On-time Secrets! Boating the Chicago Playpen with Yachti

Ahoy, Chicago! Summer is officially here, and with it, the irresistible call of Lake Michigan. The city is buzzing, the sun is shining, and if you haven’t booked your boat charter yet, what are you waiting for?! Prime dates are filling up fast. Whether planning a celebratory cruise, a relaxing day with friends, or an unforgettable party on the water, now is the time to secure your spot!

We love welcoming you aboard, and to ensure you get the most out of your charter, we strongly encourage all guests to arrive at the harbor an hour early. Despite our best efforts, a few stragglers often delay the start of the fun!

We get it – Chicago traffic, last-minute errands, or just that one friend who’s perpetually five minutes behind. But your precious charter time is exactly that: PRECIOUS. So, here’s our plan to make sure everyone who is on time gets to enjoy every single minute of their booked charter:

And for that late arrival? No worries at all! This is where our incredible friends at Yachti come in. Just call Liam from Yachti, and they’ll zip out in their awesome rigid inflatable boat (RIB) to pick up your belated guest and deliver them right to your boat in the Playpen. It’s a fun, fast, and exciting way to make an entrance!

Yachti isn’t just for late arrivals. Need to leave the boat early for another commitment? Yachti will be there to pick you up and get you back to shore efficiently. Their RIB rides are always a blast, adding an extra element of adventure to your lake experience.

Beyond their fantastic pick-up and drop-off service, Yachti has become a true fixture in the Playpen over the years. They’re all about safety and staying informed on the water. You can catch Yachti’s daily weather reports on their Instagram and TikTok – a must-follow for any Chicago boater!

And speaking of staying informed, make sure to tune in this Thursday on Instagram for the Boat Safe Chicago report, where Captain Brady interviews Liam from GoYachti. You won’t want to miss insights from these Lake Michigan experts and check out some awesome aerial footage from RTS Images!

We had the chance to chat with Liam to learn more about the man behind GoYachti and his unique connection to Chicago’s boating scene.

Q: What do you do in the wintertime?

Liam: “I’m an apprentice plumber, and I travel and run marketing for Parks’ Plumbing & Sewer Inc, serving all of Chicagoland.”

Q: Where did you grow up and go to school?

Liam: “I grew up in Lincoln Park and the harbor systems; we spent half my life on vessels. I also partially grew up in Northbrook and went to Glenbrook North High School, then later DePaul University.

Q: Do your parents boat?

Liam: “They do. They actually met inside Diversey Yacht Club, and that’s where I grew up for the most part.”

Q: What gave you the idea for Yachti?

Liam: “It was a problem I always faced, where we wanted people to be able to get to the boat when we left, or needed to get people to shore. I waited for someone else to do it, eventually starting the company.”

Q: How did you come up with the name Yachti?

Liam: “A ‘Yachty’ is someone who works on vessels, primarily larger yachts in saltwater. I wanted to be an aid on the water, making life easier, so I named the company Yachti! The ‘Go’ was simply because I couldn’t get the handle online!”

Q: What’s one of the funniest things you’ve ever seen in the Playpen?

Liam: “I’ve seen a lot of funny things in the Playpen. The funniest was when two boats were having a water gun fight, then one of them brought out a fire hose, and very clearly won!”

Q: Do you wear sunscreen?

Liam: “Of course! As much as I can, I always have spray sunscreen, daily sunscreen from the morning, as well as Sun Bum face spray sunscreen. I also normally always wear my Aussie hat to protect me.”

Q: Tell me about your boat and why you chose it.

Liam: “Yachti’s main boat is a Willard Marine Seaforce 7m. The story of how I got it is a very long and fun one, but I chose it because it needed to be able to handle people comfortably, be strong enough to handle even the roughest water Lake Michigan has, and I wanted something with history that is overpowered. This boat served with the US Navy Seals as a mission boat for the beginning of its life; I still have the helicopter hooks and .50 cal mount to prove it.”

Q: How big is your staff in the summer?

Liam: “The taxi operation is 2-3 people. Our food boat was 2 people! We also have a 44-passenger COI vessel named the Pearl, which will be at Navy Pier and has a staff of about five people!”

Q: What is your favorite summer boating event?

Liam: “My favorite boating event is actually the end of the season when the captains get the opportunity to go on the water and relax more. Last year I especially got the chance to hang out with Kyle on Happy Hour 2, Jamie Tishel on Wet Dream, and got to see Bill on Blue Dream more and more towards the end of the summer. It also gives me the opportunity to spend more time with mechanic friends like Bill, Josh, Danny, and Dave without them needing to run around on jobs all the time. As a specific event, I do like Ted Widen‘s Chicago Scene Boat  Party! It’s a lot of work and I spend most of my time making sure everyone is safe and happy, but that’s what I love to do!”

Q: What else should we know about Yachti?

Liam: Yachti isn’t limited to just water taxi work! We also offer high-speed historical adventures, charter boats, and a Yachti taxi membership that will be released soon!

So, what are you waiting for? Book your summer boat charter today, arrive early, and let’s make some unforgettable memories on the beautiful waters of Chicago! And remember, with YACHTI ON SPEED DIAL, they’ll zip out in their awesome RIB to pick up your belated guest and deliver them to your boat in the Playpen. It’s a fun, fast, and exciting way to make an entrance!