Great Loop Planning Checklist: What to Prepare Before You Leave

The Great Loop plan involves far more than the mere process of mapping out a route and deciding when to leave. America's Great Loop is an adventurous voyage of approximately 6,000 miles by boat, taking place in a network of water routes in eastern America and some parts of Canada. These include the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, Chesapeake Bay, New York waterways, Great Lakes, Canadian waterways, inland rivers, and the Gulf Coast.

Since the circumstances differ quite substantially in each section of the journey, planning should start long before you set sail. Proper planning will allow you to enjoy flexibility without being left at the mercy of safety, navigation, or documentation issues.

Check out this list of major areas to prepare for before your Great Loop voyage.

1. Make Sure Your Boat is Properly Suited for the Route You’re Taking

The boat is the most essential component of the entire journey. Before starting out, assess whether it is properly suited for the water bodies and environment that you plan to traverse.

Things to check include:

• General condition and upkeep of the boat
• Draft and beam
• Air draft and bridge clearance requirements
• Fuel tank size and cruising range
• Fresh water tank capacity
• Waste water capacity
• Condition of the engine, transmission, and generator
• Condition of electrical system and batteries
• Navigation and communication devices
• Safety equipment
• Anchors and other mooring equipment

There is no specific boat model needed for the Great Loop. It just needs to be equipped to meet your specific route needs.

Before leaving, have critical mechanical systems inspected and address problems rather than assuming they can be repaired somewhere along the route.

2. Build a Flexible Route Plan

A Great Loop itinerary needs to be flexible.

Break the Great Loop down into segments and determine what waterways you will be navigating through. The actual route may be different, and the AGLCA website contains information on individual segments of the trip, as well as sample itineraries, to help you familiarize yourself with the trip.

For each segment, take note of:

• Estimated distance
• Number of cruising days
• Gas stations
• Harbors and anchorages
• Locks
• Bridges
• Ports and towns
• Repair services
• Opportunities to provision
• Weather-sensitive sections of the route
• Alternative routes

Don’t lock down every single night in advance. Weather, mechanical problems, and unforeseen delays can all change your plans.

3. Know when the Seasons Play a Role

It is important to keep in mind that some sections of the Great Loop have limitations based on seasonality. According to AGLCA, some of the facilities and locks in the northern parts of the Great Loop may shut down in the winter; therefore, one of the reasons for the conventional path being followed is the warmer weather along the course.

Before setting out, it is important to know:

• When it is predicted that northern waterways will be open for travel
• The schedule of locks and facilities in various seasons
• Information about hurricanes or tropical weather
• What the weather usually is like in each section
• How many hours of daylight will there be

• What sections of waterways might experience delays due to weather

4. Prepare Reliable Navigation Resources

Navigation should never depend on a single device or application.

The America’s Great Loop map and navigation resources can help you visualize the interconnected waterways and plan your route. GPS Nautical Charts describes the Loop as encompassing portions of the Atlantic and Gulf Intracoastal Waterways, Great Lakes, Canadian heritage canals, and inland rivers. Its i-Boating application also provides downloadable charts for offline use.

Prior to leaving, ensure that you have:

- Updated electronic charts

- Suitable paper charts or other navigation material

- Working chartplotter or navigation instrument

- GPS capability

- Navigation power source

- Updated waypoints/routes

- Local navigation data in case of unfamiliar areas

The AGLCA also stresses the need for sufficient nautical charts and basic navigational skills for the Loop.

Above all else, know how to navigate without depending solely on your electronic screen.

5. Weather and Water Condition Preparations

The weather may affect whether a sailing day is possible. The conditions could be very different in open waters versus lakes or river conditions.

Before departure, make sure you have established a procedure for checking:

• Weather forecast
• Wind
• Wave height
• Thunderstorms
• Visibility
• River conditions
• Water levels
• Tropical weather
• AGLCA makes it clear that weather should play a part in your decision to cruise or not on the Great Loop each day.

Leave buffer days in your schedule. It is much better to be late than force a passage through due to your unrealistic plans.

6. Document Organization and Border Entry Requirements

Since the Great Loop involves crossing into both the United States and Canada, it is important to ensure that all necessary documents are organized prior to departure.

Important documents to have easily available include, but may not be limited to:

• Identification
• Boat registration/document
• Insurance details
• Ownership documents
• Contact numbers
• Medical/prescription details
• Any other necessary customs or border documents

For those visiting Canada during their journey, it is necessary to determine entry requirements for Canada prior to crossing into the country. The AGLCA guidelines for 2026 specifically mention being in touch with Canadian customs for entry requirements.

This should not be based on information obtained from some other Looper's journey.

7. Review Your Insurance and Emergency Plan

You shouldn’t think about marine insurance only after you run into problems. Check that your insurance covers you properly for where and how you are going to sail.

And you should create an emergency plan dealing with the following:

• Medical emergencies
• Mechanical problems
• Fire
• Propulsion loss
• Bad weather
• Grounding
• Man overboard scenarios
• Lack of communications

Everyone on board should know where to find the necessary equipment and how to use it.

8. Carry Necessary Spare Parts and Tools

You don’t need to have the whole marine workshop on board but it might be very important to be able to fix some things by yourself.

So think of carrying parts necessary for your particular vessel:

• Engine and fuel filters
• Belts
• Fuses
• Engine oil
• Coolant
• Hoses
• Impellers (if applicable)
• Light bulbs
• Electrical connectors
• Fasteners

Carry also the tools corresponding to the equipment you have on your boat. Know what repairs you can manage on your own and what needs professional help.

9. Fuel, Water and Provisions

It should not be assumed that all good-looking stops will necessarily have the amenities necessary.

Identify fuel docks, marinas, grocery stores, pump-outs, and repairs on the itinerary. Build up adequate supplies rather than approaching every fuel stop with the tank almost empty.

Prepare the provisions according to the storage capacity of the boat and cruising style. Fresh foods can always be bought en route; therefore, the reason for loading the boat excessively before embarking on the journey is rarely necessary.

10. Prepare the People, Not Only the Boat

A good Great Loop experience requires the people onboard as well as the boat itself.

Prior to departure, determine responsibilities for:

• Navigation
• Helming
• Lockage
• Dockage
• Line Handling
• Anchoring
• Communications
• Meals
• Maintenance
• Emergencies

Practicing docking, anchoring, line handling, and other necessary skills prior to undertaking the lengthy voyage. The AGLCA provides educational materials in navigation, safety, lockage, weather, and route planning, among others.

Final Pre-departure Checklist

Just before you set sail, do a final check list:

• Inspected boat and had major repairs done
• Reviewed insurance for route
• Got registration and other paperwork in order
• Tested navigation system
• Have backup navigation plans in place
• Checked safety equipment
• Talked about emergency plans
• Have a weather monitoring process in place
• Divided your route into manageable segments
• Identified fuel and provisioning stops
• Considered Canadian requirements, if necessary
• Have spare parts and necessary tools on board
• Decided crew responsibilities
• Planned a flexible schedule

Start Prepared, Stay Flexible

The best Great Loop plan isn't necessarily the most detailed itinerary. The best Great Loop plan takes navigation, weather, boat maintenance, seasons, border requirements and cruise life into account.

Take advantage of accurate information and keep your charts up-to-date, research new regulations and give yourself flexibility to make safe decisions. Current Great Loop planning resources from AGLCA are designed especially to help prospective Loopers understand the route.

Proper planning will turn your departure into much more than just another boat trip. Your departure will be the first step in an exciting cruising experience.

Ready to plan your route? Find GPS Nautical Charts for Great Loop maps and navigation resources.