One of the best nights ever. Captain Chris made this evening cruise a night to remember for one of my girl friend's 50th Birthday. He was not only a super safe Captain but a wonderful host to 5 very demanding women. The evening began with a cruise along the skyline of Chicago to the perfect area off the shore of Olive Park for a nice evening swim. Then off to the perfect spot for us to view the firework show. What a fun filled 2 hour cruise. We are all looking forward to our next outing on "We Are Going to Need a Bigger Boat." Thanks again Capt. Chris! read more

Wow! Engagement experience of a life time! I booked our charter to propose to my girlfriend. Capt Lee and Matt had the boat ready to go with champagne, a go-pro camera, and one hell of a professional looking Nikon camera. They made the whole trip about us and made us feel comfortable making the boat ours. With the combination of an awesome crew, a great boat, and the beautiful Chicago skyline we could not have asked for a better experience. To top it all off She said Yes!!! Thank you for an unforgettable engagement experience! read more

KnockOut Charters - Engagement experience of a lifetime - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Captain Chris with KO Charters is a 5 Star + Adventure This guy knows how to Rock customer service. He was right there to help us out in EVERY WAY possible. He did an AMAZING job catering to our EVERY need, request and desire to make sure we enjoyed our time on his boat. I highly recommend him to anyone wanting to experience Lake Michigan when in Chicago. I know we will definitely be returning for another adventure when we return. The birthday girl said this was the BEST Birthday she ever had, and you were a HUGE part of that. The five of us all loved the evening. Those reading this and considering this as an entertainment option... Go and Enjoy, It's so worth it! Thank you Chris, though you don't need it... we wish you continued success with great adventures for many years to come. read more

My husband and I booked a 3-hour tour for just the two of us and had a FANTASTIC time. From the beginning, Captain Chris was professional and friendly; he's just an all-around great guy. He provided clear instructions on when and where to meet him. We brought our own lunch / wine and were even able to start our cruise early. Chris asked if we'd like to view both the river and lake, which we did. He took us on a wonderful trip into the river and we traveled into the South Branch and saw some really cool bridges and the park by Chinatown. We then spent the remainder of our time cruising up and down the lake. Chris was gracious enough to play photographer and take several pictures of us with different views in the background. This excursion was even more fun than we expected and we'll definitely be doing this on our next Chicago vacation! Thanks again, Chris! read more

I went on a 6 person cruise this weekend and it was wonderful. The captain will give you excellent directions, advice on where to wine and dine before and after your cruise, give you parking passes, and personally greet you. We were all running late and he was completely understanding. It's a simple idea, enjoy a personal boat as if it is your own with your own professional Captain. Bring whatever food and beverages you like on the boat. We had an amazing time and I will book another sunset cruise soon! 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

Best birthday ever! We rented with Knockout Charters for my birthday for 10 of my closest friends. I called Captain Chris and not only was he extremely responsive but he was accommodating and attentive. The boat was a perfect for our size group and we had plenty of room to move around. The only thing I wish was different would be to spend more time on the boat. No one wanted to leave! I can't thank Captain Chris and Captain Lee enough for their service. We can't wait to book again! read more

KnockOut Charters - Best birthday ever! 6/18/16 - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was a surprise for my friends birthday The Ride was really nice and our Captain Nick and his partner where great we would really recommend this company to anyone the price was very good I'm definitely coming back again read more

I had the BEST night ever celebrating my birthday with friends.... It could not have been a better night, everything was perfect! Thank you!!! read more

See all

Owner was fantastic, boat was great and was reasonably priced. Have used multiple times and will use them again in the future.

Went on a cruise during the America's Cup with knock out last weekend for a bachelorette party and it was nothing short of amazing! Captain Chris and Captain Lee were so accommodating and fun. Their boats are great and spacious- I didn't feel overcrowded at all with the amount of people we had. I would highly recommend doing a charter with them with a large group of people. I had such a great experience-that I'll be going on another one of their charters next weekend. Thanks knock out for being so amazing! read more

KnockOut Charters - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My friends and I had the best time this weekend on our charter with Captain Paul. We were in town for my friends bachelorette party and wanted to do something special for our group of 5. I am so happy we ended up booking a charter with Knockout. I was coordinating with Captain Chris and he was not only very responsive, but extremely easy to work with. We were a bit concerned about the weather on the day of, and Chris assured me we wouldn't be penalized if we needed to cancel last minute due to rain. He also was extremely accommodating with us when we were running a few mins late to the dock. On top of it all, they provided everything we needed to make our time on the boat easy and relaxing. Our bride loved it as well and even stated that it was her favorite activity all weekend! I was so thoroughly impressed by Chris and Paul and would highly recommend for any charter experience. read more

We went out on a family cruise and had the best time. The views of the city are spectacular and we got family pictures that will last a lifetime. Captain Chris was awesome and so helpful with everything. It is BYO which is an added bonus. It was the highlight of my parent's trip and can't wait to do this again next summer. read more

