sailboat air draft

What Do Boat Measurements Mean? 11 Terms Explained!

Boat measurements are more than just numbers; they are the essence of maritime safety, efficiency, and compatibility.

Navigating the intricate world of boat measurements is crucial for anyone in the boating industry, from manufacturers to enthusiasts.

Understanding these measurements ensures proper vessel selection, compliance with marina requirements, and safe navigation in various water conditions.

Below we delve into the key aspects of how boats are measured and the main terms used, providing you with the essential knowledge to engage with the maritime world confidently.

11 Main Boat Measurement Terms

These are 11 main boat measurement terms with expanded descriptions and examples for better understanding:

• Length Overall (LOA) : This is the total length of the boat from the tip of the bow to the end of the stern. It’s the most common way to describe the size of a boat. LOA is important for determining mooring space, marina fees, and navigating in confined waters. For example, a boat with an LOA of 30 feet will need a berth slightly longer than 30 feet. For stability calculations, you should refer to LBP or length between perpendiculars .
• Length on Deck (LOD) : This measures the horizontal length of the boat’s hull excluding any extensions like bow sprits or swim platforms. LOD is used to provide a more accurate measurement of the usable space on the boat. A boat might have an LOA of 35 feet but an LOD of 30 feet if there’s a 5-foot bow sprit.
• Beam : The beam is the width of the boat at its widest point. It’s crucial for stability; wider beams generally provide greater stability. The beam also affects a boat’s capacity and maneuverability. For instance, a boat with a beam of 10 feet might be more stable but less maneuverable than a boat with an 8-foot beam. More about boat beam read here .
• Draft : Draft measures the minimum depth of water a boat requires to float. It’s key for determining where a boat can safely navigate. A sailboat with a draft of 6 feet can’t enter waters less than one fathom or 6 feet deep without risking running aground.
• Displacement : This is the weight of the water displaced by the boat’s hull. It roughly equates to the boat’s weight when fully loaded. Displacement impacts how a boat handles and its fuel efficiency. A boat displacing 5 tons will handle differently than one displacing 2 tons.
• Freeboard : The distance from the waterline to the upper deck level, indicates how much of the boat is above water. A higher freeboard can mean a drier and potentially safer ride in rough conditions. For example, a boat with 4 feet of freeboard will handle choppy water better than one with 2 feet of freeboard.
• Deadrise : This is the angle of the boat’s hull relative to a flat surface. A higher deadrise (sharp angle) helps cut through waves, providing a smoother ride in choppy conditions. A boat with a 20-degree deadrise will generally perform better in rough water than one with a 10-degree deadrise. Learn more about boat deadrise in a detailed article.
• Air Draft : This is the height of the boat from the waterline to its highest fixed point. It’s important to determine if a boat can fit under fixed bridges or other overhead obstructions. A sailboat with a mast height (air draft) of 50 feet needs to consider bridge clearances on its route.
• Gross Tonnage : This volume measurement is used for large vessels and is calculated based on the total internal space of the ship. Ship tonnage is important for regulatory, safety, and commercial purposes. A cargo ship with a gross tonnage of 50,000 indicates its large size and capacity.
• Ballast : This is the weight (often lead or water) added low in the boat to improve stability. Ballast is particularly important in sailboats to counterbalance the force of the wind. A sailboat with 2,000 pounds of ballast will heel (lean) less and be more stable than one with 1,000 pounds.
• Waterline Length (LWL) : The length of the boat at the waterline, can be shorter than the LOA due to overhangs. LWL affects speed and stability; longer waterline lengths generally allow for higher speeds. For instance, a boat with an LWL of 25 feet may be faster than one with an LWL of 20 feet.

Each of these measurements plays a critical role in the design, functionality, and performance of a boat. They are essential for builders, designers, and users to understand the capabilities and limitations of a vessel in various conditions.

How Do You Measure A Boat Hull?

Measuring a boat hull involves determining several key dimensions that are critical for understanding the boat’s design, performance, and suitability for certain conditions. Here are the main measurements taken for a boat hull:

• Length Overall (LOA) : Measure from the furthest point forward ( bow ) to the furthest point aft ( stern ), including any overhangs.
• Length on Deck (LOD) : Measure the length of the deck, excluding overhangs.
• Waterline Length (LWL) : Measure the length of the boat at the waterline, which may be different from the LOA due to the hull shape and overhangs.
• Beam : Measure the widest part of the boat hull, which is usually found at or near the midpoint of the boat’s length. The beam measurement is crucial as it affects stability and interior space.
• Draft : Measure the vertical distance from the waterline to the lowest part of the hull (usually the bottom of the keel ). This tells you how deep the water needs to be for the boat to float without hitting the bottom.
• Freeboard : Measure the distance from the waterline to the upper edge of the hull. This measurement gives an idea of how high the boat sits in the water and can affect how dry the boat stays in rough conditions.
• Deadrise : This is the angle between the hull bottom and a horizontal plane at the boat’s beam. It’s measured in degrees and indicates how the hull will handle different sea conditions. A higher deadrise usually means better performance in rough water.
• Hull Depth : Measure the distance from the deepest point of the hull to the top of the deck. This gives an idea of the overall volume of the hull.

