Chicago Boat Company

SO MUCH FUN! And we went in the middle of December! The water was perfectly chemically balanced, we had 104 degree water, the views were incredible and the staff is friendly and accommodating. 😊 We thought ahead to bring a towel and flip flops but they can sell you towels, flip flops, waterproof phone pouches and they have a Bluetooth speaker for you. We will definitely be back!

This an an amazing experience! I booked with a group of my guys for a bachelor weekend. Our host, Joe, was amazing and kind! He made the ride enjoyable and smooth. The BYOB aspect of this service was great for the occasion. We laughed a ton and got to see the beauty over the River Walk! 10/10-- would highly recommend! Pro Tip: book around the evening to catch the sunset.

Had a great time with the our rental from Chicago electric boat company. David was great as our crew member guide. We got in our boat fast and enjoyed a relaxing boat drive down the river. Been on the big tour boats this was a lot more fun!

Took advantage of the last SUPER warm Saturday of the "summer" season on 10/4 and rented Pricilla (pink Cadillac retro small boat) and enjoyed the experience. Being on the river opposite the buildings and road side was a fantastic opportunity to see what you normally cannot. We went in every direction soaking up the sun, the building views and people watching in every direction. Sean was very informative and made learning how to navigate the waters VERY easy. Ended at Tiny Tapp for some great cocktails and small bites after. 10/10!!

We rented a boat for 2 hours for a bachelorette party and had SO much fun. It was a great experience and would definitely recommend to others. Our boat crew Avril and Monica did an amazing job. Highlights include: amazing views of downtown Chicago, great photo op with the skyline in the background and the captain took a great group photo for us, getting to play your own music on their boat speaker, small bathroom on board, staff was accommodating when we were running a few minutes late for our boat time.

I went on a Chicago River tour with the Chicago Boat Company, and it was an incredible experience. Our captain, Monica, was outstanding, her hospitality, attention to detail, and professionalism made the outing seamless and enjoyable. My clients and I had a phenomenal time, and I can’t recommend them enough. If you’re visiting Chicago or planning a special outing, the Chicago Boat Company should be at the top of your list.

We had a great time cruising on Flo. Great experience riding on the Chicago River. Would highly recommend for a boat rental. Process was super quick and easy. Can’t wait to boat again.

Booked a heated duffy ride for a very cold night in December. Had a great experience, the boat was warm enough to be comfortable, clean, and easy to operate. Connor was our helper and he did an awesome job! Would definitely recommend this and I hope to do it again soon!

We had an absolutely wonderful time with Chicago Electric Boat Company. We rented the donut boat from Rockwell & loved this location! Don't sleep on bringing your kids! We brought kids ages 3-7 and they had a blast seeing a ton of ducks and birds flying over. We still got to see the skyline too! Leo and Lola were SUPER nice & explained everything thoroughly! We will definitely be back.

Easy to use and great customer service from the time we arrived until return. Boats are easy to operate and fun to hangout with friends on the river. Get scenic views of downtown you can get from on the side. 1 hour was plenty to hit the Y of the river and Navy Pier.

We rent the pontoon (holds 10 max) a few times each summer when our out of town guests stay with us. Ice and cooler is $3.50 and we bring our dinner or lunch and booze on the boat. 2 hours is plenty of time to cruise around Goose Island, go south toward Chinatown and then back up and out toward Lake Michigan. It's easy and safe and the staff are wonderful. Highly recommend. A pontoon for 2 hours is roughly $450 and don't forget to tip the staff!

We've rented boats here several times and it's always a lot of fun!!! Bring a cooler or they'll provide one for you!

Leaving from the Rockwell dock instead of downtown was great way to experience a different side of Chicago - we saw turtles, heron, lots of geese and ducks. Our family loved it. We'll go back.

Great experience! They got us on the water right on time, which was appreciated. The boat was VERY clean and lovely. All the employees were friendly. Would definitely rent from them again!

