Captain Chris was very kind and respectful in allowing us to say goodbye to my uncle, father, mother, and her 10 cats :), by laying their ashes to rest in Lake Michigan. He made us feel safe and accommodated our needs. He's very professional, calm and personable. Everything went very smoothly and we couldn't have chosen a better captain. We really appreciate Captain Chris and highly recommend Knock Out Charters!! read more

Captain Chris & the entire crew made our day! We booked a sunday pregame cruise for the Bears vs Cowboys on september 21st. We were able to board & sail around tailgate style for a couple hours before getting dropped off at soldier field. After the game we go picked up & had a nice 20 minute ride back to DuSable harbor. The vessel is awesome & they provided staff to bartend, etc. Awesome day! I highly recommend KnockOut Charters & will definitely book again in the future. read more

KnockOut Charters - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Chris & Mariah were very kind and sensitive as we went out on the lake on a beautiful June day and placed my mother's ashes in the lake. It is a memory I will always have. Chris was so helpful from the first call I placed to him to ask about Knock Out Charters and the service they provide. Thank you for your help, Chris. read more

Captain Chris and MJ were the best! We did a three hour charter around the lake and had a blast. They were able to get us our provisions so we didn't need to bring anything but ourselves when we arrived. They have all the toys, too! Highly recommend! read more

KnockOut Charters - The ducks loved the lily pad - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

KnockOut Charters knocks it out of the park everytime!! The boat is beautiful, and is perfect for a group! We were able to bring our own food and beverages, and they immediately put everything on ice/in the fridge and were asking what we would like. There was never a moment were a cup or can was dry without being asked if we would like a refill. They are eager to help take photos for the group as well, and really went over and above to ensure we were having a great time!! I've also used them for a concert drop off and pick up, which was SO FUN and memorable. I highly recommend it for concerts at soldier field! Made it easier to get out of the concert quickly, and plus had your own food and drinks waiting too :) Captain Chris and his crew are the best, I can't recommend them enough!! read more

KnockOut Charters - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The personal attention cannot be matched. Captain Chris was not only professional he was personable and detailed oriented. He did everything possible to make our experience on the lake comfortable and successful. We cannot thank him enough for attending our charter. The personal attention from staff took this experience to the next level. KnockOut Charters was conveniently located alongside navy pier. Parking accessibility was right at the boat docks So it made for easy meet up of our group and unloading our personal items. All correspondence (phone and email) was responded to so quickly which I really appreciated. Our Captain even Called me prior with updates of weather conditions, and lake activity so we could be appropriately prepared. I would definitely recommend KnockOut Charters. Thank You Captain Chris and 1st mate Mariah. Richele Sabbara 2025 read more

My two sisters and I chartered with KnockOut Charters to scatter my father's ashes in Lake Michigan, and the experience was absolutely perfect. Extremely attentive and smooth service on the front end in planning, and as far as the day of the ceremony, Captain Chris was a wonderful, respectful, and sensitive guide. He really helped us feel at ease and have a meaningful, tailored experience. He even took pictures and videos for us during the ceremony at our request. I highly recommend KnockOut Charters. read more

Captain Chris was wonderful for celebrating the life of my stepfather. He was very respectful of my family at this time, helpful to all family members being comfortable, safe and moving around the boat, and also informative and fun. We were able to say goodbye to my stepfather, but then also get a swim in to feel joy as well. Very much recommended. read more

My fiancé and I got engaged right on the Chicago river, and Knockout Charters helped make sure the whole day went perfectly! It was a beautiful, memorable experience and Chris and Molly were extremely friendly and accommodating, with photos and music and champagne! I can highly recommend picking Knockout Charters for a picturesque proposal or a casual boating experience in Chicago. We went from the marina to the lock, up and down the Chicago River and back to the marina, and it was perfect! So many good photos and memories. Thank you Chris and Molly! read more

