Sailing from Belmont Harbor, Chicago, IL, Seit Inc., DBA
Chicago Sailboat Charters .com
This FAQ was written primarily for PRIVATE Charters, but most or all if it applies to GROUPON shared ticketed charters as well.

What should we AVOID bringing?
How do you handle cancellations and rescheduling?
What should we bring?
What kind of shoes are best to wear?
How many people can we bring?
Do you have a bathroom?
Can we bring children on board?
What about seasickness?
Can we bring alcohol?
How do we get to your boat?
What if there is bad weather?
What if there is light wind?
Do you have a crew on board?
What kind of deposit do you require?
Can we go swimming?
Can I smoke on your boat?
What about tipping?

What should we AVOID bringing? - **red wines or any other dark staining liquid (like grape or cranberry juices, etc.), **Glass of any kind above deck (white wine and champagne bottles can be kept below and poured into plastic cups), **hard Soled, dark soled, or **marking shoes (you may go barefoot if you don’t have boat friendly shoes), **metal rivets or buttons on pants (they damage the boat!!!), **illegal substances.

What should we bring? - Bring your food and drink, and possibly some extra clothing (80 degrees on shore can cool on the lake with the wind in your face) and swimwear/towels if there will be swimming. We have all the paper plates, forks, knives spoons, cups, napkins, cooler space, drink cozies, tin foil, ice, etc. that you will need. I even have plastic stemware for your white wine or champagne.

What kind of shoes are best to wear? - Light colored, soft-soled, non-marking shoes (like deck shoes or top-siders) are best to wear. Some gym shoes are OK. Please don’t wear shoes such as loafers, which have hard soles and can damage the gel coat of the boat. Most inexpensive flip-flops are not good for boats as the charcoal black soles leave scuffs everywhere.

How many people can we bring? - The legal limit on all charter boats is 6 (except for the massive ones that carry 25 and up). The cockpit can seat 6 people plus the skipper (4 forward of the wheel and 2 on either side of the wheel, and skipper at the wheel). We have had many parties of 6 that have come back to sail with us again. When not chartering, we frequently take out groups of larger than 6. However, some may find it a bit cozy with a full cockpit, so for maximum comfort on a private charter you may choose to limit your group to 4 or 5. Please look at out photos to see views of the cockpit.

Do you have a bathroom? - Yes, we have a fully functional bathroom (as well as a shower for that matter) with running water to wash up.

Can we bring children on board? - Of course! We do like to talk to you about the ages and the number of children so both you and we know what to expect.

What about seasickness? - We find it very uncommon. We do a number of things to take precautions against it for you. If you are worried about it (or are prone to it), you may want to take one of the over the counter medications 45 MINUTES BEFORE sailing (you must take it before to be effective).

Can we bring alcohol? - Yes, being whatever you like. Please avoid bringing glass bottles if you can (except for wine…). I cannot sell alcohol, so please make sure you bring your own. Please read, "What should we AVOID bringing" for more alcohol information. If you show up intoxicated, or become excessively intoxicated during the sail, the sail may be cancelled at the captain's discretion, and you will be charged for the full amount of the sail. If you have further questions regarding this policy, please contact us.

How do we get to your boat? - Please look at our directions page

What if there is bad weather? - If the weather is too rough to sail, there is lightning, or there is persistant rain, we will cancel the charter and refund 100% of your money. Think of it as a ballgame; if they play ball in it, we sail in it. Other operations go out in almost any conditions and offer no refunds. Ask them about it and ask them to point it out on their website if you are comparing our services.

What if there is light wind? - If there is not much wind, we can motor sail to any destination (for example to Navy pier for the fireworks or just out for a swim and a tour of the shoreline).

Do you have a crew on board? - Each sail will have a skipper and sometimes an additional crewmember on board. There is nothing for you to do except enjoy the trip (unless you want us to put you to work).

What kind of deposit do you require? - Standard sails require a $150 deposit to reserve. Cancellations 72 hours in advance of the sail receive a 100% refund. Due to their nature and early demand, Special Events require a $300 deposit and have stricter cancellation policies. Cancellations of special events 7 days in advance of the sail receive a 100% refund. Cancellations of special events 72 hours in advance of the sail receive a 25% refund.

Can we go swimming? - Swimming is allowed during full daylight hours in the open water away from the shoreline (given safe sea conditions - captain's discretion). We need at least 3 hours minimum (and 3 1/2 or 4 is better) if you are going swimming so that you don't feel rushed. During ticketed sails, swimming is not permitted.

Can I smoke on your boat? - We prefer that you do not smoke, for many reasons. If you must, we will seat you in the part of the boat where the wind will carry smoke and ashes overboard, instead of onto our boat. We can usually accommodate one or two persons smoking at any time, unless we are anchored for swimming.

What about tipping? - Tipping is customary and appreciated, and normally varies from 15-20%


 
info09 @ Chicago Sailboat Charters . com
 773-960-7890 - for PRIVATE Charters