Two Boaters Complete The Great Loop: An Incredible Journey Through Salt & Fresh Water

In a spur-of-the-moment decision in the fall of 2021, boaters Tommy and Tina Osborne decided to fulfill their decade-long dream of completing The Great Loop.

The Great Loop is a 6,000-mile water route. Its winding route takes boaters from Central U.S. rivers to Florida's panhandle, across the Gulf to Florida's west coast, across Florida to the east U.S. coast, then up to Canada and the Great Lakes and back down to the central U.S. rivers. It encompasses rivers, canals, gulfs, and locks, and typically takes about a year to finish.

Proper planning is crucial, especially considering the seasonal changes that winter brings. Retirees typically take this journey, but younger couples and families sometimes also make the trek. 

The couple initially planned to return home every quarter, but instead ended up completing The Great Loop in 364 days. Completing The Great Loop is quite an achievement in the boating world: more people climb Mount Everest every year than traverse this thousands-of-miles-long course. 

The route is adaptable and has no official starting point, with most of the journey taking place in closed, inland waters. The America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association assists members with the planning process and provides networking opportunities along the way.

The America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association was started back in 1999 and has since grown to have over 6,000 members and 150 sponsors. The AGLCA provides members with a special burgee that identifies them as Loopers. They also provide other services like discounts, discussion forums, and other resources.

“We actually got a white burgee to fly on the front of the boat and that kind of [signals we are] part of that group. So, we had a lot of fellowship,” Tommy said. “I can't say enough positive things about the AGLCA. It's a great organization for folks, whether they're doing The Great Loop or a general extended cruise.”

Despite Tommy being an experienced boater since he was 15 years old, the couple still learned plenty about boating throughout the trip.

The Journey

The Osbornes, who live in Tellico Village, Tenn., retired in July of 2021 and started their epic journey from Tellico Lake, in Loudon County, Tenn. in October 2021. Though they were originally planning on doing the trip in sections, by the time they reached Mobile Bay on the Gulf of Mexico, they decided to keep going. In a year-minus-a-day, they would have completed The Loop without ever returning home.

Upon reaching Mobile Bay, the Osbornes decided to add the Bahamas to their itinerary (why not?!) After crossing the Atlantic, they stayed in the Bahamas for 36 days before resuming their journey along The Loop. Though not considered an “official” stop along The Loop, many loopers decide to make a detour to the Bahamas during the winter months. This opportunity highlights the flexibility of the Great Loop.

The journey was full of twists and turns: troublesome weather and even a bomb scare at the entrance to the Great Dismal Swamp on the Virgina/North Carolina border. But the Osbornes say the people they met along the way were a large part of what made their trip memorable.

“We learned real quick how many great people there are in this country that don't make the news,” Tommy said. “There'd be strangers that would just offer their vehicles to let us go to town. Anytime you'd reach out if you had an issue trying to find something, there's always people to help you.”

The camaraderie among Loopers is reported by many who traverse The Loop, but the connections with residents along The Loop are important too. The Osbornes had many experiences with locals during the journey that turned out to be vital in many situations. The Osbornes experienced this firsthand when they encountered boat trouble in Canada. If the locals hadn’t referred them to "the boat-whisperer," they would have been stuck paying way too much for a replacement part and then waiting a week or more for it to arrive. But thanks to this genius boat mechanic — who already had the replacement part — they were back on their way within a few hours. This incident is just one of many times along their journey where talking with the locals was invaluable to their trip.

When asked what they wished they had known before they traversed the great loop, the Osbornes noted the importance of not over-planning.

"We took our schedule and threw it out. The wind will change your schedule dramatically," Tommy said. "The weather dictates a 'go' or 'no-go.' And you have to get comfortable, get in that way, get comfortable on the parameters of when we would go or not go."

Whether it's poor weather conditions or boat problems, taking each day's adventures as they come is the key to surviving the Great Loop, Tommy advises. Being too rigid with plans will only dampen the experience for everyone involved.

One of the few fixed-factors that Loopers must plan around is the expected weather from the seasons: in other words, go north in the summer and south in the winter. Being flexible and open to whatever may transpire is what the Great Loop is all about.

The Osbornes also stressed the importance of having a good travel partner. Navigating the Loop with another person requires good communication and a strong bond.

Though they felt the trip strengthened their relationship, such a journey can create a strain on partners who don't know what to expect. Whether you’re bringing a spouse, family member, or friend on the Great Loop, the Osbornes stress the importance of effective communication, especially during stressful situations. They recommend buying a set of what they call "marriage savers," — headsets that make communicating on board easier. Tina also recommends good pair of binoculars according to Tina.

No trip along the Great Loop is the same, and opportunities for adventure are endless. Whether it's completed in segments or one continuous trek, traveling the Great Loop can truly be the adventure of a lifetime.