We had a great time on the Chicago River on our eight seat electric boat. The weather was fabulous and the boat was very clean.

Easy to drive. Beautiful river. The boat was a little slow but we loved it. We had wine and a little picnic. Was able to play music. Will rent again

First time renting a small retro boat from CEB and we loved it! We went to the Rockwell on the river location, very peaceful, not much to see but it's nice to cruise up and down the river with tunes on their Bluetooth speaker. The staff was super friendly and thorough on how to navigate iris the retro boat! You are welcomed to bring food and drinks, just no alcohol for the driver!

10/10 great experience me and my boyfriend rented the 4 passenger retro boat for our anniversary june19th that hour was long on the water which was great 10/10 recommend

My friends and I had an amazing time. Greg & Leo were great hosts, highly recommended.

I rented the hot tub boat today. It's $350 for 90 minutes. I highly recommend. Thank you to Marney and Devonte, the people who worked there. I'm gonna admit that I tried to give them a hard time because my rental was late. To be clear, it was not anyone's fault and they made sure to get the boat ready as soon as possible. There is a reason it's sold out often. I worried about the cleanliness of the boat and to be honest they do a great job of getting your boat ready for you. The temp only gets to about 99 degrees but it's a good enough temperature. It was cold af out today and I worried I would be cold. I wasn't. You should note that you can only bring 800 lbs worth of people or six people max. There is enough room for five people easily. I recommend going at night because the lights are incredibly nice to look at. You can drink alcohol on the boat as long as you are not driving it. Note: there is no where to sit but in the hot tub. Driving the boat is not easy but if you go slow like they ask you to you will be fine. My group had an A+ experience after everything is said and done. Please tip your workers.

Rented a HOT TUB boat in CHICAGO in the WINTER and they called and cancelled 30 minutes before we were supposed to be there. I understand it's cold and perhaps at some point it's too cold, but when you decide to run this kind of business in Chicago in the winter, 20 degrees certainly shouldn't be the cutoff point. Thats warm compared to some of the days! They require arrival 30 mins prior to departure, which we were abiding by and HAD ALREADY PARKED when they called to cancel just 30 mins prior to arrival. The weather forecast had been the same for DAYS prior to this. There was absolutely no reason to cancel so last minute. Leaving us to now pay for parking and Ubers that were no longer needed.

SO FREAKING FUN. Easy training video, super helpful dock dude named Chase. Nice to bring our own refreshments and connect Spotify to the boat's Bluetooth. Incredible view of the city. Two hours flew by and we could have easily cruised for two more. Only bummer was the large sightseeing tour boats who do not observe the "no wake" signage and appeared to have no trouble steamrolling the smaller boats and kayaks. (Wendella Tours, I'm talking about you. Your captains are consistently inconsiderate.) Full five stars for the electric boat experience!

This was one of the coolest experiences I've ever done in Chicago. If you haven't seen the city from the river yet, you need to do it asap. We rented the 8 person boat for an hour and it was very reasonably priced. You can take your own drinks and snacks and hook your phone up to the Bluetooth radio. You have to be a little careful because of all the big boats coming and going, but other than that it's completely relaxing. I will do this every single time I visit the city.

IT WAS A UNSAFE/PERSONAL INJURY EXPERIENCE! We rented this boat to celebrate my mother's birthday. 30 minutes after sailing down the Chicago River our boat, Auntie Pattie's sun rooftop snapped flying forward causing a head/face injury to my mother and aunt (see attached photos). We dispatched for helped on the walkie as instructed in case of emergency, but there was no signal or much help from staff. We understood that we signed saftey waivers, but this is negligence from the company for not checking the quality and safety of their equipment. Enter at your own risk and honestly take your money elsewhere.

