George, and anybody interested
The Great Loop is a trip around the Eastern half of the US. You can start anyplace, I'm starting Jacksonville FL because I'll be working on my Corbin 39 from the late part of Jan 07 (I retire then) till April 1 when I start the Great Loop. You normally go counter-clock-wise. In short..... Up the East coast of the US till you hit New York City, hang a left up the Hudson River a little after Troy, New York you hang another left to the Erie Cannal, across NY state to Lake Erie across Lake Erie across Lake Huron down Lake Michigan to Chicago Down the Illinois River, down the Mississippi River to the city of Cairo Ill. take a slight left to the Kentucky River another slight left to the Tombigbee River to Mobile AL on the gulf coast around the Gulf coast across to Alabama down to the west coast of Florida to the Keys and back up the east coast of FL and back to Jacksonville FL. Acording to my figures about 6,700 nm and should take me about 10 to 12 months. with my H 260 and the ability to drop the mast I should have no problem with the tight spots in Chicago with bridge clearence. other boat with more draft can take the Saint Lawrence Rive option. For more information do a search on The Great Loop, I belong to America's Great Loop Cruisers Assiciation @ WWW.greatloop.com. This discription should NOT be used for navigation, LOL John USNret