Great Loop

[trailertrawlerkismet]

While in the Keys I’ve come across at least 4 Ranger Tugs on the Great Loop. I think it would be a good exercise to find out exactly how many Ranger Tugs/Cutwater Boats are on the Loop this year. Last year RT had the second most boats represented on the Loop. Post here, if you like, if you’re currently doing the Loop.

Jim F

 

[Trisailor]

Not there yet, but preparing my R27 to trailer to the Gulf this spring (May) and start the loop.

 

[Katmat]

Katmat started outside Chicago at the end of October. Now in Marathon. Not sure how far we will go this year.

 

[HopTug]

Hoppy Trails started in St Paul, MN in early September and is now in the Fort Myers area. Definitely seen a number of RT’s sporting the burgee, ranging from classic 25’s to a few 31CB’s like us.

 

[piglet 2013]

Hey Jim
Piglet c28 in fort Myers on the loop.

 

[srhawk454]

How important is having AC on the loop? Is anybody doing it on NW edition (no AC) boat?

 

[tlkenyon]

We did the Loop in 2017-18 in a R25sc. No A/C but had the Webasto diesel-fired heater. Only had one night of "too hot" and went to a hotel at the marina - Paducah on September 21. Was still 85 at 10pm.

We used the heater quite a bit in Florida in November and December.

The summer in New York and Canada was warm, but with a couple of fans going, was tolerable. Understand that we were tent campers for many years as Boy Scout leaders, so we were kinda hardened to a little heat. Compared to a tent, Nellie May was true luxury....

TK

 

[srhawk454]

Thanks TK, appreciate it!

 

[Toucan]

We installed a small window A/C in our boat after trailering to Virginia for launching during a heat wave. Wife said "Put in A/C or I am going home". I removed the rear window and mounted the unit in a 2x4 frame. The A.C was the smallest unit available at Walmart and worked amazingly well, even keeping the V-berth pleasant when on shore power. We did not suffer from the heat while the boat was moving. We have sun shades on all of the overhead hatches to reduce interior heat load. Probably spent less than $300 for equipment and materials, not including marina expenses during installation process.

Barry Thompson
TOUCAN, R-27 Classic

 

[DenverReds]

I just had aftermarket air and generator quoted for my 2018 Ranger 25SC. I too have the Northwest Edition 25SC with the Webasto Heater. I as quoted an EnviroComfort 6000 BTU system and install for $8,500 and a Fischer Panda 5000 Marine Diesel Generator system and install for $12,000. Heat, humidity and no see um bugs (as well as other critters) particularly at anchor anytime or in a marina at night are my concern. Creature comforts will be key for my enjoyment of the loop after hours of cruising day after day. I’ll be solo on most of the trip (reluctant wife) but even on my own I’d prefer not to have to grind through heat or humidity relaxing and sleeping at night. That said, my broker friend advised I do the generator and AC install in Florida when I ship the boat there to secure more competitive prices. SoCal is expensive and installing aftermarket AC isn’t something requested a lot. Generators are far more common and my boat guys seem to have good luck with the Panda install in small compact areas like the electrical hatch in the cockpit of my 25SC.

 

[gottogetfishing]

Starting the Loop May of this year.. 2012 R27 Classic.. Can't wait to meet all of you!

 

[CaspersCruiser]

Starting the Loop May of this year.. 2012 R27 Classic.. Can't wait to meet all of you!

Are you starting in the Chesapeake Bay? If so, what part? Are you going to make the loop in one contiguous trip or in sections?

I am looping in sections in my 2012 R27. I make good use of the trailer. I’m about 1/3 done.

 

[H28]

Hygge (RT 29S) and Katmat ( "classic" RT29) are on the G/L. Currently off Cumberland Island

 

[OdyseaII]

We left Texas on Odysea II our 2019 R31 CB last April and officially started our Loop Journey when we got to Fair Hope Alabama.

We crossed the Okeechobee and made as far North as Baltimore and are taking a break until May when we will restart our loop journey.

