There was a guy that did it in a 24' pontoon boat in 56 days and two guys have done the whole loop on jet skis. I don't know if someone could pay me enough to do it on a jet ski.

To me, it would not be about setting a record, unless someone wanted to sponsor the $$. It is still on our bucket list, but in a diesel boat (like the Formula 400SS that Tom A. mentioned). I would plan on staying aboard for almost the entire trip to save money and meet the locals. Our plan is to spend an entire YEAR doing it.

Had a friend that did the entire Mississippi on a ski, north to south. Said it was fun, but wouldnt do it again.

Best resource on the Great Loop. http://captainjohn.org/ Gives details on the areas with no fuel and every other detail needed. Plan on departing north bound from northern Florida or South Carolina in the Spring if you plan on doing it in one season. I hold a masters license and Captain tour boats for Erie Canal Cruises along the historic Erie Canal (http://www.eriecanalcruises.com/). We meet all sorts of Loopers from around the world on the canal. On my Bucket List too.

FYI, The Erie Canal has 34 locks between Albany and Fairport, approx 365 miles. There are a total of 57 locks on the entire canal system but loopers only need to go through the 34. It's about 7 days to cross the state and you are 100% right that in no way can the loop be done in a few weeks.

There is plenty of free dockage along the canal at municipal concrete walls. Power and water are also available and those fees are next to nothing when compared to standard rates. You do need to pre buy a canal pass, 2-day, 10-day or season pass and for vessels over 39' its $100 for the season.

These two stories / threads will give you a bit of the flavour of what it is like to travel some distance on the inland waterways as part of the "loop". It covers about 1,100 miles on the Ohio, Cumberland, Tennissee, Tenn - Tombigbee Waterways and Mobile Bay. My advise is to to avoid any of the river systems in the spring of the year as all manner of debris is floating southbound particularly in a year of flooding and high water. I chose to travel the the Tenn - Tom over the Mississippi as there are long stretches on the Mississippi without fuel and is mostly commercial traffic while the Tenn - Tom is more friendly to pleasure boaters.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/g...-part-1-a.html

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/g...tombigbee.html

One of the generic boating magazines did a story on a pair of sisters in college that did the great loop in a small aluminum skiff and they stayed in a tent on the bow. I believe it was an editor's kids. It was a good story and showed anyone can do it in any vessel.

Is there an echo in here????

Had this run on my list also. Did research on it. Docked next to a guy at a offshore race that had done it and talked with him a lot the night before the race. Think he did it in about 6 months in a old school Chris Craft like 50' or so. Gave thought to traviling from Detroit during vacation from work leave the boat in storage were my vacation time ran out so on and so on untill complete. Retired now havent thought about it much untill last week when my brother was in Cumberland lake mapping the bottom for Google.

Lol. ... your all forgetting most go fasts are shiny $hit boxes!
I bet there's only a handful of oso members that own boats that could be continuously run for 200+/- hrs without breaking, sh1tting, spewing, or leaving them stranded.

your also not considering weather. When it rains in a trawler, nbd, turn on the wipers, watch the radar if needed and plug in the crock pot!!!

In a powerboat, put on your poncho and send me a pic