These measurements are typically made using measuring tapes, laser measuring tools, or, in the design phase, through CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software. Accurate hull measurements are essential for boat builders, designers, and owners, as they influence the boat’s capacity, stability , speed, and seaworthiness.

How Does the Coast Guard Measure Boat Length?

The U.S. Coast Guard measures boat length primarily based on the Length Overall (LOA) method. This approach involves measuring the boat from the tip of the bow in its most forward position to the end of the stern in its most aft position.

This includes all structural and integral parts of the boat but does not include removable attachments and fittings such as outboard motors, bow pulpits, rudders , and similar extensions.

It’s important to note that the Coast Guard’s measurement for boat length can differ from how length is defined for registration or documentation purposes, or how it might be described by manufacturers or in boating literature.

For instance, Length on Deck (LOD) or Waterline Length (LWL) might be used in different contexts but are not the standard measurements the Coast Guard uses for defining a boat’s length.

The Coast Guard’s method of measuring boat length is significant for regulatory and safety reasons. For example, certain boating laws, safety requirements, and regulations apply differently to boats depending on their length class. Therefore, accurate measurement is crucial for compliance with federal and state boating laws .

About the author

I worked as an officer in the deck department on various types of vessels, including oil and chemical tankers, LPG carriers, and even reefer and TSHD in the early years. Currently employed as Marine Surveyor carrying cargo, draft, bunker, and warranty survey.

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Calculate Clearance Under Bridges & Cables

• Post author: Noel Hutchinson
• Post published: October 25, 2019
• Post category: Uncategorized
• Post comments: 0 Comments

This article will show you how to calculate clearance under bridges & cables. We often need to do this in order to see if our vessel can fit underneath. Or we may have to work our when our vessel can fit underneath as it may need the tide to fall to a certain level.

When working out this puzzle, the first thing we need to do is find the charted height of the bridge or overhead obstruction. We can either find this on the chart itself or by looking up the information in an almanac or pilot book.

Overhead clearances under bridges & cables are measured above something called HAT or Highest Astronomical Tide. This is the highest a tide can rise due to influence of celestial bodies and weather. For a reminder of the different tide levels take a look at the image below or click through to the video.

So the next step is to find the height of HAT from the tide tables. Once we have done this we know the height of the bridge and the level above which it is measured.

The thing with HAT though is that it’s not that common. HAT is the highest a tide can be expected to rise. However, the tide often falls short of that level. This means that we often have some extra space. This space comes from the difference between the height of tide (HoT) on the day and HAT.

In order to find this extra bit of space we need to use a tidal curve or an App to get the height of tide. We can then take the height of tide off of HAT. This is our extra bit of space.

HAT – HoT = extra space

You can refresh yourself on tidal curves here if you need to:

How To Use Tidal Curves – watch the video

The final calculation.

To calculate clearance under bridges & cables then, all you need to do is add the charted height and the extra bit of space together. This will then give you the total space available for a given time on a given day.

In order to see if you will fit under the bridge take the air draft of your vessel from the total space available. If the answer is positive then you can make your way underneath safely. The air draft is the height of the vessel from the waterline to the very top.

Here’s a summary of the steps to take:

• Get the charted height from the chart or almanac
• Get the level of HAT from the tide tables
• Calculate the height of tide (HoT) using the tidal curve (or use an App)
• Take the HoT from HAT to work out the extra space
• Add the extra space to the charted height for total clearance
• Take the air draft of the vessel from the total clearance to see if the vessel can fit

Calculate Clearance Under Bridges & Cables Cheat Sheet

As always, we have produced a free cheat sheet for you to use. It will make the steps super simple and help to keep you organised as well. We find the best thing to do is laminate it. Then you can use it again and again with a dry wipe marker pen or china-graph pencil ?

Please don’t forget to like, comment and share.

Our complete set of Knowledge Cards are available from our shop

Noel Hutchinson

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Average Sailboat Draft

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

June 15, 2022

Sailboat draft varies between different sizes and vessel types. Also, hull type plays a large part in draft depth.

The average draft of a typical production coastal cruising sailboat is about 3 to 4 feet. Some vessels, such as fin keel racing boats, can have much deeper drafts regardless of overall length. The deepest draft sailboats are full-keel blue water cruisers, while the shallowest draft vessels are centerboard island hoppers.

In this article, we'll go over the average draft of sailboats by type and usage. We'll also cover why some boats have deeper drafts than others and what depths are best for applications such as bluewater sailing, racing, and beaching.

We sourced the information in this article from sailboat design guides, experienced sailors, and our own analysis of boat construction and sales trends.

Table of contents

‍ What is Sailboat Draft?

Draft is a term we use to describe how deep below the water a sailboat hull (and everything attached to it) goes. This information is useful because it gives us an idea of how the vessel handles and what conditions it can sail in.

For example, a 40-foot sailboat with a draft of 5 feet could make an excellent blue water passagemaker, but its draft is far too deep for beaching on an island or exploring shallow coral reefs.

Average Draft of Small Sailboats

Some small sailboats, known as island-hoppers or 'gunkholers,' are designed to have flat bottoms and. a retractable centerboard to reduce draft.

These vessels, which are designed to be beached and to sail in shallow water, have a board-down draft of a foot or two and a board-up draft of 10 inches or less. Smaller sailboats, such as dinghies, have an even shallower draft of Just a few inches.

