I change my “Where I am Today” sidebar widget to a “Status Report” that shows where I am with a bunch more travel and accumulated cost information.
The new sidebar widget looked like this today.
One of the biggest questions people have about traveling on the Great Loop that they seldom like to ask is how much a trip like this costs. I’ve already done two blog posts summarizing my costs to date. But I’ve decided to put that information up front and center — or at least on the side — by modifying my sidebar widget that shows where I currently am to add some of the accumulated travel and cost information. You can see it on every page in the sidebar under the heading “Status Report.”
There are a few things to consider here.
My two primary costs are fuel and marinas. By cruising at a slower pace and spending more time at free overnight stops, I can lower the average daily cost of these two big expenditures. I’m currently on the Erie Canal, for example, and I’m cruising at about 7-8 knots, staying at free lock walls along the way. Indeed, I’m currently on a 7-day streak of free overnight stays. $0 is a cost I like.
I’m not doing the average Great Loop. When I had to go home to work for last summer, I missed out on the northern part (and completion) of my loop in 2023. When I returned to the boat in October, I went south, extending my loop by at least 2,000 miles with a trip from the Annapolis area to Key West and back. Another short side trip earlier this month took me up into Lake Champlain. So if you’re sticking to a normal, short version of the Great Loop, your mileage (and associated time/costs) will vary.
I don’t update this sidebar every single day. I try but usually manage to get to it three or four times a week. But I keep meticulous track of data related to this trip on an Excel spreadsheet, so I have accurate numbers every single time I update it.
Is there any other data you’re curious about for this trip? Use the comments for this post to let me know. I might have already covered it in a post here; if so, I’ll point you to it. Otherwise, I might use your question for a future blog post.
Oh, and if you want to read those more detailed posts about expenses, you can find them here:
And here’s a bonus post if you’re interested in saving money:
Very useful information. Thanks for all you do for future loopers.
Your fuel expenses seem quite high to me. From reading and watching your videos I gather that you travel at higher speeds than most economy minded loopers. At about 1.5 miles per gallon, you are about twice what I would have expected for a slow looper at hull speed. Does this make sense to you? Do you think if you traveled at 6-7 knots all the time your fuel cost would reduce by half?
Thanks again.
You’re right. My average nmpg early in this trip was very high. The boat was new to me and I didn’t understand fuel economy. I’m better now. I’m also better at finding and taking advantage of cheap fuel.
Love the new status report. Great info and makes it fun and easy to follow your progress and costs. Do you track maintenance costs? Would be interesting to add those as well (if not here maybe in a future by the numbers post). I feel like basic maintenance/repairs is one of the budget items many boaters fail to plan appropriately for.
I don’t track maintenance costs as closely as I should.