Houseboats-Great Circle Route

[Charles Reed]

I am a new member and I would like some advice from anyone about cruising a houseboat around the great circle route. Has anyone done this? I am looking for ways to do this if it can be done, like what type or style of house boat would be best for this trip. Help, Charlie

[David M]

Generally, great circle routes are used for longer distances which means open ocean or very large bodies of open water. Houseboats are not designed for open waters.

For short distances, there is very little difference in distance between a great circle route or a straight line drawn on a mercator chart.

[Hud3]

Hi, Charlie. Welcome to the Forum!

Do you mean "The Great Loop", rather than Great Circle? I've never done it, but I'm sure some others here will have advice. I would wonder if a houseboat would be seaworthy enough for some of the more exposed bodies of water that you need to traverse, but I'm sure you can figure that out with some detailed planning.

Try this special search engine, and type in "Great Loop" to see what's in our archives on the topic. http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=01...%3A2lb6ozabif0

[btrayfors]

Assuming you did mean the Great Circle Loop, as Hud surmised, whether or not it could be done would depend HEAVILY on the type of houseboat.

I lived aboard a 43' houseboat for 17 years. It had two big engines (26knots top speed), a generator, etc. It was by far the most active houseboat on the Potomac, with 2-3 cruises and overnites per week in the upper Potomac. Here's a pic, taken I believe in 1987:http://gallery.wdsg.com/Legacy/HBF_WashChannel?full=1

However, this boat...and most other houseboats I've come across...are definitely NOT SUITED FOR OPEN WATER, or even for "protected waters", like the lower Potomac. Certainly NOT for the Chesapeake Bay. Yes, you can pick your weather and dash across certain bodies of water, but you are extremely vulnerable. I know of several houseboats which have GONE DOWN in the past 20 years or so, and one big steel "cruiser" from our Club was lost in the Chesapeake Bay just two weeks ago in a quick-building very intense thunderstorm. This boat weighed in at over 120,000lbs...it was no toy.

Bill

[stevensc]

You will be in the open Gulf of Mexico from Carabelle Fl. to Tarpon Spings about 140 miles as the crow flies there are a couple of places you could run into land but they are about 15 miles from the route if you hug the coast. The gulf is realtively shallow and gets rough fast. If the weather is good you should have no problem.
Good luck
Steve

[David M]

Charles,
Do you have a pic of your boat and the model? My greatest concern for you is rough seas.

[TaoJones]

You will also be exposed to the Atlantic between Manasquan, NJ and New York Harbor.

TaoJones

[Charles Reed]

Thank you all that responded. I am sorry to hear that no one has done the trip. I can only guess that it is not a good idea. If any one out there has done the great circle loop please send me a reply. Thanks, Charlie

[David M]

Charles, it really depends on the seaworthiness of your boat and your experience.

[Steve Rust]

I have done large portions of the "Loop" though not the whole thing. There are parts of the Loop that are suitable for houseboats like the river/canal sections and certain sections of the ICW but there is just as much that is entirely unsuitable for a typical houseboat. Others have mentioned some of these areas which would also include the open waters of the Great Lakes. Six to eight foot waves are common on the Lakes. Look at a trawler or some other type of cabin cruiser powerboat designed for open water.

[stevensc]

Have you checked the AGLCA - America's Great Loop Cruisers Association
website or forum? They may be able to give you more information. I don't have the web address but if should find it in Google.
AGLCA Goto: http://www.greatloop.com/topic.asp?pid=1
Steve

[Charles Reed]

Thanks again to all. Stevensc I will look into that site, Thanks, Charlie

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Charlie,
Welcome aboard! Isn't it great that you've already gotten help on your question. Personally I wouldn't try it in a houseboat.
Kind regards,
JohnL

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by stevensc

Have you checked the AGLCA - America's Great Loop Cruisers Association
website or forum? They may be able to give you more information. I don't have the web address but if should find it in Google.
AGLCA Goto: America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association
Steve

Gotta love it. There is a website for everything.

BTW - Is this the "clockwise" or "counterclockwise" site.

If you do try this in a houseboat you may end up with a "record" of some sort - if that's your thing...

[Charles Reed]

A houseboat, in my opinion is the best live aboard, and it would be nice to take it on the Great Circle Loop, but I do not want to pick a boat that really can not do the trip with reasonable safty. I am now looking at a Cruiser or a trawler. Thanks, Charlie