Introduction to the Great Loop
2024 ж. 24 Мам.
391 186 Рет қаралды
This recorded webinar gives an introduction to the Great Loop including answers to frequently asked questions, statistics on the Great Loop, and a tour of the route using photos taken by Loopers.
*Please note: I misspoke while recording this. Cairo is at the intersection of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. The Illinois and Mississippi Rivers meet at Grafton.
For more information on the Great Loop, please visit www.greatloop.org
#GreatLoop #GreatLoopers #Boatlife #boatingadventure #bucketlist
Before today, I never knew this existed, and now this is all I want to do with my life.
ditto!!
I've known about this for 10 years but i have to wait 10-15 more years before I can consider doing it. Start saving money..🙄
I’m now obsessed!
Hahahah me to bro i live in florida already so know im working on getting a better boat
@@chrisrourke8404 me to bro
Did this great loop trip 4 times in a 42 carver. Wonderful trip
Is it possible to operate a boat that size by yourself? I am considering this trip with my wife and 3 kids and I'm not sure what size boat might be appropriate
The best part of the loop for us was the community of loopers. Because everyone does the loop at about the same time, you meet other loopers along the way. The rivers were the best for this. Every night ended up with looper cocktails and great friends.
ahh there is a light at the end of the river...smile.
We are 51 currently and plan on trying to start this adventure in another 3 years. What would you say the average age of other loopers are making this trip? Are we looking at a mostly over 65 crowd or a more under 50 group? Just wondering the the mingling age groups are.
@Roblando33 we are currently living in southwest Indiana but will likely be selling all land possessions and moving towards the south as well, at least occupying a Alabama or Florida postal address. Not certain if we will own actual land anywhere yet. We still are in the arguing, I mean discussion phase of that aspect 😂. Perhaps we will meet up on the 3 year mark and have a newbie boat to banter back and forth with. Good luck to us both in 3 years 🤞
As a long-time New Jersey resident, I recommend running outside. The inside waters are not always accurately marked, and there is a lot of shallow water throughout the state. The best, safest inlet is Absecon Inlet at Atlantic City (Cape May and Manasquan are also good). One can dock at the state marina next to the Golden Nugget casino. Repair facilities in Gardner's Basin. If you have no local knowledge I strongly suggest NOT going into Barnegat/Great Bay area. Even old timers get shoaled. I have seen water as shallow as two feet inside the markers! Outside New Jersey is easy; inshore New Jersey is the most challenging part of the ICW IMO. I've done Florida to New Jersey. Stay away from Little Egg, Corsons, and Herefords inlets! If you decide to run inside and it is warm, bring insect repellent...trust me.
As a disabled American Seabee vet , I met my wife in the Navy(she’s an 81/2 year vet) we just came across this webinar looking for affordable houseboats to spend the summer on . As we’re fulltimers and I m a burn victim we have to spend the winters in mild climates. Learning about this loop may be the best dam thing to come along in years for us! Please tell us more!!
Hi Barbara, there is a ton of information at www.greatloop.org. Be cautious with a houseboat, though. Most wouldn't be safe for the Great Loop as they are primarily designed for lakes and you'll be going through some "big water" on the Loop. Let me know if you have any questions. -Kim
@@GreatLoop could you define big water….?
@@brucehatch8742 There can be large waves in some of the bigger bodies of water, such as the Great Lakes, the Gulf of Mexico, and some of the inlets and sounds along the coast. The boat needs to be able to handle those and some houseboat designs aren't made for those conditions. We encountered 3-4' waves a few days ago in a sound in North Carolina when the forecast called for less than 1'. Hope that helps!
@@GreatLoop h
@@GreatLoop how do I know what boat is adaquate? Does each boat come with a rating? We live in a 30ft class “c” motorhome and your excellent presentation made it seem like we could transition to a live-a-board and still travel without the danger’s of blue water no? Refresher boating and navigation
As a fulltime RVer since 1999 I’m up for a new adventure at 68yrs old! I need a good boat🙃
I’m in the same situation, position, and am considering the same. How’s it going shifting your lifestyle? Are you still considering pursuing this new course and pattern?
