort Myers-based outfitter that provides on-boat preparedness lessons.

The Carolina Loop: Three days

A shorter, but no less impressive, trip is the Carolina Loop, a 110-mile trip around eastern North Carolina   and Virginia . Snake through wetland forests and cottage-dotted shores on this weekend-long journey. The route flows from Norfolk down to Currituck, along the Albemarle Sound, then up through Elizabeth City. The final leg—the white-cypress-spotted Dismal Swamp Canal, home to river otters and black bears—gives an alluring taste of the full Great Loop adventure.

The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted travel. When planning a trip, be sure to research your destination and take safety precautions before, during, and after your journey. Click here for National Geographic reporting on the pandemic.

Stephanie Vermillion is a travel and outdoors journalist, filmmaker, and photographer. Follow her adventures on Twitter and Instagram .

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• FAMILY TRAVEL

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What Is The Great Loop? (And How To Sail It For Free)

Last Updated by

Capt Chris German

June 15, 2022

‍ If you are just getting into sailing like so many of our readers at lifeofsailing.com , you may have never heard of “The Great Loop.”

But if you spend any time with cruisers, the term is bound to come up at some point. It is to the cruising world, (power and sail alike) what Sturgis and Route 66 rolled into one would be for the motorcycle world.

It’s the highwater mark for the liveaboard boaters of all stripes and if you have done it, you can say with pride that you sailed “The Great Loop.”

Moreover, The Great Loop is more than just a badge of honor for those who have had the fortune to do it. It is also a piece of Americana that runs through the hometown of more than 75% of Americans and is by and large the aorta of the American Shipping economy.

Table of contents

What Is The Great Loop?

The Great Loop is a hodgepodge of canals and rivers, lakes and oceans, gulfs, and sounds, all sewing one giant connected 6,000 plus mile channel around the Eastern half of the US and Canada.

Inception of The Great Loop

The Great Loop had a very inauspicious inception. There were no golden spikes driven into the ground to commemorate it’s creation and no brass bands playing “Stars and Stripes Forever.”

It was really a youthful notion that envisioned its existence in the first place. It was conceived by a small town American boy by the name of Ken Ransom, who in 1897 wanted to set sail on the Ocean in a sailboat he would build himself in Michigan.

But since then, it has blossomed into an entire subculture that centers around an American public works project that has been evolving since the first days of the Nation.

The first pieces were envisioned by the founding fathers themselves before the ink on the Constitution was even set. They sought a way to secure shipping interests by creating a series of canals which would allow ships to travel between the North and South and establish an alternative route to fuel the newly minted US Economy and interconnect the several states and territories of the newly established nation.

Washington himself created many of the surveys that would be used to set out the inaugural public works projects. And thousands of slaves, immigrants and natives would give their lives in the efforts to create such a vast network that over time would save Millions of dollars in shipping and fund the American experiment to this day.

The Original “Looper”

But it was Ransom, the original “Looper '' as they are known, who surmised that if he left that very dock on which he stood in Michigan, could sail the Atlantic Ocean, the ICW, the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico and returned to that very spot, having made an entire loop in a sailboat.  

What he could not possibly know, nor foresee at that time, would be the millions of vessels who would follow in his footsteps for the next 120 years and how this loop would become the holy grail of voyages for mariners from around the world.

The Great Loop Docu-series

It is with this eye to history and this enthusiasm for the holy grail of voyages, that The Charted Life aims to create a docu-series where they will select five teams of sailors to learn to sail, obtain a vessel and then set out to have their own adventures, sailing around The Great Loop.

They will film every aspect of this voyage and share their adventures with an audience of viewers who no doubt share in the ambitions of Ransom himself, to complete a Great Loop of the Eastern Seaboard.

This project will require new techniques in storytelling and videography and will use the latest advancements in wireless and web-based programming to share the adventures of the five teams as they make their way around the Loop.

Each team will garner support for their vessel by creating a team of followers on social media who will support them through various patronage platforms and through in kind donations delivered by the online marketplace.

At the completion of all five voyages, The Charted Life will compile the footage obtained via on board cameras and microphones, as well as video footage they shoot from a chase boat on the water and a bus on land, as they follow these boats around the Loop.

With the compiled footage they will create a feature length documentary series that is broken into four seasons as inspired by Antonio Vivaldi, Winter Spring Summer and Fall.

A fifth pre-season will be included showing the selection process and sail training as well as the construction of the vessels in Tampa Bay, Florida at the Catalina Sailboat Shop and Factory where they will train, depart and finish the voyage one year from the start.

This voyage will not just be challenging from a technical perspective but also from a human and spiritual perspective.

When Ransom and his crew made the voyage, they suffered freezing temperatures, starvation and deadly situations on a regular basis.

The teams of voyagers will be made as safe as possible, but the fact that these people will live aboard a sailboat for one year will present a set of its own inherent challenges and risks.

They will be forced to endure long tiresome hours at the helm of a sailboat in some very challenging waters.

They will give up many of the creature comforts afforded to land-based dwellers.

Services like electricity on demand, limitless clean water and climate control are some of the few things these sailors will be forced to live without that will be certain to cause some hardship for these sailors.

What's more, the environmental wear they will encounter is certain to spill over into their interpersonal relationships and become a challenge in itself when teamwork and togetherness is paramount for success in a voyage like this.

The success of each team will be watched and supported by social media and so therefore, the daily interactions and personalities of these sailors will be of utmost interest to the viewers.

The team that best harnesses the support of their followers and translates that support into speed, comfort and safety will be awarded certain perks provided by their patrons as well as a cash prize at the close of the voyage and will be given the title to their vessel so that they may continue their voyage funded by their followers around the world.

The first time The Charted Life tried to plan this voyage and this project with one boat, they had great success.

They offered a 42’ endeavour for the purposes of the project and received 21 entries with over 200,000 views.

But it was this overwhelming success that convinced them to reexamine this effort and instead of selecting one team, expand the fleet to five boats and select five teams of sailors for this project with a fleet of newly constructed vessels.

By offering a brand new boat to the sailors, they can wire the boat for video and sound and can focus the story on the people and the places and history, instead of focusing on the restoration of the boat.

The viewers and social media will be key in the development of this project with the teams relying heavily on the support of their friends, family and followers just a Ransom himself did more than 120 years ago.

And it is in fact the power of social media that will begin this project as the entries will rely on their social media savvy to help them win a place on one of the five selected teams.

How Can You Enter?

Each entrant will create a one minute video answering the question, “why do you want to sail the Great Loop?” and submit it to The Charted Life .

