A Chance To See Great Loop Trawlers

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Kes

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Sep 9, 2014
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Hello all. I first read about the Great Loop back in the spring and haven't been able to stop thinking, reading, and learning as much as I can about such an amazing adventure. Being landlocked, it just never occurred to me that such a trip was possible.

I'm in Southern Illinois, about two hours east of St. Louis and if what I'm reading is correct, those traveling the loop should be making their way down the Illinois river to St. Louis about now. So, since I'm dying to see loop boats up close for the first time, I thought this forum might be a good place to ask....... Is there a place and time where I could go and have a pretty good chance of seeing some trawlers and meeting some people who are currently completing the loop?

Thanks,

Ken
 
Check out islandtimecruiser.com
It sounds like you timed it perfectly. Also search Average Looper, they have a great blog on the loop.
I hope to start my loop next fall after 20 years of planning.

Rafe
 
Join the aglca loop group. I believe website is www.aglca.org. There is a daily update going on on the general movement of the loopers.
 
They are having their anual rendevous Joe Wheeler State Park in October . A lot of loopers make it to our marina on TN River on their way .
 
Cat Daddy said:
Check out islandtimecruiser.com
It sounds like you timed it perfectly. Also search Average Looper, they have a great blog on the loop.
I hope to start my loop next fall after 20 years of planning.

Rafe
Click to expand...

IMHO you have a perfect boat for the loop.
 
deckofficer said:
IMHO you have a perfect boat for the loop.
Click to expand...

I agree, Bob. If this old frame wasn't so stiff and sore, I'd probably have one too. I stayed overnight on one in Stuart, FL, and it took me almost a year to recover from that one night...no kidding. I banged myself bad twice, slept on a mattress that was way too thin for my weight, and then in the morning, brushed my teeth with some real bad water on the boat. Still, with all that misery, I never actually crossed the boat off my list. It's that good of a boat.
 
Thanks for the kind words. I agree it is a good choice, and for this reason. It brought us, hillbilly rookies, 2000+ miles in the first six months safely and without incident. Reasonably fuel efficient, reasonable speed, and stable. What more could a person want?

Rafe
 
Try the Grafton Marina, Grafton, IL. Should be several boats their now and more headed that way as soon as the Lockport Lock reopens and the weather improves. There should be a fairly steady stream of boats thru there over the next 2 to 3 weeks.
 
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PURCHASE PROCESS, I a newbie searching for a nice trawler. Please send web site and advice for purchasing a boat? thanks, bill boy
 
Thanks all for the comments, looks like it might be time for a trip to Grafton and see if I can make some friends.
 
Join the AGLCA, and go to their rendezvous. They usually have it at Joe Wheeler State Park near Rogersville, AL. You can book a room at the lodge. There will be seminars, informal gatherings, and boat tours. Many of the folks there will be meeting up again with friends they met along the Loop. Just take it in and participate where you can. It's coming up in about a month, so there is little time to waste. If the rooms at the lodge are booked, there should be a near by motel.
 
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Tomas said:
Try the Grafton Marina, Grafton, IL. Should be several boats their now and more headed that way as soon as the Lockport Lock reopens and the weather improves. There should be a fairly steady stream of boats thru there over the next 2 to 3 weeks.
Click to expand...


A friend is at Grafton a few days ago he said there was 27 loopers waiting, most were planning on leaving Thursday.
 
Exactly:
Moonstruck said:
Join the AGLCA, and go to their rendezvous. They usually have it at Joe Wheeler State Park near Rogersville, AL. You can book a room at the lodge. There will be seminars, informal gatherings, and boat tours. Many of the folks there will be meeting up again with friends they met along the Loop. Just take it in and participate where you can. It's coming up in about a month, so there is little time to waste. If the rooms at the lodge are booked, there should be a near by motel.
Click to expand...
 
Where is the next logical stop for loopers after Grafton? I'm thinking of heading to Grafton this week but weather is supposed to be bad so I'm not sure.
 
Kes said:
Where is the next logical stop for loopers after Grafton? I'm thinking of heading to Grafton this week but weather is supposed to be bad so I'm not sure.
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Because of the limited facilities on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, the next "congregation" of loopers will be at Green Turtle Bay. A very nice marina located on Lake Barkley (Cumberland River). MM 31.5. Worth a visit even w/o the loopers there.
 
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There are a number of boaters leaving here (Grafton) tomorrow some going to Alton for a few days and others to Hoppies. others are still arriving with departures delayed due to operational issues on Lock 52 of the Ohio River with up to 50 tows and their loads backed up.

Best time to get on boats as others have said is one of the two Rendeavous where a special time is set aside for boat walk throughs.

There are also many other loopers still coming down the IL river so good or bad it's going to be crowded on this leg of the loop for awhile.

Our loop will conclude in two weeks at Pickwick Lake when we transfer from Loopers back to cruisers.

Enjoy your trip on the loop it's definitely a trip of a lifetime.
 
On Friday, we bumped into a Great Looper from Canada who put in at Manistee because of bad weather on Lake Michigan. He said they had been planning the trip for 9 years. I kind of chuckled when I saw a Home Depot type outdoor barbeque grill and two bicycles on his sun deck. I was thinking this guy is in for a world of hurt once he hits salt water. He was gone yesterday morning.
 
Donsan said:
On Friday, we bumped into a Great Looper from Canada who put in at Manistee because of bad weather on Lake Michigan. He said they had been planning the trip for 9 years. I kind of chuckled when I saw a Home Depot type outdoor barbeque grill and two bicycles on his sun deck. I was thinking this guy is in for a world of hurt once he hits salt water. He was gone yesterday morning.
Click to expand...

Why? Lot's of loopers have just the same setup.....

Toss them after a year or two...sounds familiar....and the comparison is to buy stuff that is supposed to survive and doesn't....
 
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We bought two $100 Walmart bikes and will leave them at the homeless shelter once we finish the loop in a few weeks or once we don't need them anymore, they have lasted well.

Same with a BBQ bought a medium George foreman which has worked awesome and is a keeper.
 
A couple of loopers are in our marina now waitng for the big buuch to come thru.
 
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Go to the annual rendezvous in Northern, Al. at Joe Wheeler State Park.
We are live-aboard cruisers and left Texas this past winter and will be spending the winter here at Joe Wheeler, We are not Loopers, at least not at this time.
 
it always struck me as a really good Loop boat.

Very little is required from a loop boat , it has been done with outboards and jet skis.

If you can be comfortable , and it moves , its a looper.
 
FF said:
it always struck me as a really good Loop boat.

Very little is required from a loop boat , it has been done with outboards and jet skis.

If you can be comfortable , and it moves , its a looper.
Click to expand...

As I have read books and web posts and talked to people, I find there are two kinds of "loopers" or potential loopers. Those who do it or want to do it to be able to say they've done it and those who do it to to experience the towns and cities and people along the way. Those in the second group are going to take more time and want a better suited boat for the trip. Something seaworthy for the rougher portions of the trip, something relatively self contained as far as food, cooking, showering and toilet facilities. Trawlers fit these needs pretty well.
 
rwidman said:
As I have read books and web posts and talked to people, I find there are two kinds of "loopers" or potential loopers. Those who do it or want to do it to be able to say they've done it and those who do it to to experience the towns and cities and people along the way. Those in the second group are going to take more time and want a better suited boat for the trip. Something seaworthy for the rougher portions of the trip, something relatively self contained as far as food, cooking, showering and toilet facilities. Trawlers fit these needs pretty well.
Click to expand...

Well stated. One must know the category in which they fall to make a good decision.
 
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