Fantastic webinar! Definitely a great intro for those of us in the dreaming/planning stage.
Go glad you found it useful!
Woah, I'm not a boater, but this is fascinating. No idea it was possible to go such a distance.
That was an excellent video! Thank you for taking the time to do this, the most informative package I've heard on the Great Loop yet. A wonderful job!
I'm so glad you found it helpful!
The Big Chute Marine Railway was built not on a cost basis (it is way more expensive to operate). The lift was designed to keep the Sea Lamprey from swimming upstream through locks and decimate fishing throughout the river/lake system.
I was just going to say the same thing. We live on Georgian Bay and do the Chute many times a summer.
This would be so cool!!! Thanks for the insight!👍🙋♂️🖖🏻
Thank you for this webinar from a person who will never own a boat but interested in travel & history. The KZhead channel ‘ Nautistyle’ was where I 1st heard of this fantastic boat trip. Being Canadian & familiar with the Trent/Severn Waterway I was pleased with your wonderful review. Great job of very informative video, thanks.🙏👍👌🇨🇦
Just found out about this. We were "tiny house" people who just sold our camper (a tear drop) and bought our first boat together. Its an 1984 22' cuddy cabin but plan to upgrade to a 30' boat in the next year after getting more time behind the helm. Cant wait to knock this thing out in the next 5 years or so.
This was absolutely fascinating! Nicely put together presentation.
I'm glad you enjoyed it! Please let us know if you have any questions.
Thank you so much for all your hard work and information. Much appreciated!!!
You are very welcome! I'm glad you are finding it helpful.
I met a couple in door county who did this and it took them I think 7 or 8 months but sounded like a blast.
Hello fellow NJ boater. Great recommendations! At half tide today we were in 2’7” inside the markers behind Stone Harbor. It is rare these days to see even a local to cut through Herefords Inlet as a shortcut to the Ocean. Go around, please, the water runs fast through there…
I’ve known of the loop for a while now and I’ve always wanted to get into boating and eventually do the loop. I didn’t grow up around boats so it’s all been a learning experience for me. I’m currently 35 years old with a 16’ deck boat, within the next five years or so I plan on having a 23ish’ cruiser and eventually work my way up to the boat I plan on doing the loop in.
The Great Loop, on America’s Mariner Bucket List. 👍
for months i have been looking at cottages in ontario and have been sort of stuck between various muskoka lakes and something on the trent/severn waterway. i got sidetracked and started to look at cruising the trent/severn next summer and it just kept getting longer until i found out about the loop tonight. lol. i had no idea that a route like this is possible. thanks so much for sharing this - definitely on the bucket list.
Planning a trip with my Dad.. Thanks for the info 👍
Glad it was helpful!
Been wanting to do this since I found out about this as a kid! Thank you for all the tips! Exceptionally informative!!! 🙌💯🙌
You're so welcome!
Excellent webinar; I learned a lot (I had never even heard of the Great Loop until recently). As a Canadian, may I say thank you for the coverage of the Canadian portion of the Great Loop. Loved this video, and now I have something to add to my "bucket" list. :)
Glad you enjoyed it!
Just (3/21/23) Stumbled on this page ! I'm sitting in Sacramento on the California Delta and have Never been on the east coast ! So I will do it through your channel (no pun intended😅) if you don't mind.
Welcome to the Loop! Thanks for following along.
Thanks for posting this info...so much information, will def be revisiting when finally underway. Cheers!
id be sailing from the uk to do the great loop
Thanks for this information. This would be a dream cruise!
You can boat your whole life and still get excited about dolphins and porpoises on the bow!!😁😁😁
Yes!
