Great Loop

Jus Cruisin

Jus Cruisin

Well-Known Member
Oct 6, 2021
2,317
Lake St Clair - MI (Belle Maer Harbor)
Boat Info
Boatless
Engines
None
So, I saw this boat in marina last year when we purchased our well. The Manatee name got my attention because I lived in Manatee County in Florida for about 12 years. I never talked to the owner. The boat was gone earlier this year and no one was using that well. It showed up a couple of weeks ago.
Come to find out, he does the Loop every year. His home is in Florida. I want to take some time to talk to him before he takes off south.
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Yeah, he’s at the marina every year. Went to florida a few years back and when we were heading over the cape coral bridge we saw him in the Caloosahatchee River, it was kinda cool. IIRC he was on the hard last year or maybe the year before at BM and got a late start heading back due to a sizeable hull breach.
 
This is a bucket list thing for me. I would love to do this, now more than ever. Very cool. Thanks for sharing. I hope you get to chat with the owner
 
My wife and I attended the Great Loop weekend intro seminar this past Spring. It was a really informative 2 day event focused on all aspects of the Loop. Plenty of vendors there specializing in Great Loop products and services too. I recommend it to anyone considering doing the Loop.
 
I would love to do the GL but there's absolutely no way I'd convince my wife to spend that much time on the boat and away from family. Really a bummer. I'll just live vicariously through the rest of you.

Please post back here if you get a chance to visit with the guy.
 
Just my 2 cents, but if you want to do the LOOP, need to move it up on the bucket list. Life is to short and fast!!
 
DB360 said:
Just my 2 cents, but if you want to do the LOOP, need to move it up on the bucket list. Life is to short and fast!!
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Agreed - just purchased a lake home instead of waiting for things to be just right. Just lost my Mother-In-Law and also my best friend. The time is never right and life is too short. Although, the GL, is still in the bucket.
 
Jus Cruisin said:
So, I saw this boat in marina last year when we purchased our well. The Manatee name got my attention because I lived in Manatee County in Florida for about 12 years. I never talked to the owner. The boat was gone earlier this year and no one was using that well. It showed up a couple of weeks ago.
Come to find out, he does the Loop every year. His home is in Florida. I want to take some time to talk to him before he takes off south. View attachment 131951 View attachment 131952
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Their names are Ted and Sarah and their dog is Patches. They have now completed 32 trips of the Great Loop and start number 33 this fall.
 
Whats better for the loop: a trawler or a catamaran blow boat?
 
jmauld said:
Whats better for the loop: a trawler or a catamaran blow boat?
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Several bridges along the route, a few very low; a catamaran (or mostly any sailboat) mast would be an issue. Either remove and leave it somewhere, or deal with ON/OFF work along the way... or choose something needing less bridge clearance...

-Chris
 
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Some good friends of mine are on day 60 or so of the loop. They docked somewhere in MI yesterday and while they were on the dock another boat came in too fast and hit theirs. It went up over the side, I think, and took out their railing and did other damage. They’re waiting till Monday for an inspection, etc.
 
The 45 can carry enough fuel to do the loop?
 
jmauld said:
The 45 can carry enough fuel to do the loop?
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should be able to, at hull speed especially. longest run for diesel is about 200 miles I believe, if the one stop is open, maybe 250 if it's closed. I can't remember where that is but I think its on the mississippi somewhere
 
Oh, I thought there was a 400ish mile section with no fuel.
 
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