They will then add that video to their Youtube Channel and share that video on our social media feed and website.

The top fifty videos submitted in terms of views calculated by Youtube will be submitted to the producers and of those fifty entries, twenty individuals will be selected to join one of the five teams of sailors.

Entries may elect to submit four separate one min videos as entries for each member of an affiliated group of entries and link to each other as a team.

Alternatively, individuals may elect to submit an individual video, unaffiliated with any other entrant.

Views will be calculated by dividing the total number of views of affiliated videos divided by the number of affiliates. (IE four videos are received as affiliated, all four view counts will be added together and divided by four).

By using social media to decide the top 50, they hope to involve their enthusiastic followers of this project to assist in its creation.

As this project will require a massive collaborative effort of sailors, web gurus and creative talent, they ask that anyone wishing to join in on this project send us a video resume explaining their interest in this project and how they might wish to assist.

Questions about the planning, production or rules of this project may also be sent here .

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Capt Chris German is a life long sailor and licensed captain who has taught thousands to sail over the last 20 years. In 2007, he founded a US Sailing-based community sailing school in Bridgeport, CT for inner city youth and families. When Hurricane Sandy forced him to abandon those efforts, he moved to North Carolina where he set out to share this love for broadcasting and sailing with a growing web-based television audience through The Charted Life Television Network.

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Sailing America’s Great Loop

• 24 April 2020
• 3 minute read

Share the post "Sailing America’s Great Loop"

Looking for a new bucket list worthy sailing trip or just some nautical inspiration? Here’s an idea! Every passionate sailor should try to sail the famous  Great Loop at least once in their lifetime. So, here is Click&Boat ‘s breakdown of everything you may want to know about sailing North America’s Great Loop. 

Are you ready for this adventure? 

(Image Courtesy of the American Great Loop Cruisers’ Association)

What is the Great Loop? 

The Great Loop is a sailing route that circumnavigates the entire east coast of North America. Those who choose to sail it will be able to explore at least 15 US states and some Canadian provinces. Crusiers generally end up sailing between 5,000 and 7,500 miles. The mileage depends on the route sailors take. Some choose to make an extra stop in the Bahamas, some might choose to cut through Central Florida instead sailing around the Florida Keys- it is all up to the sailors! 

According to the American Great Loop Cruisers’ Association , about 150 people set sail on this route every year. Sailing the Great Loop is much more than just an achievemnet, it is also an eye-opening experience that allows sailors to discover the rivers, waterways, and coastlines through a unique experience.

Where do you start? 

You can start anywhere! However, remember that where you start influences the time of year that you will endure the winter season. Ideally, most cruisers tend to spend the winter season in the South by Florida in order to avoid the brutal winters of the Northeast and instead enjoy the warmer temperatures of the South.  

Just like how you can start from anywhere, you can also sail in any direction. It is your choice. But most people tend to sail counter-clockwise so that that they are sailing with the currents on the inland rivers. 

How long does it take to complete ?

Sailing the Great Loop can take as long as you want it to take. It has been completed in as little as two months and as long as twelve years. Some have decided to turn this sailing trip into a lifestyle! On average though, most people complete this route in about one year. Cruisers make their own decisions about how long they want to stay in certain places. Sometimes, cruisers choose to stop at a certain destination for weeks at a time!

Choosing the right boat

Here are some things to consider when finding the right boat to sail the Great Loop: 

• Ideal length of the boat should be between 28 and 36 feet. Meaning there is enough space and comfort for two people, but it is not excessive and can be manage by one person. 
• In terms of height, the boat must be able to clear a 19′ 6″bridge. 
• The boat should have a draft under 6′, but the best would be a draft under 5′.
• Your boat should have a fuel range of +200 miles between fuel stops.  

Most people choose to sail the Great Loop via motorboat however you can complete the route with a sailboat! The sailboat has to have a draft less than 5′ and mast that is less than 65′ above water. At certain points like before entering Chicago or the Erie Canal, sailors must remove their masts. But don’t let this discourage you from traveling with a sailboat! Sailboats are much more cost efficient for those trying to complete the Great Loop on a budget. 

Stops to make along the way 

Spending days out on the water and exploring new destinations is what the Great Loop is all about. It is a chance to discover North America from a different point of view. Along the way, cruisers have the opportunity to visit some of the biggest cities in the United States. 

• New York City
• Miami 

But also the chance to visit other areas that are known for great boating! 

• Annapolis, Maryland , the sailing capital of the United States. Discover the Chesapeake Bay and all of its historic waterfront towns. 
• Or the Florida Keys, home to miles of islands stretching from Key West to Key Largo ! Find Caribbean like waters and stunning landscapes in Florida. 

Find the perfect boat to sail the Great Loop!

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If you cruise the East Coast long enough, sooner or later, someone will ask you if you have completed T he Great Loop . This is a fun filled 5,000 miles plus adventure that takes the cruiser through 16 states and Canada. It makes a wonderful one-year and spectacular two-year cruise. For an outline of the route refer to the image below.

The Great Loop is completed almost entirely in protected waters, with only a few open water passages. These open water passages can easily be crossed in good weather, and thus are enjoyable as well. Starting in Florida, the boater would proceed up the East Coast of the United States on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway to Virginia and the Chesapeake Bay. After cruising the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays, the route goes offshore from Cape May to New York harbor.  At New York City the route proceeds north up the Hudson River to Troy, NY, then west via the Erie Canal to either Lakes Ontario or Erie. Most "loopers" take the Lake Ontario route which leads to the Trent-Severn Waterway, Georgian Bay and North Channel in Canada. Then it's Lake Michigan to Chicago. Next, the route heads south down the Illinois River to the Mississippi, down the Mississippi to the Ohio and up the Ohio a short 50 miles to the Tennessee River at Paducah, KY. Then, it's south from Paducah, KY via the Tennessee River and the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway (usually referred to as the Tenn-Tom) to Mobile Bay and the Gulf Coast.

The cruiser then heads east from Mobile following the protected waters of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway to Fort Myers, FL. Finally, at Fort Myers the cruiser crosses Florida via the Okeechobee Waterway to Stuart, FL and completes the Great Loop.

Nearly any type of personal watercraft can be used to make this trip. Large and small boats, sailboats, trawlers, motor yacht, houseboats, canoes and jet skis have completed it. You must know your vessel's height and draft requirements.

See this story about the kayaker who completed The Great Loop in 2023.

