Boat suggestion sought for the Loop

[tbodine88]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

No, I don’t think he will do much sailing, or need a fancy Autopilot, windvane, SSB Radio, or lots of other stuff.

While sailing the Texas 200, which is designed to take advantage of the prevailing winds along the Texas coast, I only needed the motor to get away from the beach each morning. On that trip I could and did sail every day. Only using the motor to get out to Matagorda Island on the next to last day.

I'd like to have an auto pilot, but should I get a crew like I had on the 200, I wont need one They were pleasant and helpful companions on the trip.

On my trip from Fort Lauder dale to Clearwater florida, I was only able to sail in Lake Okeechobee and again once near Tampa and Clearwater, but Since I had a sailboat, I could make that choice. Plus on that whole trip from Antigua to Clear water, I may have used 10 gallons of fuel. So I would prefer a sail boat, especially when as noted in other posts elsewhere the average daily trip is thirty miles when doing the loop.

Regard Tom Bodine

[tsl]

Originally Posted by flyingfin

Sailboats are for sailing, trawlers are for going slow. You really need to buy a power boat just for the loop trip, then sell it when you are done. Plus, with many miles between pumpouts, you will need a larger vessel with decent size holding tanks

I agree. The loop is an exercise in docking and locking. Watching weather windows and trying to prevent a need to keep a pace or schedule. But each there own. doing the loop in anything is better than not doing the loop.
While I own a sailboat, This is my preferred loop boat. 39 mph, engines so quiet you can barely hear them. Sea Ray 370 Venture boats for sale - YachtWorld

[thruska]

To the OP,
Although there are many interesting comments herr , i think you would br best served by searching , captainjohn.org
For all things great loop thats the best imho .
I believe he has several articles on the advantages of the Watson25 ?
Give it a glance! Good luck.

[thruska]

Originally Posted by tsl

I agree. The loop is an exercise in docking and locking. Watching weather windows and trying to prevent a need to keep a pace or schedule. But each there own. doing the loop in anything is better than not doing the loop.
While I own a sailboat, This is my preferred loop boat. 39 mph, engines so quiet you can barely hear them. Sea Ray 370 Venture boats for sale - YachtWorld

To each his own, yes.
I but why do the loop at 39mph ???
Thats a big bucket of gas money to just say you did the loop and not see squat. Akin to a cross country drive over interstates and stopping only at gas stations.
The. Complete loop takes a year and can be done on 10k budget. But there are alternatives i understand that. The OP has a sailboat ., and there's more sailing on the loop than most realize. The matter that arises is that streches needing mast down. Can you , are you willing to , comfortably deal with the mast down for extended periods ? Thats not necessarily a deal breaker .
Again i say go to captainjohn.org for the best info ive seen on the loop .

[tsl]

Originally Posted by thruska

To each his own, yes.
I but why do the loop at 39mph ???
Thats a big bucket of gas money to just say you did the loop and not see squat. Akin to a cross country drive over interstates and stopping only at gas stations.
The. Complete loop takes a year and can be done on 10k budget. But there are alternatives i understand that. The OP has a sailboat ., and there's more sailing on the loop than most realize. The matter that arises is that streches needing mast down. Can you , are you willing to , comfortably deal with the mast down for extended periods ? Thats not necessarily a deal breaker .
Again i say go to captainjohn.org for the best info ive seen on the loop .

Ok, so we are just having fun here kicking around some ideas. People should do the loop on the boat they want.
You can not do the loop at 39 mph unless you do it on a jet ski and not get caught in no wake zones. But you can do some segments at that speed. It takes care of some boring areas. Allows you to catch bridge openings and locks. It greatly reduces weather window concerns when doing the open ocean and Lake Michigan segments. The venture consumes 1.1 KMPG at 30 mph. so it'a not cheap but you will not need a tanker escort. 5600 KM /1.1 = 5090 gallons @ $3.00 /gallon. $15,000 for the trip if you have the throttle down. Not all that bad.
I have a boatload of admiration for Captain John. He is getting people out on the loop for pleasure and personal well being. While he likes sailboats, but he does not favor a mast. In fact, I think he sawed it off on his last loop boat. Be sure to consider draft requirements of the Trent Severn waterway. Many people think it is high on the must-do list on the loop.
I still like the guy that did it in a pontoon boat.
For the record, I'm sailing the great lakes segment of the loop in our sailboat. Likely hanging out in the North Channel for a few seasons. It draws 5'8" so I can't do the Trent Severn. I don't see myself taking it down the rivers.

