I heard you say that the boating community is a tightknit group of people ready to help with any problem or emergency... there are no strangers once you're on a boat. I ride a bagger (motorcycle) and they are a close second with helping on another. Thanks for sharing your wisdom
Yes you do! I recommend waiting till your precious little ones are a bit bigger. But you are going to have a hard time convincing them to leave the paradise you live in for a year LOL
Really nice video with a lot of great information for anyone who's curious about the great loop. So thanks a lot for posting it and you guys seemed pretty natural and composed on camera so that's a big plus. I'll have to watch the rest of your series when I get the time.
Cool. Thanks yall. I am/was one them never knew folks. Just watched your top five video. Now this and yup I’m super intrigued. Glad yall made a safe and memorable journey. Can’t wait to watch more your journey. Thanks for sharing your experience. 🤙🏼
Thank you thank you, neighbors. I’m still enjoying your adventures. Been decades x 4 since I’ve been on a boat at lake Lanier 😂. But I’ve bucket listed the Great Loop. Retiring 🤞🏾in ‘25 at same time studying / training for 👨🏽✈️ licensing etc. My aim will combine cycling (Sunday coffee rides) around the states while traveling the great loop. FLL Int’l boat show next month. I hope to run into you all in the ATL soon.
We spent a couple months in the Keys before we met you guys. Then we skipped Miami on our way back from the Bahamas. The kiddos feel jipped so I am sure we will make a trip down to Miami soon. Hope you guys are well!
Great information!!! Might I ask for you to expand your explanation of the draft in the upper region of the Great Loop in the numerous canals and lock systems in Canada and NY State. I am especially interested in Georgian Bay and whether your 4.5' draft would still be feasible. We had our sites on a Fleming 55, but its draft is 5' which now seems like the wrong boat. A Nordhavn 41 has a 4.5' draft which seems to match your boat and may be successful in Georgian Lake. Many Thanks!!! Safe Boating!!!
Thanks for watching and commenting. Great question about draft. A Fleming 55 is an incredible boat! Especially for a cruising couple and I argue she has the prettiest lines on the water. I am sure you have watched Tony Fleming’s beautiful UA-cam vids on his adventures in Venture through the years. As for draft she will make it for sure in Canada and upper northern channels but just be warned… you will really need to mind your charts and get local knowledge with that depth. The boats we saw have the most problems with hitting bottom were in the 5 foot draft range. Granted they all made it but now without their share of problems like new propellers and one even suffered some hull damage. Captain error? Maybe. Canadian waters have granite bottoms which are not forgiving. With 5’ of draft you just add to an already close tolerance and make it a bit more stressful. Totally doable though if you are a cautious and attentive captain and navigator! Good luck and enjoy your adventure!
You said 70 foot is pushing it for the loop. I have a houseboat that's quite a bit longer than that. I already plan on anchoring all the time but what would keep me from using it?
Hi there. Houseboats are a subject great debate on many Loop forums. As we said in the video… “You do you”:) Length over 70 feet just becomes a headache more than a no go. I’m sure you have looked into how your houseboat will handle the potential occasional 6 foot wave and sea worthiness. Generally not well but I’m sure you have it figured out. Good luck and push those boundaries!
Great question to which there is no exact answer. With everything shaved off the hard top, fully loaded with water & fuel and sitting in freshwater, she is somewhere between 20 & 21.
@@raymondbrown867 If by solar panel you mean a few 100 watt panels then unfortunately you cannot run anything more than a small trolling motor. Even the best and newest hybrid boats over 40 feet with massive lithium battery banks can only make about 40 miles of range under purely electric propulsion. Even less if rough waters, current, wind, and heating and or cooling the boat underway. In our opinion the electric motor-yachts are a long way from practical. Wind (sails) and/or diesel are the best means of power. Thanks for watching! ⚓️Mark
The short answer is yes. But the process was interesting. We will give the long version once we get to that part of our VLOG (which at our current rate may be awhile LOL).