Chicago Electric Boat was such a fun experience. The team members explained the safety and rules of the river nicely and the boat was easy to maneuver. It was our first time driving a boat (Duffy boat) and it wasn't difficult. They have Bluetooth speakers and you get to bring your own food, snacks, and booze! The experience is private with your party and it makes for a great time. Communication via text made things smooth and instructions were clear (text, video, and emails). They have different types of boats at different locations. The only thing I can say is I didn't see the donut boat at the 300 N state street location but they still have great alternatives. Highly recommend a nice time chillaxing or partying on the river!

I booked the donut boat for a birthday party. We had a great time. I was only able to get an hour time slot. Next time I will book two hours. We went north and saw lots of wildlife. It was a nice afternoon .

Very easy to book, great facility at Rockwell, nice people. We had a lot of fun and a memorable outing on a beautiful June evening. That said, the boats are SO SLOW. We did a three hour rental and only barely made it to Wolf Point at the north end of the Loop before we had to turn back. I had imagined we would have time in three hours to make it to Michigan Ave, go past Chinatown, etc. I wish this were more clear during booking - specifically I wish they gave a reasonable approximation of the potential range for the different durations from this location (maybe a map with circles for "one hour rental", "two hour rental", etc.) Next time, I would pick a faster boat (from a competitor, since I don't think this company has faster boats)... or only book from the downtown location of this company. The boat itself was in great shape, they had life jackets for the kids, we brought a picnic, and we enjoyed using their Bluetooth speakers. It's great that it's private. If you are looking for a slow-paced tour of the river close to the boat launch, it's a great option.

We went on a Wednesday afternoon in early October and the river was empty except a few boats. It was an amazing time. The boats were clean, the instructions from Gio at the dock were clear and he was super friendly and knowledgeable. It was a great way to spend an afternoon, we used the Fall coupon and got 50% off. We brought our own speaker, but they have Bluetooth on their radio. The check in process was annoying, they asked me the same questions in 2 different ways, we had to watch a video that was 5 minutes long and it could have been 1 minute. The guy checking us in was not very friendly. When we went to the dock, Gio told us more than the video did. I'm giving it all the stars possible because it is a MUST to do in Chicago!!!!!!

What an amazing experience! This was an awesome find, and a great activity for all age groups. All the employees we were in contact via phone and in person were very professional and friendly! We rented the 6 passenger Duffy boat and it was surprisingly easy to drive. If you're in Chicago visiting or a resident that is looking for something unique to do try renting one of these electric boats.

One of the best values in Chicago. Really fun time taking out the Duffy boats for a two hour cruise down the river. Super simple and fun plus it's BYOB/food. Boats are super slow but that's the point. Staff is super nice and I recommend to anyone

I enjoyed this time like I did the first time I ever went, the folks who work there are really friendly. It's a bit hard to find but the valet folks for house of blues are good about directing folks. I just wish they'd except debit and cash for the $500 deposit. Other than that the boats are easy to steer and are extremely fun. I'd recommend it over and over to my loved ones! Great way to show someone not from Chicago around. Please keep the coupon codes active. They make this affordable and definitely worth doing. I tried out the Rockwell on the river location and I loved Jason's hospitality. This company has done a good job on hiring people who genuinely take pride in this business. It's so easy to recommend my loved ones. And this location is awesome because of people like Jason.

Chicago Electric Boat was amazing! We came to visit our daughter for her birthday and rented a boat. The training video was clear and simple. Nick was our customer service agent and he was super helpful and funny! We picked up burgers from Small Cheval and provisions from Target. It was the most perfect night. By the way, you don't need to be a sailor to drive these super easy boats. Driving through the canal was like maneuvering on a Disney ride. Tizzy Lizzy was our boat name and she brought us to see the beautiful views of the Riverwalk area and down to the Navy Pier. 2 hours was perfect for us weekend warriors.

