skip to Main Content
Great Loop AGLCA Burgee

Thinking of Doing the Great Loop Boat Trip? Join AGLCA!

Become a Loopers! AGLCA, America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association Completing the Great Loop boat trip is a big accomplishment for any boater, experienced or not. We have completed the trip 1.75 times, in different boats. One of the first things we did just before leaving our homeport of Charlevoix, MI, on our first Loop trip, was to become members of AGLCA, America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association. We fondly remember the first boat we saw sporting the club's distinctive burgee while…

Read more

Some of Our Favor “ite” Things – Useful Boating Products

It can be maddening trying to find, buy and then store all those chart books we boaters need for long-distance cruising. We’ve always felt it was important to have paper charts as a back up to our GPS chartplotter as well as for route planning. The downside of paper charts/chart books is storage on a boat as well as having to maintain reasonably updated material. While going through our transition from a 40-ft live aboard, with tons of storage, to…

Read more

We Think It’s a Conspiracy

Could it be a conspiracy that our friends have called or talked to us about just one more going away dinner or party? I suppose they might be thinking that if they plan enough stuff we will be too busy and won't be able to leave before the snow flies. In reality we have had many tears shed while saying goodbye to our immediate family and close friends over the last few weeks.All we can say is... nice try guys.

Read more

Loopers Descend on Charlevoix

This week I had the pleasure (I say I because Jim is out of town doing a boat show in Indiana this week) to meet many of the Loopers that are just now transiting through our homeport of Charlevoix, MI. As you can see from the photos below these are friendly people with warm hearts. I already know that we will be in good company as we head south just after Labor Day.

Read more

A Weekend of Traditions

Tradition dictates that a christening ceremony be performed for new boats. For thousands of years, we have gone to sea. We have crafted vessels to carry us and we have called them by name. These ships will nurture and care for us through perilous seas, and so we affectionately call them "she." To them we toast, and ask to celebrate KISMET.  Then everybody raises their plastic glass filled with champagne or your favorite non-alcoholic beverage and shouts,  To the Sailors…

Read more

Plus Two – Minus One

Similar to Noah’s Ark we have two of everything and often times more, but in our case no animals. In preparing for the Great Loop we’ve been stocking up on engine pencil zincs, fuel filters, oil filters, oil, belts, impellers, tools, spare anchor and rode all in preparation for departure day. We’ve found from experience that it’s good to be prepared when the need arises. Murphy’s law would dictate that we’d not be able to purchase whatever it is we…

Read more

Eighty Days and Counting

We have only eighty days until we cast our lines and depart Charlevoix for our new two-year adventure. Even though we have a whole northern Michigan summer season yet to enjoy, departure day is just around the corner. This past week we took care of a few items in preparation for the trip.We had recently ordered our new gold AGLCA burgee since we have completed the Loop once already we are now "gold" members. After much thought and discussion as…

Read more

Summer’s “Crescendo”

Summers in northern Michigan have the same number of days as anywhere else; it just seems shorter when 35˚, May evenings linger on towards Memorial Day. Couple this with how fast time seems to march on and you realize that you had better enjoy the warm days, when they come, before it is over.Summer here can be compared to a fourth of July fireworks celebration. The crowd slowly builds in preparation for the big event similar to how vacationers descend…

Read more
Back To Top