Average draft of Coastal Cruising Sailboats

Coastal cruising sailboats are small, but they're a bit heftier than centerboard island hoppers. They range in size from about 22 to 30 feet in length, and they have an average draft of three feet.

Draft depth is reduced on some vessels that utilize swing keels, which are like centerboards that pivot up into a shallow trunk when the captain needs to reduce draft.

Average Draft of an Offshore Sailboat

Offshore sailboats are known for having a deep draft, and many of these boats keep a significant amount of ballast as low as possible to increase stability. The draft of offshore sailboats ranges from about 3.5 feet on the low end and 6 feet or more on the largest vessels.

Owners of offshore sailboats with deep drafts have to be very careful when navigating harbors and channels, as underwater obstacles or the seafloor can easily cause tremendous damage to a deep keel.

What is Shoal Draft?

A shoal draft sailboat is a vessel with a shallow draft, usually under 3 feet. Examples of shoal draft vessels include the Catalina 22 (with a swing keel) and the West Wight Potter 19. Shoal draft sailboats are usually flat-bottomed (like sharpie sailboats) or, more recently, built with V-bottom hulls.

Shoal draft vessels are great for rivers, lakes, and island hopping but usually aren't comfortable in heavy seas.

Does Draft Affect Stability?

Draft depth can affect stability, but it doesn't always. Instead, the things that affect stability often affect the draft of a sailboat. For example, a heavy ballast keel is long and deep, which helps a sailboat remain stable in rough weather.

A shallower boat with additional internal ballast will sit lower in the water, thus increasing its draft and stability. However, adding an extra two feet to a centerboard likely won't help increase stability, though it will dramatically increase your draft.

Draft Vs. Drag

Many people believe that deeper draft sailboats have more issues with drag than shallow draft boats. This is sometimes the case, but it doesn't tell the full story. Modern deep-draft sailboats often have shallow, rounded hulls and a long fin keel.

The fin keel, which is responsible for the vast majority of the draft depth, is narrow and designed to produce very little drag. These boats are fast and nimble, which makes them popular with modern sailors.

Older vessels with traditional full keels do experience more drag, though they enjoy enhanced stability and superior motion comfort.

Are Deep Draft Sailboats Better?

Deep draft sailboats are usually better for offshore sailing, and some modern deep draft vessels are great for racing. However, the majority of production racing sailboats have flush hulls and a somewhat modest draft, and some utilize multiple blade keels.

For an everyday cruising boat, a deep draft is usually better unless you frequently encounter reefs, sandbars, or other shallow water hazards.

Can You Reduce the Draft of a Sailboat?

Generally speaking, you can't dramatically reduce the draft of a fixed-keel sailboat. If your boat has a centerboard or a swing keel, you can dramatically reduce the draft by retracting it (just don't forget the rudder).

If you're looking to shave a couple of inches off the draft of your sailboat, try emptying the fresh and wastewater tanks and shedding unnecessary items. Don't try to remove any original ballast, as it could completely throw off the stability of your boat.

How to Beach a Deep-Draft Sailboat

Beaching is a fun way to berth your boat. Some sailboats are easy to beach (if they're designed for it), while others require great care. It's possible to beach a deep-draft sailboat, though it requires careful tide planning, terrain exploration, and some extra equipment.

A popular method is to use specialized poles. When you find a good beach, position your boat at high tide and deploy the poles, They'll settle and keep your boat upright when the tide goes out. This method isn't safe for all vessels, so intentionally grounding a deep-draft boat is generally best to avoid altogether,

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• General Discussion

Measuring Air Draft

• Thread starter CaptTom
• Start date Apr 19, 2017
• Apr 19, 2017

Is there a trick to measuring the air draft of a boat? The usual approach seems to be to read the manufacturer's documentation if available, or the PO's ad, estimate how much that might have changed with the addition or removal of other "stuff," then pass under successively low bridges until you get a sense of when you can make it, and when you can't. The problem with actually measuring is complicated by the fact that there's no straight line from the top of the anchor light to the waterline. Or from the deck. I was thinking I could put a long pole horizontally across the deck, then measure from that to the anchor light. Then I'd need to take two measurements from the pole to the water line, and average them, or else get both the pole and the boat perfectly level. I've never seen anyone do this, or for that matter, any other method of taking an actual measurement. I wonder if there's a better way. Like last month when I showed up at a newly-purchased boat to help a buddy take it home. I didn't have a 14' pole handy, and we had lots of bridges to pass under along the way.  

If your boat is the one in your avatar measure the tip of your antennae to the top of the fly bridge. Write down that number. Get your fishing pole out of its locker and lay it across the top of the fly bridge. Let out enough line to submerge a lead sinker about 2" below the surface while the boat sits for a minute or so. Lock down the reel and measure the amount of line and add this to the number you previously wrote down. That is your current air draft.  

"I was thinking I could put a long pole horizontally across the deck, then measure from that to the anchor light. Then I'd need to take two measurements from the pole to the water line, and average them, or else get both the pole and the boat perfectly level." That is more or less what we did but had to break it up in 3 segments and utilized a level to ensure the 'pole' was even across the boat. FWIW - I would not trust the manufacturers spec with the variables in play , remember that the number will change with added or subtracted weight as well as in salt of fresh water.  

