The "Chicago Loop Cruise" traces its roots to 2001. Following a long, cold winter, every boater dreams about getting back on the water, especially after the January boat shows. An early season event is just the ticket to get everyone's juices flowing for the upcoming boating season. However, it was not yet the "Chicago Loop Cruise".

The Chicago area had a very small handful of loyal Crownline enthusiasts, but they were scattered throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. A handful on the Chain of Lakes (Northern IL), another handful on Lake Michigan, yet another group on the area rivers.

Rather than select a single destination for a "Crownie" gathering, a suggestion was made that we follow what is regionally known as the "Chicago Triangle", or "The Great Circle". This triangle is formed by Lake Michigan, the Chicago River, the Illinois Ship & Sanitary Canal and the Cal-Sag Channel. If viewed from above or on a map, this route roughly represents a triangle. Our version of this has been named the "Chicago Loop Cruise". After all, the term "loop" is readily used in the Chicago metro area to identify the central business district of Chicago, and a "loop" describes the route nearly as well as the term "triangle".

Four boats attended that first year - 3 Crownlines (Don Chambers, Rich Cullen, Devin Strahla) plus 1 Sea Ray (Mike Cullen), 7 people total aboard the 4 boats! Hardly a bash, but the discussion of the event intrigued many over the following year, at which time, the Chicago area Crownline regional membership began to grow. Unfortunately, none of the 7 who attended brought a camera!!

2002 was the first anniversary of the cruise, and the first time the event had a name - the "Chicago Loop Cruise". 14 boats and more than 40 people attended - and the original 4 boats all returned. To mark our status as a "real event", we produced hats and sweatshirts printed with the event name. The geographic draw of the event expanded beyond the Chicago metro area drawing Crownline owners from central and southern Illinois and Wisconsin. The cruise had become multi-state, and in just 1 year! Photos can be seen on Team Crownline - 2002 Chicago Loop Cruise or by clicking on the photo above.

2003 marked a significant evolution for the cruise (see photos). The event really exploded in size and scope. At the height of registration, over 160 people had registered to participate. On the actual cruise day, 33 boats and 133 people attended from Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas and Minnesota. With one exception, everyone who attended in 2002 also attended in 2003! The cruise experience is definitely memorable - enough so, that once you attend, you will, most likely, return! Having received sponsorship from Munson Marine, the 2003 cruise became officially recognized by Crownline Boats, Inc. as a regional rally. Additional sponsorship was graciously provided by Prestige Trailers and Nautical Technologies, Inc. 2003 spawned another Chicago Loop Cruise standard - the 2003 Chicago Loop Cruise video slide show!

The 2004 Chicago Loop Cruise was the fourth year for the cruise, and one of 14 Crownline owner organized events. Registration for this event peaked at approximately 230 people and 60 boats. Less than ideal weather kept a few away, but nearly 50 boats from 11 different states attended! 2004 saw the introduction of the extremely appropriate tagline "Get Looped!"

Many thanks to our sponsoring dealer, Munson Marine. Additional generous support was also received from Crownline Boats, Inc., Prestige Trailers, Nautical Technologies, Inc and Silkworm. Sponsors provided more than $5,000.00 worth of merchandise and prizes in addition to substantially subsidizing the cost of the Loop Cruise branded merchandise!! We got a little rain on our return trip, but all who attended definitely "Got Looped"! Experience the event for yourself by watching the 2004 Chicago Loop Cruise video slide show.

The 2005 Chicago Loop Cruise represented the fifth annual occasion for this event, and quite a milestone. 94 boat owners, and 325 participants registered for the event!!! Many elected to share rides with others, and a few cancelled at the last moment, so our true boat count that day was 70 with approximately 300 individuals in attendance! Quite a change from our first year with 4 boats and 7 people! 2005 also saw the introduction of Jake & Elwood Blues - The Blues Brothers - to our graphics as well as the adoption of their infamous movie quote "We're on a mission...."

We experienced a few minutes of rain, but the Lake Michigan run was as nice as it has ever been with most boats running that portion at near full throttle. Once again, the event received generous sponsorship from Munson Marine, Crownline Boats, Inc., Prestige Trailers , Nautical Technologies, Inc. and Silkworm, Inc. - plus - two additional sponsors came on board with their equally generous contributions - HeaterCraft and Rolco Trailers.

Surely this event cannot get any larger.. right? Wrong? Well.. "sort of." Registrations for the 2006 Chicago Loop Cruise exceeded all expectations. For the first time ever, a decision was made to limit registration to 100 boats. At one point, in excess of 450 people and 110 boats had registered for the event.

Last minute weather forecasts sent a number of fair weather boaters running for cover, but the die-hards still showed up in force numbering approximately 80 boats and 350 people! Jake and Elwood returned in 2006, this time bringing along nearly the entire cast of the Blues Brothers to our graphics.

The Chicago Loop Cruise continues to receive generous sponsorship from Munson Marine, Crownline Boats, Inc., Prestige Trailers , Nautical Technologies, Inc., Silkworm, Inc. and HeaterCraft.