Chris Ragni

My passion for boats and being on the water began at a very young age. My father, also a captain, introduced me to the world of boat building and fishing early on. Growing up in Lewes, Delaware, I spent my summers and weekends learning the ins and outs of boat construction and working as a mate on a charter boat before I was even a teenager. By the time I reached my senior year of high school, I knew I wanted to be a captain. That year, I attended captain’s school and earned my Merchant Mariner Credential.

I have a strong background in commercial crew boats and tugboats, but my true bread and butter has always been sportfishing and sportfishing yachts. Over the years, I’ve logged countless hours on the water, delivering vessels from Martha’s Vineyard to the Florida Keys and the Bahamas. I’ve also fished up and down the East Coast, competing with some of the top tournament teams and earning several wins and notable accomplishments along the way. Boat handling, fishing, and maintenance are second nature to me—I know boats like the back of my hand.

Today, I’m proud to serve as the full-time captain of Tips Up, a 47 Freeman based out of Indian River Inlet in Delaware.