I had such an amazing time with 3rd Coat Charters I was inspired to create a Yelp account just so I could write this review. Couldn't have asked for a better experience on the "Change in Latitude" catamaran with Captain Jim and Captain Russel-- the crew is friendly, accommodating, and very knowledgeable. I've been out on this boat with this company 3 different times this summer-- each very different and equally enjoyable outings. This first was with my co-workers for a team outing-- we packed a cooler and an appetizer spread and sat comfortable on the front deck of the boat and enjoyed a sunset cruise with an amazing view of the city. The next outing was a concert special-- at $100 per person for 4 hours on the boat listening to the Goo Goo Dolls perform at Northerly Island, the deal was more than fair. We dropped anchor in a cove and enjoyed a private concert from the water. Our most recent outing was to celebrate a family birthday. My brothers are experienced sailors, so to accommodate their interests the crew took us out further on lake Michigan and hoisted the sails. This was a much more fast paced ride and I enjoyed the new view of the city skyline. We cruised for a few hours and were dropped at the dock when our tour concluded. My experiences with 3rd Coast Charters have been consistently exceptional, and yet no sail has been the same! This outing is not to be missed-- locals and tourists alike should get this on their Chicago Bucket list! Perfect for small groups or larger gatherings; a relaxing evening or a booze cruise. Already looking forward to my next outing! Thanks 3rd Coast Charter! read more

Simply the best. Captain Russell and colleague Brian are easily top of the line in customer service along with professional etiquette. Somehow they make you feel like this charter is a home away from home! Being the bride of a bachelorette party charter, they made our crew feel like we were the most important people on Lake Michigan. From assisting us with a reached out arm and a smile from the moment we arrived to the boat, their friendly demeanor did not end there! They efficiently showed us the ropes of the boat and we soon set sail. During our excursion, Russell and Brian were not only personal photographers, but one of our favorite memories is watching Brian mixing the salad dressing up for us without asking so we could enjoy the company of family and friends we hadn't seen in months. The little things are what set them apart. They encouraged all our bachelorette antics, yet were always keeping an eye out for our safety. They were extremely approachable too! As far as the boat, top notch. There is a huge yeti cooler with sweet padding on top so our entire party could fit in the back of the boat to mingle even more. The netted area of the boat was extremely refreshing and set the scene to do what was most important for our trip, spend quality time together. Russell along with Brian allowed us to make memories that will last our entire lives & we could not be more grateful for this experience. read more

On August 9 I had the most AH-Mazing birthday celebration aboard this beautiful catamaran! Honestly, it was the best birthday surprise and a night I will always remember. Captain Russell and Captain Brian greeted us with smiles and were both incredibly attentive from the moment we arrived. They are fun, professional, experienced, lovely, thoughtful and really great guys. Attending to the smallest and largest want/need we had, it was one special evening. The spacious boat has everything you need and various locations to sit and enjoy the Chicago skyline. We sailed to Northerly Island, dropped anchor and enjoyed Foreigner and Cheap Trick while being mesmerized with the Navy Pier fireworks! We enjoyed champagne and sushi we had picked up for the celebration - YES you can bring your own food and drinks! By the end of this memorable 3-hour cruise, we became good friends with the other group also celebrating a birthday! I honestly cannot wait to go back and book for a longer trip. No matter the occasion, it is a promising night to remember aboard this gorgeous catamaran. Grateful to the love in my life and the captains for an unforgettable evening! read more

What a fun night cruising downtown Chicago out on Lake Michigan! Eight of us sailed several miles off shore and back, taking in the spectacular view of the skyline, as dusk settled over the city. Latitude Adjustment is a roomy catamaran, with plenty of places to hangout, the trampoline being one of them. There are ample berths, two heads, and a well-equipped salon, where you can eat, drink and be merry. Captain Russell and Brian were very professional, skippering and crewing the boat, and also most accommodating by making sure we had a good time. They also let us help out by taking turns at the helm and participating with other aspects of sailing, to the extent that we wanted to. We also got to bring our own food and beverages on board, play our own tunes and just kick back and relax. They stowed our gear, served up our food, and cleaned up after us. 3rd Coaster Charters is a class act that will cater to your individual needs, wants and desires. All you need to do is ask, whether it is a special event cruise, or simply having some fun out on the water, they will take care of you. I definitely recommend you check them out! read more

