Resource library search

While the 2026 legislative session in Florida ended back in the spring, the work continues to keep the waterways of the Great Loop open and safe for recreational vessels.

Buying the right boat is only part of preparing for the Great Loop—making it comfortable enough to truly feel like home is what transforms a boat into the perfect platform for your adventure. It's time to make the boat your own.

Help us welcome our newest sponsors! Bay Harbor Marina (Michigan), and Bridge Port Marina (Ontario) ~ make sure to stop in at both marinas on your way towards Lake Michigan this fall and take advantage of their amenities to make your stay a joyful one. Thousand Island Yacht Spa (New York) is all about service and storage. They offer transportation services as well. Have you ever looked at a boat and said to yourself, it looks good on paper, but can it handle the Great Loop? Head over to Can I Loop? and get additional insight into the information you won't find on the survey.

AGLCA has been working closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to help our members prepare for an upcoming closure at Brandon Road Lock & Dam (Illinois Waterway Mile 286).

One of the great joys of cruising the Great Loop is discovering the history, culture, and cuisine that make each region unique. Long before roads and railways connected communities, waterways served as North America's first highways, carrying Indigenous peoples, explorers, settlers, and traders across the continent. As Loopers cruise through Canada, they're not just passing through beautiful landscapes—they're experiencing centuries of history through the food on their plates.

It's pretty uncommon to do the Great Loop in your 40s. It's even more unusual to do it as a crew of six women. Add the fact that these women will be rowing the Great Loop to raise awareness for Parkinson's disease, and the result is a truly unique and inspirational story.

Join us in welcoming our newest AGLCA Sponsors. Whether you are in need of training, looking for a slip or hoping to get work done on your vessel, C2 Bluewater, Eldean Shipyard, and Shalimar Harbor Marina are happy to help!

It's Time to Buy the Boat!

Imagine sailing through a busy shipping lane at night: a cargo vessel bearing down from starboard, a fishing boat crossing ahead, fog rolling in. What do you do? Who gives way? What signals should you sound? What safety equipment must you have on board?

The best source of Great Loop knowledge is the people who have already done it. It’s time to engage!

In 2026, the United States will mark a milestone few generations ever experience—the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Across the country, communities large and small are preparing for commemorations that will honor America’s history, culture, and spirit of exploration. But among all the parades, fireworks, concerts, and ceremonies planned for the nation’s semiquincentennial, one celebration is already capturing the imagination of boaters and history lovers alike: the return of the tall ships.

Thank you to all of our amazing sponsors for helping make the 2026 Spring Rendezvous our biggest and best yet! Please also help us welcome new sponsors MTOA (one of our Advocacy Coalition Partners), and Happy at Law. Both organizations can help you make your Loop the best it can be! We encourage you to support the businesses that support the Great Loop!

For many Loopers—both those planning and those already underway—the Great Loop is often thought of as a single 6,000-mile route through a connected system of waterways across the eastern United States. It links the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, the Great Lakes, inland rivers, and the Gulf. It doesn’t take long, however, to realize that the Loop is far from a single fixed path. In fact, there are numerous alternate routes within the Loop itself. This flexibility is one of the reasons many Gold Loopers continue cruising in pursuit of the Platinum Burgee—they discover there are far more ways to complete the Loop than they originally imagined.

Ready to go electric? Electrified Marina can help.

No matter your experience level, the Great Loop will introduce you to new waters, new conditions, and new challenges. Even seasoned boaters quickly realize there’s always something new to learn along the way. Step 3 is about building the knowledge and confidence you’ll rely on every day once you’re underway.

If you’re wondering whether the Potomac River and Washington, D.C. belong on your Great Loop itinerary—and whether they’re worth the detour—the answers are yes and an emphatic YES.