Chicago Boating
 

So I just accepted an offer in Chicago and will be starting in the city in March. Now, what to do with the boat? Can anybody tell me what the boating scene is like in Chicago, how expensive it is to own a boat there, how often can you boat in the city on the big lake given the weather?

I have a 25' Active Thunder and have been boating in Lake St. Clair for the past 3 years.

To take it with me or sell it?

Take it with. We are across from Chicago and started out with a 25' Checkmate and took it across to Chicago several times. Besides it is an A/T!

Take it with.

What part of the city you moving to. North or South?

I had a Tantrum for two years. Most of us go to Indiana to do our boating. Chicago is very anti boater. I visit only a couple times a year. The water is almost always worse downtown. There isn`t a single place you can get off the boat and make your way to the beach. I got kicked off 6 beaches in one day.. one place even called the cops, somehow people think they own the lake front.. long story. Also no restaurants or bars accessible by boat.

You`re gonna get beat up in a 25' boat downtown. Indiana with a south wind is much better but its hardly ever flat.

My 2nd boat was a 33Outlaw and the ride was 100x better. The A.T. is not a Lake Michigan boat imop. It would hit so hard I thought it was going to break in two.. plus I went thru drives like it was going out of business.
Most of the time you`ll be trying to figure out how to keep it in the water:

http://33outlaw.zenfolio.com/img/s1/...92410471-3.jpg



This is the playpen: its mostly protected by breakwalls but again deep and no getting off the boat and to a beach. so if you have kids that don`t go over too well. if you don`t its a nice place to get your drink on.

http://33outlaw.zenfolio.com/img/s3/...40758882-3.jpg



BTW everything in $hitcago is expensive. launching, getting a slip for the night, parking, etc.
Its run by Democrats so they rape the people and come up with new ways to tax people everyday.

I agree with most of above but here are a few options to avoid high costs: one is launching at one of the launches downtown and day boating. Last time I launched I think it was $20 or $200 for a season pass. It is, however, imperative to get there early before the lot fills up. Overnight parking for truck and trailer is not allowed, so the only option is to take your rig to the Marshalling lot at McCormick place which is a huge pain. Another option if you really want to stay overnight and enjoy Chicago is to launch on a suburban launch and lock through to the lake. Slips are expensive (1.85 per foot plus $15 for power). "Cans" or buoys at Monroe are only $.80 a foot but there is no way off the boat except the park district shuttle which also charges.
Chicago is a beautiful city from the water but not very boater friendly. No places to park or dock, even if you are planning on stopping at a restaurant.
It is an experience locking through to the river and back out to the lake but you are really stuck with day boating and staying on the boat. If you plan for that ahead of time it can be a lot of fu. If you want to be able to park and get off the boat, forget it. It will only be an annoying disappointment.

there is always the chain, http://blarneyisland.com/

fixx
 

Me personally if you dont have a big flashy boat and 100k to flash around,oops that was bach in the 80's now it's flashing gold and platnum credit cards you aint $hit.. also you will get beat up if the winds kick up,,i have seen the props of a friends 40' searay!..you can boat the illinois river which stretch's from lake mi to star rock but their are a few other rivers and locks involved..some people frown where i likr to go boating which is the chain o lakes..you can go here to check it out,,their isa also the fox river that runs into the chain o lakes..the water is not the cleanest but its alot of fun and plenty of places to eat and dock your boat,,,lots of sand bars and tie up's to other boaters which are all friendly..here is a web site to check it out go to photos. http://www.funonthefox.com/
also check out Blarneys island.thursday to sunday their rockin,its a bar that is in the middle of the water,,thursday nights they have jet boat races and after tham its party time with live bands and such..if you live in the city and you leave your boat either dry docked or in the water you could always take the metra trane in to fox lake and walk across the street to ben watts marina and if you keep your boat their just jump in and go..

That's silly

North Side or downtown...

Looks like a good time to me!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWYgqarIJ8c

+1 on what alot of others already said about Chicago. The harbor system is nice, but you will wait years to get a slip, most start off by getting a mooring can in one of the harbors. You'll have to either have a dingy or use the tender service to get out to your boat. From their when a slip opens up in another habor they will transfer you their and I can almost guarantee it will not be at prime harbor like diversy, belmont, dusable, or burnham. Transient slips are available and is pricy, most of the harbors charge a 30 ft minimum plus water if needed and electric. If you wanna trailer and launch the boat you will pay and your friends will pay to park, then after a long day of boating you'll come back to your rig and find that some ass has either stole something or in my case backed into my trailer damaging it.
Chicago Is nice viewed from the water and checking out the differnet harbors, going down the river, and hanging out in the playpen are cool even watching the fire works on wednesday and sat nights are nice to view.