Hi, I’ve just watched this in the UK, with a very early stage of planning a first entry into boating. Our first plan is the European inland waterways and the Mediterranean, but this Great Loop, could well become the 2nd 5 year plan, so thanks for your efforts 🙏🙏
Glad you enjoyed it! It sounds like you have some wonderful adventures planned. Safe cruising!
Very well done! My wife and I are nearing retirement age, and just found out about the Great Loop last week! We are starting to plan a year to do this trip. We live outside of Chicago and have relatives or a family history in many of these areas. We think it will be a great couples way to transition into the next phase of our lives, which involves adventure, not work.
Thank you for the overview.
This is great information! Thank you!
Glad you found it helpful!
I just found out about this trip and what a shame I didn't plan on this before retirement. I have been around the water all my life and would love the opportunity to make this trip. I don't think living on my 21' Bayliner Trophy Hardtop is the right answer but would like to try hahaha.Great info webinar Thanks.
I'm not retired, but I just bought a 1989 23' Pro-Line cuddy cabin. I'm definitely taking Time off to do this next summer! Going to use this year to get it seaworthy.
Terrific presentation - perfect for first timer interest!!
Taking navigation training is key ! Can's nuns, range markers, markers changing color all day subject to direction can get confusing.
Interesting! Thanks.
Thanks for watching!
Great video introduction. Thank you. Please have a collection of videos of travels in the different towns and cities around the loop and especially on the BEST THINGS to visit and see along the loop.
See youtube page of Scho and Jo - kzhead.infovideos. Currently looping with great commentary/vids of each town they visit (from FL to NY so far)
On the Hudson River, Kingston is a good place to stop. Kingston was the first NY State capital, then an active river commercial center. Maritime museum, city docks...
We call thousand islands home and the great loop is on our bucket list
Life goals here... love it!
Can't wait to get started
I have a friend in North Carolina whom this is his life goal. And he’s going to pick me up in the Great Lakes region which I will do a short trip with but this is amazing
Very nice work, thanks!
This is my dream! We have the right boat, on Lake Erie. If I could just convince my husband to be on the same page! 🥺
Most of the time its the wife that won't do it : (
What a lucky man, to have a wife wanting to convince him too do this trip.
Leave him on the docks
Try a mini loop around Michigan over to Chicago and back to Erie, would be a great trip.
Great video tour and introduction. I hope to do this some day.
We're glad you enjoyed the introduction. Please let us know if you have any questions as you start planning your own Great Loop!
Hi Kim, Last time I talked to you the loop was still on your bucket list. I hope you do it soon.
Well done video. You just picked up a new subscriber. Can’t wait to see the others!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for the info going to do it.
Fantastic video! There's a reason they call the Atlantic coast in NC and SC the graveyard of the Atlantic. Trying to make this trip on any boat drawing anything over 4' would be a challenge. Really want to do it on a sailboat, try finding one with a double keel, or at least a retractable keel like a McGregor.
Fantastic video and information. Thank you
You're very welcome! I'm glad it was helpful.
Awesome video 👍
Very informative. Thanks and Blessings.
You're so welcome! l'm glad it was helpful.
Very well done Thank you for doing this Very informative
Glad it was helpful!
I am so interested in this now very interesting an exciting trip to make. Living on the Tennessee river it's a goal now to do. Thank you very informative video
Glad you're excited about the Great Loop!
by watching this i feel like i already did the loop 😊
That was very informative...thank you
Glad it was helpful!
The gulf isnt a joke ive worked out there in 20 foot seas. You need to be careful and in my experience avoid fall time .
Yes, the Loopers must pay close attention to forecasts for the Gulf to avoid those conditions. Thankfully, we're crossing a small section of the Gulf and the option to take the "Big Bend" route for shorter hops is available, but still requires a close eye on the weather.
Cumberland Island is beautiful. I addition to the wild horses, there are also bobcat, whitetail deer, feral hogs, ect. I have been on a hog/deer hunt there and took a nice boar hog.