We have seen a number of Rangers and Cutwaters along the way and always fun to compare notes and experiences.

See you on the water,
Keith

 

[dfogal]

We are doing the dry run on the loop with the ‘triangles’. This summer will be Lake Erie / Erie Canal / Ottawa / Trent Severn.

One key to the Great Lakes is the NOAA Wave Watch: https://www.glerl.noaa.gov/emf/waves/WW3/

We only go out on Erie when the forecast is 1-2’ in our area. Year 1 of boat ownership we made the mistake of going on Lake St. Clair (very shallow lake between Erie and Huron) and encountered 4-5’ waves at 2-3 seconds. It was horrible.

 

[Jfrano]

June Sea, Rt29CB, we started in NYC on June 12, 2023, when north up the Hudson. We are now in St. Augustine for
A month.
If you are a member of AGLCA, you could search their Database to get an exact count.

 

[Cutwater28GG]

as a west coaster, can folks share what makes the loop fun to do?

 

[CaspersCruiser]

as a west coaster, can folks share what makes the loop fun to do?

The attraction of the loop to me is I like to cruise and go places. The loop has all kinds of water, views, weather, food, different towns, states, countries. Fresh water, salt water. Rivers, bays, sounds, canals, open water. There are things to do, people to meet, places to go.

I am doing the loop in sections, the very reason I have a trailerable boat. The majority of loopers have boats 39'-60'. Some are floating condos. Some of the big boats get parked for a few weeks to a few months while the owners travel home once or twice during their loop. I take my boat with me. Many loopers are on their boat the whole year +/- it takes.

I have always done trips-- backpacking, canoeing, airplanes. It is just in my DNA. When I was 10 years old, I got a gas station road map and followed with my finger along the entire Potomac River, which ran close to my home in Hagerstown, Maryland, for its full length, from the mountains to the Chesapeake Bay, dreaming of going down it on a raft. Decades later, I canoed 165 miles of the Potomac, in sections, from the mountains to Harper's Ferry. When I get to the Chesapeake Bay section of the loop, I will cruise up the Potomac to Washington, D.C.

 

[CruisingElvinRay]

as a west coaster, can folks share what makes the loop fun to do?

New cruising grounds every day. Intracoastal waterways, Canals, Canadian lakes and rivers, the Great Lakes, inland rivers, crossing the Gulf of Mexico, etc…

We’ve covered MM 0 (Norfolk, VA) through Savannah on Elvin Ray and will be cruising Florida in a few weeks.

6,000 miles, 100+ locks, hundreds of waterfront cities you would never go to except on the loop.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[BB marine]

as a west coaster, can folks share what makes the loop fun to do?

The Great Loop is a Trip of a life time if you want to learn about American History. If you want to experience different boating cultures you will when doing the Loop. One minute you are in a river with 3' of water at low tide and then you are in a sound with huge rollers and you can't see the other side. You boat for months in fresh water then months in salt water and back to fresh water. Rivers, Lakes, Bays, Sounds, Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, St Lawrence Sea Way, Canals, and 3 to 4 of the Great Lakes depending on the route you take. If you want to Venture off on a side trip you can cruise all 5 Great Lakes.

We spent 5 years segment Looping when we owned our C26 Cutwater and completed about 1/3 of the Loop. Georgian Bay Ontario to the Florida Keys and half way up the State of Florida on the Atlantic side. We did a side trip from the head waters of the Tennessee River to the end where it empties into the Ohio River. We sold the Cutwater in 2021 and Purchased a 2002 Mainship Pilot twin engine Yanmar. 12.4' beam 36' LOA 18000lbs, and spent 14 months repeating all that we did in the Cutwater plus completing the Loop. My wife is writing a book about the adventure. The history, the waterways, the towns, the people, the landscapes, everyday is a different experience.

I have never boated in the PNW and I'm told it is beautiful. I'm sure it is and there is a great deal to experience there too. We met many folks that boat in the PNW while doing the Loop. They all commented on how beautiful the PNW was but had no disappointment in the experience that they had while Looping. People, Places and things to see. Priceless !!!!