Well after hearing this I think I'm going to sell.

If anyone knows of someone who is interested in a 1998 Active Thunder Tantrum with stock 502 mph, PM me.

Put the boat in storage, move over here and get settled. Then decide if you really want to sell.

A lot depends on where you will be living, and keeping the boat. If you find a place cheap, and trailer boat, its not that bad money wise. But, if you have to pay the marinas around here for storage, it definitely gets pricey.

There is the chain o lakes like mentioned. Its about a 1 hour drive from downtown with no traffic on a Saturday morning. Friday afternoon forget it. A 25 AT will be right at home there.

The big lake is rough, but there are days when it's calm. I say keep the boat, try boating around here. You just may like it enough to sell the 25 and get into a 30+ ft boat.

Keep the boat and move somewhere else. Chicago sucks plain and simple.

I did it on a 27' Baja for years,,,,have to pick and choose your days for sure.

I would plan on being a chain boater if you will be a northsider with 25 footer

You guys are depressing me. Making me want to sell my boat

LOL. Now THAT's funny!

I live on north side of Chicago and I keep my boat on the chain of lakes. I try to get on Lake Michigan a couple of times per season but it gets rough on windy days. Plus not to boater freindly like others have mentioned. The chain is far from perfect, but it is a fun place to boat with lots of bars, lots of different lakes and sandbars. It takes an hour to get there if you avoid traffic times. You should try a season there before selling the boat.

The Michigan side is only an hour so away. Very boater friendly. And nice beaches, that you can beach your boat on.

I would offer this...do not FEAR Lake Michigan, just respect it. Watch the weather and judge accordingly. You'll be fine in a 25' boat.

Good thread! Thank you guys for saving me the frustration & money. I was planning on a trip across this season, I think ill get the map back out & find a new destination!

Yes,,,,,Chicago and Lake Michigan both suck,,,,,,everyone should stay away !!!

I know Saturday I decided to take a ride over to Burnham harbor to check out the launch ramp, with the lake being so low. Right now, I don't think you can launch a 19ft open bow there. So that's a whole new issue.

Lake is lower than it was in 1962. I wonder what the cigarette owners did back then to get their boats in the water?

Rent a crane lol?

Yeah Joe...I'm sweating the same thing. Rich was over at Pastrick earlier this winter with his fishing boat and said there'd be no way we could get a big boat off the trailer.

Although it will screw my mountain biking season, I'm hoping for a VERY rainy wet spring. At least there's a ton of snow up north right now, so the lakes should come up a bit with the melt...

Be careful doing that!! Last time I was there for a trade show my 38" trailer was broken into & about 45 pieces of 2- cycle eq (chainsaws) was stollen from me. They had nothing to say & were not responsible for anything. My insurance was sure it was an inside job since its a "Secured" yard, what a joke.

That sucks for sure but hey thats the "Chicago Way" this place is really going down the tubes!!!

Good and Bad
 

There is always the good with the bad about every major metropolitan area in the USA. Research like you are doing and find the best set-up for yourself and then the boat. If you don't live close to where you boat, store it close enough to lake to make short trailer hauls. I used to live in the Highland Park - Fort Sheridan area many years ago, loved it. Chain of Lakes really cool!!! Do not miss out on Blarney Island, it is a must do, once in a lifetime thing, twice if you like it!!!

http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/boa/3617426913.html

For Sale...

This thread is killing my enthusiasm for getting my boat out this summer.............

What a bunch of Debbie Downers. What ever happen to making your own fun. Must be the new generation. When we grew up we made our own fun, we didn't have all the video games and stuff. Now I see the new generation is living their adult life's like they did when they were kids. Looking for the easy way to have fun.. Bring your boat up here and meet some people and have fun. There is not a day in our marina we don't have fun and enjoy our boats our family and friends.. By the way Happy Friday everyone.

Mark

If you buy close to downtown, get a brownstone with a three car garage and trailer the boat. Get a season pass and launch at diversey. Forget the "chain". Trust me. You will miss the boat if you sell it. I lived downtown for 4 years with no boat. All I did was look at the boats on the lake all season and wished I had one.

You can get a good deal on the near north side now. Just have to look. What used to go for $1 million in the late '90's now can be had for $300,000

Go F yourself

:hijack::party-smiley-004:

How do you REALLY feel? :lolhit:

Check out Milwaukee. Try lining it up when summer fest takes place. There are about 4 or 5 restaurants/bars you can hit on the river...

Hook up with Marks crew and you will definitely have a blast!!!

WOW that hurt. not!!!