I’ve owned sailboats for 50 years. We lost our Beneteau 46 Oceanus to Hurricane Ian. We moved to power purchasing Hull #1 Pilgrim 40. Sam McGee. Your summary of the great loop is the best I’ve ever seen. I hope our wakes cross in the future. Bravo on this video.
this is where the english countries out did us in traveling.. they built bridges that hold water for a boat to cross large mass of land.. we need to go from mississppi by way of ohio river and to nyc.... and bypass the great lakes..
Good video. I watched all your videos and was not aware you had such a rough time on Lake Michigan - probably very busy keeping the boat together and forgot about filming. Thanks.
@@WaywardTravelers Hope you tell us the story one day as most of us have had the bejesus sacred out us on a marine adventure and enjoy hearing others experiences. Geminis are capable of crossing oceans but most crews cannot stand the psychological effects of ongoing extended bridge deck hull slamming, wondering if the hull will crack or the rigging will fail. WHAM every 20 seconds gets tiring, then draining, then "I don't ever want to do this again" and as a result the Gemini gets the Coastal Cruiser classification. Might make a good video as you're a gifted narrator. Thanks.
Great video, I would imagine there are at the very least a few hundred of us who are more motivated to actually do it than we were before watching. Hope you do it again soon ! 👍👍👍
Great video, I am starting the Great Loop from Houston in Oct 23. I have a MacGregor that I can sail or motor and I can take my mast down myself. Just curious what % did you sail vs motor roughly?
Great video. I will be retiring in about a year or so, and have been refitting my sailboat, a retirement present from me to me in 2015, and have decided to do the loop once I no longer work and plan to take 12-15 months to do it. Already done the Clearwater to St. Marys, GA via Okeechobbe waterway, and I hope everything goes well, and thanks for the best explanation of the loop. A bit of anxiety is there because of the unknown, but I'm ready for the challenge. My boat drafts 4.5 ft, a 35' monohaul, so it should be okay. Thank you.
Sounds like a grand adventure. If I may be so bold, since you've done the Okeechobee, hit the keys. Reccomenda the city marina for cost if you can get under the power lines.
Do you have plans to do a second loop to see Lake Champlain and Canada: at the north end of Champlain starts the Richelieu River, to the Chambly Canal, then East on the St Lawrence to Rivière Saguenay(May to Oct see Beluga whales, Greenland Sharks, huge waterfalls (best time to see whales is Sept/Oct, second best is July/Aug), to Saguenay Fjords(the only navigable fjords in North America), then to Saguenay city, then head Southwest on the St Lawrence to spend time in Quebec City, then to Trois-Rivières historic downtown(one of the first settlements of New France), then to Montreal, from Montreal take the Ottawa River to the Canada capitol where the Rideau Canal starts with a bang, 8 stairstep locks one right after another, the Rideau ends in Kingston stop and spend time in 1000 Islands National Park, then head west on lake Ontario to the Murry Canal(this little known and often missed short section of the Trent Severn Waterway with two swing bridges, you must do the Trent Severn(highest hydraulic lift lock at Peterborough 20 meters, Kirkfield lift lock, the second tallest, The Big Chute Marine Railway), then explore the rocky shores of the Georgian Bay and the Georgian Bay Islands National Park, then to the Sault Ste. Marie lock into Lake Superior to see Isle Royale National Park(only NP in Michigan and only accessible by boat or float plane), then to the Island of Mackinaw, to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (massive sand dunes on the lakeshore, Empire Bluff Main Dune is the tallest at 526'), then down Lake Michigan, unstep the mast to go down the Chicago River through the heart of downtown. From Lake Champlain to just south of Chicago would likely take from May until probably September. As long as you are south of Chicago by fall all of the locks operate year round. The Erie Canal and all the Canadian Canals/waterways operate from May to Oct.
@@WaywardTravelers It would be an EPIC adventure! I do not know of of another place in NA where you can see Beluga Whales, fjords, marvels of engineering(the Peterborough life lock puts boats in a 120'x32' bathtub and lifts them 65'), the rocky islands, tall rock hills averaging more than 100' tall, and fjords are part of the Canadian Shield, which is the largest mass of exposed Precambrian rock on planet Earth scraped clean by the massive glaciers as they moved southward, Canada has some of the clearest fresh water for swimming and snorkeling. Then add in the charm of old world cities, not to mention Canadian people are some of the nicest, most friendly, helpful people you will ever meet. It would be the trip of a lifetime. I have started planning designing my catamaran and my great loop adventure will be the one I mentioned to you. The Erie Canal end to end will be on my second loop along while taking more time in cities that were wonderful the first time, but that I want to explore for longer to see and do more.
