Daron,

Don't let having kids stop you from realizing your dream of cruising the
Loop. We know a couple who are doing their second loop with kids aboard. They do
it in segments over 2 summers when the kids are out of school, leaving the boat
half way around and returning the next summer to complete the Loop. What a
great summer experience for the kids. There are others who do the Loop in more
than 2 segments. And it doesn't have to be expensive. There are many ways to
save money -- anchor out a lot, eat on board instead of in restaurants, etc.
Follow Skipper Bob's advice about cruising comfortably on a budget. Buy the
smallest boat you are comfortable on. Not the biggest boat you can afford. Good
luck in realizing your dream.

Eva & Ron Stob, Directors
America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association
P. O. Box 168, Greenback, TN 37742
865-856-7888
Fax: 865-856-7889
Website: www.greatloop.com

Daron:

Others know the intricacies of The Loop re Charting better than I, but in
general, I am very pleased with Nobletec.  We have the fully integrated
system (Charts, Radar integrated with GPS, Depth and Auto Pilot).  They are
a market leader and a division of Boeing which impressed me in that they
should be around for a long time.  In doing business with them they are a
great outfit and have good support.

I think there is another issues that other have not spoken about, the
Monitor.  We installed Big Bay monitors and they are great.  They can have
full sun on them and you can still read the screen with ease.  Also they dim
at night so that you do not use your night vision.  To me, this is
essential.

Good luck,

Alan J. McMillan
mv Kateri Marie
58 Hatteras CPMY
San Francisco, CA

-----Original Message-----
From: trawler-world-great-loop-bounces@lists.samurai.com
[mailto:trawler-world-great-loop-bounces@lists.samurai.com]On Behalf Of
REStob@aol.com
Sent: Monday, August 18, 2003 9:33 PM
To: trawler-world-great-loop@lists.samurai.com
Subject: TWGL: Doing the Loop with kids

Daron,

Don't let having kids stop you from realizing your dream of cruising the
Loop. We know a couple who are doing their second loop with kids aboard.
They do
it in segments over 2 summers when the kids are out of school, leaving the
boat
half way around and returning the next summer to complete the Loop. What a
great summer experience for the kids. There are others who do the Loop in
more
than 2 segments. And it doesn't have to be expensive. There are many ways to
save money -- anchor out a lot, eat on board instead of in restaurants, etc.
Follow Skipper Bob's advice about cruising comfortably on a budget. Buy the
smallest boat you are comfortable on. Not the biggest boat you can afford.
Good
luck in realizing your dream.

Eva & Ron Stob, Directors
America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association
P. O. Box 168, Greenback, TN 37742
865-856-7888
Fax: 865-856-7889
Website: www.greatloop.com

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