Your vessel's characteristics will decide, to a certain extent, the route you take. If your vessel draws less than 5 feet and can clear a height of 15', there are no restrictions. You can follow any of several routes. If your vessel draws more than 8 feet or has a height requirement of more than 19'.7", you cannot make the trip. (Chicago is the limiting spot with a fixed bridge of 19' 7".) For sailboats with masts that can be un-stepped or powerboats/trawlers with high structures, some adjustment must be made to the vessels height to get it down to at least 19' and preferably 15'.

In general, height restrictions apply only after you enter the New York Canal System at Troy, NY and continue until you reach Mobile, AL on the Gulf Coast.

It is possible to put the mast of sailboats back up once the vessel has reached the Great Lakes, so the vessel can sail while cruising these waters. However, if you do put the mast back up when you enter the Great Lakes, you will have to un-step it again when you reach Chicago, IL on Lake Michigan. Mast stepping and un-stepping can be performed at marinas just before and after you enter the New York Canal System, Chicago, or Mobile, AL. Information in cruising guides recommended in this book tells you which marinas perform this service.

For vessels sailing north from Florida that draw less than 8 feet and have a height of less than 63 feet there is no need for concern until you reach the New York Canal System at Troy, NY. Before you proceed north of Troy you must get your height down to 20 feet and preferably 15 feet. Once you reach the Waterford, NY you must choose one of 2 basic routes. Via Lake Champlain your height restriction is 17' (Champlain Canal) and depth restriction is 5' (Rideau Canal). The Lake Champlain Route is longer and has more locks and is not recommended as it adds so much to your long trip already. However, if you do not plan to travel the northeast waters again or you are taking more than one year, you may want to squeeze these extra 3 canals into your plan.

The other choice, and the shorter route, via the Erie Canal, starts with a clearance of 20 feet and the water has a controlled depth of 12 feet. At mile 160 of the Erie Canal, Three Rivers, you must choose between one of three routes based on your height and depth requirements. They are in order of preference:

• Trent-Severn Waterway
• Complete Erie Canal
• Welland Canal

The figure below depicts the height and depth restrictions of the three routes. As you can see, most vessels can transit the Trent-Severn Waterway. Some must go the complete Erie Canal route, but a few each year must go via the Welland Canal.

The Trent-Severn Route

A major part of your decision in choosing the Trent-Severn route is your height and depth requirements. The Trent-Severn has a controlled depth of 6 feet and height of 22 feet. However, if you draw more than 5', you must sign a waiver. The issue with a deep draft is not in the locks, but in the channel and shoaling. For vessels drawing 5' or less there is no problem. From 5 to 6' you must use extra care and get approval to enter the Trent Severn. If you cannot meet these requirements, you must choose one of the two alternatives.

The Trent-Severn Waterway provides the greatest protection, the most to see and do, and most beautiful water to cruise while crossing the Great Lakes. If you can, and do choose this route, you also avoid Lake Erie and Lake Huron while crossing the Great Lakes, thus traveling in more protected waters. The Trent-Severn route starts when you proceed north via the Oswego Canal from Three Rivers on the Erie Canal. You then cross Lake Ontario and enter the Trent-Severn Waterway at Trenton, Ontario in Canada on the northern shore. While crossing the Trent-Severn you will encounter all this historic canal has to offer including, but not limited to, lovely villages, friendly people, the famous "lift locks" and the railway lock. At the west end of the Trent-Severn Waterway you enter Georgian Bay and the area of "30,000 islands". Here you travel in protected waters that are crystal clear providing visibility down 10-12 feet. There are thousands of beautiful quiet anchorages with almost pristine conditions. Georgian Bay and the North Channel, your next destination, provide some of the best cruising waters in North America. Once you cross the North Channel, you enter the top of Lake Michigan and rejoin those boaters who chose or had to go across Lake Erie.

The Complete Erie Canal Route

If you draw more than 6 feet, your first alternative is to go completely across the Erie Canal and enter Lake Erie at Buffalo, NY. However, to proceed west of Three Rivers, mile 160 of the Erie Canal, you must have your clearance down to 15 ½ feet. The western half of the Erie Canal is rich in history and provides many free stops with water and electric. The downside of going the complete Erie Canal route (or the Welland Canal route) is Lake Erie. Over 240 miles long with few natural harbors, Lake Erie can be a burden to cross. When you stop overnight you must go into man-made harbors and often there is no place to anchor. Thus, you are forced to pay to stay in marinas or yacht clubs. Also, because Lake Erie is so large, you can only move in good weather. The prevailing southwest wind will be on the nose. Crossing Lake Erie does not provide anywhere near the interesting stops and beautiful waters that the Trent-Severn Waterway, Georgian Bay and North Channel provide.

The Welland Canal Route

If you can't go the complete Erie Canal or Trent-Severn Routes, then you will have to go through the Welland Canal. Vessels that draw more than 6 feet and have a clearance of between 15 ½ and 19 feet will have to go this way. Following this route you go north from Three Rivers, mile 160 of the Erie Canal, to Oswego on Lake Ontario via the Oswego Canal. Then you transit Lake Ontario, proceeding over 150 miles west. The same restrictions on weather and ports as those on Lake Erie, apply on Lake Ontario. To add insult to injury, when you get to the end of Lake Ontario, you must go up the Welland Canal Locks. These locks are not pleasure craft friendly. It's not that the operators are unfriendly, rather these locks primarily serve Great Lakes freighters and as a result frequent delays are experienced. In addition, because the currents in the locks are so strong you are required to have at least three adult crewmembers on board while transiting the canal going west. If you are short one or two crew members they can be hired at the lock at the Lake Ontario end, to assist you through the locks. You will need 8 to 12 hours to transit the locks and there is no stopping overnight within the Welland Canal. In other words, once committed, you keep going until you reach Lake Erie at the other end. 

For more information on the height restrictions and choosing the best route for The Great Loop, purchase a printed Skipper Bob Cruising America's Great Loop or purchase a digital version in the Waterway Guide Mobile App.

I think your omission of the Lake Champlain, Montreal, Ottawa route to get to Trent Severn system is skipping some of the unique boating experiences on the "Loop". Carillon Lock, Ottawa Staircase Locks, Rideau Canal, Kingston Ontario just to name a few. The whole experience from Waterford, NY to the entrance of the Trent Severn was some of the best of the "Loop".

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The Great Loop: 4 Best Boats for Your Adventure

Each year, an average of 150 people complete the Great Loop, which is a network of waterways that recreational boaters take to effectively circumnavigate the eastern half of the United States. “Loopers,” as they are called, travel parts of the Atlantic Coast, the Intracoastal Waterway, the Great Lakes, the Canadian Heritage Canals and the river system of the American Midwest. The trip ranges 5,000-7,000 miles depending on the route and detours taken and usually takes about a year to complete.

