I found this boat charter on Yelp! Spoke with Paul and the process to book was so seamless! He…read moreanswered all my questions promptly when wondering how to tip and if we needed to bring coolers. They supplied ice for our trip which was great! At the end of our time we were already trying to book with them again! With the new adjustment we were able to have 30 with proof of vaccines! Highly recommend them!

Captain Paul and team was AMAZING! We had a post graduation cruise for my daughter and best friend,…read morecruising into the sunset. The most memorable trip for my daughter, friends and family. Captain Paul was extremely flexible in making the most beautiful experience. We cruised on both the river, and saw the sunset on Lake Michigan. The experience of a private yacht for my daughter's celebration was priceless. Thank you Captain Paul for your hospitality!

We were fortunate to get truly excellent weather to head out onto the lake for a boat ride with…read moreHarbor Country Adventures! We went on the Classic Lake Tour. Our tour guide was a retired high school history teacher and football coach with all sorts of interesting stories about the region. We passed Mount Baldy, the "living" sand dune that moves, at Indiana Dunes National Park and made it all the way down to a good view of the Century of Progress homes before making our way back. We also got to hear all about the ship, the Emita II, which is a historic ship from the 1950s, and about how it reached its current home. It was also very cute that Captain Jan had the kids come up and take turns at the wheel on the way back. There is a snack bar on the lower level of the boat, and there are restrooms on board. Free parking is available a little walk away - walk towards the Lighthouse Museum, as the dock is behind there. Definitely a great adventure!

Very enjoyable and comfortable experience. You get a different perspective of the shoreline and…read morelighthouse. Live music and drinks/snacks for sale. Only complaint is there was a group with a person who should have been cut off from being served any more alcohol but her friends bought it for her. She was extremely obnoxious and loud and made a lot of people on the boat uncomfortable, especially ones with small children.

Compliment's to the gas dock. Last Saturday, 06/07/25 I brought the boat in for the season. I…read morepulled up to the gas dock to top off the tanks and do a quick pump out. As I approached the dock several young women spilled out of the office ready to help grab lines and help tie off the boat. They handled it effortlessly despite the size and weight of the boat. They offered to pump fuel and handle the pump out which I would never expect anyone to do. Before I had time to get involved they were handling it like a NASCAR Pit Crew! Upon departure my bow line was tied to the rail and I was given shove off the dock to assist in the departure. These young women were very skilled, knowledgeable, and very helpful. Their actions and pleasant demeanor were very professional and appreciated. In addition, the women in the office were very friendly and quick to check me in. I can tell you that after 20 some years in Chicago I've never experienced this type of friendly service. The dock workers in the golf cart even waved to say hello and see if I needed anything. Thanks to all of you at Hammond Marina! You should ALL be Proud! YOU are ALL APPRECIATED. GEORGE

The Hammond Marina is Wonderful and so are all of the super nice people who work there! From the…read morefirst time that I picked up the phone to call there and spoke to Milan to each and every interaction that I have with everyone there! Jamie is so nice that she sat on the phone and personally gave me directions to the Marina when roads were closed! Jen is so nice that she actually listened to my needs in order to make the best recommendation about where I should dock my boat! Lori does an amazing job with the Ship Store! The bathrooms are immaculate! The Locker Rooms are also immaculate! Each and every one of my needs has been filled by this wonderful group of people! Five Stars are not enough! Boat Slips, Waverunner Platforms, Beach, Sun and Fun! All with great Attitudes, Friendly Smiles and Excellent Service !!!! Thank you for being so wonderful!

My friends and I have chartered a few boats here in Chicago, but this was by far the best…read moreexperience we have had. We actually had to reschedule our initial cruise last minute due to bad weather. The boat owner, Russel, was very communicative and made the best of the not-so-great situation. He graciously offered to allow for our group to enjoy the boat for a lesser amount of time and stay at the dock. We were also able to reschedule for the following week and go out with Captain Brian at that time. Our group had such an amazing time during both sessions. We certainly had some strong personalities in the bunch (myself included) and Captain Brian was such a great sport. He was very professional but also blended in so well with our group that he was like another guest. We will without a doubt be reaching out to Russel & Captain Brian again for future events. Thank you both for making this such an unforgettable experience for us and our guests.

As boating season starts in Chicago, I just wanted to let you know that Russell took me, my…read morechildren and their significant others out for my "birthday celebration" and it was thee BEST boating experience this Chicago gal has ever had. Russell took us on the most beautiful route and his boat is beautiful and comfortable for viewing, eating, drinking and laying out if you like. My favorite moment was when we anchored and me and my kiddos did a celebratory jump into the lake as Russell videotaped us. Big Thanks to Russell for the BEST Boating experience in CHI. He is so knowledgable and experienced that I highly recommend 1st Class Charters Chicago!!

Chicago yachting was an amazing experience ! From great communication to great captain suggestions!…read moreWe used captain dan and he was phenomenal! Can't wait to rent from here again!

We had an awesome time on the boat! Captain was great and super helpful, will use this company…read moreagain in the future

Highly recommend this company. They go above and beyond and we always have the best time with them…read more Will continue to use them for our future boat rides!

From the owner: Affordably priced boat and yacht charters in beautiful downtown Chicago! Call or text 872-287-7999…read moretoday for more information!

