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.
Wireless "Marriage Saver" Headsets
Dock, lock, anchor, or work up the mast with calm, clear communication. These marine headsets make every maneuver easier—no more yelling, missed cues, or guessing at hand signals.
You’ll be able to talk through each step, make decisions together, and handle your boat with confidence. There's a reason they're referred to as "Marriage Savers!"
TeamO PFD with BackTow™
Stay clipped in without the hidden risks of traditional harnesses. TeamO PFDs are the only lifejackets with BackTow™ technology, flipping tethered sailors face-up so they can breathe until recovered.
Lightweight, comfortable, and designed for real-world use, they’re PFDs you’ll actually wear — all day, every day.
Weather Basics for Boaters
Learn how to find the hidden details in the apps you already know, and how to interpret them, to understand what the day will really be like on the water.
Brand new. Paperback, PDF, and Kindle available now.
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
Flatten the learning curve with lifetime access to every course—on provisioning, storage, safety, daily life, and more. One pass, one price, all you need to live aboard with confidence.
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.
Feel confident and in control with a clear system for planning, shopping, and storing food for life afloat
Feel totally lost with your VHF? This course shows you exactly what to do—what buttons to push, what channels to use, and what to say in every situation.
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.
$34.92
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.
$14.47
Essential guide for basic and emergency VHF calls, phonetic alphabet, channel usage, and best practices for clear communication. Durable, waterproof.
$46.38
-$50.00
Over 800 boat-friendly recipes plus tips for cooking aboard, smart substitutions, and creative solutions for every galley challenge.
ugo® Waterproof Tablet & Messenger Bags
100% waterproof cases to protect your tablet, laptop or other gear from splashes, rain, and going in the water. And they float, even fully loaded!
Where You've Seen Us
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.