We joined 3rd Coast for a bachelorette party this past weekend and I can't say enough good things! They were so accommodating from the moment we stepped on the boat through docking at the end of the night. A friend of mine organized it, and when we got there, the boat was AMAZING! We took the catamaran out for a sunset and firework cruise, and I loved every second of it! They were very focused on safety and made sure everyone knew how to move about the boat while it was moving and where everything was. They let us decorate the boat with some fun bachelorette signs and balloons, helped us get everything food and drink-wise set up, and even came around and served us at different points of the night with ice cream, drinks, whatever we wanted! They were great sports, super professional and really fun the whole time. Watching the fireworks from the water with a fun group of people was the perfect way to celebrate a great friend's impending nuptials. I will definitely be a repeat customer, and would recommend them to anyone. Great value and great service combined! read more

We could not have asked for a better experience for my cousin's bachelorette party. Russell and Brian went above and beyond to accommodate us and made our time on the boat everything our bride dreamed of! They carried our bags and coolers onto the boat, set up all of our food, took great pictures for us, and even joined our dance party. They took care of all the details so that the bridal party and bride could focus on celebrating! Even though no one in our party got sea sick, they had a plan for if we did and told us not to hesitate to tell them so they could help us if someone became sick! They were so friendly, funny, thoughtful, and we did not want to leave! The boat itself is beautiful and spacious with a covered area with two tables and a bathroom. The front of the boat was a great place to lay out and party- and that, we did! We had a bigger crowd and there was plenty of space. I cannot rave about 3rd Coast Charters more- they blew our expectations out of the water! By far the highlight of the bachelorette weekend! read more

Third Coast Charters and Captain Jim are our absolute favorite! We charter boats anytime we are near the water, no matter the state or country, and after many experiences, Captain Jim still stands out. His communication, availability, flexibility, and customer service are always excellent, and he makes every trip feel easy, welcoming, and special. We usually charter with Third Coast three to four times a year for private events, family moments, celebrations, or just a beautiful day on the water. Captain Jim does much more than captain the boat--he shares his knowledge about sailing, the boat, Lake Michigan, Chicago, the skyline, and the waterfront, which makes every trip fun, interesting, and memorable. Even as we begin relocating outside Illinois, we will continue booking with Captain Jim whenever we return to Chicago. Third Coast Charters consistently delivers an exciting, relaxing, and unforgettable experience, and we recommend them without hesitation! read more

Fall of 2016, a close friend booked a cruise on 3rd Coast Charters and I was one of the dozen people sharing this beautiful, bluebird sky day on Lake Michigan. We went north up the coastline, stopping for a bit in the "play-pen", passing Navy Pier...waving back to all the people with cocktail in hand. We had brought a variety of food & drink, took turns playing our music, I found myself daydreaming of a world where I had my own boat...I could get used to this! Russell Hackney was our Captain that day, a very safety conscious man with the dry wit of stand-up comedian. This only added to the overall experience that day. Along comes spring of 2017, we had to get the same cast of characters together and take another trip around the lake. So much fun! Another awesome day, same friends, same Captain...another memorable experience. I can see making this a multiple outing throughout the summers! read more

We went sailing Memorial Day Weekend on the 3rd Coast Catamaran, Latitude Adjustment. The boat was beautiful, spacious, and accommodated our Bachelorette Party of 14 people comfortably. From my initial contact with Captain Jim I was impressed! He was very responsive and flexible to our group needs. I would be remiss if I didn't give a shoutout to the Crew we had that day; Captain Brian, Cara, and Paul were so friendly and attentive. We could not have asked for a better experience. Captain Brian sailed us over to Navy Pier which was beautiful. While aboard Cara was just the sweetest and is a mighty good bartender. I can't say enough great things about our experience with 3'rd Coast Cruising. This truly was the highlight of our weekend and I can't wait to return to Chicago for another Sail! Thank you to Captain Jim, Captain Brian, Cara, and Paul. See you next time! read more

What a perfect evening! Great weather, beautiful catamaran and PHENOMENAL service! Captain Russel and Brian made the entire experience so wonderful that everyone is still gushing over how great it was. They made us feel like they were welcoming us into their (very luxe) home and they took care of literally everything. They waited for guests to arrive, escorted everyone to the boat, setup and packed up the food/drink spread we brought, brought everyone refills and took pictures. They didn't hover or get overly involved either, which was great. My guests were comfortable, well fed/watered and happy. And as the hostess, I didn't have to lift a finger - that never happens! They went above and beyond in every capacity and, in addition, were very fairly priced. I will absolutely be booking through them again! 3rd Coast Charters, 1st Class Service. read more