The fastest journey was a promotional event that was done in three months but some Loopers will split up the trip into multiple seasons, preferring to cruise slowly and getting to know the points of interest and the people along the way.

Explore Overnight Cruising Boats & Activities

What is the Great Loop?

People do this trek on a variety of boats and although there is no “best” boat, there are some that are more suited to the task than others due to some of the route’s restrictions.

For example, the lowest bridge in Illinois is just over 19 feet so your boat’s air draft is a consideration. To determine air draft,  powerboats with flybridges should be measured from the waterline to the top of their hard structures as well as their radio and navigation antennas. Also, although depths vary, vessels drawing more than five feet may find themselves roadblocked by skinny waters.

Most boats that complete the Loop measure 35-45 feet length, but the journey has even been done on a personal watercraft (PWC) . Although the vast majority of Loop craft are powerboats, about 10 percent of people have completed the journey on sailboats . Sailboats find the Loop challenging due to their deeper draft (usually over five feet) and the height of their mast, which must be un-stepped and carried horizontally on deck.

Different people cruise the Loop differently. Some like to anchor out while others go strictly dock-to-dock . Some like to be near amenities every evening while others won’t set foot in a restaurant, preferring to save money by cooking aboard . Some people prefer to have luxurious accommodations and conveniences like an onboard washer/dryer so they travel with a portable “home,” while others opt for hotel or motel room stays and laundromats.

The number and type of engines on a Great Loop boat can include one to multiple motors, inboards, stern drives and outboards, and motors that run on diesel or gasoline. Displacement vessels will usually be propelled by a single economic diesel while planing hulls may have multiple higher revving, gas engines that deliver more speed but also cost more to run per mile. In some parts, the distances between fuel docks can be significant so a boat that has a range of at least a couple of hundred miles on one tank would be ideal.

Best Great Loop Boat Types

Recreational trawlers have their roots in workboat designs (usually commercial fishing vessels) but there are numerous brands that are now built specifically for yachting and they can be quite plush. They have comfortable accommodations for living aboard for extended periods, ample deck space to carry tenders and good ground tackle for anchoring, and good fuel economy and respectable range. Trawlers area usually (but not always) built on displacement hulls, are powered by a single engine, and have cruising speeds of 7-9 knots with a maximum speed of 10-15 knots. Their comfort, stability and economy make them ideal for slow distance cruising.

Explore Trawler Boats

Cabin Cruisers

Cabin cruisers are boats that by definition, have a cabin aboard but they come in many flavors. Some types of boats that fall into this category are pocket cruisers (usually signifying smaller boats) and motor yachts (typically larger vessels with multiple cabins and two engines capable of delivering higher speeds). Other such boats are convertible fishing boats and power catamarans . Cabin cruiser scan have semi-displacement or planing hulls. They’re usually equipped with liveaboard amenities including full baths/showers, galleys, and plenty of stowage for clothes, tools and spare parts.

Explore Cabin Cruisers

Power Cruisers, or "Express Boats"

Again, lots of different designs fall into the “express cruiser” category but the common features typically include a cabin below and an open cockpit design where most of the social spaces including the galley and salon are on deck in an open-air environment. Express boats are usually run by twin engines (or more in the case of outboards) and can travel quite quickly but aren’t necessarily fuel efficient.

Explore Power Cruisers & Motor Yachts

Trailerable Boats

Boats that can be trailered offer maximum flexibility, especially for people who will do the Loop in small segments that may be spaced apart in time so they can return home in between to work or spend time with family. With a trailerable boat, you can tow it to a launch ramp , do a leg, and then arrange for the trailer to meet you elsewhere. Boats that can travel on a trailer are usually smaller but can include pocket trawlers, cuddy cabins , and even larger bowriders with a small cabin and head below.

Explore Trailerable Boats

Finding the Best Great Loop Boat for You

The best type of Loop boat is based on your timeframe for the trip, your budget and most importantly your personal preferences. The ideal boat will be:

• Small enough to be economical but large enough to live on for extended periods;
• Slow enough to enjoy the sites and fuel efficiency, but fast enough to meet your timelines;
• And be able to get out of the way of dangerous vessel traffic or inclement weather.

Although the best boat is any that can make the trip, most people do not Loop on sport or tow boats or dedicated fishing boats like small center consoles . Whether you want to travel point-to-point quickly to check out the sites or luxuriate in a lowkey lifestyle at five knots, there’s always a type of boat that you can use for the Great Loop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where I can learn more about the Great Loop?

Check out America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association . A minimal annual fee is required to join but there’s useful practical information as well as group events and advice from Loop veterans.

Read Next: Living on a Boat: Beginner's Guide to Liveaboards

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• Boat Camping: 5 Tips for Sleeping Onboard
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Everything you need to know about Great Loop boats

Many factors make a boat feasible for the Great Loop . Like most things in life, there is “no perfect boat.” Boats are a series of compromises, and Great Loop boats are no exception. We’ve compiled everything you need to know about Great Loop boats, including the minimum requirements, the top current Great Loop boats, how to determine the best one for you, and more!

Table of Contents

Great Loop Boat Requirements

There are two hard requirements for a boat to complete the Great Loop. The first is height . To complete the Great Loop, you must be able to fit under a bridge south of Chicago that is 19 feet 6 in high and located at mile 300.6 on the Illinois River. If you’re considering traveling the entire length of the Erie Canal, the lowest clearance for the Westward part is  15 feet 6 inches . Not all boats need to meet this height requirement, as there are other routes boats can take.

The second requirement for Great Loop boats is the travel distance under one tank of fuel . This is less of a hard requirement because you can use fuel canisters to extend your range, but from Hoppies, Missouri, to Paducah, Kentucky (over 200 miles), there are no places to refuel.

The other important requirement for Great Loop boats that you will want to consider is draft . The colloquial idea is that you will not want a boat with a draft more than 6 ft. You will go through many waterways with varying depths. The more shallow boats are capable of going through waterways with less concern compared to boats with a deep keel. The counter to this argument is that boats with a deeper draft or larger keel make for a more seaworthy boat.

Width isn’t a challenge for most boats as you will first run into height or draft restrictions when you get larger. The one exception to this statement is for de-masted catamarans. If boaters are interested in taking their boat through the Trent-Severn Waterway in Canada, the narrowest lock is 23 feet wide.

The Best Boats for the Great Loop

Fundamentally, the best boats for the Great Loop are the boats completing the Loop! Here are the statistics for the last two years.