Pythagoras solved this issue many years ago and provided it to Euclid. Measure with tape or string from your top most point straight out to the water preferably to abreast the beam, without touching anything else on the boat. Don't try measuring straight down but out and away from the boat. Then measure from the spot you are touching the water to the boats hull. Add 1/2 of the hulls width to the second measurement. You have established a right angle in which you now know the hypotenuse and one side. Do the math to solve for air draft.  

We measured similar to the way you are thinking also. Here's the sketch I made up originally. I have since added a few dimensions but you get the idea.  

Attachments

• Albin draft.pdf 15.4 KB · Views: 265

North Baltic sea

Ulysses is right, use Math. If you can't remember how, ask any reasonably intelligent 9th grader.  

Please note.... Width of the hull at the waterline is most often much less than the actual beam of the boat. Many of us have had boats where the 'tallest' fixed point is not on the centerline.  

Senior Member

All above advise is good. Make sure you measure when fuel, water and waste tanks are near empty.  

smitty477 said: Please note.... Width of the hull at the waterline is most often much less than the actual beam of the boat. Many of us have had boats where the 'tallest' fixed point is not on the centerline. Click to expand...

"distance to Center line." - How would you propose getting that distance?  

smitty477 said: "distance to Center line." - How would you propose getting that distance? Click to expand...

"Tape measure from where you are standing to the center line of your boat." Ahh - so it cannot be done while standing on the dock and you would need the boat level.  

smitty477 said: "Tape measure from where you are standing to the center line of your boat." Ahh - so it cannot be done while standing on the dock and you would need the boat level. Click to expand...

Here's how we've measured. Find a clearance that is marked well and accurately or that you can mark. This could be a dock or boathouse slip. In our case it's a covered boat slip. The entrance to the slip is a solid and straight beam and we've actually marked along the side the measured distances so at any time we can easily tell the clearance. It varies between 39 and 41'. Then we simply pull the boat under that entrance way and measure the distance from various points of the boat to the top. We might come up with something like tallest antenna 17', radar with other antennas down 21'. We'd then subtract from the current overall clearance, lets say 40' on this day. That would tell us that our air draft with the antenna up is 23' and with it down is 19'. If you found a well marked bridge you could even do it there. As noted below we've made sure to measure at lightest load and we've also measured at other loads. It's interesting to see the difference as your water draft also changes by the same amount. It was also interesting to compare to manufacturer's numbers. Of the manufacturer's boats we checked here's what we found. We measured two boats each from two builders and found them to be conservative. Even at the lightest load we could create we had more air draft than they indicated. Their numbers were clearly from a load that was impossible for us to be that light. Must have been all tanks completely empty and no supplies or extras on the boat. Similarly we had two divers measure water draft and even with all tanks full and everything possible plus 12 people on the boat we had slightly less water draft than they indicated. Note that one of these builders did supply a range based on load but even that range was conservative by a couple of inches. However, we checked one boat from a third builder. Their numbers were from the most optimistic view. Their quoted air draft was from a fully loaded boat in every way and several inches less than the draft we found in our worst case. Their water draft was less than we found in any load situation. They quoted 5'. Out numbers ranged from 5'1" to 5'3". I must say that on the day we did this, we got quite a few onlookers and those who were very convinced we were crazy, although one of them then asked if we'd check his boat. Now, once you have a firm grasp of your air draft, you still have one other problem. What does the number you get from the bridge records or tender indicate? Is the bridge accurately marked? A couple of times we've had discussions with bridge tenders that have been very interesting, but pretty much all over the place. We've found well marked bridges where the clearances were clearly based off the lowest area of the bridge. If you stayed centered under the bridge you had a few more inches. Nice, safe. The published numbers were also worse case on those bridges. Conservative. We liked. However, we found one bridge that had no markings and the quoted clearance was based on some really low water situation and the very center of an arched opening. The safe clearance was over two feet less than the number shown on charts and records. Clearly a dangerous situation as someone had found and posted on Active Captain when they lost a light going under. One other thing we keep in mind. Whatever air draft you come up with does not reflect waves or wakes caused by other boats.  

"No, I believe you are missing something. Can you not stand on your dock and get to your boat with a tape measure if someone is assisting you ? I have yet to find a tape measure with operational instructions, but I am sure that you can find someone that has some experience that can help you figure it out. Secondly the boat being level will help get an accurate air draft but the math will work whether it is level or not. If the boat is not level the tangent angle will still be to the highest point at that time no matter how the boat might presently be inclined." I did not have a dock nor did I have one when we were approaching the bridges on the canals. We were able to make sure that the distances were within about 1/4" by measuring using the simple methods above. It has been pointed out that you cannot just use the waterline distance as the hull is never plumb to the hulls full width - n or is the width even throughout the length of the boat. "I have yet to find a tape measure with operational instructions, but I am sure that you can find someone that has some experience that can help you figure it out." It is always a pleasure to exchange posts with folks that are both knowledgeable and sincere in their efforts to help.  

man n black

Veteran member.