The thing I disagree with is your comment on the lack of swimming. There were few places where we did not swim. Sometimes we had to wait until nobody was looking, like in the lock sections. One lock master, after telling us that swimming was strictly forbidden added "but we leave at 6 so your on your own". Maybe some of the water was dirty, but not as dirty as we were. We never showered on the boat. 36' Monk.
And that is the beauty of the Loop -- everyone makes it their own. You never showered on your boat. I always showered on my boat. And we all had a blast :) We mostly stayed at marinas so swimming wasn't an option those nights. But the nights we did anchor in Canada and the Bahamas, the swimming was incredible!
The 'great loop' sounds a lot more of an adventure than it is in reality? It's full of retired GM executives in their 30yr old floating him palaces. Jumping from 5 star marina to 5 star marina, never out of sight of land. Convincing themselves they're on some great adventure?
Curious where you got your information. We didn’t meet one GM Executive the whole trip?! 🤣😜And yes there are definitely some nice marinas but do your self a favor and search Hoppies Fuel Barge along the Mississippi…great place but by no means “5 Star”. The Loop is whatever people want to make it. Even for couch cruisers who just sit and watch others do it. Curious if you are a boater? Have you ever kept a “30 year old floating palace” running for 6000+ nautical miles? Oh it’s the definition of an adventure!
Cinda here -- traveling 7,000 nautical miles with two kids and two cats is an adventure anyway you look at it -- regardless of whether you are in sight of land or not LOL. Most loop boats are far from floating palaces. The typical loop boat is around 40 feet and nowhere near 30 years old. Our boat is one of the biggest and probably one of the oldest too. The vast majority of the loop has nothing even close to a 5-star marina. Most marinas are rustic but that is part of the adventure. All that said, you are correct that most loopers are retired. Only crazy people do the loop with kids and/or while still working LOL
You sound like the kind of guy that took his 20 ft sailboat from New York to London and that as far as you're concerned that's the only true adventure, right?
I did it from lefroy lake Simcoe in May in a 32 carver aft to Hamilton. Than I did it from brandys cove in a 40 ft carver voyager to Toronto in June. Than I did it from midland in a 50 ft 2007 cruisers flybridge sport sedan to Toronto in 5 and a half days .
Michigan summers are definitely swimmable waters
I heard you say that the boating community is a tightknit group of people ready to help with any problem or emergency... there are no strangers once you're on a boat. I ride a bagger (motorcycle) and they are a close second with helping on another. Thanks for sharing your wisdom
Yep. We have been a part of the moto community as well. ✌🏻
Wow great job so loved that you took the kids truly a lifetime of memories
We got a lifetime of memories for sure!!! And remained well hydrated along the way too LOL
Great series,watched them all,thanks,best of luck to you, shine on Boomershines from n Michigan
Hello to Michigan! Thanks so much for watching. Lots more episodes with the legs of our Loop coming soon!
Looking forward to watching your adventures. I have sailed from Seattle to HI but never done the Loop.
Well that is IMPRESSIVE!!! You will find the Loop a piece of cake after that :)
Awesome guys!!! Thanks for sharing!!!
Thanks for watching!
That was great thank you❤️⚓️
Great info now If I do the Loop one day I know what measurements to look for!
Yes you do! I recommend waiting till your precious little ones are a bit bigger. But you are going to have a hard time convincing them to leave the paradise you live in for a year LOL
I never thought to congratulate you on the hard work you performed homeschooling the kids. Excellent job.
THANK YOU! That was the hardest part LOL
Really nice video with a lot of great information for anyone who's curious about the great loop. So thanks a lot for posting it and you guys seemed pretty natural and composed on camera so that's a big plus. I'll have to watch the rest of your series when I get the time.
Thank you for the kind comment. We will keep posting when we have the time too :)
Thanks for information on air draft of your boat watch you guys all the way around great job 👏
Thanks for watching!
very informative thank you!
