Great Loop Radio Podcast

Wendy & Hal share the story of their Great Loop adventure aboard their Grand Banks 42 Classic, Patriot. They'll tell why they chose the Grand Banks, what they did to prepare for the trip, their cruising preferences like how many miles they traveled per day and at what speed, and offer their best advice to future Loopers. America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association offers information and inspiration for those actively cruising, planning for, or dreaming about an adventure on the Great Loop -- a 6,000 boat trip around the eastern part of North America. www.greatloop.org/joinus.

Join us as platinum Looper, Herb Seaton, shares information on Looping solo. Herb is in the midst of his 3rd trip around the Great Loop solo. He'll share some of the things he's learned along the way that make locking and docking without crew aboard easier.

On this week's episode, Nate Gilman of MM-SEAS talks about the requirements for obtaining a captain's license and helps you avoid some of the pitfalls in the application process. He'll also share how having one can benefit Loopers.

Stan & Dana share the story of their Great Loop adventure aboard their MJM 40z. They discuss details about the boat and what made it ideal for them. They also talk about why they decided to do the Loop, their cruising preferences, and the best parts of the trip.

Have you ever wondered when and why AGLCA was founded? How has it changed over the years? What's next for AGLCA? By listener request, your Home Port Crew tells you all about AGLCA on this week's podcast.

Cindy Lewis of Sterling Associates brings us up to date on the details of financing your Great Loop boat in 2023. Our discussion includes information on how the Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes are affecting boat loans, what requirements the banks have, and what you can expect for loan terms.

The AGLCA Home Port Crew takes on the topic of security aboard with a discussion on how to keep your vessel, your belongings, and the people aboard secure while Looping.

Our "Story of our Loop" series continues with Craig and Niki telling us about their Great Loop aboard their 42' Nordic Tug, "Joy Girl".

For newer boaters, obtaining insurance coverage for a Great Loop boat has been a challenge for the past few years. Jon Horton of Jack Martin & Associates joins us this week to share what he expects from the marine insurance marketplace in 2023.

The past few years have presented challenges to new Loopers looking to buy their perfect Great Loop boat. Will those challenges continue in 2023? Join us on this week's podcast as Curtis Stokes of Curtis Stokes & Associates shares his insight on what to expect in 2023.

Captain Alyse Caldwell of Ask Captain Chris joins us this week to share details on celebrating the holidays aboard your boat. We'll discuss how to adapt your holiday traditions from your "dirt life" to life aboard, decorating tips, ideas for gift giving, and how to spearhead a group gathering to celebrate with other boaters.

Thinking about purchasing a dinghy for your Great Loop? Dustin Kidd of Bourbon City Yacht Tenders, who also happens to be a Gold Looper, is our guest this week to talk about things you should consider when purchasing a new tender.

Jake Krancic did the Loop aboard a 32' sailboat. When his wife wasn't interested in joining him, he took on crew and did some of the Loop solo. What it's like to Loop aboard a sailboat with a small diesel engine at an average speed of less than 5 mph? Listen to find out!

For some couples, one's desire to do the Great Loop and the other's reluctance can lead to an impasse. Hube & Chris came up with a solution. Chris did the parts she wanted and Hube took aboard crew for the other legs. They'll share the details and logistics of finding 11 different crew members and getting them to and from the boat so Hube could fulfill his goal of completing America's Great Loop.

What's new with AGLCA? Listen to learn about our new website platform and some of its new features. We'll also share details about the upcoming Looper-palooza event in Fort Myers happening January 23-25, 2023.

What's it like for a family of four with two teenagers to cruise for a year? The Wright Family shares the story of their Great Loop adventure aboard their 42' Nordic Tug on this week's episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast.

Practice makes perfect! Before starting the Great Loop, learn how to effectively communicate with other recreational boats, commercial vessels, bridge tenders, lock masters, and marinas via your VHF radio. Dave & Nan Ellen Fuller show us how.

AGLCA could not continue without support from our sponsors and assistance from our volunteers. This episode starts with an interview with Tim Konkus from the 2022 Sponsor of the Year, Delaware City Marina. You'll learn about the special services this marina provides that make it a "must stop" on the Great Loop. Then, we'll feature Dave & Claudia Fuller, winners of the 2022 Ron & Eva Stob Volunteers of the Year Award. Hear about the many things Dave & Claudia have done to support AGLCA and their fellow Loopers that earned this this award.

After 10 years of boating, Ron & Jan upgraded to a Nordic Tug 34 and completed the Great Loop over the course of 3 years, storing the boat for the winter between cruising seasons. On this episode of the Great Loop Radio podcast, they share the story of their adventure.

Considering winter storage for your Great Loop boat? Tom Pirro and John Lombardi from Winter Harbor Marina talk about winter storage. They share how boats are prepared for heated storage and relaunched in spring. They also share tips on winterizing boats that will be cold stored.