Our group of 5 booked the fireworks cruise with Captain Chris on a recent visit to Chicago. Since we were downtown on a Wednesday, we opted for the sunset/fireworks cruise. The August weather was ideal with calm waters and a warm day although we were glad we brought along light jackets. The cruise started out from DuSable harbor and was a short walk from our hotel in River North. We just walked along the river walk and came right to our departure point at Dock D, slip #1. After a quick safety briefing we were off. For the first part of the 2-hour cruise you hug the shoreline watching the sun set behind the city and all of its lights pop on. Once we reached the museums we headed back north along Navy pier all the while snapping pictures of the skyline. Chris made sure to take his time and it was such a beautiful night we mostly sat up front on the bow of the boat relaxing. As the time for fireworks approached (9:30 pm) he had positioned the boat perfectly in a spot that was about as close as the harbor police would allow and one where our boat was virtually alone. There are tons of big boats out there and parts of the lake looked like a freeway at rush hour so it was nice to be alone. You can bring any food and drink along that you want on the boat too. I highly recommend trying this out whether for fireworks or any of his other daily excursions. It's a great way to see the city. read more

KnockOut Charters - Sunset view of Chicago - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Knock Out Charters goes above and beyond. I want to personally thank Captain Chris, Captain John, and Crewmember (photographer) Tess for helping me out plan the perfect engagement. I originally reached out to Captain Chris to plan a surprise proposal. Captain Chris actually thought of some great ideas and made sure we made my fiancée Trish had no clue on what was going on. To summarize how it went down: - My girlfriend (now fiancée) Trish was told by her friend Faye that she won a free boat tour package. - I told Trish that I was going to be out of town - I got to the boat early and hid in the lower level room - The girls arrived on the boat the plan was to cruise to around Shedd Aquarium - Tess, the crewmember/photographer, told the girls that they were updating pictures on the website so they would take pictures of Trish and Faye. - They made Trish stand at the front of the boat in the "Titanic Pose" and were taking pictures. - I got the que to come out from the lower level bedroom I was hiding in and I came up and surprised Trish and it went perfect. - We then cruised around for about 2 hours. Based upon how they treated me and everything, I'm planning on chartering a boat every summer in Chicago from them as they simply treat their guest more than just customers, they really treat everyone as friends. I really can't say how more than happy I was with their service, hospitality, and overall genuine kindness in helping us. Sincerely, Chris and Trisha read more

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This is a first class operation from the time of booking to completion of an amazing boat ride. I've been on both of Captain Chris' boats and they are both amazing - clean, roomy and always a great crew. If you're looking for a phenomononal tour on the lake, down the river or hanging out and swimming (or maybe all of the above!), look no further. read more

This charter boat business is highly customer service oriented. They made our two hour excursion a very pleasant experience! More than willing to cater to our needs. Would recommend them to anyone looking to have an enjoyable outing on Lake Michigan. read more

Fantastic experience with KnockOut charters! Planned a boat outing for 12 for the 4th of July, the Captain was very communicative and it was such a fun day. KnockOut was also one of the better deals out there... especially with the Yelp 15% off coupon! read more

Capt Chris is the friendliest and professional boating guide. Our tour was fantastic. He let us call all the shots, how far out, how far north, etc. Had a blast and will do it again. Sunrise cruises aren't for everyone but what a great experience we had. Thanks Chris! read more

Spreading Ashes on Lake Michigan On Sept 15 we went via Knockout charter to spread my sister-in-law's ashes on Lake Michigan. It was the most glorious day ever!! 80 degrees. Royal blue sky--no clouds. Plus no waves on the lake. Even I survived the cruise, in spite of my fear of sea sickness. We watched the amazing skyline as we cruised past Navy Pier into the open waters. I used my Ipad to play some music through the boat's sound system, and we read some poetry and prayers. My husband then lowered a wicker basket filled with the ashes, which were covered with flowers from our garden. We were at peace and think my sister-in-law would have approved. Thank you Captain Chris for being so flexible and your excellent communication. You were extremely helpful in planning this event and in following through. I would highly recommend you! If you are planning a "spreading the ashes" event, Knockout Charters is your "go-to" charter. read more

