Terms of Use
Last updated: August 2026
What Chicago Captain is
Chicago Captain connects people who want to be on Lake Michigan with USCG-credentialed captains and boat owners in Chicago. We verify captains’ credentials and insurance before listing them. Charter revenue supports Sail Shop Chicago NFP, a 501(c)(3).
Booking a charter
Submitting a request is not a confirmed booking — a captain or the boat’s owner confirms availability first. Deposits are processed by Stripe. The cancellation and weather terms for your specific trip are stated in your booking confirmation; weather calls on Lake Michigan are the captain’s to make, and safety always wins.
On the water
The captain is in command of the vessel, as federal law requires. Follow crew instructions, wear flotation when told, and expect any charter to be adjusted or cut short if conditions demand it. Charters may require a signed liability waiver before departure.
Listing a boat
Owners represent that their vessel is seaworthy, insured, and accurately described. Every listing is reviewed by a person before it goes live, and we may decline or remove a listing at our discretion.
The website
Content on chicagocaptain.org is provided as-is. We work to keep harbor information, forecasts, and availability accurate, but conditions on the lake change faster than websites do — your captain’s word is authoritative, not a web page. Don’t scrape, misrepresent, or abuse the site or the people on it.
Questions
info@chicagocaptain.org or (773) 910-CAPT (2088).
See also our Privacy Policy.