Eyeing the Loop from Austin, TX

[Blue Tortuga]

Insurance has been a huge issue for new boaters with little to no experience. We Have had people literally turned down because of no boating experience and others told they could only move up 15’ in size from a previous boat.

Then there’s this, my personal boat, a Mainship 430, I moved it from Texas back to my slip in Sarasota replacing a previous boat I had. I was told I had to buy an entire new policy and it was a third more than what I was previously paying in Texas. Hoping that issue with Florida insurance resolves itself in a year or so if that market opens up more to other providers.

Based on previous years l, All of this is Really stupid but a reality you should be aware of. Maybe moot in a few years when you’re ready.

So check into insurance and for shopping don’t overlook our little area in Texas. Clear Lake has the 3rd largest concentrations of bots in the US.

[PaulB.]

Hi Scook1. If you have not joined the AGLCA you should consider it. The have a dedicated sub-group for families doing the loop that should be able to help with many of the practical issues travelling with kids on board. Paul

[dutch-barge]

Yes the loop is over rated. We bought a 51 ft boat for it, and found it boring.....great nature...but not many real historic cities ...so

instead for 100 K you can buy an excellent Steel 'barge' in Europe have more navigable canals and rivers than the loop, many interesting sites, spend a winter in the center of Paris, or Berlin or Amsterdam. Take the boat south.

[bumpkin]

I second PaulB's suggestion to join AGLCA. They have twice yearly meetings where you can learn a lot about what you will need and what to expect.

Dutch-barge is correct the river system on the loop is boring; it is setup for business barges, not pleasure cruising. The rest of the trip was interesting to me.

You might enjoy the onfire family youtube channel. Their early videos were about buying boats. I found it interesting to see what features they liked and how it differed from my choices. There are a number of youtube channels in the wild that cover bringing up children on a boat.

I had fun on the loop and you will too.

Mike

[Comodave]

We haven’t done the whole loop but what we have done was great. We found it to be very interesting.

[sledge]

Originally Posted by Blue Tortuga

Insurance has been a huge issue for new boaters with little to no experience. We Have had people literally turned down because of no boating experience and others told they could only move up 15’ in size from a previous boat.

Then there’s this, my personal boat, a Mainship 430, I moved it from Texas back to my slip in Sarasota replacing a previous boat I had. I was told I had to buy an entire new policy and it was a third more than what I was previously paying in Texas. Hoping that issue with Florida insurance resolves itself in a year or so if that market opens up more to other providers.

Based on previous years l, All of this is Really stupid but a reality you should be aware of. Maybe moot in a few years when you’re ready.

So check into insurance and for shopping don’t overlook our little area in Texas. Clear Lake has the 3rd largest concentrations of bots in the US.

Agreed insurance is problematic, but Scook1 might not have as much a problem if on the loop. The nice thing about doing the loop in the proper seasonal timing is that you can claim to your insurance company you are not in Florida or even most of the SE coast during hurricane season.
Heading north on the loop, you're typically around NYC by June 1st.
.