What is this great circle, boating from great lakes around florida and up again? is it danagerous or expensive

Question

What is this great circle, boating from great lakes around florida and up again? is it danagerous or expensive

Answer 1

I am so glad you asked this question...

Been there... done that... and am doing it again...

No, it is not dangerous... least not any more dangerous than any other boating... You are always near land, most always in cell phone range, and even near (if not nearer) then a lot of people are to emergency care and hospitals.... you have safe anchorage at night... meet lots of good, friendly people, eat some really great food... Its a blast!

The cruise, or route if you want to call it that; is referred to as America's Great Loop.  It is just a bit over a 6,000 miles trip (if you take the short route) and it takes you through much of the most beautiful parts of the country... and certainly through the most historic.

You go in a counter-clockwise direction... around Florida (or through Lake Okeechobee... up the east coast ICW to the Hudson River, from the Hudson, you have a choice... into Canada, or through the Erie Canal... from there, it is through the Great Lakes to Chicago, and from Chicago out the Illinois to the Ohio, and down the Mississippi... It is a wonderful trip... takes most cruisers between about a year - some I know have done it is six months...

You can see pictures and a map, and descriptions of the journey at:

  >www.boatwrights.org <

and you can also see more on the trip and my boat at:

> www.sternwheeler.org <  

Of course, most boats used for the trip have sleeping and living accomodations on them, but I also know several that have done it in open bows, and small cuddies - who have taken tents and camping gear and camp out at night...

It is a wonderful journey... Can't say enough about it, and encourage you highly... Every American should do it!  Every boater should do it! Some do it in two, three and four or more years - stopping to work (or go back to work and leaving their boat) and returning to continue the next year... Most do it in one trip... many do it in two trips - sitting out the winter.

Have a Great one!

Dont forget to check out the links... I also have links on those sights to the Great Loop Association, and others...

As far as the money goes... it takes a year (if you do it right, nice, slow, and see all the sites and make all the side trips).

You need gas for the boat, money for groceries and stuff, some more money for some tolls, some more for side trips and shore excursions, etc. etc. But if your living on it is not that bad... In my case, I live on my boat full-time already, so it is NBD... Will be glad to share costs with you if you want more information.... but go to the links first.

Answer 2

both if by ocean...go by missisipi=adventure and less expensive and safer

Answer 3

Dangerous, not really.

Expensive, yes.