Wow! What a great way to see the best city around! Chris and his crew took us out for the America's Cup and while it wasn't the best day to be out on a boat (6 foot waves, windy and VERY cold) we had a ball on the 50 foot boat in his fleet! All you need to do is come prepared to have fun and Chris and his crew take care of the rest. You can bring what ever you want to drink and eat and that gets stowed below leaving you and your friends to have the time of your lives out on Lake Michigan. The scenery of our fine city can only be beat by the fun of being out on the water for 4 hours. They have different sized boats for different sized groups so pretty much for any budget. And be sure to bring cash to tip your captain as you will want to do this after such a fun experience! The logistics are simple. You meet at your assigned time at DuSable harbor and proceed to the dock assigned. Chris and his team will meet you and get you on board and after a short safety talk, you are off! It's also important to note that there are super clean bathrooms and showers at the marina available for you to use before or after your trip. Pricing is reasonable and is made even better if you get the larger boat as you can have up to 12-14 people on the boat. I think we paid something like $120 a person including tip for 4 hours out on the water but check the prices on his website. if you drive, parking is usually available right at the marina at the foot of Randolph and LSD for about $25 a day. There is also a restaurant down at the marina too. So whether it's a special occasion to celebrate, needing to see a great event from a different vantage point (air and water show comes to mind) or just wanting an afternoon on a boat but you don't have one, check out Knockout charters. You'll be glad you did! read more

6 of us redeemed a Yelp deal last week and must say, absolutely loved every minute of the 1.5 hour cruise on Lake Michigan. Captain Chris was super nice, super flexible, and super chill. We sat out on the helm of the boat throughout and pretty much took in the breath taking skyline from all the different angles we requested. The boat was clean and shiny and looked well maintained! The bathroom was clean. It was a BYOB cruise. It was super duper fun!! read more

My clients and I truly enjoyed our charter with Knock Out Charters! Thank you so much for all of your hard work and efforts to making our day so truly wonderful! I must say, the weather could not have been more perfect; the sky was blue, and the waves were (more or less) rolling. Regrettably, I discovered that such activity is not greatly conducive to my comfort; I spent most of the cruise lying flat on the bunk inside, quite miserable. I didn't know I was susceptible to motion-sickness. Oh, wow! I must commend Molly for taking such good care of us (especially my clients) during our charter; she was absolutely helpful in every possible way, and was pleasant, cheerful, and positively good-natured throughout. I did not interact very much with Captain John (see previously paragraph) but he is an excellent skipper and handled the boat beautifully. Again, I want to thank Captain John and Molly for doing such a great job with our charter; we thoroughly enjoying the experience and would gladly do so, again! read more

What a great experience! Chris is excellent at what he does! The prices are reasonable..we didn't have to pay for parking! It was great..my husband and I will be back! read more

KnockOut Charters - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Our book club organized an end of year charter and it was the best time we have had all summer!! Captain Chris and his crew were great!

Captain Chris Connor made our trip memorable. We booked the boat to scatter my Mom's ashes on Lake Michigan. He did everything possible to accommodate my plans. And when the weather wasn't going to cooperate, he had a backup plan. I cannot say enough good things about our experience. From the bottom of my heart, thank you Captain Chris and Captain Malcolm! read more

If I could give 6 stars I would. I felt like I had known Chris for years- he was that comfortable and awesome to be around. The boat was running a little behind because the girls before us took a while getting off... But he made sure to give us every minute we paid for. Took. Amazing pictures of us on the bow- and made me miss living in the city. Perfect evening. Thanks Chris!!!!!! read more

KnockOut Charters - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Captain Chris is one of the most patient people I have ever met! We ran into a few obstacles planning the spreading of my parents' ashes. Captain Chris was always so responsive and accommodating. After a few attempts, we finally made it to Chicago from Southern California. The weather wasn't ideal and the lake was choppy, so Captain Chris had us wait until the storm passed. Once we got out, everything was beautiful. Captain Chris provides a very comfortable setting and even gave me a jacket for the rain. We didn't take pictures and much to my surprise, at the end of our excursion, Captain Chris showed me pictures he had taken. I teared up. I thought I wouldn't have anything to look back on but he thought of everything. He even provided a map of the exact location their ashes were spread. I know he does fun excursions as well and as soon as I have the chance I will book with him again. Thank you so much, Captain Chris. Your hospitality meant more to me on that day than words can describe. read more

