If you had to pick a Great Loop boat....

Zach312

Active Member
SILVER Sponsor
Jan 23, 2011
823
Nashville, TN
Boat Info
2008 Sea Ray 47 Sedan Bridge
Engines
Cummins QSC-600
My wife and I are in the early stages of planning for the great loop. So lets get everyone to chime in on what boat you would pick if you where leaving on the loop in the next year. It could be a sea ray or none sea ray. You could even list your top three choices!.

Side note we are supposed to be starting our spring launch on Monday...there is still ice 16 inches thick on the river here... Maybe this will side track my need for boating for a few weeks!
 
I've looked at this a lot as we were looking to do the Loop. Bridge boats have more salon space, great visibility and usually you can even look at the scenery from the salon. However, height is an issue....the is a fixed bridge in Chicago at 19' 2" +/- so that restricts some vessels.

A couple of models come to mind for me.....The Sea Ray 44 Express Bridge. Diesel power, roomy salon, 2 staterooms and 2 heads, roomy flybridge with great visibility, large cockpit and great access to the fore deck. The one drawback to this boat is the lack of side decks which could be missed in the locks.

My other choice is some of the smaller Pilothouse models. The Meridian 490 is a good example. Pilothouses seem to have a bit lower profile than a sedan or a motoryacht.

Anyway, those would be my choices. Actually that would be closer to the Admiral's choices. I could do it in a Sundancer.
Shawn
 
Just a loop boat? Are you going to buy to loop and then sell it when done and "go back" to something else? If so, buy a trawler that just came off the loop. Preferably through a broker that works closely with the AGLCA. Tell them exactly what you want to do and when you're done, you will be selling it and let them know what your expectations are. They can tell you what to expect $ and cents wise from buying and selling different makes and age of boats.
My top choice there would be a 4788 Bayliner 1999 to 2002. Although there are countless others.

My personal choice would be something along the lines of an Ocean Alexander 486 Pilothouse. Only because after the loop I would use it as a southern condo. Or a 2004ish Meridian 490, it's the same boat built in the same molds by the same guys as the 4788 Bayliner with a little better interior finish and a little less $ than the OA.
 
Last edited:
Just a loop boat? Are you going to buy to loop and then sell it when done and "go back" to something else? If so, buy a trawler that just came off the loop. Preferably through a broker that works closely with the AGLCA. Tell them exactly what you want to do and when you're done, you will be selling it and let them know what your expectations are. They can tell you what to expect $ and cents wise from buying and selling different makes and age of boats.
My top choice there would be a 4788 Bayliner 1999 to 2002. Although there are countless others.

My personal choice would be something along the lines of an Ocean Alexander 486 Pilothouse. Only because after the loop I would use it as a southern condo. Or a 2004ish Meridian 490, it's the same boat built in the same molds by the same guys as the 4788 Bayliner with a little better interior finish and a little less $ than the OA.

As far as whats after the loop question we aren't sure. We are most likely a 18-36 months out from leaving depending on a variety of factors. We would like it to be something we would enjoy using day to day on the river (upper Mississippi) until then.

Maybe make a home base in FL after and spend a while exploring the Caribbean.

The question is more for fun to see what others would pick. We are getting antsy to get boats launched here. As of now looks like our launch will be delayed two weeks at least and maybe 3.
 
Marlow Yachts 66ECB, only issue, my wife won't buy a non U.S. made boat....
 
One bit of advice.... Try and buy the boat about a year before your departure. Take time to get it the way you want it. Learn all the systems. You and your wife should know as much as you can about the boat before you go.

We had friends that retired, bought a boat and headed for Mexico (West Coast)....all within about 3 weeks. Not knowing the boat better was their only regret.
 
Google American Tug. A nearly perfect model is their 34. Although you could go bigger, the 34 does it all and well for a couple. Boat has exceptional range and is down right cheap to operate. It also handles the seas. Has a great galley, a nice salon and a great helm. The bed room has a full sized bed with nice storage. Easy to find a slips due to its size. Also very comfortable on the hook for days on end. It fits under the bridges you will encounter. The mechanicals are all very easy to get to for service without being a contortionist. A good friend just did the loop in his and would make the purchase again after living on it for a year.
 
