I was planning to do the Great Loop in a couple of years. I'm expecting to have the funds to buy a proper motor yacht for it. The problem is, I don't have a piratical friend who wants to go with me. I'd be doing it solo. That means I'd have nobody to hold lines when going through canals. Maybe I could still do it solo, I know others do. If I attempted this, are there normally others who'd be willing to let me join their flotilla?

Thank you so much for bringing back these step by step cruising videos. The wife and I have always looked forward to watching your videos and information about the towns. Thank you

Title Town Brewery is a Great Restaurant and Micro-Brewery in Green Bay.

I just made this trip and it was beautiful, it took me 4 days, i stopped and swam each day, winds were light, was a little over 100nm

I was watching a KZbin video about a couple taking a side trip to Oklahoma. I didn’t even know that was possible but it got me thinking, can you do a podcast sometime of the farthest inland reaches possible by waterways in the U.S.? Thanks for considering.

He actually spent very little time in Grand lagoon only as you came out of Bay point and then you pass deep water point at that time you enter Saint Andrews Bay that you stay in until you pass the DuPont bridge will you transition into East Bay period from their you follow Eastbay until you reach the intracoastal waterway that connects you all the way down to lake wimico with a side spur that runs down to Port Saint Joe

it's really unbelievable that we have here in 2024 issues like this bridge. They should put a tunnel under the canal for the train or put in a swing or raise bridge. The 2% grade change would run the start and end point out but it can't be any worse than digging the canal. Every bridge from Lake Michigan to the Gulf should be able to be wide open. A sailboat with a 90' mast should be able to go from LM to the gulf without taking the mast down.

fantastic! thank you

Marina du Port de Quebec - I was there at the end of June. Absolutely the best marina. Always cleaning something. 2 girls were cleaning the power pedestals one morning. Location excellent, right in the old town. When you go back to Quebec City, you must go to Tadoussac few a few nights. Breakfast buffet at the Hotel Tadoussac and a day trip up the Saguenay River.

Ohh. I so want a tshirt that says fudgie/fudgy

I just finished 6 yrs of sailing in South Pacific came back to Ont bought a 34 ft trawler now working on it prepping it for the great loop we absolutely love living on a boat no better way

This interview--with the insight and the knowledge and the stories--is a treasure. I'm 62 and inclined to believe that I can become a Looper, though my life experience is limited to sailing a racing-class dinghy, a Thistle built in 1948, all wood and restored. This Looper stuff is fascinating.

Fantastic interview, interesting, full of usefull info especially for me in a small boat and solo! Thanks to Kim and Michael.

I wish more detail information would have been discussed about the C-Dory! I enjoy the interview.

Amazing story Michael. Love following your story. My husband and I are at your homeport in Fort Myers. Our boat is in slip D-19

This is such a great video. New bucket list line item. Thank you very much.

We love it too! And we live in Colorado 😀

I’m so hooked on this I downloaded the app. I don’t even have a boat. And I live in Colorado. lol.

What’s the air draft for the Mac bridge?😅

Being originally from Michigan I learned a couple of new things about the island. Great stuff! Thank you.

Thought we were visiting an island, Must have misunderstood the title.

We have watched this episode twice, the information is incredible helpful. I do have question,that is do you have any statistics on gas vs diesel boats that completed the loop?

If you do a "typical loop" and head into Canada, what is the typical way for loopers to clear Canadian customs?

it is accesible by small plane.

Wonderful video. 😊

Wonderful video. 😊

Good stuff. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks everyone for doing this !!!!😊

Thank you so much for keeping this podcast up and thanks to everyone participating. Can't wait to start my looping adventures

My wife and I attended the 2023 AGLCA Fall Rendezvous. I think having a vessel safety check done is super useful! I would want to ask the examiner though, "what _extra_ things should we do beyond the minimum?" As I see it, the point isn't to pass some future boarding check, but to make the boat as safe as possible. Stuff like Fireboy, EPIRBs/PLBs, etc.

I have a question about the number of occupants allow on my boat. It’s a 33 foot True North. Is this required?

I never knew this loop existed until I ran into a couple doing the loop a few days ago… Now I gotta do it one day… Finding time to do it will be the only challenge..

Thank y'all very much. This is a conversation that scars people

Nice little tourist trap town.

Thanks Jeremy and Kim, Perhaps , most important, engage that Safety Device that resides between your ears. Keep it straight and level.

Ask all the questions you can think of, and the answer will always be the same..."that depends." Thanks so much. That was a big help.

Always great info

Great discussion, well done!

I just watched your pod cast. I also would like to think you for talking with a potential buyer of our dingy Davits. We make them almost as a hobby but have received nothing but raving reviews and kindness when someone calls you. As you know we did our loop years ago and continued to live on our vessels, which were Mainships, after doing the loop until finding a winter place in Port St Lucie.

You two are amazing! Thanks for sharing the fun trip!

Like to see the what your talking about. You get minus 1

Is there gas stations along the way? Where to find the guide gps?

I did deliveries from Apalachicola to Tarpon Springs, and worked as Captain for some boats with owners aboard. I took a lot of sailboats, which have more weather constraints than power vessels. With a seaworthy vessel, I preferred the direct route. In the case of bad weather, I prefer open water and plenty of sea room. In calm weather, it is quicker. Following around the coast, the shore is shallows, mostly mud. If you get blown in there on high water, the prospects of getting out are poor. There are. some ports, but they are not easy to enter under very adverse conditions. Another consideration is the "safety" of companion vessels. What in reality can they do, particularly in high seas? Basically, they can take you aboard. But they will not abandon ship to save your vessel. In rough weather, it can be dangerous to get from one vessel to another. Also, it is surprising the number of vessels on the route between Apalach and Anclote. Altering course to avoid collision was a common experience. Time of year is a major consideration. In October and early November, a 3 day window of wind at your back, downhill run is common. The window shortens across the winter, until the frontal cycles disappear about April. This year, they persisted later. If you are short handed, and one member is extremely nervous about the passage, a hired crew member can do much to prevent another reenactment of the "Choose between me and that damned boat" dilemma.. Regardless, a boat shrinks considerably when it comes off the transport into the water. Another greater shrinkage occurs when the last bit of land disappears from sight. Expect it. Remember that it is still the same boat that looked so huge at the boat show. LOL

🌞 🛥️

Awesome info

Who's gonna pay for the bridge to get lifted or moved or whatever?

What is the maximum width of a sailing catamaran with it's mast down to do the loop through the Canadian portion of the loop? Sailing Life on Jupiter did it with a 48 ft. catamaran that was I think 25 ft. wide but they didn't do the Canadian section of the loop and I'm not exactly sure what route they did but the entire trip is on KZbin. I'm interested in getting a boat like that and doing the entire loop.

Best interview ever. Super helpful. Thanks Tom. Never have felt the need to weigh in and tell anyone how slow, or fast, that they should go.

“Always 3 things wrong with your boat and the captain knows 2 of them”. So true! I’m bound and determined to not make our first loop a bunch of goals. I’m finding out that this is a mind set. I have 16 months to set my mind!!

Thank you for the dog info and looping knowledge