Thank you. I have travelled the ICW VT to FL a few times, (and Bahamas) and through the Erie Canal. Now caring for my Mom in Ashtabula, OH. Looking forward to looping on my Tartan 37 (after a bit of a refit) Great Loop into North Channel, Georgian Bay, etc. What resources would you recommend? Did you use Navionics?
My wife and I have tossed around the idea of buying a Gemini to do the GL with our boys before they graduate. I am still a full time 9-5'er, so I would be completing it in 2-4 week increments. Were there locations that you would have been comfortable with leaving your boat at any of the marinas or at anchor?
5 foot is the max draft to my understanding. It might be possible to make it with timing tides and a little help from mother nature, but you would be pushing it.
Hah you lost me at "it's going to be time to get your mast down" although I acknowledge it's good maintenance practice to take it down periodically and check mast step and such.
I’ve owned sailboats for 50 years. We lost our Beneteau 46 Oceanus to Hurricane Ian. We moved to power purchasing Hull #1 Pilgrim 40. Sam McGee. Your summary of the great loop is the best I’ve ever seen. I hope our wakes cross in the future. Bravo on this video.
Thanks so much and that would be a pleasure
The best region by region I've seen.
Thanks for saying so
I have almost no boating experience and hoping to do this trip in the next year or two.
Go for it. Great place to learn.
Thank you so much for all this information! Glad you had such an amazing experience!!!
Thank you, it was wonderful.
Excellent video. Thanks for sharing
Thanks for saying so.
Many thanks for a great review
You're very welcome. Thanks for watching
Awesome commentary. I've been looking at the Gemini's on the market with the adventure you discuss in mind. Thanks
Great boats
Excellent video, thank you
Thanks for saying so
Thanks - Great video!
Thanks so much
Super nice guy!!! Very informative and I’m thinking of a sailboat loop because of fuel cost are much less than trawlers.
Thanks for saying so
Thanks for info. Good video
Our pleasure
this is where the english countries out did us in traveling.. they built bridges that hold water for a boat to cross large mass of land.. we need to go from mississppi by way of ohio river and to nyc.... and bypass the great lakes..
That would be amazing
Good video. I watched all your videos and was not aware you had such a rough time on Lake Michigan - probably very busy keeping the boat together and forgot about filming. Thanks.
That's very accurate
@@WaywardTravelers Hope you tell us the story one day as most of us have had the bejesus sacred out us on a marine adventure and enjoy hearing others experiences. Geminis are capable of crossing oceans but most crews cannot stand the psychological effects of ongoing extended bridge deck hull slamming, wondering if the hull will crack or the rigging will fail. WHAM every 20 seconds gets tiring, then draining, then "I don't ever want to do this again" and as a result the Gemini gets the Coastal Cruiser classification. Might make a good video as you're a gifted narrator. Thanks.
Great video, I would imagine there are at the very least a few hundred of us who are more motivated to actually do it than we were before watching. Hope you do it again soon ! 👍👍👍
Thanks for those kind words
Great video, I am starting the Great Loop from Houston in Oct 23. I have a MacGregor that I can sail or motor and I can take my mast down myself. Just curious what % did you sail vs motor roughly?
I would say we motorsailed quite often 50%, 40% motor only, 10% pure sailing.
Great video. I will be retiring in about a year or so, and have been refitting my sailboat, a retirement present from me to me in 2015, and have decided to do the loop once I no longer work and plan to take 12-15 months to do it. Already done the Clearwater to St. Marys, GA via Okeechobbe waterway, and I hope everything goes well, and thanks for the best explanation of the loop. A bit of anxiety is there because of the unknown, but I'm ready for the challenge. My boat drafts 4.5 ft, a 35' monohaul, so it should be okay. Thank you.
Sounds like a grand adventure. If I may be so bold, since you've done the Okeechobee, hit the keys. Reccomenda the city marina for cost if you can get under the power lines.
Hell yah! Great video. I'd love to do this one day, starting from Toronto.
You should do it
I have a 22 ft sailboat.
Motoring upstream, what was some of the strong river currents, and what Hp outboard would be recommended for these journey ?
