We all know the Great Loop, one of America’s most famous year-long cruising adventures. And, we know the Great Eastern Loop that leads from New York City up the Hudson River and then out the St. Lawrence Seaway and around the Canadian Maritimes before closing the circle back in the city. But what about the FLOOP or what’s better known as Florida’s  Southern Loop?  For snowbirds heading south in the fall along the Intracoastal Waterway to the Sunshine State, the FLOOP is a natural cruising attraction. Why stay plugged into a marina all winter when you can go exploring and…

As a Mark Twain fan and a lover of his memoir Life on the Mississippi, where he was for several years a river pilot, the charms of the river’s upper reaches have long held an allure. So, when we came across Paula and Paul Yantorno’s story of a week-long cruise from Dubuque, Iowa to Minneapolis, Minnesota and back, we knew we needed to share it. (Paula and Paul Yantorno) The Yantorno’s trailered their Monterey 27 Navetta from their home in Denver, Colorado to Dubuque, a trip of some 18 hours, where they launched at the public boat ramp.  Interestingly, a…

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…

The new Krogen 60 Open was introduced at the Palm Beach boat show earlier this spring and proved to be a real show-stopper. The 60 Open is simply huge and offers all the space and accommodation a family might need for extended living aboard and far-flung adventures. While the 60 Open carries all of the Krogen trawler DNA, the new design has really pushed the envelope on the size of the living and working spaces. It looks and feels like a much bigger boat. The afterdeck is truly an outside living room with a hard cover for sun and rain…

While the Great Loop of the eastern half of the US is famous and often referred to, its little cousin, the Great Eastern Loop, is well worth any adventurous cruiser’s attention The 2,400 mile loop makes a circumnavigation of the US Northeast and the Canadian Maritimes. Nominally, the route starts in New York City and leads up the Hudson River to Lake Champlain. From there it follows the Richelieu River the length of the Chaplain Valley into Canada where it joins the St. Lawrence River at the city of Sorel-Tracy.  There’s a 17-foot height limit on this section of the…