I surprised my mom for her birthday by taking our family out all day with KO Charters. It was amazing-- I live in Chicago but I had yet to experience it this way. We cruised down to 59th street beach where we played in the water and had a picnic. (It's byob, which is awesome.) My mom was thrilled. Captain Chris was very thoughtful and friendly. It ended up being one of the best decisions I have ever made, and we have memories that will last a lifetime. read more

Carole the first mate was amazing! She made the experience fantastic. We loved the tour of the city and Carole provided detail. Around what we saw and also made sure we were comfortable the entire time. Chris was pretty great too. We will definitely be back. read more

We had the opportunity (thanks to Bloomspot) to take KO Charters out for a private 2 hour Fireworks Cruise last night. From the beginning process of Booking the charter itself; to the end, when we stepped off of the boat; Captain Chris made the experience so exceptional! The cruise itself was by far one of the best things that we've done; being residents of Downtown Chicago. But allow me to reiterate on just how great of a job Captain Chris did. He was full of knowledge, fun, and even allowed us to stay out an additional 15 minutes. I would recommend this charter to anyone (Chicago resident or not). It was AWESOME! read more

Professional and courteous captain. I will charter another boat for future excursions!

Phenomenal experience. Captain Chris is an excellent businessman and a fantastic guy. I was working on an international TV production and we needed some great shots of the Chicago skyline and views of the city from the river. Our director loved the architectural boat tour that I took him on when we did our site visit & he wanted to replicate the experience for our shoot. Captain Chris completely understood our needs and worked with us to get the best shots we could possibly get. He's captained the boat for many teams who have shot everything from big to small-budget productions, so he knew how to make our morning efficient and effective. We were able to set up our camera & sound equipment on both the back and front of the boat to get a variety of different angles, and we could relax inside the cabin between takes. It was great to have such precise control over the speed and location, too - we got exactly what we needed. We lucked out with gorgeous weather plus one of the few days where they raise & lower the bridges to let the sailboats go in & out of their river docks. It was a very cool experience & a memorable one for our production team from Europe! I would HIGHLY recommend KO Charters for a fun afternoon on the water or for a production. Captain Chris has definitely earned his 5 star Yelp rating! read more

Surprised my wife with an evening birthday cruise with Captain Ken. The weather couldn't have been more perfect, but same goes for the hospitality and attention we got from both the captain and Chris himself. They made sure we were very comfortable, let us sit up top with the captain (cool views!), and they even gave us some cool history lessons on the landmarks we were passing (my wife and I have lived in Chicago for nearly 10 years and most of it was stuff we had never heard)! Can't recommend KnockOut Charters enough - very professional, and so much fun. My wife said it was the best birthday present she had ever received. read more

I was in a bind trying to hook something last minute. Captain Chris tried his best but didn't have anything available. He then took the time to try and find someone else for me on a Sunday. He is definitely a stand-up guy who was trying to help me out when he had nothing to gain from it. I would recommend him based on that alone. It's no surprise that he has such a successful business. read more

CAPTAIN CHRIS ROCKS. Him and his co-captain (Costa?) really helped put the final touches on my marriage proposal. They were total experts in helping devise the plan on how we would make the whole event a total surprise--even despite the fact I was surprising her during the afternoon with a private boat charter, they helped set the scene so nothing seemed suspicious until I dropped to one knee. The boat had plenty of space to walk around, relax, have a drink, and enjoy a beautiful afternoon on Lake Michigan. Chris helped my engagement get off to a great start, and I owe him and his co-captain a great deal of gratitude for it. TIP: Chris is running this operation by himself, so at times he's not incredibly responsive by email/phone, but he will get back to you and his customer service skills are on point. You may just need a little patience or plan well in advance. read more

I was a part of a 6 person cruise last weekend and it was fantastic! The views from the boat were spectacular, Capitan Chris was helpful and informative and the boat itself was roomy and clean. We had full reign to do as we pleased while Chris cruised us around. Very fun experience and a great way to see Chicago from a different point of view. You should go! read more

Fantastic! This one and a half hour cruise along the Chicago skyline is an absolute must-do! Captain Chris is a phenomenal guy who makes all of his passengers feel right at home. My husband and I had a wonderful fall afternoon on "We're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat." We brought along cheese, crackers, brownies, and champagne and had a blast. Loved the satellite radio and didn't even need to hook up the iPod that we brought. We will definitely be taking many more cruises with KO Charters. Highly, highly recommend! read more

Captain Chris is amazing! We rented the yacht last night for my husband's birthday and everything was simply great. A very clean, comfortable and cozy yacht. Even though it was 50 degrees out we had the best time. I would highly recommend you experience a nighttime chicago skyline tour. Love love love!!! :) read more

