Best Looper Boats: Top Picks For Your Next Purchase

The Great Loop is a unique boating adventure that takes people on a circuit of the eastern half of the United States and parts of Canada. It involves a mix of waterways, open water stretches, canals, and rivers, covering about 6,000 miles. The journey usually takes a year to complete, but some do it faster, and others break it up into multiple seasons.

There is no one best boat for the Great Loop, but there are various factors to consider when choosing a vessel, such as air draft, fuel efficiency, living comfort, and engine reliability. The average looper boat is 39.5 feet long, but they can range from personal watercraft to yachts up to 70 feet.

Some popular boat types for the Great Loop include trawlers, cruisers, motor yachts, catamarans, and sailboats. When selecting a boat, it's important to consider the dimensions, engine type, fuel capacity, living space, and safety features to ensure a comfortable and successful journey.

Air draft, fuel efficiency and living comfort are key considerations when choosing a looper boat

When choosing a looper boat, there are several key considerations to keep in mind, including air draft, fuel efficiency, and living comfort.

Firstly, air draft is crucial as there are fixed bridges along the route with a maximum height clearance of 19 feet and 6 inches. This means that your boat's air draft, including any hard structures, radio antennas, and navigation equipment, must be under this height. Powerboats with flybridges often need to be measured from the waterline to determine their air draft accurately.

Secondly, fuel efficiency is important as there can be long stretches between fuel docks on the Great Loop. Vessels with higher fuel efficiency and a longer range will provide more flexibility and reduce the need to refuel as frequently. Displacement vessels, typically propelled by a single economic diesel engine, offer better fuel efficiency than planing hulls with multiple higher-revving gas engines.

Finally, living comfort is essential for extended periods on the water. Recreational trawlers and cabin cruisers offer comfortable accommodations, ample deck space, and liveaboard amenities such as full baths/showers, galleys, and storage. Some boats even include luxurious features like an onboard washer/dryer. The ideal boat should be large enough to live on comfortably yet small enough to be economical, allowing you to enjoy the journey at a slower pace.

In conclusion, by considering air draft, fuel efficiency, and living comfort, you can choose a looper boat that is well-suited for the Great Loop journey, providing a safe, efficient, and comfortable experience.

The Aspen C108 is a popular choice for its fuel efficiency, handling and spacious living quarters

The Aspen C108 is a popular choice for boaters seeking fuel efficiency, responsive handling, and spacious living quarters. Its asymmetrical design, with one hull 35% thinner than the other, reduces water resistance, allowing the boat to be propelled more efficiently and resulting in better fuel economy and higher speeds. The C108's unique hull shape also contributes to its exceptional handling and stability, making it a versatile vessel for both cruising and fishing.

The C108's fuel efficiency is further enhanced by its outboard engines, with a combination of a 115-hp and a 200-hp Yamaha engine. This setup allows the boat to achieve impressive mileage, with a range of up to 380 miles at cruising speed and 162 miles at top speed. Additionally, the C108's hull design enables it to cut through the water smoothly, creating minimal wake even at high speeds.

In terms of living quarters, the Aspen C108 offers an impressive amount of space for its size. It features three separate cabins, including a master stateroom with a king-size bed, ample storage, and a spacious head with a shower. The galley, or kitchen area, is well-equipped with a tile backsplash, Corian or stainless steel countertops, a deep sink, a stove/oven combo, and ample storage. The salon, or living area, is bright and airy, with large windows that provide excellent visibility and natural insulation.

The C108 also offers a comfortable and functional dining space, with a spacious U-shaped lounge and a gimballed dining table that can be adjusted for easy access. The helm, or cockpit, features twin Bentley helm seats and is equipped with modern navigation instruments and displays. Overall, the C108 provides a spacious and well-appointed living environment, making it a popular choice for boaters seeking a comfortable and fuel-efficient vessel.

With its combination of fuel efficiency, responsive handling, and spacious accommodations, the Aspen C108 is an excellent choice for boaters seeking a versatile and comfortable vessel for extended cruising and exploration. Its unique design and impressive performance characteristics have made it a popular option for those seeking a boat that offers both performance and comfort.

