Private Chicago boat & yacht rentals for every occasion, with options for up to 13, 49, or 125 guests.
Destinations
Private boat tours and sightseeing past architecture, bridges, and city canyon views
Your Chicago Moment
Team outings, client entertainment, and company celebrations with catering and a custom itinerary.
Plan a corporate yacht charter
Milestone birthdays with your own deck, your playlist, and BYOB or bar packages. All ages welcome.
Book a birthday cruise
Cruise and celebrate with your crew. Party packages and premium amenities make it the weekend highlight.
Plan a bachelorette boat
Intimate ceremonies, engagement cruises, and proposals with 360° views and custom packages.
Plan a proposal cruise
Yacht ownership perks all season with no maintenance and no storage.
$403 /mo with co-members
View membership plansKnot My Boat Charters is a Chicago boat rental company offering luxury yacht rentals, boat share memberships, and corporate boat and yacht charters for up to 125 guests. Our 23-yacht fleet runs from 37' sport cruisers to 78' luxury yachts, backed by more than 20 years of boating and hospitality experience.
Captain and crew are included on our 49- and 125-guest yachts. For bareboat charters of up to 13 guests, review our list of 25+ licensed captains after checkout and hire one directly.
How hiring a captain worksIf weather makes it unsafe to go out, we'll reschedule you with a non-expiring credit toward a future charter. Other cancellations follow a clear refund schedule.
See the cancellation policySee hourly rates upfront on every yacht page, from $285/hour for bareboat and $1,000/hour for crewed charters. Found a lower price on a comparable charter? We'll beat it.
Compare yacht pricesCheck live availability and book your yacht online in minutes. After checkout, you'll review our approved captain list and hire your captain directly.
Check availability & pricing
Pick from 23 yachts, from a Sea Ray Sundancer for 13 to a power catamaran for 49 or 125, whether you want a private yacht rental or a captained cruise.
View the FleetReserve your Chicago boat charter for three or more hours on Lake Michigan, the Chicago River, or the Playpen. The season runs March through October, and peak summer weekends often sell out 4–6 weeks ahead, so book early.
Check Availability & PricingHead to the harbor, meet your captain, and cast off. Bluetooth audio, onboard restrooms, coolers, and open lounge space are ready when you board. You bring the guests; we handle the rest.
Questions?Have more questions after checking our FAQs? Submit an inquiry here.
**What a difference a do-over makes!** After sharing feedback about our original yacht experience, the team reached out and generously offered us a do-over—and I’m so glad they did! From start to finish, our second experience was absolutely wonderful. The yacht upgrade was beau…
I’ve booked through knot my boat charters at least 5 times now and every time is always great! We most recently rented a boat for 10 girls and booked Captain David Groover and had the best time! David safely navigated some crazy waves that day and even took really cool drone vide…
We had an absolutely incredible experience with Knot My Boat Charters! From start to finish, everything was seamless, professional, and truly elevated. We chose Knot My Boat for a corporate leadership celebration, and they helped us create an unforgettable evening that exceeded o…
Had an incredible experience on the boat today! We were a group of 8 girls on the 13 passenger boat and it was amazing! Very roomy, bathrooms onboard, little kitchen area for our lunch and they let us use their big cooler upfront with ice! Captain Dave was super kind - he helped …
5 star experience from booking to boarding. I purchased a 3hr charter for Wednesday night Fireworks on their new 52ft Sundancer. The Vessel fit my 11 guest comfortably, and had enough room for our drinks and food above and below deck! I ran into a snag when I was told by my ca…
Great vibes, views and captain! Awesome tour on Lake Michigan. There was a ton of space on the boat and Captain Nick made sure it was fun and safe. Highly recommend booking if you’re looking for a few hours the lake in Chicago this summer!
Captain Nick was the absolute BEST!! Super kind and professional. He made sure everyone had a great time while being safe. Will definitely come back to Knot My Boat and use Captain Nick again!
Captain John Kumerer was the absolute BEST! 💙 This was our first time chartering with Knot My Boat, and he made the experience unforgettable. From the moment we arrived, Captain John took the time to clearly explain the plan for the day, where we'd be going, and all of the safet…
We had a ball! We absolutely LOVED Our charter. If I could give six stars, I would. I am the type of person to ask 1 million questions… And knot my boat charters Answered each and every one of them promptly & kindly ! They were also super patient with me as well. Our Captain Cabe…
I booked Captain Groover for my sister’s bachelorette party and can say that we all highly recommend him and Knot my Boat! Communication and directions for our time was seamless and we had such a great time with Captain Groover. He was super knowledgeable of the area and brought …
10/10 recommend! We had the best time with Captain Chase at Knot My Boat Charters. Great views, good jams, and the best vibes all day long. Captain Chase was awesome and made the whole experience so much fun. We’ll definitely be booking again! 🌊☀️🚤🎶
recently booked a 3-hour cruise with Knot My Boat Charters, and it was an absolutely incredible experience from start to finish. The booking process was seamless, and the staff at the dock made check-in quick and welcoming.Our captain Chase was professional and brought amazing en…
Highly recommend KMBC to anyone looking to charter a yacht in Chicago! From the booking process to boarding, everything was smooth, easy, and stress-free thanks to their amazing customer service. The yacht was clean, comfortable, and perfect for our group. The captain made sure …
I went out with Knot My Boat Charters this past August with some friends and had such a great experience. From the moment we booked, everything was simple and easy. The staff onboard were so friendly, professional, and really easy to talk to. They were helpful the entire time an…
I have used Knot My Boat Charters more times than I can count over the past few years. Have never had a bad experience and will continue to use them to enjoy Chicago summers as much as I can!
Quick answers to what guests ask most before booking.
See All FAQsCaptain and crew are included on our 49- and 125-guest yachts. For bareboat charters of up to 13 guests, you hire a licensed captain from our list of 25+ approved captains after checkout. Captains typically charge $100–$125 per hour before gratuity, paid directly to your captain.
How hiring a captain worksPricing is per boat, not per person. Hourly rates start at $285/hour for bareboat charters and $1,000/hour for crewed charters, with a three-hour minimum. Fuel is included with all yacht charters.
Compare yacht pricesCheck yacht availability online, choose your date, and select a yacht for your group. Your confirmation email has your departure time, location and parking info, and every guest signs a quick waiver before boarding.
Check availability & pricingOur bareboat yachts hold up to 13 people: the charterer plus 12 passengers, and your captain doesn't count toward that limit. Our crewed yachts take up to 49 or 125 guests, depending on the vessel.
See capacity by yachtYes. The Playpen is one of Chicago’s most popular boating destinations, about 30–40 minutes from the harbor depending on boat traffic.
Plan a Playpen charterNo. You don't need a boating license or permit to rent or ride on our boats. The charterer must be at least 21 and bring a valid photo ID.
More on licenses and ID