Glad it was helpful! And thank YOU for taking the time to say thank you :)
Nice, maybe one day for us.
Where there is a will, there is a way!
After watching this I am convinced that my Great Loop expedition will be just me and my dog.
We met several Loopers who were doing it with just their dog. It is totally doable!
LOL yeah, my first thought was they just spent a year together on a boat ... and they're still smiling!
Cool. Thanks yall. I am/was one them never knew folks. Just watched your top five video. Now this and yup I’m super intrigued. Glad yall made a safe and memorable journey. Can’t wait to watch more your journey. Thanks for sharing your experience. 🤙🏼
Thank YOU for watching and for such a sweet comment. Welcome aboard!
Thank you thank you, neighbors. I’m still enjoying your adventures. Been decades x 4 since I’ve been on a boat at lake Lanier 😂. But I’ve bucket listed the Great Loop. Retiring 🤞🏾in ‘25 at same time studying / training for 👨🏽✈️ licensing etc. My aim will combine cycling (Sunday coffee rides) around the states while traveling the great loop. FLL Int’l boat show next month. I hope to run into you all in the ATL soon.
Y’all weren’t on a recent NCL cruise were you?
Nope. But that sounds like fun!
When are you guys coming down to south florida with seashine?
We spent a couple months in the Keys before we met you guys. Then we skipped Miami on our way back from the Bahamas. The kiddos feel jipped so I am sure we will make a trip down to Miami soon. Hope you guys are well!
Hi Boomershines!😊
Hi Thatcher!
are you going to do the Down East Circle also?
Not on this go around but hopefully one day in the future.
Great information!!! Might I ask for you to expand your explanation of the draft in the upper region of the Great Loop in the numerous canals and lock systems in Canada and NY State. I am especially interested in Georgian Bay and whether your 4.5' draft would still be feasible. We had our sites on a Fleming 55, but its draft is 5' which now seems like the wrong boat. A Nordhavn 41 has a 4.5' draft which seems to match your boat and may be successful in Georgian Lake. Many Thanks!!! Safe Boating!!!
Thanks for watching and commenting. Great question about draft. A Fleming 55 is an incredible boat! Especially for a cruising couple and I argue she has the prettiest lines on the water. I am sure you have watched Tony Fleming’s beautiful UA-cam vids on his adventures in Venture through the years. As for draft she will make it for sure in Canada and upper northern channels but just be warned… you will really need to mind your charts and get local knowledge with that depth. The boats we saw have the most problems with hitting bottom were in the 5 foot draft range. Granted they all made it but now without their share of problems like new propellers and one even suffered some hull damage. Captain error? Maybe. Canadian waters have granite bottoms which are not forgiving. With 5’ of draft you just add to an already close tolerance and make it a bit more stressful. Totally doable though if you are a cautious and attentive captain and navigator! Good luck and enjoy your adventure!
Thanks so much for your in-depth, thoughtful reply.
You said 70 foot is pushing it for the loop. I have a houseboat that's quite a bit longer than that. I already plan on anchoring all the time but what would keep me from using it?
Hi there. Houseboats are a subject great debate on many Loop forums. As we said in the video… “You do you”:) Length over 70 feet just becomes a headache more than a no go. I’m sure you have looked into how your houseboat will handle the potential occasional 6 foot wave and sea worthiness. Generally not well but I’m sure you have it figured out. Good luck and push those boundaries!
What was your air draft on your Ocean Alexander
Great question to which there is no exact answer. With everything shaved off the hard top, fully loaded with water & fuel and sitting in freshwater, she is somewhere between 20 & 21.
Can u actually use a pontoon ? I got a 24 footer lol . I would honestly worry most about the Great Lakes
I've heard that it has been done on a pontoon but I don't know any specifics. Does anybody else out there have more info?
Most boats have solar.can a boat run on electric motors some of the time.