I have flown over it a couple of times, and it is beautiful countryside. The whole coast north of Jacksonville is a beautiful coastal wilderness area. Florida is eat up with feral hogs... I once saw them grazing on the side of the I-95 within municipal Jacksonville, if you can believe it.
And rattlesnakes
FYI Jacksonville FL (17:00min) has demolished "The Jacksonville Landing" and also the Marina close to the stadium is being closed for a new Housing development.
This was very informative. Thank you
Glad it was helpful!
outstanding,, thank you for the great insight. now to find the right size vessel to maximize travel options...
I have to imagine Lyft and Uber have added a great deal of convenience to this trip!
Yes, as have other modern conveniences like grocery deliveries.
General Aviation has had the same problem as boaters.. how to get around once you get there. Airports are usually remote (the cool ones).. With the advent of electric scooters/bikes with the ability to go 70 miles @ 25/30 mph has also been a God send. Very expensive (top brand are 3k range[!]).. but boy are they worth it.
@@hawkdsl As at many FBOs, some marinas will loan their customers a courtesy car for a few hours. Call ahead to find out.
@@colormedubious4747 Yes indeed. Even the "mom and pop" airports have loaner cars.. some that are quite comical.
@@hawkdsl I've driven some real beaters at decent-sized regional and international airports, too. My favorite was a battered pickup truck I was loaned by Signature at KCRP in the mid 90s. It would backfire, lurch, and emit smoke signals at random intervals just to keep you on your toes. 10/10 would borrow again!
Glad Chicago is apart of this dope journey. I can’t swim so this entire trip would have me freaking out.
Learn to swim whether you ever do this trip or not!
Stay off of lower Mississippi River its life threatening . Use Tombigbee River Route through Mississippi and Alabama . Beautiful and Safe with marinas and coves to anchor. There is considerable barge tracific, however , and other Cruisers.. Corps of Engineers may provide charts which are published .
Wish they would include rounding Nova Scotia on the route, Pictou, Canso, Halifax, Lunenbourg, Yarmouth, Boston... great ports of call
Yes, those are great ports of call and are part of the Down East Loop, which is typically a separate journey. Adding those to the Great Loop typically would make it impossible to do the northern portion of the route in a single summer season.
@@GreatLoop ooh very good point. Ill be departing pictou and heading down the St Lawrence in the spring.
Great info Thank you so much!
Glad it was helpful!
I absolutely love how the narration sounds like its a flight attendant speaking over the intercom. It gets me excited for travel hahaha.
Kim and her team at AGLCA are very friendly and do a great job supporting Loopers and providing information for those who are preparing for the Loop.
As a recreational boater in the Green Bay Wisconsin area, I’m looking at this presentation then asking myself if I should loop the red part of this chart, specifically, most of the Great Lakes with some diversions into Canada and New York State. Seems like thats the best part.
It's all about personal preferences. Some would certainly agree with you that the Great Lakes are a highlight. Other prefer the inland rivers, the GICW, or the AICW. Pick a spot and you'll find someone who thought it was a highlight of the Loop.
@@GreatLoop Yep, ours was definitely the inland rivers, this was where the looper cocktails were most regular, and where the best friendships were formed.
Private vessels are not permitted to dock at Fort Sumter. Only access is via the ferry from Charleston.
That is correct. This video is a few years old. In the past, private boats could dock at Fort Sumter but they changed that.
Thanks very informative
Thank you so much for this
You are so welcome!
Wow!!! What an amazing trip. Excellent video and super informative. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Awesome video
Based on my route, these were SouthWest Airlines Coastal Locations (generally within 10-20 miles of the loop) Brownsville/Corpus/New Orleans (N.O. Marina-Lake Ponch)/Orange Beach (Orange Beach Marina)/Pensacola/Shalimar/Destin-Fort Walton/Panama City/Appalachicola/Tampa/Fort Meyers/Sarasota/Havana Cuba/Bimini/Nassau Bahamas/Miami/Fort Lauderdale/West Palm/Orlando/Jacksonville/Savanna Ga/Charleston SC/Myrtle Beach/Greenville SC/Norfolk Va/Philadelphia Pa/Washington DullesWashington Reagan/Long Island NY/Syracuse NY/Albany NY/Providence RI/Boston Logan/Portland Maine/Buffalo NY/Cleveland/Detroit Mi/Chicago Mi/Milwaukee/St Luis Mo/Memphis…🤓
Thank you for sharing. I learned a lot from your video. I wish I have the opportunity to make this journey in the future.
