We had a great charter on the Radiance recently! Captain Ben was super nice and informative,…read morepatiently explaining to us some of the basics of sailing. He and the first mate also let us help with some of the sailing tasks. The Radiance is an impressive boat, and even with light winds, we got a good taste of sailing on Lake Michigan. An added bonus is launching out of Montrose Harbor, which is surrounded by a park, golf course, nature trail, food spots and places to swim.

Well this review is about a month overdue but I had to write one for Captain Ben and Radiance…read moreCharters for the amazing experience I and my friends had. We were a group of 6 and looking for a weekend 2 hour sail. Since I was booking last minute, most of the other charters I enquired were either booked or quoted jaw dropping rates. Captain Ben accommodated us all on his amazing race boat at a fairly reasonable rate. He is a professional racer and it showed when he cruised the boat in fast into Lake Michigan., much to our thrill. We took out own beer and some food. He provides you with drinking water and a place to cook too. Captain Ben is an instructor too so its fun learning the basics if you're a first timer. Wish we could do longer but with friends flying out and everything, we could sail for only 2 hours. But it was an amazing experience and my friends loved it. We will definitely go back.

My 2 friends and I had our 2nd trip with Brush and Roll Charters, that's right, SECOND! We loved it…read moreso much last year we decided to do it again this year. After doing some research, there is just something about BNR that makes us come back. The atmosphere is very friendly, laid back, fun and full of adventure. Capitan Joel and his mate Randy are suitable for all characters and have plenty of stories to share with us every time we went. This years boat is bigger,more luxurious, and fast! I simply loved heading out to our fishing spots blasting my favorite songs from SiriusXm, it all adds to the excitement. At the end of our day we had a boat full of large fish which Randy prepared for us to take home. Lastly, if you say you want King Salmon and not Coho's, the team will do their best to find you some, unlike other charters who will want to cut down on going out further due to gasoline prices. If you are looking for a great time, in a safe, fun boat, with experienced fishermen, look no further. I will be seeing BNR again soon!

Not at all apologetic for the low rating. My friend and I were planning a birthday fishing charter…read morefor her and four other people (a total of six people) in October, and we did a lot of research on the charters available in Chicago. We liked the reviews and rates for B&R and decided on them. However, when I emailed about the reservation, I received an email back from the Captain stating that though the boats are licensed for six people, he request that we only have four people. I followed up with a reply stating essentially then why be licensed for six if you "prefer" only four people. His response: "As a Captain my goal is to make our customers safe. As a business owner it is to make our customers feel comfortable. 6 passengers plus a mate and a captain feels like musical chairs. Something the coast guard could care less about. I want to give adequate time and attention to each passenger without relocating them and shuffling them around." He then tossed us to a different (more expensive) charter. While I understand it's your charter and decision, that is not how you do business to customers willing to pay for a service. If you are so concern about the customers' safety, either get a bigger boat or change the license to four people instead of six to avoid misleading customers. Won't be considering them again.

I signed up for the Boat club last summer with some friends and had an amazing time. Coast got us…read moretrained up on safety, driving, and docking and then we were able to take it out ourselves the rest of the summer. I'm looking forward to doing it again this summer!

Mitxi is very nice and so are the dockhands, but their business practices are very…read morequestionable....I was a member for 3 summers and I'm still trying to get my $1500 security deposit back, more than a year later. The boat I was on had engine problems, it literally cut out while I was on the lake a few times. Every time I called about it they would casually say "oh we know about it, but we can't fix it". The toilet/ head was also leaking so there was about an inch of piss water in the cabin at all times. They knew about all these things but instead of fixing them they bought an Azimut mega yacht. And the whole process of going from their dock on the river to the lake takes at least hour plus each way. Most times I couldn't even get out because it was so crowded with commercial boats, because they have preference. I left and went to a different boat club at Burnham harbor. It is so much easier to be at a dock with direct lake access.

Had the best time on the water! We rented the 46' Sea Ray and it was perfect for 12 guests! Captain…read moreDoug was absolutely outstanding from start to finish. We will definitely be renting again in the summer! Highly recommend.

THE Most fun boat rental experience in Chicago! Their Boats are clean, well maintained and fun to…read moreuse year after year. Will be renting regularly!

This is by far my favorite boating experience!!! I have used their services a few times. They will…read morehelp execute your vision and the customer service is TOP NOTCH!! They take pride in their boat and in making sure the passengers are safe while having a good time! This was an awesome and romantic way to spend my birthday on the water. Thank you Pier Pressure!! Not only will I be back, I'm telling everyone I know!

This was the first time my friends and I have booked a rental for an afternoon at The Playpen…read more Quinn quickly corresponded with us from the very start and answered any questions we had leading up to the day. Her instructions via payment, booking, and arrival (via welcome email) were extremely clear, leaving out no details. Upon arrival, she greeted us and gave a quick tour of the boat. She provided water for us and ensured all of our questions were answered before embarking. The boat was as described, included a great Bluetooth speaker/subwoofer, and everyone had a great time. Captain T was a professional and ensured everyone was safe the entire time. We would definitely book with Pier Pressure again.

I've known the owners of Anchor Charters for a few years personally and was fortunate enough to…read morehire them for a charter with my wife and family for an afternoon sail last year. If there is one thing to know about Anchor Charters is that they take the safety of their crew, their boat and the safety of all others very seriously. In addition to being fantastic sailors, the owners are fun, fantastic people with hearts of gold who keep their boat and all of its equipment in immaculate shape. These folks are experts when it comes to all things sailing and they have one of the most comprehensive understandings of sailboat construction, maintenance and the actual art of sailing out of many of the people I've been on the water with over the years. If you're looking for a relaxing, safe and enjoyable experience for your family, friends or both, I can recommend Anchor Charters without hesitation. My wife and I are already eagerly looking forward to the summer season so that we can book another unforgettable experience on their immaculate boat. Thanks Anchor Charters for a great time!

Blackhawk Boat Tours was the highlight of our Chicago visit! Captain Ken made the tour informative,…read morefun, and engaging with great stories and insights about the city. We loved experiencing both the Chicago River and Lake Michigan in one trip, with incredible views of the skyline and architecture. What really sets this tour apart is that it's the only one that passes Lake Shore Drive six times, offering unique perspectives you won't get anywhere else. Beautiful scenery, great information, and an excellent captain--highly recommend!

This was an experience! We charted this yacht for my 50th birthday. Was offered choice to cruise…read morethe river or the lake. I chose lake. It was amazing! You cannot beat the view of the skyline from the water. You also cannot beat the photo ops. What a backdrop! Marco & Christine went above and beyond to ensure our safety as well as a fun time. Big cooler full of water & extra space to put additional things in. Extra clean seats & deck. Access to bathrooms all the way thru the experience. Can't wait to do it again.

Had a fantastic night out with HMG-Marine tonight! Marco and Christine are the best paying…read moreattention to every detail and making sure that everyone had a good time. Communication was great. Everything was top shelf. Can't wait to join them again and would recommend to anyone wanting to charter on the lake or River!!'