Amazingly Wonderful Day on the water with Captain Chris and his first mate Karen! We brought our own picnic smorgasbord, champagne and caviar and Karen served it like we were in a 4-Star restaurant. From the moment Chris met us to arrange the complimentary parking to the end of the day when we disembarked...the service was excellent. We enjoyed ourselves so much we decided to make our Family Father's Day Cruise with Knockout an annual tradition! read more

KnockOut Charters - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Amazing experience. Nice boat and the captain is delightful. Very responsive and professional. Don't miss this opportunity to see the city from the lake at night. Memorable and very fun. No need to research other options. I did the foot work and he is by far the best way to go. Promise!!! read more

I am a fan of the Chicago skyline. I am a fan of Lake Michigan. And I am a huge fan of Captain Chris! My sister, her hubby, my brother and my parents set sail for a 1.5 hour cruise at sunset on a gorgeous Friday evening. Captain Chris arranged discounted parking for us and even left the harbor 10 minutes before our slated start time as we arrived early. The boat is well-maintained and the perfect size for a group of 6. You're allowed to bring your own food and drink on the boat - BYO boating? Yes, please! My parents raved about their experience all weekend long and touted it as the most memorable part of their visit to Chicago. Not only did our hard-to-please parents see Chicago from the most beautiful of perspectives, but we emerged as hero children. What's not to love? Did I mention this is a BYO journey? Oh, right. Repeat with me again: BYO! Elegant and fun - we've already decided on making our family cruise on KO Charters an annual gig. read more

Chris helped make a engagment proposal truly memorable. He was very laid back, quick to respond to phone calls, very personable, and professional. He played along great with the "story" i made up to get my soon to be fiance on the boat. After we were out of the harbor, it felt like it he wasn't even there. We enjoyed our time on the bow of the boat, very relaxing, smooth ride, and great views of the skyline. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect way to propose, well maybe being out on the charter longer than I agreed to, but that was my choice. Chris will even buy champagne and whatever else you want beforehand (and not charge you through the roof) to make a proposal even more perfect When I thought of the idea of proposing on a boat, I did some reserach into places. KO Charters was the only one that offered a 1-1.5 hr charter as all of the other sail boat companies wanted a 3 hr minimum. This worked out perfectly for what I wanted and wasn't going to cost an arm and leg. I can't wait to get some friends out next year and take a longer charter with Captian Chris. read more

I used KO charter for my husbands birthday and it was an awesome experience! Captain Chris was very helpful from the very beginning till the day of the event. The boat itself is gorgeous and fully equipped with everything you need, Just bring the food and drinks! We had captain Yohei and he made our boat experiences even better! It was a great way to celebrate friends and just to enjoy the beautiful city of Chicago! We did the afternoon cruise so we were able to jump into the lake. The boat had foam loungers and other fun tools to use in the water as well. Thank you again to both captain Chris and Yohei for such a wonderful experience!! We will definitely be back! read more

KnockOut Charters - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was the best sunset cruise I have ever been on! The views were incredible. The Captain was so nice and even gave us some history bits along the way. I will 100% recommend this boat to my friends. read more

What a great night on our charter with Knockout Charters! Captain John and Molly were top notch hosts. We enjoyed a couple hours of the beautiful Chicago skyline on a gorgeous summer night. Everything was as expected! Easy to book. They were flexible and let us move our date when one of our guests was ill. We'll do it again and would recommend Knockout Charters to anyone! Thanks for a great night! read more

We took a charter with Captain Chris and Caroline on Sunday, 8/25/13 and I could not write a more raving review about these two individuals and the service they provided to us. The six of us opted for a 2-hour cruise around Lake Michigan. The Dock was easy to locate and the boat came with all of the amenities that we needed for the day. Our hosts were gracious enough to fill up the sink with ice (to keep our champagne and mimosa ingredients chilled!) as well as take photos at every request. They were incredibly affable people who possess a wealth of knowledge about living in Chicago and traveling, dining and boating around the world. I highly recommend KO Charters as you will come across a very professional team who place a huge priority on safety while also insuring that your passage is fun and memorable. Hats off to Capt. Chris and Caroline for allowing me to end my last weekend in Chicago with a bang before moving out of state! Our only regret is that we did not sign up for a longer tour :) read more

