Cruising America’s Great Loop: Guides, Courses & Essential Gear

Great Loop Cruising Resources
America’s Great Loop is a bucket-list adventure—6,000 miles of waterways through the U.S., with routes into Canada and the Bahamas. These guides, courses, and references will help you plan, stay organized, and cruise with confidence.
Be Ready for the Great Loop
A smooth Great Loop journey starts with the right knowledge, tools, and resources. We've got the guides, courses, and other resources to help you have a fantastic adventure!
Cruising Guides for the Great Loop: Fast, Reliable Info
Cruising the Great Loop means always moving—but finding fuel, anchorages, and services shouldn’t slow you down. Our guides put key info at your fingertips with clear, organized tables, so you spend less time searching and more time cruising.

Go down the columns to find the features you want

Know the best and nearest place to head for everything you need

Location, name, height, tide, schedule, and how to call

Location, restrictions including max. beam, and how to contact
Find convenient spots to tie up without the cost
Navigate confidently, knowing what to expect at each one
Identify trouble spots and key areas to watch for safe cruising
Dredging markers and horn signals
Need it now? Or don't have a shipping address? No problem! All our guides are available as PDF downloads, in addition to the print copies. Order the PDF to get it instantly without the worry of where to have it sent.
Courses to Prepare You for the Great Loop
Cruising the Great Loop isn’t just about navigation—it’s about handling daily life aboard. Whether you're planning or already underway, get the skills you need to cruise with confidence. Choose one or get the All-Access Pass for to cover it all!
$199.00
-$421.00
Get lifetime access to all courses and master every challenge of living on a boat
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Flatten the learning curve and step into life aboard with confidence. Learn daily routines, essential skills, and what to expect for a smooth transition to full-time boat life.
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Practical storage strategies to keep your boat organized, no matter its size.
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Confidently create your provisioning list, shop smarter, and store food aboard with a step-by-step action plan
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Unlock your VHF’s full potential—clear communication, advanced features, and safer cruising
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Confidently enjoy life aboard with your dog with practical, step-by-step guidance.
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Simplify your Bahamas trip planning with step-by-step guidance and accurate, up-to-date information.
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Essential References & Organizers for a Smooth Great Loop Journey
Stay organized on the Great Loop with tools designed by experienced cruisers. Practical resources for a smoother, stress-free adventure!

Five logs in one! Track daily trips, maintenance by system, and routine checks to spot problems early and stay organized effortlessly.
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$32.92
Keep your boat paperwork secure, organized, and instantly accessible with space for up to 400 pages. Includes a checklist of essential documents to have aboard.
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$14.29
Essential guide for basic and emergency VHF calls, phonetic alphabet, channel usage, and best practices for clear communication. Durable, waterproof.
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$46.38
-$50.00
Over 800 boat-friendly recipes plus tips for cooking aboard, smart substitutions, and creative solutions for every galley challenge.
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Meet The Boat Galley Team
At The Boat Galley, we’re all cruisers. We know the joys—and the challenges—of boat life. The steep learning curve, costly mistakes, and hours spent searching for answers can be overwhelming. We’ve been there. That’s why we’ve created practical tools, trusted resources, and real-world guides to help you skip the frustrations and focus on enjoying your cruising life.

- Founder of The Boat Galley
- 17 years liveaboard cruiser
- US, Mexico, Bahamas, Central America, Virgin Islands, Turkey
- Cruisers University instructor

- Cruising Guide creator
- 6 years living aboard and cruising
- US East Coast from Florida Keys to Maine and Bahamas
- Ex-Air Force; singlehander

- Provisioning guru; podcaster
- On & off living aboard since 1992
- Atlantic crossing; US, Caribbean, and Bahamas
- Years of cruising with kids

- VHF pro and frugal cruiser
- Cruiser and delivery captain
- US East Coast, Bahamas, Haiti, and Caribbean
- Cruisers University instructor

- Creator of Cruising With Your Dog
- 7 years cruising with Honey
- US East Coast and ICW
- Part of the Go Pet Friendly team
- 15+ years writing about dogs

- Graphics designer
- 8 years living aboard
- US East Coast to SE Caribbean
- Design and layout for all printed products

- Social media coordinator
- Pacific Ocean: Seattle, WA to New Zealand, incl. French Polynesia
- Complete newbie to sailing prior to her 11,000 nm voyage

- Boatshow booth "mom"
- Sabbatical and part-year cruiser
- US, Bahamas, Caribbean
- Family cruising New England to southern Caribbean
Curious about our story and what drives us? Learn more about us here.
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