The great loop

SFS · Oct 10, 2019

There is an association (greatloop.org) that has a ton of info, and I have the impression that, like this site, the info is directly from folks that have "been there, done that". I would start there. The crux air draft limitation is in the Chicago area, and IIRC is less than 20 feet. Many folks have done it in sailboats, and simply had the mast stepped somewhere up north.

I have a friend that has done it twice (in a lovely 52" stinkpotter). If you want to talk to him, send me a PM with your contact info, and I'll pass it on. I'm sure he would be happy to talk to you.

SFS · Oct 10, 2019

Didn't know that, sorry. I think that periodically they may have gatherings that you could attend for free. I think the biggest one each year is relatively close to you (LA, maybe) and occurs at the time of year that most folks start from the bottom of the loop (Spring?)

Davidasailor26 · Oct 10, 2019

rgranger said:
So if you are in a sailboat, do you have to unstep your mast before going through Chicago? I guess not a big deal on a Hunter 26 but if I were doing this trip, I'd want something larger than an H26.

Chicago may be the lowest fixed bridge height, but there are other sections that also require the mast to be unstepped. The whole Erie Canal for example also has low fixed bridges. I think there are other similar limitations along some of the inland rivers.

capta · Oct 10, 2019

Did the Mississippi from the Illinois River (came from Chicago) to NO on an 80' motorsailor. Back then it was 17 feet, so check your number again. I was all excited and thought it would be a grand adventure. I'd see America's heartland from the deck of my boat. Huck Finn, Tom Sawyer, you know....
Hardly!
There are 30' levees all the way down, except St Louis, plenty of difficult traffic to deal with and hours and hours of inching along in masses of debris (plastic bags, trees, docks, dead animals, etc). Few places to tie up that weren't filthy commercial concrete walls or basins (not nice pristine yacht style marinas), where our lines and fender covers soaked up the fuel oil in the water like wicks.
I'd classify the "mighty Miss" as America's sewer line and give that trip a pass in a small boat. I hear the Ten Tom is the way to go.

Boomer54 · Oct 10, 2019

I have not done the loop. Lots of loopers stage in Racine (Reefpoint Marina) where we keep our boat, MH37. My understanding is that sailboats take their masts down in Chicago and have them trucked down to Mobile Alabama where they are once again raised.

dlochner · Oct 10, 2019

When you read further in the book, you'll learn that part of the Great Loop, the NY Canal System has limited bridge clearance too. The mast has to come down. That isn't a big deal. There are marinas at each end of the canal that take down masts on a daily basis.

The Erie Canal section is relatively short, 4-5 days if heading to Lake Ontario, about 7-10 days if heading all the way to Lake Erie. Most sailors carry the mast onboard.

For the Chicago to Gulf Section, I have heard many sailboats have the masts unstepped in Chicago and shipped to a marina on the Gulf Coast to be stepped.

David in Sandusky · Oct 10, 2019

I recently followed the blog of a slip-mate who went down the western half of the Great Loop from Lake Erie through Chicago and the Tom-Bigbee to the Bahamas in a Hunter 30. Over time I’ve read a number of other accounts. My summary impression is that there is really not much chance to sail on the inland waterways, canals, or rivers. So the right boat for the Great Loop is (IMHO) a motor boat.

capta · Oct 10, 2019

rgranger said:
@capta

What year was that? Your description really takes all of the fantasy out of it.

Sorry. Possibly '82 or 4? Yeah, blew my dreams all to hell. I hope this helps at least one person to choose the Ten Tom instead. I've heard that it's really nice, clean and easy.

Scott T-Bird · Oct 10, 2019

I can't imagine any reason to follow the Mississippi all the way down south. Watch Sailing Soulinanis Sailing Soulianis for their segments on the trip from Chicago to Mobile on the Tenn-Tom Bigbee. It is worth watching. You'd follow the Illinois River to the Mississippi. Mississippi for a few days past St. Louis to the Ohio. Ohio River to Tennessee River and then south from there. It is the only way that is worth doing. It looked like the short segment motoring upriver on the Ohio had some pretty nasty current. Once in the Tennessee River, you are essentially on Kentucky Lake and current won't be a problem.

At the other end, I would skip the Erie Canal and do the Trent Severn system in Ontario from Lake Ontario to Lake Huron (Georgian Bay). You can skip Lake Erie entirely, which would probably be a good thing. I would skip the Erie Canal by taking the Hudson River and the canal system to Lake Champlain, the Richelieu system to St Lawrence River, then visit 1000 Islands . A lot of people like the Erie Canal for the history, though. I think I would choose the other way for the scenery.

Stu Jackson · Oct 10, 2019

I don't think much has changed since Raban did the trip. Couldn't find the year 'cuz the Kindle version is newer, but could have been in the 80s, too.

Amazon.com: Old Glory: A Voyage Down the Mississippi (Vintage Departures) eBook : Raban, Jonathan: Kindle Store

Buy Old Glory: A Voyage Down the Mississippi (Vintage Departures): Read Kindle Store Reviews - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

Great read, btw, even if you're not even thinking of it or even decide not to go.

gettinthere · Oct 10, 2019

Did it in 2011. Stepped mast in Chi and shipped to Mobile. Absolutely loved the trip.

Here's a little montage of that trip:

Lots of industry on the Illinois river, gets rural as you head south.

Loved locking thru, some were a 90' lift!

Hope you like tug boats!

dlochner · Oct 10, 2019

Scott T-Bird said:
At the other end, I would skip the Erie Canal and do the Trent Severn system in Ontario from Lake Ontario to Lake Huron (Georgian Bay).

Can't do that easily. The only way to get to Lake Ontario is via the Erie Canal or sail up to the Gulf of St. Lawrence and then sail/motor about 1,000 miles upstream through the St. Lawrence River to the Bay of Quinte, where the mast has to come down to do the Trent-Severn.

Jim26m · Oct 10, 2019

This couple did the loop in a Mac 26x. I met them in Fairhope and had a nice visit with them. Met them for lunch at LuLus when they headed toward Florida. They keep trip logs that you might find interesting.

Great Loop Cruise | Log of the Chinook