Captain Chris is the best! My family booked the smaller boat for an evening cruise to scatter our parents' ashes in Lake Michigan. As the weather was cold and windy that day, Chris volunteered his larger craft to handle the weather better. Chris even allowed us entrance early so we could eat our supper onboard before we headed out on our cruise. Chris was very helpful and personable, He was happy to show us the sights and answer questions, but gave us privacy as we had our family time together as well. We would totally cruise with KnockOut Charters again! read more

We went on an excursion this past week and had a wonderful time. The boat is spacious and well kept. There were 2 of us and we opted to sit up top with Captain Chris Connor which was an added pleasure. He is extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the city, restaurants and local attractions. I don't think we would have had as much fun if it wasn't for him. You also have the option of being inside, in the back or on the front of the boat, (I apologize for the improper terminology but my nautical lingo is pretty much non existent.), but anywhere you choose you will have an incredible view of the city. You can also bring any food and drinks that you would like which is an added bonus. We were in Chicago on vacation and this trip was definitely one of the top highlights of our stay. read more

Absolutely fantastic experience with Chris.. he really goes out of his way to do everything he can to make the experience memorable. We got engaged on his boat, and everything from the music to the champagne to the chocolate-covered strawberries to the roses were just A-perfect. To top it off, he unobtrusively took some absolutely fantastic shots of the proposal that we are going to cherish forever. :) I would recommend his services in a heartbeat and I know we'll be back this summer for another outing on "We're gonna need a bigger boat" :) read more

Captain Chris made our trip around Lake Michigan the best! Me and my girls brought along some wine and fruit and layed on the deck of the boat taking in some sun and checking out the views of the city. Captain Chris was the best, making sure our glasses were full at all times. In fact, we drank all the wine we brought, and Captain Chris went into his own stash to make sure the drinks kept flowing. We cruised from Dusable Harbor up to the Playpen, back down to 31st Street Harbor and back to DuSable Harbor. His pricing is reasonable, and you can book for short trips after work if you want. Captain Chris has 2 different boats, one that holds about 6 or so and one that holds about 12 or so. The one for 12 is nicer and mroe upgraded, but we only had a small group, so we took the 6 person boat and were not disappointed. I'll definitely use them again, hopefully before the season's out. read more

The boat and Captain Chris were great! It was a bachelor party and all had a blast. The boat was comfortable and clean and Chris was a pleasure to work with from the moment we first spoke. We spent a few hours on the water - some swimming and some cruising around with beers and eats. Ice and coolers were onboard for us to use and the stereo was perfect for blasting tunes from our phones / ipods. read more

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I can't agree with the other reviews more. It was an amazing experience and Captain Chris is wonderful. Very laid back and personable, who took plenty of pictures of my fiancee-to-be and I while we were enjoying the ride. I even made up a little story to throw her off so she wouldn't be suspicious that it was just us two on the boat and Chris played along like a professional actor! When we stood up and I got down on one knee he was snapping away taking pictures discretely to capture the moment. Chartering the yacht was much less expensive than I had anticipated, and the experience exceeded my expectations significantly! I think we will definitely have to get some friends together and charter the boat again sometime in the future for a fun filled time on the lake! read more

Absolutely one of the best experiences of our lives. Captain Chris made everything possible in helping me set up the perfect proposal! Captain Chris is amazing and will help you with anything that you could possibly want. Thank you again Captain Chris for such a memorable moment! read more

KnockOut Charters - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Had an awesome experience with Knockout Charters! I took my girlfriend on a surprise cruise to propose and it couldn't have gone better! Captain John and Molly were extremely helpful and went out of their way to make sure the moment and the entire experience was memorable. Couldn't recommend them more highly. read more