Policies & rules.

1 Booking & Payment

Charters are booked through Boatsetter or by contacting us directly. Your reservation is confirmed once payment (or the required deposit) has been received and you've received a confirmation from us.

• Rates: $250/hr weekdays (Mon–Fri), $300/hr weekends (Sat–Sun), $350/hr holidays. Minimums apply — 3 hours on weekdays, 4 hours on weekends and holidays.
• Season: charters run May 1 – October 31.
• Deposit & security: a security deposit may be held against damage or excessive cleaning and is returned after your charter, less any applicable charges.
• Captain: the captain's fee is separate and paid directly to your captain (see Section 4).

2 Cancellation & Refunds

Plans change — here's how cancellations are handled based on how far in advance you cancel:

If you booked through Boatsetter, that platform's cancellation terms may also apply. Contact us as early as possible if your plans change and we'll help where we can.

3 Weather Policy

• We go out in the rain! Light weather is rarely a problem.
• Your hired captain has final say on whether conditions are safe to sail.
• If the weather is deemed unsafe, we'll do our best to reschedule or postpone your charter to another available date.
• Weather-related rescheduling is not treated as a cancellation under Section 2.

4 Your Captain

Our charters are bareboat rentals. Under U.S. Coast Guard bareboat regulations, the captain is not included in the boat rental — you hire your own licensed captain.

• We do not employ or book captains for you, but we'll gladly share our list of trusted captain contacts once your reservation is confirmed.
• Estimated captain rate: ~$125/hr, paid directly to the captain.
• A customary ~20% gratuity, calculated on the boat rental charge, is also paid directly to the captain.
• Please confirm the captain's licensing, rate, and gratuity directly with them before your charter.

5 Onboard Rules

• Maximum 12 guests per boat. The captain and crew do not count toward your total.
• Food & drinks welcome: bring your own food, beverages, coolers, utensils, and decorations.
• Alcohol is allowed for guests of legal drinking age. Excessive cleaning required from spills or stains may be deducted from your security deposit.
• Music: each boat has a Bluetooth sound system you're welcome to connect to.
• No smoking inside the cabin.
• Please treat the boat with care and follow all instructions from your captain.

6 Guests & Safety

• Children and swimmers are welcome; life jackets are available on board, including children's sizes.
• All guests must follow the captain's safety instructions at all times — their word is final on matters of safety.
• Guests are responsible for their own belongings; we are not liable for lost or damaged personal items.
• Boarding is at Belmont Harbor — Dock A, 3600 N. Recreation Drive, Chicago, IL 60613. Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled departure.

7 Liability

Boating involves inherent risks. By chartering with us, guests acknowledge and accept these risks. Lakeshore Aquatic Charters, its owners, and its vessels are not liable for personal injury, loss, or damage arising from a guest's own conduct, a customer-hired captain's conduct, weather, or circumstances beyond our reasonable control, to the fullest extent permitted by law. Guests may be required to sign a liability waiver prior to departure.

8 Privacy

We collect only the information needed to handle your booking and communicate with you — such as your name, contact details, and reservation information. We do not sell or share your personal information with third parties except as required to process your booking (for example, the booking platform you use). Questions about your information can be sent to info@lakeshoreaquaticcharters.com.

Last updated: June 2026. These policies may be updated from time to time; the version in effect at the time of your booking applies.