I'm glad the video was useful for you!
thanks for this
Thank you Kim!
I wanna go!!!!
Cool video, nicely done. I'm trying to talk my wife into doing this one day. One correction though, you turn onto the Ohio from the Upper Mississippi at Cairo, IL, not Grafton, IL. Grafton is where the Illinois river joins the Upper. Not a big deal, I'm sure you just confused the towns you enter and leave the Upper on while doing the loop.
Definitely a mis-speak! Sorry about the error.
Yes, and the first lock between St. Louis and Chicago is at Chain-of-Rocks Canal or Lock 27 at Granite City before Alton and Grafton. Below St. Louis, there are no locks on the Mississippi R. just tow boats with barges which can be 6 or 7 barges wide and over 1000ft long + towboat. Ocean-going ships are present on the Mississippi R below Baton Rouge to the Gulf of Mexico. Going through the Industrial Canal from the Mississippi R to Lake Pontchartrain will need to be coordinated at N. O. unless you can transit with a towboat.
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How great was that!
Thank you Kim, you answered 90% of my questions. Especially about a boars draft.
Glad you found it helpful!
I am planning to leave Pittsburgh on May 1st/23 on my 32ft quadtoon shantyboat and reach the St John's about Dec 1st and cruise for the winter with many excursions along the way. I live on The Grand River near Grand Rapids and have built my boat to draft only 18 inches. My experience and mechanical abilities are pretty good and I have a good plotter/sonar unit and radio. I only know one pontoon houseboat that has crossed Mobile Bay and the video footage is pretty scary to watch. Any local tips will be greatly appreciated.
I'd think you'd want to keep heading up the east coast around Nova Scotia and come right up the mouth of the St-Lawrence. You'd get Cape Breton, PEI, Quebec City added to the tour.
Everyone has to make their own route choices, but many Loopers prefer the inland waterways rather than the open water you described. Also, you'd miss the beautiful cruising of the Hudson River and the New York State canals. Some Loopers cruise the area you described as part of the "Down East Loop" that many do separately from the Great Loop.
I'm no expert mariner but suspect that many Loopers would avoid going up-river due to the excessive fuel burn. Also, that's a LOT of exposure to chunky seas, dramatic tides, and late- or early-season ice floes. I'd save a downriver version of that route for a later trip when I'd be a bit more seasoned and also toss Portland, Providence, and Boston into the plan.
Nice job !
Thanks!
People living in or around Cayuga Lake or Seneca Lake, in Central New York, can travel from there all the way to Florida on their boat.
I notice that no routes include Lake Superior. I would have to include that so that I could say that I have sailed all the great lakes. Some beautiful scenery up there.
Lake Superior would be considered a side trip on the Great Loop which is why it is not shown on the route options.
Lake Superior can be accessed from Lake Huron completely within the US, I believe, through the Soo Locks which are on the border with Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. Lake Huron to Lake Erie is in the US if you stay on the west bank of the St. Clair R. or do not tie up on the east bank which is Ontario, Canada without a passport. Talk with Customs. The big problem with the St. Clair River is the "lake boats" and ships using it just like the Soo Locks, they are big.