We can see that trawlers are the most popular, followed by cruisers, with catamarans and trailerable trawlers also making the list! The largest boat to complete the Loop in recent years is 59’, the smallest was 12’ (a PWC), and the average size is 40-41 feet.

Can you do the great loop in a sailboat?

You may notice that no sailboats are on the list above, and they are much rarer, but it is possible. Firstly, boaters must remove their mast for both the Erie Canal and Mid-West waterways (some companies can help ship your mast). Secondly, sailboats frequently come with higher than recommended drafts, depending on the boat. All this said, many people do the loop in a sailboat.

The Best Great Loop Boats

Every boat is a series of compromises, so to determine your best Great Loop boat, you should get acquainted with other popular Great Loop boats. Here are some of the best Great Loop boats, as we saw during our 2021-2022 Great Loop.

Kicking off at number 1, our boat Pivot! Pivot is a 34’ Marine Trader DC with two cabins, two heads, a single engine, and a bow thruster! You can read all about her here .

During our time living aboard our boat for two and a half years, we saw a lot of boats on America’s Great Loop. Great Loop boats come in various shapes, sizes, configurations, engine types, and styles. Here are some of the many boats we saw during our Great Loop journey:

Trawlers on the Loop

It is obvious why trawlers are the most common boats on the Loop. They are spacious, fuel-efficient, and can be found on a budget. They typically cruise around 6-8 knots, have large fuel tanks, and have great visibility due to a flybridge.

Cruisers on the Loop

Cruisers are fantastic Great Loop Boats because they are spacious like trawlers and can go slow to conserve fuel. However, they also have the capability to travel fast and sometimes by plane. This does come with the tradeoff of a very high fuel burn.

Trailerable Boats on the Loop

Trailerable vessels are fantastic boats for the Great Loop because you can complete the Loop in sections. You can trailer your boat and complete whichever section you want next. The idea of taking your time and not feeling pressured to keep up with the seasons allows you to travel at your own pace.

Catamarans on the Loop

Catamarans are a popular choice on the Loop because you get the increased space from having a wider vessel, typically have shallow drafts, allowing you to travel any waterway on the Loop, and can have a stable cruise from the two hulls, depending upon the weather conditions .

Best Great Loop Boat For You

To determine the best great loop boat for you, you must answer a few questions to narrow the search.

Like most things, your budget will be the first determining factor. You don’t need that much money to complete the Loop; check out our expense report to see how much it cost us!

There are 3 main factors that your boat will impact with respect to how much your Loop will Cost.

• You can buy a Loop-ready boat for as little as 30k, or the sky is the limit, and you can spend millions.
• If you plan to spend time at marinas, nights are billed by LOA. Typically, as a ratio per foot, $2 per foot is average.
• One of the constants of America’s Great Loop is the distance. Your boat will need to traverse around 6,000 miles and will burn fuel to do that.

Don’t let the budget be too overwhelming. Check out our budget calculator to give you a head start!

Depending on your goal route, your vessel needs certain characteristics. Here are the main qualifiers:

The Trent-Severn Canal

The Trent-Severn Canal in Canada has a maximum draft of 5 ft and a maximum width of 20ft. Larger vessels and wide power catamarans will not be able to transit what many consider to be not only a historic waterway but also the gateway to some of the most beautiful waters of the Loop.

The Chicago River

Cruising downtown, the Chicago River was one of our favorite moments of the entire Loop. The constraining factor here is a bridge height of 17 feet. If your boat meets the 19’6″ foot clearance for the overall Great Loop but doesn’t meet the 17-foot clearance, you’ll have to skip cruising down the Chicago River and go down the Cal-Sag instead.

Crystal River from Florida’s Big Bend

Crystal River, a haven when transiting the Big Bend on Florida’s Panhandle , is a unique spot to see Manatees. The entry canal to this harbor is pretty shallow, and you will not want a draft of more than 4.5 ft to visit this section. The other option is do bypass this destination or do the Gulf Crossing .

Finally, to narrow down the best great loop boat for you, you must consider your goals and requirements for the Loop. Here are some questions to prompt your analysis:

• How many people will be living aboard? Will you complete it solo, with a partner, or with family and friends?
• How long do you have to complete the Loop? Are you doing it in sections or all at once?
• What are your plans with the boat after the Loop?
• Will you stay at marinas more often, or do you prefer to anchor out?
• Do you want more safety features built in, like railings?
• Do you want to spend more time in destinations (which a “go fast boat” will allow for) or enjoy the moments in between (which a “go slow boat” will allow you to enjoy more of the journey between the destinations)?

Read next: 15 Tips for Boating on a Budget !

Thoughts from two Gold Loopers

As we just completed the Loop , there are a few must-haves for us on our next boat!

• As the saying goes, a fast boat is a safe boat. We prefer to travel slowly but would have liked the option to go fast. If we don’t get a boat that has the option to go fast, we’ll definitely get stabilizers.
• Also, we had a bow thruster that really helped maneuverability on the Loop, and we wouldn’t do the Loop without one (or twin engines, at least).
• The conventional wisdom is to get the smallest boat that fits your criteria. While we have two bedrooms and two heads, making Pivot great for a family or guests, we only had guests a handful of times. We could have had a smaller boat and been a bit cramped a few times over the years instead of moving a lot of empty space for 6k miles.
• When planning for retirement, many people try and pick one boat to handle all scenarios. Unfortunately, boats are a series of tradeoffs, and great loop restrictions may not be restrictions you want after becoming Gold Loopers. For example, many cruisers enjoy spending time in the Bahamas. In this case, with ocean hops, the most seaworthy boats have a deeper draft or stabilizers, something you might not have on your Loop Boat.

How to Find a Great Loop Boat

It’s never been easier to find a great loop boat than it is today. Our first suggestion to find a great loop boat is to try some out! You can rent boats for a week and try different ones, and if you go to an AGLCA Rendezvous, you can tour current Loopers boats! The benefit here is that you will learn what other people currently doing the Great Loop like and don’t like about their own boats, answering questions you didn’t even know you had!

If you live on the East Coast, you can visit practically any boatyard and see many boats for sale. This can be a great introductory way to see different boat types or possibly find a boat for sale.

Great Loop Boats for Sale

We bought and sold our boat by owner, without a broker, and we found Pivot by searching our local boat yard! You can often find boats from Loopers that just completed, so we recommend keeping an eye on the AGLCA forum. If you find the type of boat you like, message the owners!

If you want to buy through a broker, there are two main brokers in the Great Loop niche: Curtis Stokes and America’s Great Yacht Sales .

All in all, there are a variety of Great Loop Boats, and we hope you have used the information in this post to help determine which is best for you. Leave us a comment below if you have any other questions. We’re happy to help!