The Sabre 38 SE is another good option, offering fuel efficiency, easy manoeuvrability and a roomy interior

When it comes to choosing the best looper boat, there is no definitive answer as it depends on various factors such as personal preferences, budget, and timeframe for the trip. However, the Sabre 38 SE is a strong contender and is definitely an option worth considering. Here's why:

Fuel Efficiency

The Sabre 38 SE offers impressive fuel efficiency, which is a crucial factor when considering long-distance cruising. With a fuel capacity of 300 gallons and equipped with twin 300-horsepower Volvo D4 diesel engines, the Sabre 38 SE boasts a cruising speed of 25 knots and can reach a top speed of just over 30 knots. This efficient fuel consumption allows for a range of at least a couple of hundred miles on a single tank, which is ideal when traversing the Great Loop, where fuel docks can be significantly spaced apart.

Easy Manoeuvrability

The Sabre 38 SE excels in manoeuvrability, making it a joy to handle. The pod drives and joystick controls provide exceptional control, allowing you to navigate tight spaces with ease. The 360-degree sightlines at the helm further enhance your awareness while underway, ensuring a safe and enjoyable cruising experience. The boat's responsiveness and easy handling make it a pleasure to operate, even for those new to boating.

Roomy Interior

The Sabre 38 SE truly shines when it comes to its interior space. The boat features an open design, providing a spacious and versatile layout perfect for both day trips and extended cruises. The galley, lower lounge, and master berth are well-appointed and benefit from abundant natural daylight. The lower lounge offers a comfortable space to relax, with an L-shaped settee, ample storage, and even a pull-out double berth for additional sleeping accommodations. The galley is equipped with everything you need for cruising, including a full bath/shower and plenty of storage for dry goods and supplies. The master stateroom is also impressive, offering a large and well-appointed space with plenty of storage and a separate head with a shower.

In conclusion, the Sabre 38 SE checks all the boxes for a great looper boat. Its fuel efficiency, easy manoeuvrability, and roomy interior make it an excellent choice for those seeking a comfortable, capable, and enjoyable boat for cruising the Great Loop or any other extended voyage. While the best boat for you will ultimately depend on your specific needs and preferences, the Sabre 38 SE is a strong contender that combines performance, efficiency, and comfort in a sleek and elegant package.

Sailboats can also make the journey, but their mast must be removed for certain sections

Sailboats can also complete the Great Loop, but their design means that this journey is more challenging. The average height of a sailboat mast is between 19 and 28 feet, and the lowest bridge on the route is just over 19 feet in Illinois. Therefore, to pass under certain bridges, the mast must be removed and carried horizontally on the deck. This is a complex and potentially dangerous task, and it is recommended that it is carried out by professionals.

The Great Loop is a 5,000-7,000-mile network of waterways that recreational boaters can take to circumnavigate the eastern half of the United States. It is a marathon journey that usually takes about a year to complete. The route includes parts of the Atlantic Coast, the Intracoastal Waterway, the Great Lakes, the Canadian Heritage Canals, and the river system of the American Midwest.

There is no "best" boat for completing the Great Loop, and people use a variety of vessels to make the journey. However, certain boats are more suited to the task than others due to some of the route's restrictions. For example, a boat's air draft (the height from the waterline to the highest fixed point) should be less than 19 feet to pass under all the bridges. Additionally, vessels drawing more than five feet may be blocked by shallow waters. Most boats that complete the Loop are between 35 and 45 feet long, but it has even been done on a personal watercraft.

When choosing a boat for the Great Loop, it is essential to consider factors such as draft and height limitations, fuel range and efficiency, navigability and handling, accessibility and safety features, personal preferences, and budget. While sailboats can complete the journey, their deeper draft and mast height present additional challenges that must be carefully navigated.

The ideal looper boat is small enough to be economical, but large enough to live on comfortably for extended periods

A smaller boat will be more economical to run and will be able to navigate the various locks, rivers, and waterways along the Great Loop route. However, the boat also needs to be large enough to provide comfortable living space, a functional galley, and adequate storage for extended periods.

Recreational trawlers are a popular choice for the Great Loop as they offer comfortable accommodations, good fuel economy, and respectable range. They are usually built on displacement hulls, powered by a single engine, and have cruising speeds of 7-9 knots with a maximum speed of 10-15 knots. Other options include cabin cruisers, power cruisers, and trailerable boats.

When choosing a looper boat, it is important to consider your timeframe for the trip, your budget, and your personal preferences. The ideal boat will be slow enough to enjoy the sites and fuel efficiency but fast enough to meet your timelines. It should also be able to navigate dangerous vessel traffic or inclement weather.

Frequently asked questions