Wouldn't it be easier to get a ball of twine...climb to the highest position on your boat and reel out the twine to water level. You could then measure everything above the highest point you climbed to with a measuring tape....combine and then bammo...you have your air draft...I'd add a little bit to that number just to be safe... Ch  

"Now, once you have a firm grasp of your air draft, you still have one other problem. What does the number you get from the bridge records or tender indicate? Is the bridge accurately marked?" absolutely +1 - we have seen this as well in the NE.  

Technical Guru

Go to a marina or dockside restaurant that has a balcony over the water. Bring a carpenters level and a tape measure. Get on the balcony and set level on something about the height of your boat. Level it and sight your boat mast down the length of the level. Measure from level down to the water surface. Get a helper on the boat to put a piece of blue tape on mast at sight level. Measure on boat from blue tape to top of whatever mast. Something like that, depending on boat and marina, etc. You can't rely on bridge markings. Can't say "well that one was marked 22', and we had 2' clearance, so we are 20'." Some bridges marked super conservative, some have arcs on lower structure, tides, etc.  

jleonard said: We measured similar to the way you are thinking also. Here's the sketch I made up originally. I have since added a few dimensions but you get the idea. Click to expand...

ulysses said: Pythagoras solved this issue many years ago and provided it to Euclid. Measure with tape or string from your top most point straight out to the water preferably to abreast the beam, without touching anything else on the boat. Don't try measuring straight down but out and away from the boat. Then measure from the spot you are touching the water to the boats hull. Add 1/2 of the hulls width to the second measurement. You have established a right angle in which you now know the hypotenuse and one side. Do the math to solve for air draft. Click to expand...

Ski in NC said: Go to a marina or dockside restaurant that has a balcony over the water... Click to expand...

Ski in NC said: You can't rely on bridge markings. Can't say "well that one was marked 22', and we had 2' clearance, so we are 20'." Some bridges marked super conservative, some have arcs on lower structure, tides, etc. Click to expand...

Ski in NC said: Go to a marina or dockside restaurant that has a balcony over the water. QUOTE] That would be nice, ,however..... If that was my plan I would still be looking as I have never found what you describe (in the last 11 years that is). Just sayin'. The boat that brought up this question was, coincidentally, an Albin 40. Click to expand...

Master and Commander

I did by myself years ago, like J Leonard showed in post #5, it took just a few minutes. I added 6" to the total and made stick on labels for the upper and lower helms. It is nice when bridges have tide boards and clearance marked. So far so good.  

My method in not proper but it works for me. I get my kid to stand on the hardtop and put his eye level with the highest point. I then take a tape and run it up from the side until he says it is level with the highest point. I measure that to a rail, I then measure from the rail to the water. Add those together and then add a couple of inches. Pray your correct when you go under that first close bridge. LOL We can do the measurement in a few minutes.  

Moderator Emeritus

Our boat was in a covered slip when we bought it. I took a 12' straight edge and stood on the hardtop. With a level on the straight edge and a Sharpie taped to the end of the straight edge I made the straight edge level and at the top of the radar dome. Them I made a mark on the piling supporting the roof over the slip. Next just measure from the waterline up to the Sharpie mark on the piling. Now that I had the air draft to the top of the radome all I had to do was measure the anchor light above the radome. By doing it this way, I could keep the boat from heeling if I stood on one side to measure to the waterline which would skew the measurement.  

Capt.Bill11

This thread cracks me up. I had no Earthly idea figuring out the air draft of a boat could be so complicated. ?  

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Great Loop FAQs

The majority of the questions we receive are answered here. There are FAQs about the Great Loop route and about what the requirements are for a Great Loop-capable boat.

Questions about the Great Loop Route

What exactly is the great loop, what waterways comprise the great loop route.

Because there are several points on the route where there are choices that may send you to different waterways, we recommend you examine our Public Interactive Map.  However, the primary waterways on the basic route include:  

• The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway
• The Chesapeake Bay
• The C&D Canal
• The Atlantic Ocean from Cape May to New York Harbor (or sometimes inland waterways through part of New Jersey)
• The Hudson River
• The Erie Canal (or a popular route option on the "Triangle Loop")
• The Oswego Canal (or continue on the Erie Canal to Lake Erie)
• Lake Ontario
• The Trent-Severn Canal
• Georgian Bay
• Lake Michigan
• The Illinois River
• The Mississippi River
• The Ohio River
• The Tennessee River
• The Tenn-Tom Waterway
• The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway
• The Okeechobee Waterway (or continue on the Gulf Intracoastal to the Keys)

How Many Miles Is the Great Loop?

How long does it take to do the great loop, how many states/provinces/countries are along the great loop.

The US. and Canada are usually part of the Great Loop, although one route option keeps you within the U.S. borders.  Some Loopers do a side trip to the Bahamas as well. Depending on route choices, you will go through at least 15 U.S. states and Canadian provinces, which may include:  

•     Florida
•     Georgia
•     South Carolina
•     North Carolina
•     Virginia
•     Maryland
•     Delaware
•     New Jersey
•     New York
•     Vermont
•     Quebec
•     Ontario
•     Michigan
•     Wisconsin
•     Illinois
•     Missouri
•     Kentucky
•     Tennessee
•     Mississippi
•     Alabama

Where on the Loop Is the Starting Point?

Why is the loop usually done counter-clockwise, why do aglca members fly burgees and what do the various colors mean.