Thank you so much for this. I've had it in my mind to do this solo for a while.Didn't know the details. Can you recommend a detailed map of the route? Also, I'm in Western North Carolina.Are there any waterways from here that would take me to the river system that would lead to the gulf? If so what are the restrictions on Vessel? Knowing there's a group of folks out there, makes it feel more attainable.😊
You can view a map of the route on the www.GreatLoop.org website or purchase a paper copy from there. The closest waterway from Western North Carolina that connects to the Great Loop Route is likely the Tennessee River near Knoxville. There are no vessel restrictions in that area for a boat that can do the rest of the Great Loop. Please let us know if we can be of further assistance. You can always email info@greatloop.org with questions.
Offering a Great Loop charter would be awesome!
The biggest challenge for that is generally insurance (if a charter was offered for the entire Loop). I've had others check into it before and they found that insurers will not cover a charter for that wide of a geographic area.
@@GreatLoop sad face....
Kim, great video. Very informative and interesting. Just getting started but this trip us now on my bucket list. My wife is “getting on board”. Couple of quick questions: 1. Diesel or gas boat? Is there a big difference in terms of advantages of one vs. the other? 2. I would think many loopers are “between homes” during the trip. Is this a fair statement? 3. Any books written about doing the loop? 4. I see flags that identify loopers- are these used by people first starting their trip?
Diesel or gas is a constant debate. There are more Looper boats that are diesel than gasoline. There is a long stretch on the inland rivers where getting gas can be more of a challenge for diesel. Gasoline is reat more of a fire risk than diesel. There's a lot on our forum about this topic. Some Loopers are between homes. Some rent out their home. Others leave it vacant or have family for friends house sit. There are several books about the Great Loop. Visit www.greatloop.org and check out the Shop menu. The white AGLCA flag signifies membership. The Gold is flown by those who have completed the route. The Platinum is for those who have completed it more than once.
Great Loop thanks! Joining today
@@TheMarpalm Thanks! We appreciate your membership! I call new members a week or two after they join to answer any questions, so I'll look forward to checking in with you later this month. -Kim
One warning I would say. Be ready for long periods of seeing nothing. Having no services close by. Be prepared in some areas to go a week or better with no places to reprovision. Bring extra motor parts, impellers, spare hose, clamps. Do your homework ahead of you. The Mississippi can be treacherous at the wrong time. Know where your next stop is. Nothing like looking for a place to hide after dark. Be parked after dark. Don't cruise unknown waters in the dark. Your eyes do play tricks on you at night. Especially after happy hour. Things can get deadly quickly. Don't take chances. 5 knot currents, 9 foot tides up east coast savanna area. Higher again in higher latitudes. Do your homework, be prepared, don't take chances. Even at 5 knots, shit can go horribly wrong very fast. See guy that took wrong turn on Mississippi, band of rocks. 36 foot sailboat on rocks. Chain of Rocks. Not good . Lucky they got air lifted off. Boat broke up and was swept down river in the following week. It's a great trip if you have the time, money and propper boat and gear. Must have proper dinghy, motor and multiple ground tackle. Anchors, lotsa chain and rope. The right stuff. Not the wrong stuff. Chain is your friend, road is your shock absorber. Used in combination. Learn a Bahama Moore. Happy cruising. Stay safe.
Thanks for the video, very interesting. Probably the longest video I've watched on you-tube so that shows how interesting I found it. I'd love to do this. Do you get many Non-Americans doing this or would it be a problem remaining in the US and Canada for so long? I'm in England.
Hi James, thanks for your comments. We do have several boaters who come from overseas to the do the Great Loop. It requires an extended visa, but I don't know of any members who have had trouble getting one. I have, in the past, provided a letter for members to take to their visa interview that explains the Great Loop and why an extended visa is needed. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at krusso@greatloop.
Wow! This is a great presentation. Can the Trent Severn locks accommodate a catamaran?
Glad you enjoyed it! The narrowest lock on the Trent Severn is 23'. So, it depends on your cat's beam.
I want to do this now! Can someone let me go with them? I'll pay my way. :)
Cool. I have the boat but not much money.
After watching many looper videos I was wondering why more/some/any really don't go down the Mississippi. Thanks.
