Great Loop Flagship Guide
Great Loop Air Draft Planning Guide
Air draft planning should start with a tape measure, not a forum argument. The route gets calmer when the crew knows the actual height and the removable pieces.
Quick decision map
Measure the real boat
Measure from the waterline to the highest fixed point with typical cruising load. Repeat after major load changes or gear changes....
Separate fixed and removable height
Know what lowers quickly, what requires tools, what needs two people, and what cannot be lowered safely underway. Practice before ...
Understand published clearance
Bridge boards, charted clearances, tides, river levels, wind setup, and lock/dam conditions can disagree. Use current local inform...
Build a margin habit
A plan that depends on inches is not a comfortable plan. Margin protects against measurement error, water-level changes, wake, and...
Measure the real boat
Measure from the waterline to the highest fixed point with typical cruising load. Repeat after major load changes or gear changes. Listing numbers are only a starting point.
Separate fixed and removable height
Know what lowers quickly, what requires tools, what needs two people, and what cannot be lowered safely underway. Practice before the bridge day.
Understand published clearance
Bridge boards, charted clearances, tides, river levels, wind setup, and lock/dam conditions can disagree. Use current local information.
Build a margin habit
A plan that depends on inches is not a comfortable plan. Margin protects against measurement error, water-level changes, wake, and human nerves.
Useful next step
Turn this page into a boat-specific note. Write down the current assumption, the proof you have, and the next verification step. The best Great Loop planning habit is making vague confidence visible before it becomes expensive.
Related tools: Great Loop Tools, Fuel Range Calculator, Trip Pace Planner.