The double swallow tail AGLCA burgee is the flag that binds America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association™ members. It's been called the welcome mat for Loopers and is proudly flown by our members whenever they are cruising. Members who fly an AGLCA Burgee receive instant recognition from the boating community and their fellow members.

The White Burgee is an indicator of AGLCA membership and can be flown by any of our members on any type of boat, even if it’s not your Loop boat. 

The Gold Burgee is the "Gold Standard" and is reserved for members who have completed the Great Loop Cruise.

The Platinum Burgee has been specially designed to identify our most experienced Loopers, those who have accomplished multiple Loop completions!

And, our veteran Loopers who display the Gold and Platinum Burgees as their credential of completion(s) are accorded the respect that goes with being someone who has done extensive cruising on America's Waterways.

In addition to members, AGLCA sponsors can also be seen flying burgees.

The Red Burgee represents the highest level of AGLCA sponsorship and is flown by our Admiral sponsors.

The Green Burgee represents the second highest level of AGLCA sponsorship and those sponsors are known as Commanders.

The Blue Burgee represents sponsors at the Lieutenant and Lieutenant Plus sponsorship levels.

Wherever you see one of these colors flying you can be assured that these sponsors will do whatever they can to assist you with your Great Loop journey.

Questions about Great Loop-Capable Boats

What's the best boat for the great loop, what air draft (height) restrictions are there on the great loop route.

The lowest unavoidable fixed bridge on the Great Loop is currently charted at 19.6’ and is located at mile 300.6 on the Illinois River.  The boat you intend to use for the Loop must be able to clear that bridge.  Some members with taller boats are able to get under 19.6’ by lowering antenna, radar arches, etc.  About 8% of our members have sailboats.  Most sailboats will need to unstep the mast to clear the bridges outside of Chicago and upstate New York.   Your choice of waterways through New York State and into Canada will also be dependent on your air draft.  If you can clear a 15' bridge, you have the option to take the Erie Canal to its western terminus into Lake Erie.  If you can clear a 17' bridge, you can do the "triangle loop" that takes you into Lake Champlain and through the St. Lawrence Seaway into Lake Ontario. (As an additional option on the triangle loop, if you can clear many eight foot bridges, you can take the historic, charming and free Lachine Canal through Montreal rather than the Seaway locks.) The final option is to take the Erie Canal to the Oswego canal to Lake Ontario. That route requires you to clear 21' bridges. Your air draft will also dictate which route you take off Lake Michigan.  To cruise the Chicago River through downtown, you must be able to clear 17' bridges.  If you can't clear that, you will take the Cal-Sag Canal which is south of Chicago to the Illinois River.

What Is the Maximum Water Draft (Depth) for a Boat Doing the Great Loop?

What is the maximum length for a boat to do the great loop, what is the maximum beam (width) for a great loop boat, what fuel range does my boat need to have, sign up for our free great loop planning guide.

Sign up for AGLCA’s “Great Loop Planning Guide” email series with tips, suggestions, and a timeline for planning your own Great Loop adventure.

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Advice Boat under 50' Air Draft

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Looking for boat suggestions. We are retiring in June and will be looking. We have a house at Pickwick Lake, Tennessee. Right at the start of the Tenn-Tom waterway. Wanting to find a couples cruiser between 33 and 38 foot. We would like to be able to go up and down the Tenn-Tom without having to drop the mast. Plan is to seasonally cruise in the gulf and Florida for between 2 to 6+ months and then back up to Pickwick. So will need to find something in with air draft less that 50' and draft less than 5' to go up and down the Teen-Tom.. I couple that I have been seeing that meets this is the Island Packet 32/35/37 and Beneteau 331/361. Also, kinda like the idea of pilothouse like the Beneteau Evasion 34 or NautiCat 33. Seems like a lot I look at don't meet the air draft need or list the air draft in the listing. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Budget 20K to around 90k with 50-60k being sweet spot.  

My second attempt to suggest the Jeanneau 349. Has mast height and was popular in shole draft. The standard keel is over 6’. 2014-15 should be inside your budget. Happy hunting whatever you find  

I'm sorry but this reads like; "are they looking for a trawler?" I have family in Tennessee near Chattanooga Chickamauga Lake area. Too many years went by for me, now I'm old but I still sit here and think how cool would it be to do the icw down across Florida, hit the Gulf, up the Alabama to Tenn Tom.  

Some weed chopping boating in the area it sounds. A trawler might be just the ticket. I’m familiar with the Nonsuch and the Beneteaus mentioned. The boats with swing keel options kinda start just over a 50’ mast height. I think the new 380 and all it’s predecessors were just over like 54’ plus VHF. There are a lot of 349’s coming off fleets all with shallow keel.  

Sounds like my Sabre 34 with a centerboard would fit your criteria. But, so would many similar boats. I'd probably look for a downeast style power boat for that trip but that may be out of your budget. You might find some older trawlers in your price range, Cape Dory, Mainship etc.  

The Saber would be perfect yes.  

The Saber would be perfect yes. Yup Trawlers are big bucks. There is a 50’ Swift in a custom blue here. I think the base price is 700€. It’s stunning. A mainship might come in under 90 but reflect in its condition. I’ve met lots of trawlers doing the loop. They buy the boat for a year and another looper takes ownership. Then there is the new price for common fuels! The Delhi trawler from Poland is electric  

We have gone back and forth on the trawler or sailboat. I have also considered looking at some motorsailers and pilothouse sailboats. One that is high on the maybe list is a Schucker motorsailer or Nauticat 33.  