Watch our Great Loop Boat Tour on YouTube

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The ups, downs, and everything in between , we share it all. If you like what you see, there are lots of ways to  show your support and say thanks ! The easiest way to support our work is by commenting on this post, liking and sharing our content on Facebook, and pinning our content on Pinterest . It’s a small way to say thank you that goes a long way!

Elliot Schoenfeld

16 responses to “Everything you need to know about Great Loop boats”

Can you tell me how much your bought the boat for? Did you have a survey done?

Hi Charlie!

We purchased our boat for under 50k, and yes, we had a survey done. We highly recommend a survey, but do your research and find a qualified surveyor. Try not to use the seller’s surveyor (if they have one) just to try and be as impartial as possible. They will look for things you don’t know, and if you plan on getting insurance, it’s required, so you’ll need it anyway.

You can see similar boats here, but in general, our boat needed some work and had been sitting on the hard for a while, so we got a good deal!

https://www.yachtworld.com/boats-for-sale/make-marine-trader/model-34/

Cheers – E

When you sold your boat, did you break even?

It depends on what you mean by “break-even”. If you mean the money we bought the boat + materials and equipment, then yes! If you consider the time involved, especially when redoing the decks, then not even close. So everything is relative!

Cheers –

What is the best way or website to find a boat to rent for a week?

Personally, I would look for “charters” in your area. This way you can stay local. For example, in Oriental NC here is a charter but its sailboats only: https://www.bowtosternboating.com/rentals?c=sailboats-over-20 .

In Cape Coral, Florida, here is a trawler charter company: http://smtp.swfyachts.com/webpages/power_rates.htm

Best of luck! Elliot

What is your opinion/thoughts on doing the Erie Canal, Trent Severn and the 1000 Island areas “solo” or “singlehanded” in a trawler similar to Pivot. Specifically, a Monk 36 with bow and stern thrusters (with remote control fob), single engine. Locks, Docks, etc. Thanks!

Great question, Paul! I think it’d be challenging and require a solid process with preparing the boat ahead of each lock. Its much easier to lock with two people but still doable with one person. You do have a good set up for it, so I think you could do it! You’d just have to double check each lock system’s rules about single handling – ensuring that it is allowed!

Thanks! Just the kind if info I’ve been looking for!

Sailing Life on Jupiter has a YouTube channel and they did the loop on a 48 ft. catamaran two years ago. Their boat is 25 ft. wide, 48 ft. long, with a shallow depth and a low height. I guess they took the main route but I know that they didn’t go into Canada. I’m also planning on doing this trip and will most likely get a boat like yours and then sell it when done.

What companies are providing insurance for these type boats? Im in the early beginning stages of curiosity of the whole process, so just doing the research.

Hi Curtis! Great question. There are many different insurance options available. Many will have different requirements and premiums.

There are so many determining factors, like if your going to live aboard full time, going to go out of country, and where you’ll be for hurricane season. A lot depends on you’re background too, for example, some may require you to have experience with a similar size boat before, others require safety certifications, etc.

We recommend first trying your standard insurers like Geico (we had Geico), State Farm, Progressive and see if you can get a quote. Otherwise we know of many people that get an boat insurance broker to help them navigate.

I took an 80′ ketch motor sailor on what y’all now call the Great Loop. I’d never heard the term Great Loop so I called it “Circumnavigating the East Coast of the United States”. We dropped the masts in Chicago and the main extended beyond the boat fore and aft. Put them back up in St Pete, after doing the ICW to Apalachicola. It was a Grand Adventure, I almost began to believe I was Huck Finn.

That’s awesome. It must have been much more difficult back then without all our available resources. It is still an amazing journey, regardless!

Right now I’m trying to find the right boat to do it again, but this time alone. So far is just a shade above what I can spend, or too expensive to operate on a trip like that.

Do you have a short list of boats you’re interested in? What’s your budget? Perhaps we can give some specific advice!

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We’re Jen and Elliot , aka Scho & Jo, and we are happy to help plan your next Pivot! Sometimes, we’re forced to make decisions, and sometimes, we have time to plan them out; in all cases, Pivots are part of our lives, and we’re better off embracing them rather than avoiding them!

What is the Great Loop?

The great loop is a continuous waterway that allows boaters to explore eastern north america..

Boating along the Erie Canal, part of the Great Loop (image courtesy of Gladys L. Buzzell).

The Great Loop is a continuous waterway that recreational mariners can travel that includes part of the Atlantic, Gulf Intracoastal Waterways, the Great Lakes, Canadian Heritage Canals, and the inland rivers of America's heartland. Anyone who completes the journey is then named an official ' Looper .'

For a safe and enjoyable trip, there are a few things to consider when traveling the Great Loop—a great amount of time, a boat with less than a five foot draft (recommended) to travel inland waterways, NOAA nautical charts , and a NOAA radio . Along the way, it is possible to visit a number of national marine sanctuaries and estuarine research reserves .

Map showing the Great Loop (image courtesy of Raven Cove Publishing).

How does a boater embark on the Great Loop? If you start in Chicago, continue south in a counter-clockwise direction to take advantage of the river currents that run into the Mississippi River. While a few people stay on the Mississippi all the way to the Gulf of Mexico, most 'Loopers' choose to exit at the Tennessee River to avoid heavy barge traffic on the larger waterway. This path leads to the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, which also flows to the Gulf.

Regardless of the Southern route selected, boaters can float downstream to the warm waters of the Gulf and explore the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary . From there, cruise east on the Gulf's Intracoastal Waterway. While soaking up some Florida sun, visit the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary .

Then travel north up the Intracoastal Waterway and discover the Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary . Continue north on the Intracoastal to New York City. From the Big Apple, it's a straight shot up the Hudson to the Erie Canal. Then head west across to the Great Lakes. Boaters may visit Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary when sailing up Lake Huron and then finally returning back to Chicago.

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More information.

• Resources for Recreational Boaters
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Last updated: 06/16/24 Author: NOAA How to cite this article

The Musings of a Hopeless Wanderer

Engaging in the eternal search for the meaning of life...or a good time.

• Netherlands

Monday, September 3, 2018

Tackling moscow by train and boat.

Our first full day in Moscow started fairly late since we were still catching up on sleep.  Around 1, we finally were able to get our act together and get out the door. 

We stopped by a cafe to get some breakfast and headed over to the Red Square.  Since the festival is going on, we had to go through metal detectors.  Once we cleared security, we reached the State Historical Museum which provided an entrance to the Red Square.

