• Travelogue
    • Mooring Reviews
    • Captain’s Logbook
    • Expense Reports
    • Vlog Catalogue
  • Maps & Routes
    • Route Overview
      • Gulf Coast
      • Atlantic ICW
      • C&D Bays
      • New Jersey & New York
      • The Great Lakes
    • States & Provinces
    • Side Trips
  • Boat & Crew
    • M/Y Swamp Puppy
Great Loop Waterway Logo | Happily Wherever After
  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • Patreon

Review Our Great Loop Expense Reports

How much does cruising the Great Loop cost? We’re about to find out! We’re keeping track of our expenses, and analyzing them every 500 miles to see if it’s true that a boat is just a hole in the ocean you throw your money into…


  • 500 Miles Expense Report

    500 Miles Expense Report

    May 3, 2026

expense categories

We’ve categorized our Great Loop Expense Reports into the following categories:

Fuel

Diesel for Swamp Puppy and gas for the dinghy.

Groceries

Fuel for the crew. We have a huge pantry!

Snacks & Restaurants

Also includes ice cream and beer.

Household Goods

Toiletries, the boring category, etc.

Water

Potable water to fill our 70-gal fresh water tank.

Laundry

You meet interesting people at laundromats.

Marinas & Dockage

We hope this cost will be less than $500.

Repairs & Maintenance

Projects with consequences…

Boat Upgrades

Will we ever get that bow thruster?

Gear & Outfitting

Equipment, clothes, and souvenirs.

Recreation & Education

For us, these are often one in the same!

Apps & Software

Tracking apps, anchor alarms, digital charts.

Safety & Insurance

Including towing service memberships.

Storage & Haulouts

The category that ideally remains $0.

Miscellaneous

Everything that doesn’t fit anywhere else.


← Vlog Catalogue

Mooring Reviews →

Quick Links

  • Captain’s Logbook
  • Vlog Catalogue
  • Mooring Reviews
  • Maps & Routes
  • Boat & Crew

About

Tom & Elyse bought a 35 year old motor yacht to cruise the Great Loop Waterway. We thought we’d make a few upgrades, but over a year later the projects turned into almost a complete refit.

Follow along as we wrap up our boat projects, while cruising the Great Loop aboard the good ship Swamp Puppy!

Articles

  • Anchoring (1)
  • Budget Looping (1)
  • Hidden Treasures (1)
  • Life Aboard (1)
  • Paperwork & Permits (1)
  • Technology (2)
  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • Patreon
  • Instagram

Thank you for your support! When you make a purchase through a link on this site, we may earn a commission, at no additional cost to you, through the affiliate programs in which we participate.

Copyright © 2026 Great Loop Waterway | Happily Wherever After