GL: "Seaworthy" boat for Great Loop.

[LRZeitlin at aol.com]

In a message dated 10/10/07 12:00:22 AM, David writes:


> We as yet are to buy the boat on which we will do the loop. In a recent
> post, someone said that only 5% of the loop is open water and the rest is
> sheltered. I would disagree and it has a significant bearing on the boat
> we will buy.
> 
It all hinges on your definition of "open water." Here in the Northeast we 
consider open water or "offshore" as starting at the distance greater than which 
a boat can return to shelter in half a day. Weather forecasting along the 
Loop is quite reliable in the short term. If your boat has an 8 kt. cruise speed, 
than offshore for you is about 96 miles. In my slower boat it is 72 miles. 
There are very few sections of the Loop, even on the Great Lakes, which require 
you to traverse open water by the above definition. You can do the Jersey 
coast keeping a couple of miles offshore. Lake Michigan is best travelled on the 
western shore, visiting delightful Door County enroute. I don't know where you 
live on the shores of Lake Superior, but unless it is Thunder Bay, a shoreline 
route is very little longer than a direct route to the Sault Ste. Marie 
Canal. Florida's Big Bend can be done in stages not requiring an open water 
crossing.

You can do the entire Loop never venturing more than 20 miles away from land. 
True,   if you take a direct route across the biggest bodies of water, Lake 
Superior, Lake Michigan, and Lake Ontario, you might be further offshore. But 
remember, there is no rule that says you must travel down the center of the 
largest lakes. Further, there is no rule that says that you can't wait a few days 
for a favorable weather window. The often recommended daily travel distance 
for the Loop is about 50 miles between stops. Unless you are on a delivery 
schedule, what's the hurry?

Justify your boat purchase by any logic you want but don't equate size with 
seaworthyness. Incidentally, the boat you have your eye on is hardly the one I 
would choose for an offshore passage.

Larry Z



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