I had a 22. 25 HP is my thought for the right push
Here's the link to the Bahamas Loop group!! fb://group/1092355294681301?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT
Do you have plans to do a second loop to see Lake Champlain and Canada: at the north end of Champlain starts the Richelieu River, to the Chambly Canal, then East on the St Lawrence to Rivière Saguenay(May to Oct see Beluga whales, Greenland Sharks, huge waterfalls (best time to see whales is Sept/Oct, second best is July/Aug), to Saguenay Fjords(the only navigable fjords in North America), then to Saguenay city, then head Southwest on the St Lawrence to spend time in Quebec City, then to Trois-Rivières historic downtown(one of the first settlements of New France), then to Montreal, from Montreal take the Ottawa River to the Canada capitol where the Rideau Canal starts with a bang, 8 stairstep locks one right after another, the Rideau ends in Kingston stop and spend time in 1000 Islands National Park, then head west on lake Ontario to the Murry Canal(this little known and often missed short section of the Trent Severn Waterway with two swing bridges, you must do the Trent Severn(highest hydraulic lift lock at Peterborough 20 meters, Kirkfield lift lock, the second tallest, The Big Chute Marine Railway), then explore the rocky shores of the Georgian Bay and the Georgian Bay Islands National Park, then to the Sault Ste. Marie lock into Lake Superior to see Isle Royale National Park(only NP in Michigan and only accessible by boat or float plane), then to the Island of Mackinaw, to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (massive sand dunes on the lakeshore, Empire Bluff Main Dune is the tallest at 526'), then down Lake Michigan, unstep the mast to go down the Chicago River through the heart of downtown. From Lake Champlain to just south of Chicago would likely take from May until probably September. As long as you are south of Chicago by fall all of the locks operate year round. The Erie Canal and all the Canadian Canals/waterways operate from May to Oct.
Well, I am now!!
@@WaywardTravelers It would be an EPIC adventure! I do not know of of another place in NA where you can see Beluga Whales, fjords, marvels of engineering(the Peterborough life lock puts boats in a 120'x32' bathtub and lifts them 65'), the rocky islands, tall rock hills averaging more than 100' tall, and fjords are part of the Canadian Shield, which is the largest mass of exposed Precambrian rock on planet Earth scraped clean by the massive glaciers as they moved southward, Canada has some of the clearest fresh water for swimming and snorkeling. Then add in the charm of old world cities, not to mention Canadian people are some of the nicest, most friendly, helpful people you will ever meet. It would be the trip of a lifetime.
I have started planning designing my catamaran and my great loop adventure will be the one I mentioned to you. The Erie Canal end to end will be on my second loop along while taking more time in cities that were wonderful the first time, but that I want to explore for longer to see and do more.
Thank you. I have travelled the ICW VT to FL a few times, (and Bahamas) and through the Erie Canal. Now caring for my Mom in Ashtabula, OH. Looking forward to looping on my Tartan 37 (after a bit of a refit) Great Loop into North Channel, Georgian Bay, etc. What resources would you recommend? Did you use Navionics?
I did use Navionics and I loved it. Autopilot was a must and an OpenCPN AIS solution is nice to see barges around blind bends in the river.
@@WaywardTravelers Thanks!
Hey, I just saw you guys in Florida!!!!
Hope we didn't cut you off. Have a warm Florida day!!
you can do the loop on a TRAILERABLE BOAT or do ''parts of it'' when you can... split it up if you have to to GET OUT THERE AND DO IT !!!:)
Amen!!
You missed best part if you missed Canada
COVID sucked. Good reason for another trip. Though the Erie canal was fantastic
My wife and I have tossed around the idea of buying a Gemini to do the GL with our boys before they graduate. I am still a full time 9-5'er, so I would be completing it in 2-4 week increments. Were there locations that you would have been comfortable with leaving your boat at any of the marinas or at anchor?
Yes, plenty of places. Some of them for free.
Did you slip out too?
When we could afford it.
I am not considering it because I have zero desire to stick my vessel in saltwater. I am intrigued but that’s it
No one should do more than make themselves happy. Lots of fresh water on the loop. Hudson to Mobile is all fresh. You could spend a lifetime there
Is my draft of 1.6m too deep
5 foot is the max draft to my understanding. It might be possible to make it with timing tides and a little help from mother nature, but you would be pushing it.
Hah you lost me at "it's going to be time to get your mast down" although I acknowledge it's good maintenance practice to take it down periodically and check mast step and such.
You have to stepp the mast twice on the loop. Low bridges