We walked the length of the Red Square, passing by the Kazan cathedral.

Under normal conditions, the Red Square is a large walking area with the State Historical Museum on one end and St. Basil's on the other end.  On the sides is the Kremlin wall on one side and then the GUM shopping mall and the Kazan cathedral on the other side.  Presently, the walking area has been considerably narrowed and the fesitval grounds occupying a large space between the Kremlin and the mall.

We even asked a stranger to take our picture!

After walking around the Red Square, we had to leave to meet up with our Metro Tour.  

Moscow has famously pretty metro stations so metro tours are quite popular.  We booked a relatively inexpensive tour through a tour group which met outside of the Red Square.

On our way, we passed by the Kremlin gardens and the tomb to the unknown soldier and the eternal flame.

We soon met up with our group which, fortunately, was only 5 people.  Our guide told us that we were going to visit 8 stations during the 1.5 hour tour.  

Honestly, a lot of the stations blended in to me so I won't be able to give you a detailed description of all of them.  However, I did learn that there are 222 metro stations and the trains come every 2-3 minutes reliably.  For that reason, Moscow > DC. 

One of the first metro stations we visited had bronze statues all over of various depictions.  Many of the statues had superstitions tied to them.  For example, for a statue of the dog, it's held that if you rub the nose of the dog, you'll have good luck.  Consequently, most of the statue is tarnished - except for the nose.  I joked to Tomas that they probably rotate the "good luck" portion of the statue to ensure the entire statue gets polished.

However, I do remember some of the stations.

Novoslobodskaya is a station adorned with stained glass on the walls.

There was also Belarusskaya, which paid tribute to Belarus.

Another station which name I cannot remember but had pretty mosaics in the ceilings.

My favorite station was Komsomolskaya.  It's the busiest station and a hub for other connecting trains.  It was built during Statlin times and he wanted the station to embody beauty to set a good first impression to Russia.

I'd seen pictures of it beforehand since it's the most famous but it's so much more impressive in person.

Look at these ceilings!

Overall it was a very interesting tour.  Not sure of any other city which could offer a metro tour.  DC certainly can't...

After the tour, we headed back of the hotel to rest for a bit.  We had purchased tickets to a tour hour boat down the Moscow river.  The tickets were good for any time on any day and the boats left every 20min.  We decided to knock the tour out that day and headed over to the pier.  

We arrived at the pier and saw a boat by the company we had purchased from boarding.  We approached and they shook their head and said it wasn't the right boat. 

So we waited for another boat.

Another boat came along by the same company we had purchased from so weapproached them.  Again - we were told it wasn't the right boat and the boat we were looking for was coming.  

A third boat came along which was NOT by the company we had purchased from.  By this point, it had been longer than 20min waiting and I was starting to suspect that the correct boat was actually one of the ones which turned us away.   We approached the 3rd boat to ask if they knew which boat we should be on.  However, when we approached,  they waved us aboard without scanning our tickets.

So, we boarded the 3rd boat....which was definitely not ours.

We settled into an upper deck, open air table to take in the views.

We passed by pretty buildings.

The somewhat impressive cathedral of Christ the Savior.

This random statue.

After about hour on the cruise, Tomas remarked that it had been about an hour so we should be turning around soon.  I reminded him that we actually had no idea how long this cruise was or where we would be dropped off.  Since we were on the wrong boat.

Fortunately, it did turn around and took us back to the pier.  

For dinner, we decided to go to this burger place, Black Star Burger, which our guide told us about.  Tomas really liked his - I thought mine was OK.  It was a decent size patty with a mountain of Cole slaw on top.  We've realized that apparently Russians dislike getting their hands dirty while eating so some restaurants will give out gloves to use.  This particular restaurant gave out black gloves.

Tomas modeling our dinner.

Since little mum has been asking about pictures which show my feet, I assume she wanted to see my new shoes.  I recently bought Allbirds which are suppose to be super comfortable walking shoes which you wear without socks and can be washed.  I didn't wear them too extensively beforehand, so that was probably my first error.  I also didn't bring another pair of good walking shoes,  which was likely my second error.  The Allbirds were great the first two days without socks.  Midway through the third day, my right foot was quite unhappy. Left foot was a trooper. So, now I have a bandaid on the heel of my right foot and wear socks.  

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Searching for your Great Loop boat?

Start Here! Resources include details on popular boats for the Loop, finding insurance, working with a broker, and more!

This page is a resource for Loopers in the process of identifying and purchasing their Great Loop boat. In addition to the detailed information below, please visit our Classified ads where there are categories for boats for sale by our sponsors and members.  Our Forum also includes a category for Boat Buying, Surveying, and Financing discussions.

Requirements for the Boat

The Great Loop has been done in everything from a 70+-foot yacht to a jet ski and everything in between.  The main requirement is that the boat be able to handle the "big water" you'll find on the Great Loop like the Gulf of Mexico and the Great Lakes.  Beyond seaworthiness, there are a few requirements for your boat's specifications, particularly its bridge clearance/air draft. You can learn about some of the most popular styles of Looper boats from Gold Loopers who have completed the Loop by viewing these free, members-only webinars , which feature Virtual Looper Crawls. 

Insurance: A Big Hurdle

Many Loopers, particularly those without significant previous boating experience, and those looking to go up by more than 10-feet in length from their previous boat, are currently having difficulties insuring their new (or new-to-them) Great Loop boat. AGLCA has covered this issue in our Great Loop Radio podcast and our Great Loop Link newsletter.

How the Boat Buying Process Works, Especially in the Current Market

AGLCA has lots of resources available to you to help you understand how to buy your Great Loop boat. Check out the "Lunch & Learn" from a recent virtual Rendezvous where Michael Martin of Curtis Stokes & Associates answers your questions about the boat buying process, or view the webinar from Curtis Stokes on Finding and Buying your Great Loop Boat.  Finally, our "How I Found My Great Loop Boat" podcast series is designed to give you some ideas.

Fun Facts about Looper Boats

Average size:   The average size boat in the AGLCA fleet is 40.6'. The average size for boats that completed the Great Loop in 2021 is also 40'.

Types of Vessels: For members listing their type of boat, 50.1% said Motor Yacht/Power Cruiser, 39.9% said Trawler, 6.4% said Sailboat, and 3.6% said Catamaran.

Members' boat makes, lengths, and types can be found by searching on those fields in our Member Directory .

Why You Should Engage a Buyer's Broker

AGLCA recommends you engage a buyer's broker to help you with this process. There are many ways a broker helps, particularly in a market like the one we're in today.

AGLCA Sponsors Can Help!