KnockOut Charters - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

I had my bachelorette party this past weekend. I had been speaking with Captain Chris to arrange the boat. He was very accommodating and did his best to get us a boat for a good price. There was an issue with timing, our boat was supposed to go out at 3:30 but was unable to leave until 4:00. Chris called to explain the situation and offered us free drinks, and if we wanted to cut our boat ride short he would compensate us for the lost time. Once on the boat, it was clean, beautiful and better than in the pictures. Our captain was great and he even went out of his way to help us getting some items when we're missing them on the boat. Recommended! read more

Love Love Love! Great experience with Captain Chris and Lee. Perfect for a girls day. Captain Chris gave me contacts for catering food and drinks so they got delivered right to the boat. Captain Lee helped setup the food area. Water toys were provided. We will definitely be booking again. read more

AWESOME SERVICE AND AN AWESOME TIME! We rented the lakefront lounge and it was so luxurious and spacious! We had 10 girls for a bachelorette party and it was PERFECT! We were on the yacht for 5 hours and we're able to cruise around and see the amazing views from the river and also tie up at the playpen! Captain Chris responded very quickly to any and all questions I had and was very accommodating to us! He even helped us get set up with having food and alcohol delivered! We had the most amazing time and I would use him again in a heartbeat! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND! Thanks for everything Captain Chris! read more

You get all the great amenities of a great tour cruise with your own privacy. This is something that you have to experience while in Chicago. The skyline at sunset from Lake Michigan was unbelievable. Captain Chris was a great host with a great fund of knowledge about the city. read more

We had the BEST time on Knockout Charters for my sister bachlorette party. I would highly recommend this company to anyone looking to get on the Chicago waters! read more

Captain Chris is great! My friend and I were the only ones aboard, and it was nice to have the boat to ourselves. The service was impeccable and much attention was paid to the details throughout the cruise. They made sure our drinks were topped off and even adjusted the coarse of the ride to our liking. The views of the city are fantastic at night. Would highly recommend! read more

Cant thank Captain Chris enough for our wonderful cruise to launch "Paddle to the Sea" ( a little carved out canoe we had found on our beach in Michigan" Its a long story based on a famous children's book with that title. We had to return the canoe back into Lake Michigan so we booked this cruise to accomplish that... What a spectacular day shared with friends and family...Captain Chris was gracious and enthusiastic and went out of his way to accommodate us.. Everyone should experience the view of our beautiful city and skyline from that perspective!!! and KO Charters with Captain Chris is the way to do it... An unforgettable experience... highly recommend it. read more

We reserved the boat for a sunset cruise (six people total) and all agreed it was a perfect outing, particularly since we had three out-of-towners in our group. The boat is beautiful and spacious, and guests are able to make themselves at home (we even brought our own picnic and drinks). Captain Chris is incredibly personable and knowledgeable. He made us feel at home and shared some great Chicago fun facts with us. We're definitely looking for a good excuse to treat ourselves to another cruise - it's a terrific reminder of what a fantastic city Chicago is! read more

The best time I've ever had. Lee was an amazing captain and made all of us feel very comfortable. We could not ask for a better day.

Highly recommend!! Chris was great to work with and his team was equally as wonderful. They made everything super easy and were extremely accommodating to what we wanted to do. I had friends visiting from out of town and all of my friends loved the experience and going out on the water. read more

We had a FANTASTIC time on our cruise with Captain Chris Saturday night (7/16/11). We were celebrating two of our six friends birthdays. The boat was fantastic - Capt. Chris was very nice, knowledgeable and very accommodating. We brought our own appetizers & drinks plus music (Ipod/Iphone) and had a wonderful time! We would do this again in a heartbeat! Great fun! read more

I cannot find enough words to say how great my experience was with KO Charters and Captain Chris. I coordinated with Captain Chris on how I was going to propose to my long-time girlfriend and everything went absolutely perfect. The views were phenomenal, the ride was amazing, and the service was impeccable. There is also the capability to connect your iPod or other music device to play your own music (which I used to propose as well). There are so many great things to say about it, but there is not enough room here. I will forever be grateful to Captain Chris for making my proposal an unforgettable one for myself and my future wife. Thank you very much for the hospitality and we will definitely be going back for our anniversary! read more

My family and I had such a nice, relaxing time. It was clean, convenient and a lot of fun.

This review is pre-charter. I worked directly with Chris the past week to plan a charter to take place in july and I cannot day enough great things about the service I have received thus far. Chris has been very response both via email and via phone to all my questions (and I had A LOT). I have received quotes from 4 other charter companies but have not received the same amount of customer service and competitive rates as I did with KO Charters. Our group is super excited to work with KO charters and I will provide an update on our experience once our charter takes place! read more

I went on a Girls' Day Out charter with Captain Chris. He was very informative on our tour--he knew all about the buildings. The sunset skyline and then the night lights were absolutely beautiful! Captain Chris took great photos of our group with beautiful skyline views. He was fantastic. I would definitely request him again! read more