"The Great Loop"

[Pourhouse]

We plan to leave Fort Lauderdale FL in Mid March on our new 31(just traded our 27) and expect to travel about a year. We welcome any advice about traveling "the Great Loop"… our tentative plan is spring going North, summer in Canada and Great Lakes, Chicago by Sept 1 at the latest and fall coming south. We are studying some of the "looper sites"

 

[knotflying]

Are you coming to our SW Rendezvous In Cape Haze, FL Feb 7 to 10th? There are those who have done the loop and many of us who have done portions of it so I am sure you can pick many a brain. My general comment is that everybody has their own special places they visited and different cruising styles so you will get millions of places to visit and things to do and realize that you will need to do it twice!
I have found that making an initial loose schedule with how many miles you are willing to travel in a day is a start and then you begin to tweak that by places along the route that you want to stop. The book "Honey I want to get a boat" has some good information in it and describes their trip doing the loop as well as some of their experiences. Doing the loop will become your own personal experience with the wonderful anchorages you stayed at, towns you visited and the wonderful people you met along the way.

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

Hi Pourhouse and congrats on the pending start of your Great Loop. Lisa and I have done the Loop prior to being Ranger Tug owners and with our Ranger Tug have returned to many of our favorite cruising areas over the last 2 plus years, it is a wonderful experience. We have a blog we've kept up from our Loop that you might find interesting and I've attached a link for your reference. As your planning materializes please feel free to make contact with us with any questions and or if you're attending the Florida Rendezvous in February we could spend some time with you then.

http://www.favorsgreatloopblog.com

Jim F

 

[j&lgray]

The crew of Andiamo, a Ranger 29 will be starting the Great Loop in just a few weeks. Watch for us and we will watch for you. Our plan, take off from the Florida Tug Rendezvous at the Palm Island Marina in early February and spend until Thanksgiving going as far as we can. Our website is: www.andiamo-ranger29.com

 

[jcarrdive]

HI Loopers, I am jealous. We are going up to the Seattle Boat Show to look at an R31, specifically for use on the west coast but still trailerable so we can slip out in a few years and do the great loop. Please, if you can, take videos and post them on you-tube so we can enjoy with you and so we can take notes on the best spots!
Have fun, we will see you out there in a few years!
jc

 

[Adagio]

If you've been looking at "Looper Sites" I'm sure you've seen the America's Great Loop Cruising Association. It is a wonderful organization, has an online discussion group, newsletter and annual fall and spring rendezvous. A significant number of members have switched or plan to switch to trailerable boats. I've done Paducah KY to Baltimore MD in four different boats, and find my trailerable R25 to be ideal for the month or so each year I do an additional segment.

Adagio

 

[zodiacengineer]

I have a question forall of you experienced trailer tuggers. How do you keep the hull from being pitted? I've got 50-100 little pin head sized Pitts to fill in my dark blue hull.....

 

[Levitation]

You likely need mud flaps on your tow vehicle to suppress the stone projectiles being flung off your tires.
If you suspect it is traffic from the other direction then you might need to pick new routes.
Or tie a bra across the bow.

 

[Crewdog]

I have a question forall of you experienced trailer tuggers. How do you keep the hull from being pitted? I've got 50-100 little pin head sized Pitts to fill in my dark blue hull.....

We put a camper shell on the pickup bed and it seemed to cut down on the stuff hitting the bow and made the ride quieter. Still have to scrape bugs off tho.

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

Hello Pourhouse. While out yesterday I saw your boat docked on the Anclote River in Tarpon Springs, we're docked at Turtle Cove. If you're in town or return before Sat. and want to talk about the Great Loop give us a call, we'd love to try and answer any of your questions. If not now we look forward to seeing you in February at the Rendezvous.

Jim
231-642-7625

 

[wefings]

Jim that was their previous boat , a Ranger R 27 like yours . The new owners are on that side of Florida .
Ill look forward to meeting you and Lisa at the Cape Haze event .
Marc

 

[Pourhouse]

Yes, we retained the name Pour House on the 31 and did the international registration that way which we did not on the 27. We are spending 12 days in Marathon now and will head back to Fort Lauderdale on Saturday. This has been the first time since we got the 31 to take it out on a serious run. We are making lists of things we want to add before we leave on the "loop". And checking out systems. One thing we are really enjoying is Sirius Radio. Today we have rain but I will spend the day reading and cooking. We are cozy in Bonefish Marina. I have cooked and entertained on the boat including Curry Chicken, T-Bone Steaks, Lentil soup, meatballs, and Pork Steak with Chutney so popular with the friends here. Last night we were 8 for dinner, so the 31 solves my need to entertain. Today I will try my new jalapeño baker and make Grilled Jalapeño Poppers for the "women's only" domino game at 6 pm. And I think I will set a batch of Yeast waffle for tomorrow am breakfast. signing off… Carolyn House of POOR er rather…Pour House - and that reminds me I need a wine run. See you in Cape Haze.

 

[mspaugy]

I have a Jalapeno roaster that I got from Cabela's. It is a great way to make peppers. The large bag of small mixed peppers that many grocery chains and Sam's club sells now is even better with what ever your favorite stuffing is.

 

[HGA]

Pourhouse,

Your comments on hosting a crowd on your R31 launched me into my first post! How did the 31 feel with that large of a group? Will you have week long visitors like most? How do you anticipate the space working for 4? The loop is in my future and the R31 is under strong consideration. In fact, I'm off to the Seattle show tomorrow to get my first look. Come on Delta!

Dan in Memphis

 

[Pourhouse]

Dan, I just now saw your post. I am comfortable cooking and entertaining 6 and can stretch to 8 on the 31..but no long term guests. I can accommodate short term guests - max 2 that "like each other" and are low maintenance. No high maintenance folks allowed for a sleepover. Our departure date from Fort Lauderdale is looking like March 19 as we don't want to miss a big party here on the 17th. Our first "on board guests" will meet us in April after she flies in from Bangkok, Thailand. She is like a daughter and very helpful and we will be cooking and eating some great Thai food. She also is the best little organizer i know. She won't take up much space. ha. She will be with us perhaps 3 weeks. We will have some pop on guests all along the way. My Sister who lives in Hawaii will join us hopefully in the Great Lakes.

 

[Pourhouse]

We are now in our 4th month of "the loop". Today we are cruising to Cape May from Delaware City about 56 miles. Flat seas, perfect temperature and lots of beauty around us. Our tug is performing well. If you want to check our blog - a real simple one… it is http://loopingonthepourhouse.wordpress.com - have a great summer!

 

[jcarrdive]

You have a great blog! Thanks! I can't wait to do our loop in 6-8 years! Loved the photos. Keep them coming and have fun!
Question for you, I see in a couple photos you have something stored on the bow of the boat. Is that gear or a life raft? We have an R27 and for longer trips have considered a large dry bag for extra stuff up there but have not seen it on any boats prior to yours. WOrk well?