The Loop is a 6,000 mile circumnavigation of the eastern third of the United States by continuous waterway. In a typical year, only 150-200 boats complete this voyage, making it a rarer feat than climbing Mt. Everest, swimming the English Channel or hiking the entire Appalachian Trail!
We plan to begin in early September 2023 from Hansen's Harbor in Lake City, MN, where we've kept the boat for the past three summers. Our intended route will take us through 19 U.S. states and one Canadian province. We’ll take a full year, following the seasons—down the river systems in autumn, around the Gulf Coast and Florida in winter, up the Atlantic coast in spring and through Canada and the Great Lakes in summer. See the map below from the America's Great Loop Cruisers Association website, showing the basic route, with various options.
We have been thinking about this trip since 2015 and have been actively planning the voyage for about two years.
The MacGregor 26X is a small but versatile craft. At 26 feet, it's much shorter than the 40-foot average for “Looper” boats. Our total living space is around 150 square feet in the main cabin, with another 50 square feet in the cockpit, which can be fully enclosed in canvas and vinyl. It’s tight, but has everything we need. There's an enclosed head with a composting toilet, a galley with a butane stove, refrigerator and toaster oven, a large forward berth, and storage under the cockpit. We'll carry two folding bicycles and a two-person inflatable kayak for exploring ashore and on the water. Stay tuned!!
