GL: When to leave?

[Gregory Han]

John

We have just finished the loop and took 8 months on a 7.5 knot boat.
We left Miami early April and returned by thanksgiving.


I endorse what Elaine said about schedules. I would get the planning
book from Skipper Bob  about doing the Great Loop. Great overall
planning info. I endorse all the books from them as essential for the
trip.

We had done a trip to Ches Bay in 2005 returning to Miami and did the
Downeast Loop in 2006 so we had been up and down the east coast
several times.

The ways to do the loop are either multiple years with leaving the
boat in various places over the winter or in one year with returns to
various places in successive years.  We are doing the latter.
>From Florida - getting to the Great Lakes and Canadian canals is the
biggest distance and to me the biggest attraction.Therefor to maximize
the time up there in the good months you have to skim by the east
coast and the rivers area somewhat.

So if you are like us and do not want to lay up the boat in the north,
then do successive trips over several years.  We had done a lot of
time in the Chesapeake so we skimmed that in 2007. We went up the
Hudson in early June and did Lake Champlain, Rideau and Trent canals
and a month in the Georgian Bay, North Channel and Lake Michigan. We
then flew through the rivers and only skimmed the Tennessee to be home
by Thanksgiving.  You could slow down a bit and see more of the
Tennessee and return home by Christmas.  Cruising early or late in the
season will mean a close eye on the weather with weather delays of
several days in port so plan to stay somewhere interesting and take
car trips.

 In 2008 we are going back to the Chesapeake and will get up to Long
Island Sound, Block Island, Newport and Cape Cod - which we skimmed in
2006 on the Downeast loop trip - in the height of the summer then
return to Miami.

In 2009 we will go backwards on the Loop and spend the whole season in
the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers.

So this way we are in Miami for the winter where we have a permanent
slip and love the weather and in cooler climes in the summer months.
Of course the Ches Bay is HOT in the summer and so is the Tennessee.

As far as getting an early start, in 2006 we left Miami in early March
and got to DC in early April (time to see the Cherry blossoms) where
we stayed for a month to let the warm weather catch up with us. The
Carolinas can be COLD in march.  I would not leave southeast Florida
before March 1.

Just my experience


On Dec 5, 2007 11:49 AM, John Stewart <johnstewart at sanctum.com> wrote:
> We have a 47' steel tug moored at Tarpon Springs, Florida. What month would be
> the best time to begin the Loop? Expect to take 9 to 12 months. Cruse
> comfortable at 6.5 kts.
>
> Trying to plan a year out.  I assume late Feb./ early March would suffice, but
> I would welcome the suggestions of those that have actually done this.
> John
>
-- 
Greg and Susan Han
Allegria -- Krogen Whaleback #16