After a fatal collision on Chicago’s Monroe Harbor killed 26-year-old Johanna Gregory and left three others in critical condition, longtime boaters are calling for stronger recreational boating rules—saying Illinois lacks basic training requirements and that c
Just before midnight Thursday, two boats collided near Monroe Harbor, and the moments that followed turned routine recreation into a tragedy on Chicago’s waterways.
The crash killed 26-year-old Johanna Gregory. Investigators say the collision happened more than a mile east of Monroe Harbor. and they are still working through key details—including whether one boat rear-ended the other. The boat carrying Gregory and other hospitalized passengers sustained more damage.
On Sunday, longtime boaters and professional captains described the death as heartbreaking but painfully familiar. “It sucks. It’s terrible. But it’s not that uncommon,” Jeff Rubin, a sailing instructor who works at the harbor, told the Sun-Times. Rubin said the cycle of accidents has become a repeated feature of life on the water: “Every year. there are boats that crash. boats that sink. boats that get messed up. people that get hurt.”.
Rubin and other boaters say the problem is bigger than one night and one collision. They point to what they describe as Illinois’ light-touch approach to recreational boating. The state does not require training to rent or buy recreational boats—whether they’re big or small. In Rubin’s view, there’s no meaningful gatekeeping for people taking the wheel.
Crashes, he said, “happen all too often because there’s no such thing as a driver’s license for recreational boating.”
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is leading the investigation, with assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard and Chicago police.
Brady Ruel, a captain and boat safety expert, called the incident an “evergreen reminder” that recreational boating demands real discipline. Ruel said the number of annual crashes on Lake Michigan hasn’t changed much since he started captaining boats in 1999. and he traced much of the risk to inexperience and lack of training.
“Unfortunately, [crashes like that] are par for the course each year,” Ruel said.
He works as a charter operator for private boat rides on the lake and the Chicago River. and he also teaches safety courses for Boat Safe Chicago. Ruel said taking a class. learning the rules of the water. and checking the forecast should not be optional habits before renting or buying a boat—even though too many people treat them that way.
“It’s fun, and we want people to have a good time,” Ruel said. “But we want them to stay safe.”
With only about four months of good boating weather each year. Ruel said Chicago’s waterways can get packed fast—making attention and situational awareness non-negotiable. “The operator of the boat needs to be keeping an eye on what’s going at all times with their head on a swivel. ” he said. “They have to know if boats are coming in front of you, around you, behind you.”.
Ruel warned that the lake can trick people into underestimating the conditions. “It’s a lake but it acts like the ocean,” he said. He described currents, bigger waves than many expect, and weather that can turn dangerous quickly.
Drownings, he added, are also common. Two years ago, Ruel said he saved two passengers who were struggling to swim. He described jumping in to rescue them while fully clothed with keys in his pocket. “I always ask what everyone’s swimming ability is. not to shame them but to remind them to stay safe and wear a life jacket if they’re not comfortable. ” he said. “People underestimate swimming in the lake.”.
Alcohol and boating are another recurring risk. the Coast Guard says—one that becomes especially urgent with the July 4 holiday weekend approaching. Joe Neff, a public affairs officer with the U.S. Coast Guard’s Great Lakes District, said the Coast Guard is especially concerned about people drinking and boating.
“You’re just putting yourself and others out there in danger,” Neff said.
Neff said preparedness matters before anyone leaves the dock. He pointed to life jackets for everyone on board. emergency flares. and a charged phone or radio—warning that many boats are missing critical safety equipment. “A lot of boats out there are lacking safety equipment,” Neff said. “I cannot stress enough how important life jackets are. They save lives. It’s just like wearing a seat belt. If something happens, you can’t put it on in that moment so have it on the whole time.”.
Sunday afternoon, Manny Limonez was returning his boat to Monroe Harbor. He has been boating on Lake Michigan since 2013. and he put the emphasis on clear boundaries—especially where alcohol is concerned. “These waters without [alcohol] are dangerous,” Limonez said. “When I’m behind the wheel, and all of my guests as well, we’re Terminators. We’re looking 360 degrees.”.
Limonez said those precautions are the difference between enjoying the day and making it home. “When you come out here, you got to be very cognizant of your safety,” he said. “You want to have fun, but you also want to come back.”
The crash is still under investigation, but the response from boaters and safety leaders has been immediate and personal: more rules, more training, and fewer assumptions—before tragedy strikes and the waterways that should feel like freedom turn unforgiving.
Monroe Harbor Chicago boating crash Johanna Gregory Illinois boating rules U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes District Lake Michigan safety life jackets alcohol and boating