Those are two extremely different boats. Back in the day, the Schucker had a terrible reputation regarding build quality. A surveyor friend had a standing joke that he would say when he surveyed a disaster of a boat, "At least you can say its better than a Schucker." Nauticat had a reputation of a very high build quality. Jeff  

I would say you would have to go by your actual feelings if you're passionate must have sailing in your life and it's the top of your list of things to do then yes get a sailboat but there are affordable trawlers in the same price range they don't all have twin engines and for a couple it doesn't have to be 50 feet in a trawler "just saying"  

A Bayliner Motoryacht 38 with Diesel engines. Can still be found in very good conditions an their layouts are great. (TRAWLER) year mid 80 to 90,s  

Contact Rooke Sails. He is the premier Pickwick sailboat dealer. Chris Rooke is the owner, he is great. He sold most of us our boats in the Pickwick sailing and cruising association. Look for it on Facebook. Be sure to join the association for the social events and racing (there is a cruising boat fleet) Look forward to meeting you. Even if you don’t buy the boat from Chris, he will transport it to Pickwick at a reasonable cost. He tows your boat with a crane truck, sets up the mast and drops it in the drink. Rooke Sails  

If you’re open to an older boat I would suggest you consider a Hinckley Bermuda 40. The first series of B-40’s ( the “customs”) have a 49 ft bridge clearance. All B-40’s are shoal draft at 4’3“, centerboard up. If you can find one refurbished, you will have a life-time boat that turns heads at every dock. Extremely seaworthy, incredible build, classic of classics- I could go on and on. If refurbished is not important, can sometimes find one for less than $100k  

Morgan 41' OI, leave your mast at a yard every fall and put rig on in the spring when you get back to go sail. Takes a few hours and leaves a clean deck up the Tenn Tom, you can also lay up to the bank under the trees to get out of the sun and any tows that may pass in the night.  

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The Clipper 60 is a 59.92ft masthead ketch designed by David Pedrick and built in fiberglass by Colvic Craft between 1996 and 1997.

8 units have been built..

The Clipper 60 is a light sailboat which is under powered. It is not stiff and has an excellent righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a bluewater cruising boat.

Clipper 60 for sale elsewhere on the web:

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As a brutal genocide raged around her, Josephine smuggled 12 people to safety

Juana Summers

Tinbete Ermyas

Josephine Dusabimana says she rescued 12 people during the Rwandan genocide. Jacques Nkinzingabo for NPR hide caption

Josephine Dusabimana says she rescued 12 people during the Rwandan genocide.

LAKE KIVU, Rwanda — To be clear, there is nothing funny about genocide. Which is why it is particularly disconcerting to hear Josephine Dusabimana laugh out loud, repeatedly, as she recounts the events that took place in her Rwandan village on the shore of Lake Kivu in 1994.

Over 100 days almost a million people were killed in one of the worst genocides in modern history.

As Dusabimana recounts the events, she smiles often at little details. You can see her big, crooked grin. At times, when she remembers a close call, or a moment of humor in a time of incredible tragedy, she laughs.

Maybe this explains Dusabimana's courage — she finds joy in the face of evil.

In this Rwandan village, survivors and perpetrators of the genocide live side by side

A common narrative of the Rwanda genocide is that there were killers, there were victims, and there were bystanders. The victims, by and large, were from the Tutsi ethnic minority. The killers, for the most part, came from the Hutu majority — some were formally in the military, but many were part of paramilitary organizations called the interahamwe .

In 1994, refugees and a soldier walk in the foothills of Lake Kivu on a route between Gisenyi and Ruhengeri, in Rwanda. Thierry Orban/Sygma/Getty Images hide caption

In 1994, refugees and a soldier walk in the foothills of Lake Kivu on a route between Gisenyi and Ruhengeri, in Rwanda.

Dusabimana is a Hutu and she was a helper. She risked her life, and the life of her family, to help Tutsi men, women and children escape the country, as hundreds of thousands were killed in a matter of weeks.

"During all genocides, we see people who stand up and who say, I will not commit violence against my neighbor and, in fact, I'm going to try to help save them because I believe this is wrong," says Hollie Nyseth Nzitatira, a genocide forecaster at The Ohio State University.

Dusabimana's actions were incredibly risky. Based on hundreds of interviews, Nyseth Nzitatira says the decision to rescue was not to be taken lightly: "Your whole family could be killed if you were found out as someone who was rescuing."

In April of 1994, Dusabimana was living in a Rwandan village, in a two-room house with her husband and children. "Life wasn't great," she remembers. Her family farmed beans and sorghum. They were poor.

Most historians mark the start of the genocide with the April 6 downing of the plane of Hutu President Juvénal Habyarimana. Dusabimana said she was so poor they didn't have a radio, so she wasn't aware of anything until the morning of April 7. Then, government soldiers from a nearby military barracks began to burn Tutsi houses.