This was an absolute blast! It was a beautiful day yesterday, and I suggested the architecture cruise. The problem is, we've all done it several times. My very smart and sweet brother remembered having seen this and wanted to try it. He called the CEBC and within an hour we were on the water! How awesome is that? You valet at Marina Towers by the House of Blues, then wind your way down to their office. A few waivers, a short instruction video, and you're in. We brought beers and they have a cooler to lend and you buy a bag of ice if there if you want it. The driver of the boat is not allowed to drink and it is a pretty big responsibility to drive, so I was glad it wasn't me. We had the boat for about two hours. You can go all the way to the locks and back if you like. It was really so fun and freeing to be on a small boat rather than a huge one like I've always done in the past. The boats are electric, as the name suggests, but what that means is there's a bit of a lag between telling it what you want it to do with the steering wheel and it responding. You have to watch out for other boats (big, like the tour boats) and small (like tourist kayakers). The kayakers may also be doing this for the first time, so you have to be pretty mindful of them. I was happy I did not have to be the captain! This was a truly wonderful experience and worth the money (about $350), especially if 5-6 friends go and all split it!

The retrofitted boat went about 4 miles an hour. Beautiful view but dangerously slow.

We took the retro boat out on the river for our anniversary. Very nice and helpful employees and our 900P ride was very relaxing. Would recommend to anybody looking to have a unique experience while in the city.

Always have a great time with The Chicago Electric Boat Company. Easy reservation process and friendly staff. A fun way to see the city from a different POV. Highly recommend!

The hubby and I stumbled on Chicago electric boats walking around so we stopped to check it out. The staff is incredibly friendly and we decided to reserve a Saturday morning. We arrived, filled out paperwork, watched a quick video and then had Abraham as our shipmate to get us set and off we went. We only did 2 hours but it was enough. It was so beautiful outside and peaceful riding Chicago river on our own. It is definitely a must do as two or even better if you have a group. I highly recommend!!

I had a nice experience with this company. I bought a Groupon for $99 for a 2-hour 10 person boat rental. I booked way in advance figuring a Saturday afternoon might be hard to schedule. The company is located below the house of blues. Go the the house of blues valet and take the elevator down from there. Arrive 30 min before your scheduled time to sign paperwork and watch an instructional video and then get on onboard walk though. You can bring on your own food and drinks although captain can not drink alcohol the passengers can. They do sell ice in the office although make sure they give it to you as I bought some and then forgot to ask for it before we boarded. The boats are clean and room with a covered awning and Windows that zip up. I would say the 10 person boat is easier to fit 7-8 comfortably but you can pack 10 on. We had 5 and had a ton of room. The boats aren't hard to drive but also not easy. The steering is a bit sensitive and slower to react than a car so small adjustments then wait a bit to see how it works. Make sure u stay to the right and go slow when u start out. When the tour boats go by get out-da-way cause they will honk atcha. I found slowing down or stopping while they passed best. Also once you get away from the area along wacker traffic is less congested and quieter so you can relax and enjoy. Oh and the boat has speakers so hook your phone up with their supplied cord and jam away. So pack your own food and drinks and get your playlist ready. Great way to experience the chicago river.

What an experience! My coworkers and I got a Groupon for this rental and were so pleased with it, we started looking for another Groupon while still riding the boat! You reserve your time slot on their website and they charge your credit card 24 hours prior to takeoff--this is great, because if you're like us, you will change your reservation time or day a time or two. Then you head to the Marina Towers (it's a bit tricky to find, but just ask the front desk, they'll help you) and sign in. There, you'll watch a safety video and they load you onto a boat (shoutout to the Lady Sally!) A boat master will explain some rules, how things work as far as steering and operations, and give helpful advice on where to go. The service was fantastic and we felt knowledgeable and well-equipped to venture out alone. We had such a blast for two full hours on the Chicago River and are very much looking forward to going again!

