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Boating Advice

Engage with the community to ask questions and share your own tips.

9 Posts

Boating Lifestyle

Read and share stories about your favorite on-the-water experiences.

16 Posts

Product Chat

Share information or ask questions about specific marine products.

6 Posts

All Recent Activity

Freedom Boat Club.....on the slopes!

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...

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Danica by Guest Contributor
  • 671 Views
  • 1 replies
  • 3 likes

Get Ready for the 2023 Season!

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 ...

Ripl by Team Ripl
  • 836 Views
  • 1 replies
  • 0 likes

Business Trips & Freedom Boat Clubs

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...

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CaptainJon by Guest Contributor
  • 492 Views
  • 0 replies
  • 0 likes

Dying the Chicago River Green 2023

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...

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CaptainJon by Guest Contributor
  • 1561 Views
  • 1 replies
  • 3 likes

Boat Safe Chicago Project

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, ...

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CaptainJon by Guest Contributor
  • 584 Views
  • 0 replies
  • 2 likes

Fort Lauderdale to Miami with a stop at Haulover :)

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...

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CaptainJon by Guest Contributor
  • 520 Views
  • 0 replies
  • 2 likes

Boating in Florida this winter?

Want to go to Florida every month this winter? Check out how we did it!       Every year, we Midwesterners see signs that advertise cheap flights to Florida on discount carriers, such as Allegiant, Spirit, and Frontier to name a few.  $39 tickets fro...

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CaptainJon by Guest Contributor
  • 1183 Views
  • 2 replies
  • 1 likes

Resolved! Rodney Atkins Message

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...

Dukester by Guest Contributor
  • 3915 Views
  • 5 replies
  • 5 likes

Fall Boating on the Chicago and Illinois River

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...

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CaptainJon by Guest Contributor
  • 918 Views
  • 1 replies
  • 3 likes

Ripl Favorites | Boat Snacks

A boat ride isn't complete without snacks!  In the comments, share your must have(s) items when you go out on the water.  Everyone can always use new or fresh ideas when it comes to packing the cooler and/or snack bag!     

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Ripl by Team Ripl
  • 5719 Views
  • 17 replies
  • 1 likes

Florida Keys Boating w/ FBC

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...

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CaptainJon by Guest Contributor
  • 997 Views
  • 1 replies
  • 2 likes

Pontoon Boat Bow Riding?

This past weekend, we enjoyed another sunny Saturday in Chicago's "Play Pen," just north of the iconic Navy Pier. On such a nice day, hundreds of boats will anchor and raft-off of each other and people swim from boat to boat, or layout on the rafts b...

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CaptainJon by Guest Contributor
  • 650 Views
  • 0 replies
  • 1 likes

Stuck on the Chicago River? Not so much.

I am a USCG licensed Master Captain, and I have traveled the United States visiting different Freedom Boat Club locations. My home club is Holland, Michigan. My guests Al, Emily, Dani, and I met up at the Freedom Boat Club (FBC) in Hammond, Indiana, ...

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CaptainJon by Guest Contributor
  • 588 Views
  • 0 replies
  • 1 likes

Scalloping in Homosassa

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...

JeffKing by Guest Contributor
  • 1685 Views
  • 4 replies
  • 3 likes
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