The Great Loop in 60 Seconds
The Great Loop is a 6,000-mile circumnavigation of eastern North America — down the Atlantic Intracoastal, across the Gulf, up the Mississippi and Tennessee-Tombigbee, through the Great Lakes, and down the Erie Canal. It takes most people 12-18 months.
The Numbers That Matter
Air draft: 19 feet maximum. This is the hard limit. The fixed bridges on the Erie Canal and Illinois River won't accommodate anything taller. Measure from waterline to highest fixed point (antennas fold down, but arches don't).
Draft: 5 feet maximum. Preferably under 4.5 feet. The Tennessee-Tombigbee and parts of the ICW are shallow. You'll run aground at 6 feet.
Beam: 16 feet or less for the Erie Canal locks. Most boats under 50 feet are fine.
Length: 35-50 feet is the sweet spot. Big enough to be comfortable for months, small enough to fit in locks and marinas.
Best Boat Types for the Loop
Trawlers (38-48ft) — Purpose-built for this. Fuel-efficient, comfortable, good range. Grand Banks 42, Kadey-Krogen 44, Nordic Tug 44.
Express Cruisers (36-45ft) — Faster option if you want to do the Loop in one season. Sea Ray 400, Regal 42 Fly, Cruisers 42 Cantius.
Catamarans — Growing in popularity. Shallow draft and stability. Aquila 44 and Leopard 43 PC work well.
What Most People Get Wrong
They buy too big. A 55-footer sounds great until you're threading through a 20-foot-wide lock in a crosswind. Comfort matters, but maneuverability matters more on the Loop.
Start with air draft. Everything else follows from there.