Friendly staff and luckily there were walk up singles available. Lovely journey down and back on…read morethe river, great break from the hustle and bustle of New Buffalo's main drag.

I love paddleboarding and I love exploring new places. It only made sense for me to come rent a…read morepaddleboard when I was visiting the Indiana and Michigan. The main reason for my low rating was because the kid who was handling all rentals really had an attitude of "I don't know and I don't care". I almost feel like if I had never been paddleboarding prior to this, I would have had a miserable experience. He gave me zero information and then proceeded to give me a paddle that was too short and also did not know how to adjust the length. Then he sent me out into the water tail end first. The website said we would be guided as to where the turnaround point was-he did not share this. And then when I returned there was zero acknowledgement or even some basic customer service of "how did you like it? did you have fun?". From other reviews I have read it seems like the company is a very reputable service provider in the area. I just think that this one kid is a terrible representation of what you want your company to be. In addition to the complete non-existence of any kind of customer service experience, the water in the river is quite disgusting. I got a rash on my foot just from touching the water. Fortunately I am skilled on the paddle board and did not fall in. I really was hoping that I would have been able to take the paddle into the actual waters of Lake Michigan. That in itself would have been a more thrilling experience.

Wait, you can review Fay's Point? Where's my sixth star??…read more Let me tell you a bit about me. I'm a proud Cal-Sag junkie. So much local history can be found in our waterways and so little of it is known. Briefly: Blue Island really was an island. Some 15,000 years ago, when glacial Lake Chicago existed, Blue Island stood proud above the lake. As it receded our rivers, creeks and wetlands were formed. Fay's Point, uniquely, sits just past where the Little Calumet River turns back on itself and empties into the Calumet River. Stony Creek meandered to the west. From the 1840s to the 1870s a feeder canal helped keep the I&M Canal filled, and in the 1910s the Cal-Sag Channel was dug, reversing the flow of the Calumet River and altering Stony Creek forever. The Cal-Sag Channel opens for business in 1921, at its widest only 60 feet across. In the 1960s it was expanded to its current width of 225 feet. Go for a walk along the north bank of Fay's Point. Across the Cal-Sag, on the north bank, you'll see some the "ruins" of the Blue Island lock. From the 1920s to 1960s this was the controlling works for the Cal-Sag, the boundary between Lake Michigan, the Illinois Waterway and ultimately the Mississippi River. You can still tour this amazing waterway. Local boaters often complete a "triangle tour" down the Cal-Sag, up the Ship and Sanitary Canal, into Lake Michigan and back to the Calumet River. The more adventurous might take the Cal-Sag into the Desplaines and Illinois rivers, into the Mississippi and all the way to the gulf. Who knew you could connect to the whole world from Blue Island?! Fay's Point features a marina with 88 boat slips. This active marina can hold boats up to 40+ feet. It offers an idyllic setting on the bank of the Little Calumet River. The north bank has been restored with native wetland plants and is a haven for birds and other critters. Across the river is the Forest Preserve District and Joe Louis golf course. It might be worth renting a slip just for a chance to hang out on the river in such a relaxing setting. This safe and modern marina is the best in the region. The Little Calumet River is also becoming popular with paddlers, and offers a great course for families and beginners looking to explore our region's waterways. Check out the Calumet Waterway Stewards website for annual paddling and clean up events.

From the owner: Built in 2006, the Fay's Point Marina sits on the Little Calumet River, just 25 minutes south of…read moredowntown Chicago. Many community members have already made the Fay's Point Marina a second home. Between weekend relaxation, aquatic sports, golfing, and barbecue gatherings, you'll never run out of ways to spend your hard-earned free time.

We had a great group kayak trip with Reed's! All employees were friendly and hard-working, making…read moreour trip extremely enjoyable. The life vests and kayaks were clean and ready for use, and the transportation to/from the river was comfortable and prompt. Thank you for a terrific outing!

I've been going to Reeds for canoeing over the span of 30 years. I can honestly say that this…read morerental was the easiest and most organized. The woman at the desk was so friendly and helpful. Reeds website spells out everything very clearly, and you're able to fill out the release at home, so it saves everyone time at the counter. Gone are the days of hot, old school buses. One was a newer model, and another, a van, was air conditioned. The drivers wore masks, which I appreciated. When we got to the drop-off site, the canoes were ready and waiting for us. When we got to the pickup site, the men helped us get our canoes up, and loaded them up. There were a few more of us than there was room on the bus, but the shuttle showed up a minute later, and took 4 of us back, without making us wait for more people to fill it up. More about the trip: we did the easy trip (#2) on a beautiful day without paddling much. We didn't really find many places to pull over to stop on the short trip, but I think there are more on the longer trips. Be prepared to hear some highway noise at some parts, and on Saturdays, plenty of lawnmowers since the shores are lined with homes. It didn't affect the experience too much. The canoeing was exactly as described: not too high and not too low. There were a couple motorized watercraft, but they slowed down when they saw canoers. One small suggestion I'd make: offer the seating pads ($1) at reservation time, or even better, just build it into the price. I don't think anyone is going to quibble about a dollar or two added to a $63 rental, and it would eliminate that extra transaction. Thanks again, Reeds. We'll be back!