My family and I visited the Chicago Electric Boat Company to experience the freedom of riding the Chicago river. Located beneath the Marina Towers, nestled in a prime spot on the river, it did take a little bit to find the lobby, but we got there! Tip for Tourists: Just look for signs or ask for help, the experience is located in the lowest level of the Marina Towers. Before jumping into a boat, we were required to watch an instructional video on the Do's and Don'ts of riding. Sean, our instructor, helped us to our boat and gave us an additional instruction on what to do. After that, we were off! Riding on the Chicago River is both an exciting and thrilling experience. Just like the instructional video says, it's similar to driving a car. Stay on the right side, only turn around if no boats are there, etc. I think what I found to be the most interesting about this experience was how much freedom they give us. My father has limited experience piloting boats, and there we were, on the river! Overall, I would definitely do this again. You're free to bring snacks and water on to the boat. You can even rent a cooler with ice, which was convenient. Thanks for the wonderful experience!

My Aunt Nancy posted this on fb on her wall and it was so sweet and heartwarming, I thought that all who are looking for a fun thing to do would benefit from reading this. (She asked me to share it here). For the past five years our family and some assorted friends have rented electric boats from Chicago Electric Boat Company. One of their launch places is under Marina Towers in back of House of Blues...they have valet parking that's reasonable if you mention the boat company....anyway it's one of the most fabulous experiences I've ever had, which is why we go every summer and last year signed up to go three times. Because of Covid only 4 people are allowed but usually it's up to 10. You can bring food and most drinks. You drive them yourselves and it's easy....the city of Chicago is most beautiful from its River. You just have to take my word for it....but then going North you are in a completely different world of being alone with nature....seriously you see maybe 4 other people in an hour...but what you do see are birds....lots of big and varied species....and fish, because the birds are eating them....and big turtles sunning themselves on fallen branches...etc. it's magic...I'm still high from our ride on Monday. Check it out

Terrible experience tonight. I have been in at least 5 trips but tonight it was horrendous. The steering was impossible. I would not recommend. Very scary. Rented for 3 hours but wanted to return immediately. Scary. Sorry, but it was awful. !

A fun way to spend an afternoon on the water. A great option for those who don't have experience boating, but still want to ride around the river. For a two hour rental, it was around $350. In this amount of time, we were able to cruise around Goose Island, down to Chinatown, and back to Marina Towers. The boats have tables, speakers, and space for about 10 people. If you bring snacks and drinks, you can buy ice and borrow a cooler from CEBC. Beware: This is the Chicago river so be prepared for floating garbage and not so wonderful smells.

Loved my birthday trip down the Chicago River on Miss Mistie! can't wait to come back again next week w a group of friends!

I love this company. A nice ride down the river a must do tradition for my family and friends every year. Even during these Covid times, I am so impressed with Chicago Electric boat company. The staff is professional and their boats are beautiful. Funny story, my friends and I were having a great time when our boat suddenly died. We were conveniently stranded with our snacks and beautiful view while we waited on Jason to haul us back. We still loved every minute of it and We will definitely be coming back here every year without fail.

Had a great time, Wonderful relaxing way to see a lot of the city! Would do it again the next time i'm in Chicago!!

This was my first time riding with them and I will say that the price was'nt as bad, I think it was $55 for 2 hours, but it might differ by the amount of people you have. I'd recommend going with a large group though! Basically you reserve a boat and if one of you wants to be the captain and drive, you have to fill out paperwork and watch a video. But you get alot of freedom with their boat, you can go wherever on the river depending on how many hours you reserved. I will say to be careful of traffic on the water from tour boats, jet boats, and water taxis. Be prepared for jet boats because the waves they make will make your boat rock hard. Other than that, it was really great. The mext time I'm in Chicago, I'll go back and take another boat ride with them.

They'll let anyone rent a boat! Just get a groupon, sign a form, "watch" a video and, bring snacks!

First (not a negative, but FYI) the pontoon is electric just like the duffy boats, so it steers just like a duffy. If you are a regular pontooner, this is not the same as a boat with an outboard motor. LOL. Put your pride aside as it's really awkward a first, and you'll be judged if you have fun friends. Ha! We had a blast tonight, so here are some pointers/thoughts: -arrive at least 15 minutes before your launch time. -CEBC has complimentary coolers so you can load with your stuff before you launch (ice is 3.50 and better than lugging it). -if you know driving rules, you know river rules. Slow right, pass left. You don't need any special skills. Just common sense. -Staff are so nice. Tip them! -2 hours will take you on a stroll from launch to Chicago bridge, well past Icon theater and back to the Riverwalk/Columbus. Perfect! Tuesdays are a a fantastic value!