@@raymondbrown867 If by solar panel you mean a few 100 watt panels then unfortunately you cannot run anything more than a small trolling motor. Even the best and newest hybrid boats over 40 feet with massive lithium battery banks can only make about 40 miles of range under purely electric propulsion. Even less if rough waters, current, wind, and heating and or cooling the boat underway. In our opinion the electric motor-yachts are a long way from practical. Wind (sails) and/or diesel are the best means of power. Thanks for watching! ⚓️Mark
Hi, so it looked like"you" would always go counter clockwise?....oh, nevermind 😊
Most people go counter clockwise to use the currents to their advantage but it can be done both ways.
Have you sold your boat One of your other videos said that you had then no.
The short answer is yes. But the process was interesting. We will give the long version once we get to that part of our VLOG (which at our current rate may be awhile LOL).
@@TheBoomershines sure I understand. I was interested in that make of boat. Glad it worked out for you guys. Ps love the videos
Does someone give you a trophy, a ribbon, a patch for your jacket, or something, after you've completed the loop?
@@bbtodd Sort of. The “burgee” or flag on the bow gets to change from white to gold…once you purchase the gold one yourself:) ⚓️Mark
@@TheBoomershines Oh that's cool.😂
The thing I disagree with is your comment on the lack of swimming. There were few places where we did not swim. Sometimes we had to wait until nobody was looking, like in the lock sections. One lock master, after telling us that swimming was strictly forbidden added "but we leave at 6 so your on your own". Maybe some of the water was dirty, but not as dirty as we were. We never showered on the boat. 36' Monk.
And that is the beauty of the Loop -- everyone makes it their own. You never showered on your boat. I always showered on my boat. And we all had a blast :) We mostly stayed at marinas so swimming wasn't an option those nights. But the nights we did anchor in Canada and the Bahamas, the swimming was incredible!
I'd never swim in a lock
"Air draft"
You are correct! We often use boat terms and land terms interchangeably to help educate those that don't know boat terms.
@@TheBoomershines Roger that!
The 'great loop' sounds a lot more of an adventure than it is in reality? It's full of retired GM executives in their 30yr old floating him palaces. Jumping from 5 star marina to 5 star marina, never out of sight of land. Convincing themselves they're on some great adventure?
Curious where you got your information. We didn’t meet one GM Executive the whole trip?! 🤣😜And yes there are definitely some nice marinas but do your self a favor and search Hoppies Fuel Barge along the Mississippi…great place but by no means “5 Star”. The Loop is whatever people want to make it. Even for couch cruisers who just sit and watch others do it. Curious if you are a boater? Have you ever kept a “30 year old floating palace” running for 6000+ nautical miles? Oh it’s the definition of an adventure!
Cinda here -- traveling 7,000 nautical miles with two kids and two cats is an adventure anyway you look at it -- regardless of whether you are in sight of land or not LOL. Most loop boats are far from floating palaces. The typical loop boat is around 40 feet and nowhere near 30 years old. Our boat is one of the biggest and probably one of the oldest too. The vast majority of the loop has nothing even close to a 5-star marina. Most marinas are rustic but that is part of the adventure. All that said, you are correct that most loopers are retired. Only crazy people do the loop with kids and/or while still working LOL
You sound like the kind of guy that took his 20 ft sailboat from New York to London and that as far as you're concerned that's the only true adventure, right?
@@leorbuis9024 LOL the word "adventure" is very subjective for sure. Thanks for the giggle...and for watching and commenting :)
I did the trent 3 times last summer alone to toronto from georgian bay
That is impressive! What did you do it in?
I did it from lefroy lake Simcoe in May in a 32 carver aft to Hamilton. Than I did it from brandys cove in a 40 ft carver voyager to Toronto in June. Than I did it from midland in a 50 ft 2007 cruisers flybridge sport sedan to Toronto in 5 and a half days .
Impressive!!!