AGLCA has sponsors who are yacht brokers, marine insurance experts, boat finance experts, and more!  These are professionals who support Loopers and AGLCA, and know the ins-and-outs of what Loopers need to successfully buy, finance, insurance, and document their vessels. You can search our Sponsor Directory by category to make finding the resources you need easy and fast!  

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The Best Boat Rentals in Moscow

Browse, book, and get out onto the water with local captains and boat owners., our favorite boat rentals in moscow.

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Suggested searches, types of boats popular in moscow.

From mid-size to mega yachts, these luxury boats are great for groups and celebrations

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All the comforts of home out on the water, for multi-day boat trips

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30 Must Visit Places In Moscow

Published: August 24, 2024

by Keriann Rubin

Looking for an unforgettable adventure in the United States? Moscow, Idaho offers a unique blend of natural beauty, rich history, and vibrant culture. Nestled in the rolling hills of the Palouse region, this charming city is home to the University of Idaho, which brings a youthful energy and diverse events to the area. Whether you're an outdoor enthusiast eager to explore scenic trails, a history buff interested in local museums, or a foodie craving farm-to-table dining, Moscow has something for everyone. Ready to uncover the hidden gems of this picturesque town? Let’s dive into the top 30 must-visit places in Moscow, Idaho!

30 Must Visit Places in Moscow

Historical landmarks.

Moscow, the heart of Russia, boasts a rich history. These landmarks offer a glimpse into its storied past.

Red Square The iconic Red Square is the epicenter of Moscow. Surrounded by the Kremlin, St. Basil's Cathedral, and Lenin's Mausoleum, it’s a must-see for any visitor.

Kremlin This fortified complex is the official residence of the President of Russia . It houses several palaces, cathedrals, and the famous Tsar Bell.

St. Basil's Cathedral Known for its colorful, onion-shaped domes, St. Basil's Cathedral is a symbol of Russia. Its unique architecture and vibrant colors make it a photographer's dream.

Lenin's Mausoleum This mausoleum on Red Square houses the embalmed body of Vladimir Lenin. It’s a fascinating, albeit somber, piece of Soviet history.

Bolshoi Theatre One of the oldest and most renowned theaters in the world, the Bolshoi Theatre is famous for its ballet and opera performances. The building itself is a masterpiece of neoclassical architecture.

Cultural Experiences

Dive into Moscow's vibrant culture through its museums, galleries, and theaters.

Tretyakov Gallery Home to the largest collection of Russian fine art, the Tretyakov Gallery showcases works from medieval icons to contemporary pieces.

Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts This museum features an extensive collection of European art, including works by Rembrandt, Monet, and Van Gogh.

Moscow Metro More than just a transit system, the Moscow Metro is known for its stunning architecture and ornate stations. Each station is a work of art.

Gorky Park A central park offering a mix of leisure activities, from boat rides to open-air cinemas. It’s a great place to relax and enjoy the outdoors.

Moscow Circus Experience the magic of the Moscow Circus, known for its incredible acrobatics, animal acts, and clowns. It’s a fun outing for all ages.

Modern Attractions

Moscow isn’t just about history. It’s a bustling metropolis with modern attractions that cater to all interests.

Moscow City This business district features futuristic skyscrapers and offers stunning views of the city from observation decks.

VDNKh A sprawling exhibition center with pavilions showcasing achievements in science, industry, and culture. It also has amusement rides and gardens.

Zaryadye Park A modern urban park near Red Square, Zaryadye Park features innovative landscape design and offers panoramic views of the Kremlin.

Arbat Street A historic pedestrian street lined with shops, cafes, and street performers. It’s a great place to soak up the local atmosphere.

Moscow Zoo One of the oldest zoos in Europe , the Moscow Zoo is home to a diverse range of animals and offers educational programs for kids.

Religious Sites

Moscow’s religious sites reflect its diverse spiritual heritage and architectural splendor.

Cathedral of Christ the Saviour The tallest Orthodox Christian church in the world, this cathedral is a stunning example of Russian Revival architecture.

Novodevichy Convent A UNESCO World Heritage site, this convent is known for its beautiful architecture and serene gardens. It also houses a cemetery where many famous Russians are buried.

Danilov Monastery One of the oldest monasteries in Moscow, Danilov Monastery is the spiritual center of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Church of the Ascension Located in Kolomenskoye Park, this church is a masterpiece of Russian architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Temple of All Religions A unique architectural complex that combines elements of various religious buildings, symbolizing unity and peace.

Off the Beaten Path

For those looking to explore beyond the usual tourist spots, these hidden gems offer unique experiences.

Izmailovsky Market A vibrant flea market where you can find everything from antiques to handmade crafts. It’s a great place to pick up souvenirs.

Bunker-42 A Cold War-era bunker turned museum, Bunker-42 offers a fascinating look into Soviet history. You can even experience a simulated nuclear attack.

Kolomenskoye Park A former royal estate, this park features historic buildings, beautiful gardens, and stunning views of the Moscow River.

Muzeon Park of Arts An open-air museum with over 700 sculptures, Muzeon Park is a haven for art lovers. It’s also a great place for a leisurely stroll.

Sanduny Baths Experience a traditional Russian banya at Sanduny Baths, the oldest and most luxurious bathhouse in Moscow. It’s a perfect way to relax and unwind.

Family-Friendly Spots

Traveling with kids? These family-friendly attractions will keep everyone entertained.

Moscow Planetarium One of the largest planetariums in the world, it offers interactive exhibits and stunning shows about the universe.

Experimentanium A hands-on science museum where kids can learn through play. It features interactive exhibits on physics, biology, and more.

Sokolniki Park A large park with playgrounds, bike paths, and a petting zoo. It’s a great place for a family day out.

Moscow Oceanarium Located in VDNKh, this oceanarium features a wide variety of marine life, including sharks, rays, and exotic fish.

KidZania Moscow An interactive city made for kids, where they can try out different professions and learn about the adult world in a fun, engaging way.

The Final Stop: New York City

New York City is a whirlwind of iconic landmarks , diverse neighborhoods , and endless activities. From the bustling streets of Times Square to the serene paths of Central Park, there's something for everyone. Catch a Broadway show, explore world-class museums, or simply enjoy a slice of pizza from a local joint. The Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building offer breathtaking views and a sense of history. Don't miss the vibrant energy of neighborhoods like SoHo , Greenwich Village , and Harlem . Each area has its own unique charm and hidden gems. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, New York City never disappoints. Its blend of culture, history, and modern attractions makes it a must-visit destination. Pack your bags and get ready to experience the city that never sleeps!

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