The AGLCA Home Port Crew walks you through what U.S. citizens must do to legally enter Canada as part of their Great Loop.  We cover what to do before you go, the things you can and cannot bring with you, the procedure for entry, and flag etiquette as part of our discussion. America's Great Loop is the boating adventure of a lifetime! Loopers cruise the 6,000-mile Great Loop route aboard their own boats completing a circumnavigation of the eastern U.S. and part of Canada via mostly protected inland waterways. The Great Loop route follows the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, the Chesapeake Bay, and the New York Canals northwards, goes across the Great Lakes, south on the Inland Rivers, and then east Gulf Coast to complete the Loop.    

Join us as America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association's Home Port Crew updates you on our Advocacy efforts including what we do on behalf of members and the boating community as a whole, what we're working on including a long-term issue in Florida, and how you can help. America's Great Loop is the boating adventure of a lifetime! Loopers cruise the 6,000-mile Great Loop route aboard their own boats completing a circumnavigation of the eastern U.S. and part of Canada via mostly protected inland waterways. The Great Loop route follows the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, the Chesapeake Bay, and the New York Canals northwards, goes across the Great Lakes, south on the Inland Rivers, and then east Gulf Coast to complete the Loop.

Several things on the Great Loop are easier if you maintain a good fitness level.  Our guest this week is Doreen Sharpe. She is a Gold Looper and a Physiotherapist, and she shares the reasons why maintaining fitness is important on the Great Loop and offers some tips on when and where to fit in fitness while Looping. The Great Loop is the boating adventure of a lifetime. Loopers follow the 6,000-mile route in their own boats, cruising up the east coast, into the Great Lakes, through the inland rivers, and through the Gulf of Mexico. Learn more at www.greatloop.org.

This week's episode focuses on our friendly and helpful Harbor Hosts!  The Home Port Crew shares more about the Harbor Host program and the True North Harbor Host of the Year award. Then, the 2022 and 2023 Harbor Hosts of the Year (Tsali & Jacque Bentley and Eric & Lynda Baumer) share why they love this program and what they did that earned them the True North distinction. The Great Loop is a 6,000-mile route through interconnected waterways that allows boaters to circumnavigate the eastern U.S. and part of Canada. Learn more at www.greatloop.org.    

With a focus on locking and anchoring, this week's episode includes some of the skills you should practice before starting your own Great Loop adventure.  Our guest is Boris Hodak, a recent Gold Looper and U.S. Coast Guard 100 Ton Master. Boris shares tips on locking and docking and why you should learn the ins and outs of your boat before setting off on the Loop. The Great Loop is a 6,000-mile route through interconnected waterways that allows boaters to circumnavigate the eastern U.S. and part of Canada. Learn more at www.greatloop.org.

Considering Looping on a fast boat? In this episode, Gold Looper Tom Gutowski joins us to share details on how and why he and Jan chose to cruise the Great Loop on a faster boat. Our discussion focuses primarily on how to be sure you operate safely and courteously while cruising at higher speeds, but also includes details about how often you can travel at faster speeds and the potential additional fuel burn. If you are listening to this podcast and would like to see the photos Tom included, you can see the video on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xkzg3DuoSuM The Great Loop is the boating adventure of a lifetime. Looper follow the 6,000-mile route in their own boats, cruising up the east coast, into the Great Lakes, through the inland rivers, and through the Gulf of Mexico. Learn more at www.greatloop.org.  

Gold Looper Kim Fleer joins us this week to talk about some of the options for sharing your Great Loop with those you leave behind. We'll discuss the pros and cons of sharing via Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, blogs, and other apps. We'll also share some things you should consider before selecting a platform and list some of the more popular Looper blogs, channels, and social media pages. Links to many of the resources mentioned in this episiode are below: Scho and Jo - https://www.youtube.com/@SchoandJo  What Yacht to Do - https://www.youtube.com/@WhatYachtToDo  The Perch - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL82Wyujruc-v-CQ4uRDdpfp1t9D-5gK2S&si=dkX_6O3vBl8XnZwZ Cruising Cavaliers - https://www.youtube.com/@crusincavaliers7140  Great Loop in a Shanty Boat - https://www.youtube.com/@backwatersandbackroads  Stay Cool - https://www.youtube.com/@staycool123   Blogs: https://www.greatloop.org/interact/blogs-websites.html Maps - https://www.aquamap.app/support/15-basic-features/14-markers 

This week we talk about watching your wake.  It's important for all Great Loopers to practice safe and courteous boating!  The biggest error we see in this area is boats not slowing enough in no wake zones, minimum wake zones, and when passing other boats, docks, marinas, and other shoreside infrastructure. We break it all down for you this week with our guest, Brian Brown. Brian is a Gold Looper who had a career in the marine industry.  Join us for this important episode.  The Great Loop is the boating adventure of a lifetime. Loopers follow the 6,000-mile route in their own boats, cruising up the east coast, into the Great Lakes, through the inland rivers, and through the Gulf of Mexico. Learn more at www.greatloop.org.

Kim Russo (AGLCA's Director) and Michael Martin share the story of their own Great Loop adventure aboard The Perch, a Silverton 410 cockpit motor yacht. They'll talk about why they did the Loop, their cruising preferences, and details about their boat. The Great Loop is a 6,000-mile route through interconnected waterways that allow boaters to circumnavigate the eastern U.S. and part of Canada. Learn more at www.greatloop.org.

This week we wrap up our 2024 update series by talking about marine insurance. Jon Horton with Jack Martin and Associates joins us to discuss what to expect when seeking insurance for your Great Loop boat in the coming year.    The Great Loop is the boating adventure of a lifetime. Loopers follow the 6,000-mile route in their own boats, cruising up the east coast, into the Great Lakes, through the inland rivers, and through the Gulf of Mexico. Learn more at www.greatloop.org.

The results are in! Listen to find out how many boats completed the Great Loop in 2023 and which boat makes were most popular.  Brent Bowlin and Michael Martin of Great Loop Yacht Sales join us to share some of the features of the top boats for the Great Loop in 2023 and what makes them so popular. We'll also share details of the smallest and largest boats to complete the Loop last year. The Great Loop is the boating adventure of a lifetime. Looper follow the 6,000-mile route in their own boats, cruising up the east coast, into the Great Lakes, through the inland rivers, and through the Gulf of Mexico. Learn more at www.greatloop.org.