George was the best crew member we could have had. Super cool, very good at his job, and really made our experience as a group a ton of fun! Good looks George!

This was our second time doing the electric boat rental, but the first time with this company. We had a Groupon, so I'm not sure about the price. You get the boat for 2 hours and you can bring all the food and alcohol that your arms can carry. You or someone in your party drives the boat, but that person cannot drink while operation the boat. We drove around drinking and eating, hanging out, listening to music, just having a great time.

The most fun I've had with my friends. Seriously, if you want something worthwhile to do, this is it. Monica was AMAZING. I can't wait to come again!

This company and their employees are fantastic! We rented the 10 passenger Duffy boat yesterday. And once again, a great experience on the Chicago River. We all had a great time, Pablo was great at explaining everything to us before we headed out for our self guided excursion and was there to assist us with getting back into the marina. The person in the office couldn't have been nicer, she even allowed us to store our coolers in the office while we had dinner locally...highly recommend Chicago Electric Boat Company!

My team decided to surprise me for my birthday with a boat ride on the Chicago river while taking advantage of their summer special - 50% all rides on Tuesday through August 29th. And it was such a blast that we decided to do it once a month and every time we board Lady Sally or Tizzy Lizzy the group of 8-10 never wants to get off. The staff is great, the greeters do leave a not to be desired, both times we have had to come to them after waiting for 5 minutes in their wait g area. You will watch a safety video, sign a form and then your off! They provide a map and give you basic rules and if you have no one in your group that can navigate, you can pay a fee to have a captain on board. You'll love the Duffy boat, pontoon is next. Definitely a special to take advantage of. The reservation system is user friendly and they have a flexible cancellation policy.

Had an awesome time last week putzing around on the Chicago River in a Duffy Boat. What an awesome experience all around! Our group brought wine, snacks and sandwiches and had the boat for 2 hours which was plenty to get us to Chinatown and back. It was pretty simple to drive - the boat doesnt go much faster than 5 mph so you just need to be aware of the traffic such as Water Taxis and tourist tours. They say these boats seat up to 10, but as others have stated 7, maybe 8, is perfect - 10 may have been a bit cramped. The boat also has a cable to hook up your iPhone to the radio. The staff was pleasant and helpful and a breeze to work with. HIGHLY recommend Chicago Electric Boat Company for a fun and unique Chicago experience.

Visited Chicago with some friends and family members from Baltimore, was recommended to rent a boat from this company by a server at City Winery. We rented one this past weekend and had a blast! It was such a great way to view the city and enjoy some time on the water. The boat we had was Miss Sally. It was very clean and the workers were very attentive. Our crew member Jordan was very friendly and informative. The most impressive part about this company was how personal they made our experience. Would highly recommend!

Had a great experience renting a boat for a bachelorette party. Matt was our crew member who oriented us. Was easy, fun, and laid back. Boat was clean, spacious. Great option to hook up a phone to the speaker system, so we were able to play a playlist for the party. We ordered a 12 person max boat and had 10 guests, that seemed to be a perfect amount of space. Directions to find the location on the website were helpful. Business is located in the Marina City on the marina level. Takes a minute to find it, so factor that into your arrival time. Bathrooms are not on the boat, so also factor in time to use the facilities, which are right by their office. Was a super unique and adventurous idea for a bachelorette party!

If you're visiting Chicago this is a MUST! You can go and pay more and take a tour boat ride but honestly this is so much better! BYOB with a group of friends nothing beats the beautiful views! All of the people working here are amazing! Have to shout out Jordan for being so attentive and great at teaching us how to be safe on the boat. Highly highly recommend it!