Planning Your Great Loop?
Get personalized tender recommendations and resources from someone who's done it. Captain Dustin completed 6,000+ miles through 15 states - let his experience guide your journey.
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First-Hand Experience, Real Advice
Captain Dustin Kidd completed America's Great Loop before his 39th birthday - 6,000+ miles through 15 states and into Canada. That experience became the foundation for Bourbon City Marine Center.
Planning your own Loop? You're in the right place. We understand what equipment actually matters, what questions you should be asking, and what challenges lie ahead. Not from brochures - from doing it.
Why Every Looper Needs a Quality Tender
Your dinghy isn't optional on the Loop - it's essential. Here's why.
Shore Access
Get to shore for provisioning, dining, and exploring when anchored or on a mooring ball - without paying expensive marina fees every night.
Exploration
Venture into shallow coves, creeks, and areas your main vessel can't reach. Discover hidden gems along the way.
Flexibility
Anchor in more locations, visit attractions without docking fees, and maintain independence from marina schedules.
Community
Visit other Loopers at anchor, attend impromptu gatherings, and build the lasting friendships that make the Loop special.
Popular Tenders for Loopers
Based on our experience with hundreds of Great Loop cruisers, these are our top recommendations.
Highfield Classic
The perfect balance of size, weight, and capability. Easy to davit or tow, stable enough for dock-to-shore runs with gear, and durable aluminum hull that handles the demands of daily use.
View Highfield inventoryHighfield Classic Console
All the benefits of the Classic with an integrated console for easier operation. Perfect for longer runs to shore or exploring further from the mother ship.
View Highfield inventoryHighfield Sport
For those who want the best, the Sport series offers superior handling, more passenger capacity, and the capability to handle rougher conditions when exploring away from the mother ship.
View Highfield inventoryThe Route
America's Great Loop is a continuous waterway that circumnavigates the eastern portion of North America - roughly 6,000 miles through rivers, lakes, canals, and coastal waters.
The journey takes most cruisers 12-18 months, though some complete it in as little as 3-4 months. However long your Loop takes, having the right tender makes every anchorage, every stop, and every adventure more accessible.
How We Help Loopers
Tender Selection
Help you choose the right RIB for your vessel, davit capacity, and cruising style.
AGLCA Connection
Connect you with AGLCA resources, rendezvous events, and the Looper community.
Equipment Advice
Firsthand recommendations on what works on the Loop - and what doesn't.
Delivery Services
Need your tender or boat delivered? We offer professional delivery nationwide.
Proud AGLCA Sponsor
Bourbon City Marine Center is a proud sponsor of America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association. With 6,000+ members who have done it, are doing it, or are planning to - AGLCA is the community that makes the Loop possible.
The members-only forum is where real knowledge lives. Which marinas to trust. Which locks are tricky. Current conditions and closures. It's information you can't get anywhere else.
Learn about AGLCA membershipNeed More Details?
Fill out our detailed form for personalized tender recommendations based on your specific vessel, davit setup, and cruising plans. Or call us at (502) 830-9595.