One bit of advice.... Try and buy the boat about a year before your departure. Take time to get it the way you want it. Learn all the systems. You and your wife should know as much as you can about the boat before you go.

We had friends that retired, bought a boat and headed for Mexico (West Coast)....all within about 3 weeks. Not knowing the boat better was their only regret.

Great advice and I share those feelings. We would actually like to enjoy the boat around the river for a season or two before departing.
 
Google American Tug. A nearly perfect model is their 34. Although you could go bigger, the 34 does it all and well for a couple. Boat has exceptional range and is down right cheap to operate. It also handles the seas. Has a great galley, a nice salon and a great helm. The bed room has a full sized bed with nice storage. Easy to find a slips due to its size. Also very comfortable on the hook for days on end. It fits under the bridges you will encounter. The mechanicals are all very easy to get to for service without being a contortionist. A good friend just did the loop in his and would make the purchase again after living on it for a year.

We will take a look. Thanks
 
Check out the Beneteau Swift Trawler. We traveled up the Missippi from Alabama to Michigan and saw many of them, in all sizes, along the way. Very cool boat!
 
We had a couple who were friends of ours do the great loop about 10 years ago. They had a diesel powered 39 ft aft cabin (12 meter Trojan).

Bruce did an excellent job of chronicling the trip. I think this link still works. It’s long, but a fantastic read.
https://www.sailblogs.com/member/melchert/
 
Zach, why would you not use your present boat? I've watched yours since coming on the market last year> If we won the lottery we would buy yours in a heartbeat and start the Loop!
 
Zach, why would you not use your present boat? I've watched yours since coming on the market last year> If we won the lottery we would buy yours in a heartbeat and start the Loop!

Its an option. We will hopefully be in the water in the next 3 weeks and start making those decisions.

As we wait for 16 inches of ice to melt its fun to hear what boats others would choose.
 
Check out the Beneteau Swift Trawler. We traveled up the Missippi from Alabama to Michigan and saw many of them, in all sizes, along the way. Very cool boat!

The 50/52 is an interesting boat. I will take another look at them.

What boat where you on for your trip up river?

If you had to pick a boat what would it be?
 
Zach, it's kind of a loaded question.... Budget? Size needs? Wants in a boat? Are running costs an issue? How far do you want to travel in a day? Are you going to go offshore at all or just the ICW?

We would like something 50 plus feet, running cost will be a consideration but not of most importance, would like to travel 50-100 miles/day but would like the range to go further if needed. Don't plan on offshore at this time.

This is our early stages of preparing for this. Our current boat is very much an option. We will be joining AGLCA and attending one of their rendezvous in the coming year.

The post was more intended to see what others would pick and why
 
In that size range, I think just about any boat would be fine. Your boat would do great. A bit depends on your desired speed. As you know, you have a hull speed and then you start pushing water the more you stay below planing. A lot of the ICW is no wake and obviously even in other areas you are responsible for your wake. So if you just want to cruise around at a leisurely pace, you're all good.... Otherwise a displacement hull or a cat hull might be something to look at. I cruised a lot of it in my DA and it was great having the power to cruise at 20kts and go offshore if I wanted...beat weather...and get under bridges w/o having to wait for openings... All boats are trade-offs...Just have to decide what you like.
 
In that size range, I think just about any boat would be fine. Your boat would do great. A bit depends on your desired speed. As you know, you have a hull speed and then you start pushing water the more you stay below planing. A lot of the ICW is no wake and obviously even in other areas you are responsible for your wake. So if you just want to cruise around at a leisurely pace, you're all good.... Otherwise a displacement hull or a cat hull might be something to look at. I cruised a lot of it in my DA and it was great having the power to cruise at 20kts and go offshore if I wanted...beat weather...and get under bridges w/o having to wait for openings... All boats are trade-offs...Just have to decide what you like.

We are going to consider our current boat. We would like to make decision in the next 6-12 months on what the boat will be. If it is a different boat it gives us time to find it, get it prepped to our standards, use it for a season or two in our current location then depart. This should allow us to be very familiar with the boat and have any kinks worked out.

Sounds like you have cruised sections of the loop. Based on your experience do you lean towards a certain boat?
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,950
Messages
1,422,861
Members
60,932
Latest member
juliediane
Back
Top