Most historians mark the start of the genocide in Rwanda with the April 6 downing of the plane of Hutu President Juvénal Habyarimana. Refugees are seen here in 1994. Peter Turnley/Corbis/VCG/Getty Images hide caption

She saw one man who needed her help. She was quick to take him into her home. He asked her for something to drink, but she had nothing. On her way to the market, she spotted another man — another Tutsi — who needed help. So, one became two.

Interview highlights

His story inspired 'hotel rwanda.' now he's speaking out against the government.

And while it was incredibly risky to interfere – many Hutus were labeled as Tutsi sympathizers and killed – Dusabimana believes her poverty shielded her from suspicion. "Because we were poor, no one suspected that we could hide someone," she says.

But Dusabimana had a problem: she didn't know what her husband would say when he came home and found two Tutsi men hiding there. Before he walked through the door, she tried to catch him off guard.

"So I said, 'Did you know that Pierre and Fidel came to see you?' Just to get him confused. And because he was afraid as well, he pushed them into a room and shut the door," she said. Now her challenge was to get the men out of her house and to safety without being spotted.

Dusabimana lived on Lake Kivu, a massive body of water that defines part of the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Some of the lake's islands represented the safety of a neighboring country. But they were easily an eight-hour canoe trip away. And she had no boat.

A cousin had a canoe, but it would cost her. And she had no money. So she found someone who could write – Dusabimana was illiterate – and asked them to draft a contract: I, Dusabimana, will give you my goats for your canoe. That night, she snuck the men to the lakeshore and sent them off in the canoe, she hoped, to safety.

When Dusabimana saw someone who needed to be rescued, she said she did whatever she could to try to save them. Jacques Nkinzingabo for NPR hide caption

When Dusabimana saw someone who needed to be rescued, she said she did whatever she could to try to save them.

A week later: a similar story. Dusabimana says a Tutsi man with two daughters came to her. Again she hid them against her husband's wishes. Her husband told her: "I don't want you to bring Tutsis here — you're putting our lives in danger!"

She was defiant: "I made the decision to save people. I don't care if they kill us or not."

But again, she had no money and no boat. So she checked the lake.

"The problem with the lake," she recalls, "is that it was full of dead bodies. But when I was there, I saw a metal canoe."

She told her husband she found a solution: she could steal the canoe and give it to the man with his children. They would have a shot at freedom and her husband wouldn't worry for the family's safety.

However, the canoe was chained up, and it belonged to a genocide perpetrator in the village.

"Great, now you found a boat and you found someone to kill you," she recalls her husband telling her, before letting out a big belly laugh.

After dark, Dusabimana launched her plan. She took her children and went to the lake. She told them, "pretend that you're swimming" and "make noise in the water" as a distraction.

Violence in eastern Congo has displaced millions. Some end up at this camp

While one of them splashed in the water, another one was cutting the chain.

Her first child sawed, then her second, but the chain was too strong. So Dusabimana took a turn.

"I cut once, and the chain broke," she said.

That same night, she went back home. She gave the man and his two daughters the paddle and led them to the metal canoe. She tried to motivate the girls, telling them, you're strong enough to paddle across the lake.

If they didn't make it by morning, they'd be spotted and killed.

"I didn't really have anything to feed them, but I had soybeans," she recalls. "So I gave them soybeans and said, 'Eat the soybeans and you can drink the water in the lake.'" They prayed together and she let them go.

Over and over this story repeated itself. A woman and her baby. A young boy. When Dusabimana saw someone who needed to be rescued, she said she did whatever she could to try to save them. Risking her own life every time.

Some did not survive, but all told, she says she saved 12 lives during the spring of 1994.

Some of them she remains in touch with. They sought her out after the genocide. Some have given her cows as a way of repaying her for the un-repayable.

Thousands of abandoned machetes collect at the border of Rwanda and Tanzania. David Turnley/Corbis/VCG/Getty Images hide caption

Dusabimana says she got her strength, her courage, from God. Thinking about the alternative, she lets out another enormous laugh.

"I would be happy to see those killers today," she says. "They killed people thinking that afterwards life will be normal. And now how are they?"

Asked again how she found the strength to do what she did, Dusabimana dismisses the question: "I was asking myself. 'Why are these people just killing like criminals?'"

"Seeing someone – a baby, an old man – be killed for nothing ... I don't want to be like [those killers]."

Bill Clinton and other leaders join Rwandans in marking 30 years since their genocide

The blood-letting that swept Rwanda in 1994 was remarkable for its speed and familiarity. Neighbors killed neighbors in close, brutal ways. Clubs, machetes and garden hoes were common weapons. Some killers targeted their own family members.

For Dusabimana, that proximity made the violence all the more unimaginable. She says that as long as she could remember, her family has lived alongside Tutsis. They were friends, she says, "and sometimes there was even intermarriage."

A young Rwandan girl walks through Nyaza cemetery outside Kigali, Rwanda in November 1996 where thousands of victims of the 1994 genocide are buried. Ricardo Mazalan/AP hide caption

A young Rwandan girl walks through Nyaza cemetery outside Kigali, Rwanda in November 1996 where thousands of victims of the 1994 genocide are buried.

30 years removed from that violence, Dusabimana is still shocked that Hutus and Tutsis can live side by side today, after what happened.

But for her, being a rescuer was never in doubt. "It was all worth it. Now I have my dignity," she says, with a big belly laugh.

• Rwanda genocide