Captain Russel and Boat Boy Brian could not have made this experience more perfect! From the moment I contacted 3rd Coast to book a bachelorette charter, to the moment we got off the catamaran, the customer service was perfect. Every interaction was professional, efficient, & friendly! Everyone knows planning a bachelorette can be stressful, but they made this experience so easy, and so that all of us could relax. Russel and Brian were so fun and light-hearted and made us feel at home on the cat! Everyone is still raving about the experience and we would definitely go again, as well as recommend this to anyone that is interested in a sailing experience on Lake Michigan! Thank you Russel and Brian, you guys went above and beyond for us and we hope you had as much fun as we did! read more

Was super nervous to rent a boat and find a captain. As a first timer, I had a LOT of questions! Jim from 3rd Coast was so helpful. Quickly returned my calls and my texts, despite traveling for meetings that day. They made the process so easy and secure. The charter itself was BEYOND! The boat was awesome. Tons of space to sit, lie in the sun, eat in the shade (at a table). It was perfect. Captain Brian was an absolute dream as well. He made everyone (my parents especially) feel great. He treated us all so well! We had a ball. Added bonus, pickup/drop off is at Monroe Harbor, which is so much more convenient than Montrose for my group. Would 100% book this boat and captain again. I recommend to anyone and everyone! read more

I booked the 13 person catamaran to surprise my husband on his 40th birthday and it was soo worth it! 3rd Coast Charters were incredibly helpful with booking, answering questions and making sure that we were well taken care of during the cruise. We sailed for a little bit and then went to the Play-Pen where Captain Brian grilled and set up the food that we brought on board. The boat is very comfortable and well kept as well! I have previously gone on a cruise out of Chicago very similar to this on a pontoon, and I will never do the pontoon option again! The experience with the catamaran and 3rd Coast Charters was sooo much better than the pontoon! I highly recommend this experience and this company! read more

I just wanted to say thank you for all of your instruction and awesomeness :) Thanks to 3rd Coast, I did complete my SLC, and I just returned yesterday from my first bareboat charter in Croatia. using said SLC :) In March of this year, I completed my longest sail to date. I was apart of a crew from Costa Rica to the Galapagos. 800 nm and got the Equator Crossing and became a Shellback! You played an integral part in my education and I greatly appreciate it. If you are serious about learning to sail, and having fun, look no further than 3rd Coast. The level of experience and education will get you out there and sailing your dreams! Thank you Again to Captain Jim, and the entire 3rd Coast Crew! read more

What fantastic way to spend a summer afternoon in Chicago! My friends and I went out for an afternoon sail this past weekend and had so much fun. The boat is beautiful with plenty of room to relax around the table with friends or lay out and soak up some sun. Captain Russell was so nice and made sure everything was taken care of so we could focus on having a good time. He even gave my friend a quick lesson on driving and let her take over the steering wheel for a little bit- totally made her day! I cannot say enough good things about our experience with 3rd Coast Charters, an overall amazing time. We will definitely be coming back, already planning our next trip! read more

I hired 3rd Coast Charters for the second time this Summer, and Captain Russell and Captain Brian again exceeded our expectations. They showed me and my guests a phenomenal time. The first-class service began when they contacted me about the food and beverage I wanted on-board. They took care of that (their catering is fantastic), picked us up right on time, and gave a world-class cruise up and down Chicago's coast. They dropped us off at Soldier Field right on time for our event. If you're looking for an amazing way to spend time in Chicago, book a trip with them. read more

If I could give 10 stars, I would in a heartbeat. A friend of mine booked a day trip with 3rd Coast Charters in May of 2017 and we had such a blast! The boat is gorgeous, with plenty of room above and below deck. Captain Russell and his crew were so accommodating and fun, they went out of their way to make sure we had an amazing time. Definitely made for one of my favorite memories in Chicago and I will definitely recommend to anyone, local or tourist! read more

Being out on the water is amazing enough but Captain Jim, Captain Russell and Brian truly go out of their way to make it an incredible experience. It was effortless and perfect for a post work happy hour or a birthday party out on the lake.Bring some snacks, drinks, and a swimsuit and they have the rest. I've been wanting to learn how to sail for a few years now and they would be the ones I'd want to learn from. I highly recommend them. read more

3rd Coast Charters were such greats hosts for my friend's birthday party!!!! The captains were more than welcoming to our big crew of 10 women. They allowed us to bring on whatever food and drink, and provided us with extra accommodations such as large blankets and wine bottle openers. The boat itself was in pristine shape and had plenty of space for our group. We're already planning our next outing with 3rd Coast Charters!! read more