The Great Loop.

[polarisrider1]

Has anyone done this trip? http://www.greatloop.com/ It is on my bucket list. Tons of info on the internet about it.

[mrsrunningbear]

know someone who is doing part of that trip now left Ontonagon and going to Florida for the winter, they may be done already, I can't wait to hear about it

[michaeladams]

better hurry before they close the locks on the chicago river.

[Pizza Man]

A freind of mine did that about 6 years ago.
He was a navy man and it was his dream to do it for years.
They bought a house boat with twin stern drives(350 Chevs).
They left Manitowoc, Wi in August and got down to Cape Coral, Fl by early December.
Stayed the winter and then left for home in April arriving back to Manitowoc by August.
They went counter clockwise, coming home up the east coast and through the Great Lakes.

[fgsacts]

Wow, what an adventure that would be. Another addition to the bucket list.

[polarisrider1]

Wow, what an adventure that would be. Another addition to the bucket list.

Andy, We could pick you up and your lovely wife along the way. You got 6-12 months of spare time I could use help with the gas. lol. All ready got a couple (retired Coast Guard) to live on a house boat with me on lake Cumberland. The houseboat is 1440 sq. ft. on main level 880 sq.ft. on upper level. I will get to Jet ski to work!......................work???????? As far as the Great Loop trip it will have to be soon because the locks may get locked in Chitown. I suspect that the Calumet Sag channel will still have limited passage if they shut down the upper part of the Chicago Sanitation and ship canal. It apears that most people do the trip counter clockwise.

[1flatlander2]

i've not done it but there is some interesting info here
http://www.funonthefox.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=80&t=10986&p=126108&hilit=loop+great+lakes#p126108

[polarisrider1]

i've not done it but there is some interesting info here
http://www.funonthefox.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=80&t=10986&p=126108&hilit=loop+great+lakes#p126108

Sweet! if I take out winter storage costs for heated storage in MI and apply it towards the trip with bringing along another couple, It will be a feasible "bucket list" item. Bonus!!!

[rp7x]

any bridge clerance problems this would be doable with a sail boat free wind

[polarisrider1]

any bridge clerance problems this would be doable with a sail boat free wind

All kinds of bridge clearance problems especially in the Erie canal. I would also take the Trent-Severn waterway and at one point they actually rail car your boat up over a hill. http://www.trentsevern.com/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=162&Itemid=157 lock number 44

[polarisrider1]

know someone who is doing part of that trip now left Ontonagon and going to Florida for the winter, they may be done already, I can't wait to hear about it

Are they bringing the boat back or selling it in Florida? Do you know which way they went to get to Florida?

[1flatlander2]

Sweet! if I take out winter storage costs for heated storage in MI and apply it towards the trip with bringing along another couple, It will be a feasible "bucket list" item. Bonus!!!

what kind of boat do you have

[polarisrider1]

what kind of boat do you have

Sea Ray Sundancer 34'. I am looking at trawlers for this trip, but can do it with what I have. 2 people, 2 small dogs will be going.

[peter]

That would be an adventure.

[GTL]

I've started it, and plan to do the next leg next year. A little at a time ($$$$) We did the Mpls. to Mobile, AL. on a 25' Permier poontoon w/250 hsp. Merc. A real blast to meet a big variety of real people !! The nest leg will be the Trent-Severon waterway. Life is great. I would like to do "Around the Lake" on a sled within the next couple of years too, but it seems hard to get any hardcore/realiable info. It's not like you just hop in a boat and go down a river.

[polarisrider1]

I've started it, and plan to do the next leg next year. A little at a time ($$$$) We did the Mpls. to Mobile, AL. on a 25' Permier poontoon w/250 hsp. Merc. A real blast to meet a big variety of real people !! The nest leg will be the Trent-Severon waterway. Life is great. I would like to do "Around the Lake" on a sled within the next couple of years too, but it seems hard to get any hardcore/realiable info. It's not like you just hop in a boat and go down a river.

Around Superior at this time can not be done legally. Way to much ditch riding for me at this time. You can do about 3/4's of it with no problem. Trent-Severn is on my list. I have an Aunt who has a Marina on Lake Simcoe, Ont. I can stay at. Do you trailer to your starting point? I don't have that option.

[GTL]

We trailered back from Mobile and I plan on doing the Trent both ways so as to not have to trailer.

[1flatlander2]

Sea Ray Sundancer 34'. I am looking at trawlers for this trip, but can do it with what I have. 2 people, 2 small dogs will be going.

don't know much about cruisers what is a trawler?
i have a 06 30 baja outlaw

[GTL]

Go to Trawlers and Trawlering.com it will explain it all ----------and the lifestyle of it all !!! Having lived on my houseboat for 6 years it IS a different expierience.

[polarisrider1]

Go to Trawlers and Trawlering.com it will explain it all ----------and the lifestyle of it all !!! Having lived on my houseboat for 6 years it IS a different expierience.

Great site. Thank you! Tons of info. Great Loop, then retire to lake Cumberland on a 24x100 house boat. I love the lifestyle.