[BandB]

All the segments that can be sailed on the loop can be done at higher speed as well. We did most of our cruising at 26-28 knots. As a result we were able to see areas most loopers don't. We saw the Canadian side of Lake Ontario, Georgian Bay, Lake Superior and more that you can't fit into a 6 knot loop trip.

There are a million ways to do the loop. We also were in a 65' boat, technically LOA of 69'4".

[jmczzz]

I don't mean any offense but you guys doing 39 26 29 knots in 36 55 foot boats are talking me out of doing the loop, I really don't want to get rocked around in my modest 25' 10 hp at 4- 5 knots sailboat... maybe i'll just keep on cruising the Gulf coast in peace.

[Tom--]

I was traveling down a upper section of the Tenn- Tom when a fish camp boat dock appeared on the East bank. About that time a large powerboat throwing
a considerable wake appeared upstream. The gentleman at fish camp requested that powerboat observe no wake zone. Powerboater said “ If i slowdown for everyone I will never get there.” The fish camp owner said “ slow down or the sheriff and I will see you at next lock.” The powerboater’s bow dived as throttles came back.

Most of the time everyone shows great coutersy. Tishmingo County is not the sort of place to test those limits.

[tsl]

Originally Posted by jmczzz

I don't mean any offense but you guys doing 39 26 29 knots in 36 55 foot boats are talking me out of doing the loop, I really don't want to get rocked around in my modest 25' 10 hp at 4- 5 knots sailboat... maybe i'll just keep on cruising the Gulf coast in peace.

The Loop is a trawler thing. You'll be welcomed but you'll be hanging with power boaters. They will have the docktails all set up and ready for you when you pull in each evening. I like the fact that they all seem to have ice makers.

[Nicholson58]

I saw the boat you seek many years ago. it was a custom built 78 foot sloop with the tabernacle and the shroud pins in line. The windlass was used to pivot the mast into the gallows over the pilot house. The swing Center Board was operated by cable from a powered winch in the cabin. Draft was shallow. The concept could be used on any smaller boat with a cabin stepped mast. We are considering our next step in a few years as a trawler or power cat for the loop.

[jmczzz]

Originally Posted by tsl

Be sure to consider draft requirements of the Trent Severn waterway. Many people think it is high on the must-do list on the loop.

What are the draft requirements, I want to go the Lake Champlain route up to Montreal to visit family.
thanks jmc
slow and steady

[Drew13440]

I'd like to have an auto pilot

I would delay departure and dig ditches for as long as it took to fund an autopilot for this trip. Seriously.

FWIW, a Hunter 260 is a trailerable with standing headroom and a mast raising/lowering system a single hander can easily operate.

[BandB]

Originally Posted by jmczzz

What are the draft requirements, I want to go the Lake Champlain route up to Montreal to visit family.
thanks jmc
slow and steady

Champlain route at normal pool level the air clearance is 17'. At maximum pool it is 12'2". Water draft isn't a problem to my knowledge if you can handle the Erie. As long as you're 5' or less no issues.

[BandB]

Originally Posted by jmczzz

I don't mean any offense but you guys doing 39 26 29 knots in 36 55 foot boats are talking me out of doing the loop, I really don't want to get rocked around in my modest 25' 10 hp at 4- 5 knots sailboat... maybe i'll just keep on cruising the Gulf coast in peace.

Are you cruising the Gulf Coast outside or inside?

The Great Lakes can be rough. You really need to get some Kindle books and read from those who have taken it. Our wake at 26 knots would be the least of your worries. The day we arrived at Lake Ontario it was 10'+ waves and very strong winds. Now, if you took the Erie all the way you'd never see Lake Ontario.

There's commercial traffic and there are yachts from 60-200' in areas of the Great Lakes. They won't typically bother you but at times may.

[Eyeback]

Couple of points. There are some idiot commercial captains that seem to have it out for small sailboats on the rivers. Secondly the TSW guarantees a 6 foot draft but make you sign a waiver over 5 feet. Thirdly there is some serious weather especially on the great lakes and the Chesapeake that you need a stout boat for. Fourthly, stepping the mast is not that big a deal. It generally costs $150 each time and comments about the boat's stability with it down are blown out of proportion.

Bit of advice; if you wait for the perfect boat, you will never go. Go as soon as you can with whatever boat you have. Secondly, don't rush the trip. Most Loopers rush through the North Channel trying to beat the weather but it is the best part of the loop.

I'm single handing the loop at the moment on a 32 foot sailboat and I think it is the perfect boat to do the loop in because of all the people I have met. Stink boat Loopers have no idea what they are missing.