The Lower Mississippi is not as friendly for pleasure craft as the Tenn-Tom route. There are not as many marinas and anchorages, there is a lot of commercial traffic to deal with, and it increases the maximum distance between fuel stops to 350 miles for diesel and 450 for gasoline. Some Loopers have done it, but most take the Tenn-Tom.
A buddy of mine takes his 78ft yacht from the Allegheny River here in Pittsburgh to Erie pa from spring to mid fall give or take. Then brings it back down for winter storage. He gos down the ohio to the Mississippi then to the Chicago River through lake Michigan around to Erie. He says it's hard getting diesel on some parts of the ohio and Mississippi manly cause he has to order a tanker for 1400 gal from empty to full . Cause most marinas cant supplie him that much fuel at once plus some parts the tanker has no River access. He has a rang about 300-350. 375 if he keeps his hand out the throttle lol
Although much of that trip is not part of the Great Loop, the part that is on the route does have the longest distance on the Loop between fuel stops. That would be between Hoppies in Kimmswick, MO on the Mississippi and Paducah, Kentucky on the Ohio. The distance is about 200 miles. Hoppies had been closed for a while, making it more challenging, but they are now back on line and pumping fuel.
@@GreatLoop Never been down that way with him. Once we hit the Mississippi we go North. He always runs the full tank. But the marinas can supply him some full but not the whole 1400 gal. That and he prefer tankers it's cheaper in bulk and pumping it from a marinas takes forever plus that most I seen him get was 500gal and they were crying about that
I would love to do this. Even more so on a solar powered 🚤 boat! :)
When you get connected pls pls pls let me know 🙂
*LMAO, oh are you in for a shock, figuratively and literally.*
Please be advised that the New York State Barge Canal/Erie Canal has a 15' high restriction from the water line.
Correct. That's on the western Erie Canal. If you cannot clear that 15' bridge, you can go from the Erie Canal to the Oswego Canal to Lake Ontario to continue the Great Loop. That route enables you to avoid the low bridges on the western Erie Canal. The eastern portion of the canal doesn't have the same height restrictions. The lowest bridge on the Erie to Oswego route is about 20'.
@@GreatLoop You are also correct, but I just thought I would point it out for route planning purposes. I was a Dock Master for the Canal Corp. and have welcomed many Great Loopers in my career. The authority has been working hard to update the system towards more of the recreational boater rather than the commercial users (large barges) of the past. Please also leave extra days on your trip down the Erie as storms can shut the system down for days at a time. Please be safe and enjoy your trip!
@@davidjohnson2469 Thank you! All three routes through the NY Canals and their associated clearances are covered right at the 30-minute mark in the video.
What's it like when you go through the Great Lakes from New York. It seems as though potentially you could change back and forward from US to Canadian waters on every anchorage; particularly up the east coast of Michigan for example. Is this the case and do you have to clear in and out of customs every time? Also is it possible to into Lake Superior and then down the Mississippi River?
My understanding is that you have to clear customs anytime you touch the soil in a different country. Anchoring would fit that description. Cruising in and out of the U.S. and Canada would not require you to clear customs if you are not anchoring or tying up somewhere. I don't know whether the current U.S./Canada border closure has changed that.
@@GreatLoop It's my understanding, for ocean cruising, that if you are anchoring for an overnight stay, or as a safe haven from bad weather in a foreign country (like the Bahamas as you pass through to the Caribbean), you will have no problems as long as you don't go to land.
@@GreatLoop man city
Call canada border services 888 226 7227 if you're from the us taking your boat into Canadian waters temporarily. It might be the same number to call if you want to dock, not sure.
No, you cannot get from Lake Superior to the Mississippi. The only water connection between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi is the one shown here, through Chicago. Two totally different watersheds.
Hate to nitpick but Grafton is where the Illinois meets the Mississippi river. Cairo Illinois is where the Ohio meets meets the Mississippi.
You are 100% correct. It was a misspeak when we recorded this. It's been covered in comments previously but I'll add it to the video description as well.