Preparing a boat to tackle the year-long adventure of circling America’s Great Loop, or any of the smaller cruising circles in the country, takes time and often a bit of money. But what about preparing ourselves for such an adventure?
As it happens the Loop passes through up to 20 U.S. states, depending on your route, and into Canada and back. Many states require skippers to have certificates of competency and proof that they have taken and passed a range of courses on seamanship, boat handling and safety.
Completing the required courses takes time so it should not be left to the last few weeks or months before your planned departure date. The National Association of Boating Law Administrators represents the recreational boating authorities in all 50 and has on its website an interactive map you can use to locate a school near you.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary and the U.S. Power Squadron both offer excellent courses some in person and some virtually. Both are proven to give new boaters the ground they need to get started and both are worthwhile associations to join and support.
For the Canadian segments of the loop, Canada requires its citizens to take required boating safety courses and these will be honored by the U.S. states along the route. Americans cruising into Canada are not required to have a Canadian boating safety certificate as long as they are not in the country for more than 45 days. This should fit a normal loop transit of the Trent Severn and Canadian waters in Lake Ontario and Lake Superior.
As you plan your Great Loop adventure, you should also check with your insurance company to see if they have any requirements for boating safety certification or if they can offer any discounts for passing the courses.
Getting the right education to be legal along the route can also be the beginning of a looper social network as you meet likeminded boaters and dreamers.
The American Great Loop Cruising Association has tons of information on their website about the loop and an informative education page with several useful links to organizations that can help you along your path.
(Photo above from the Great Loop Cruising Association.)
