In January, minutes after I booked a Colorado ski trip for spring break 2023, my daughter said, "I really hope we are going somewhere warm. I miss boating so much". When I saw her on the hill this morning, I had a good laugh and shot some photos. I h...
With Spring nearly here, are you planning your first day on the water yet? Do you live somewhere where getting out on the water and boating is a year-round activity OR are you still seeing snow when you look out the window OR maybe you're somewhere ...
Recently, I had an opportunity to fly our to Connecticut and “audition” for a cruise ship company, which includes several interviews and also operating a very realistic cruise ship simulator, complete with an identical bridge representing their fleet...
Everyone is Irish for at least a week in Chicago. For as long as I can remember, it was not St. Patrick’s Day until the Chicago River is dyed green. Also, I have never in my life boated in Chicago in March… so who doesn’t like adventure? Full Disclos...
Last summer, there were several severe and fatal accidents in and around the Chicago Waterfront. However, there have been a record number of accidents over the past few years which have started to tarnish the reputation of mariners on Lake Michigan, ...
Looking for another epic adventure on the east side of Florida? Haulover Inlet is located between Fort Lauderdale and Miami, along the ICW. The man-made channel connects the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay in Miami-Dade County. We have all watched Wa...
Hey everyone. The personalized message from Rodney Atkinson was AWESOME! It was clear he read my comment. I had shared a story about my daughter’s first time driving the boat after taking the cert class. When the message came and Rodney had talked ab...
Every fall, there is a slow dance of boats in the Midwest which get pulled before winter hits. Usually in October, the marinas start to empty out and the storage yards start filling up. I recently had the privilege to captain one of four boats headin...
As members of Freedom Boat Club, we often get to travel and explore new places without having to tow or rent a boat. One of our favorite places is Islamorada, about an hour south of Miami. There is a Freedom Boat Club located just before the Snake Cr...
Our favorite thing to do with the boat is to go scalloping in the gulf from Homosassa. Scalloping is just the great fun excuse to use the boat in fresh water, swim in the gulf, swim with manatees, dolphins, evening cruises with access to excellent re...
One of my favorite boating trips every summer is night time boating in the bioluminescence! With every movement the water glows neon blue & is truly awe-inspiring. This photo was take in the Banana River in central Florida. I do not have underwater l...
I want my kids to love fishing, but we RARELY can catch anything. Are there any good lakes close to the Chicagoland area that are great for kids and the fish are biting? We're willing to travel too, but nothing longer than 5 hours from North Chicago...
When asked what's my one favorite part of boating, it's easy....being unplugged! With 3 teenagers, having us all come together to laugh, soak up the sun, and simply be in the moment is undeniably priceless. No phones (except for music) , no emails,...
What is everyone's favorite place(s) to get out on the water!? I grew up boating on the Muskegon River in Newaygo, Michigan - cruising, tubing, tying up, fishing, wakeboarding, knee boarding, kayaking, rope swings along the river, etc. We camped from...
Hello Ripl Members. Are there any members on here who boat in or around Chicago? Hammond to Wilmette? We are Freedom Boat Club members from Michigan, but we take the boats from Hammond over to the city almost every weekend. 2021 21' Boston Whaler Mon...
