Welcome to the Ripl Community!

Find answers, ask questions and share your favorite stories with our community of boaters.

cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Browse the Community

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...

IMG_6502.jpg IMG_6509.jpg
Danica by Guest Contributor
  • 1339 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
  • 1338 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...

b1.jpg b2.jpg b4.jpg b3.jpg
CaptainJon by Guest Contributor
  • 840 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...

CaptainJon_0-1678655798144.png CaptainJon_1-1678655798180.png CaptainJon_2-1678655798209.png
CaptainJon by Guest Contributor
  • 2283 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, ...

Rocks.jpg 1.jpg
CaptainJon by Guest Contributor
  • 1121 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...

thumbnail_IMG_6117.jpg thumbnail_IMG_6269.jpg thumbnail_IMG_6109.jpg thumbnail_IMG_6195.jpg
CaptainJon by Guest Contributor
  • 914 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...

thumbnail_IMG_5586.jpg thumbnail_IMG_5345 (1).jpg thumbnail_IMG_4971.jpg thumbnail_IMG_5082.jpg
CaptainJon by Guest Contributor
  • 1931 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
  • 4867 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...

thumbnail_IMG_6430.jpg thumbnail_IMG_6432.jpg thumbnail_IMG_6434.jpg thumbnail_IMG_6459.jpg
CaptainJon by Guest Contributor
  • 1532 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!     

snacks.png
Ripl by Team Ripl
  • 8779 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...

FK01.jpg thumbnail_IMG_5945.jpg FK7 snake.jpg FK6 AlligatorReef.jpg
CaptainJon by Guest Contributor
  • 1617 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...

thumbnail_IMG_0857.jpg
CaptainJon by Guest Contributor
  • 1078 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, ...

thumbnail_IMG_5163.jpg thumbnail_IMG_5168.jpg thumbnail_IMG_5170.jpg thumbnail_IMG_5177.jpg
CaptainJon by Guest Contributor
  • 962 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
  • 2518 Views
  • 4 replies
  • 3 likes
Announcements

Welcome to the Insider Community for Boaters! A free resource for people who share a passion for life on the water.

  • All About Ripl
  • Blue Rewards
  • Other Brunswick Communities