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AGLCA May 4-7 Norfolk event

 
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gulfcoast john



Joined: 14 Dec 2012
Posts: 989
City/Region: PENSACOLA
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2010
C-Dory Model: 255 Tomcat
Vessel Name: Cat O' Mine
Photos: CAT O' MINE
PostPosted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 5:52 pm    Post subject: AGLCA May 4-7 Norfolk event Reply with quote

Greetings Brats!
The spring AGLCA meeting is May 4-7 in Norfolk.
https://www.greatloop.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=574480&module_id=382718&sl=1518373900
We attended last year (drove there) and found it very worthwhile for the price ($385 registration, hotel $129 + $10 parking but we stayed on base). Includes 2 lunches and dinners. Tons of info and knowledgeable crews regarding anything about the Loop or any part of it. Some attendees are planning a 1-4 year trip of a lifetime on a large (40ft) boat they haven’t bought yet. ‘Over-planners’ like us come away reassured that ‘hey, we can do this’. Plans for doing pieces in a trailer boat are vastly simpler than it will be for some of these folks. One guy was shooting for the title of oldest guy to do it on a PWC (a light sport model, not a cruiser) without much planning at all. As I recall, he made about 100 miles before dislocating his shoulder in rough water and dropped out, but still cheerful.

We found it interesting how the top 3 expenses for looping crews tended to be the same, but in a different order for each style:

Fuel for the boat (esp if over 40 ft), or
Marina docking fees (esp for boats over 40 or wide beam cats), or
Eating out ashore and alcoholic beverages ashore, esp groups

We didn’t research launch ramps or rig storage (except on base). Norfolk can be part of an Albemarle loop including the Dismal Swamp Canal (worthwhile). There can be a very congested mix of military, commercial, and recreational traffic that could be intimidating for newbie crews.

We’ve found the most challenging issue in designing (or copying) a one-way boat trip for us has been finding a suitable ramp (deep and steep for a Tom Cat) with rig storage for weeks or months with reasonable security and freshwater rinse for the trailer after a saltwater dunking. Reviewing route marina web sites is seldom helpful with this. Google maps satellite view can help scope out possibles (a ramp, stored trailers). However, we’ve found the most productive bid is to simply call the marina, outline our very rare request, and let them figure out a solution. They may not have rig storage, but Uncle Bud has a fenced yard with room for $5/day, or no ramp but a public ramp 3 blocks away etc. Oddly enough, our best luck has been with mom and pop marinas. The answer at MarineMax Sarasota, near a public ramp and with lots of trailers stored for customers, was ‘our liability insurance wouldn’t cover that.’ 3 storage lots said no, the owner of one had no room, but her employee had a side yard spot 8 miles inland for $5/day. Prices for everything in Sarasota drop 15% for every mile inland you go.

If you or your blonde are intimidated by worries about trailering off to some distant boating adventure, this gathering will reassure you...and you’ll discover $1200 of stuff you don’t really need to buy or take, so it’s a bargain (if she’ll buy that).

Thanks to the other Brats who shared these ideas. Hope it’s helpful to some and reassuring to others. Now get thee to your Cruise Planning Desk!

Cheers!
John

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John and Eileen Highsmith
2010 Tom Cat 255, Cat O' Mine
Yamaha F150, LXF150
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