The Boat Charters Rates Dive Team FAQ Check a Date
aqqquamanservices@gmail.com
@aqqquaman.charters
Now booking the 2026 season

Book the whole boat, not a seat on one.

Ship of Fools is a 53-foot Sea Ray on Lake Michigan with a USCG-licensed captain and room for twelve. No strangers, no shared deck, no schedule but yours.

Check your date See what it costs
53 ftSea Ray
12Guests max
USCGLicensed captain
50%Holds your date
USCG-licensed captain on every trip Marine liability insured Private charter, never shared Most inquiries answered same day Weather cancellation, full refund Certified dive team on call
The transom of Ship of Fools, a 53 ft Sea Ray, tied up at a Chicago marina
53 ftSea Ray
The shaded aft deck with table and seating, Chicago skyline across the harbour
Aft deck · skyline
The helm and wraparound cockpit seating aboard Ship of Fools
Helm & cockpit

The boat

This is Ship of Fools.

Fifty-three feet is the difference between a boat ride and a venue. Everyone gets a seat. Everyone can move around. Nobody spends three hours pinned to a bench with their knees up. And the skyline sits right there across the water the whole time.

  • VesselSea Ray, 53 ft, USCG inspected and maintained
  • CapacityUp to 12 guests plus captain
  • AboardShaded aft deck with table seating, head, cooler space, Bluetooth audio
  • SafetyPFDs for all, flares, VHF, first aid, pre-departure briefing
  • Also runsUnderwater recovery, hull inspection, dock work

What you can book

Three ways to spend a day on the water.

Every charter is private and built around what you're actually doing. Tell us the occasion and we'll shape the rest.

01 / Sunset

The Sunset Run

Push off a couple of hours before dusk and be on open water when the light goes. The easiest yes on the list, and the one people book again.

2–3 hours Check a date 02 / Occasion

The Private Event

Birthdays, proposals, bachelorette weekends, client entertaining. Bring your own food and drinks, bring your own playlist. The boat is yours for the window you book.

4–6+ hours Check a date 03 / All day

The Full Day

Six hours or more, no clock on the wall. Cruise, anchor, swim, eat, do it again. Best value per hour and the one worth planning a weekend around.

6+ hours Check a date

Also run regularly: scenic lake tours, corporate outings, photo and video shoots, and underwater dive services.

How booking works

Three steps. No back and forth for a week.

Step one

Send your date

Fill out the form below with your date, headcount, and what you're celebrating. Takes about two minutes.

Step two

We confirm and you hold it

We come back with availability and the all-in number. A 50% deposit locks the date in your name. Balance is due the day of.

Step three

Show up and get on

Bring food, drinks, and your people. We handle the boat, the route, and the safety briefing. Weather cancellation is a full refund or a reschedule, your call.

Rates

What it actually costs.

Boat rate plus captain's fee. That's the whole thing. No fuel surcharge, no dock fee, no service charge added at the end.

Monday – Thursday

$375–400 /hr

Weekday rate. Best availability and the easiest dates to lock in on short notice.

Friday – Sunday Books first

$450 /hr

Weekend rate. Summer Saturdays go weeks out. If you have a fixed date, send it early.

Captain's fee

$125–150 /hr

Added to every charter. Your USCG-licensed captain, on board the whole time.

Run the numbers before you ask.

Pick a day, a length, and a headcount. This gives you the all-in ballpark including the captain's fee, so there are no surprises when we quote you.

Estimated all-in

$1,650

about $206 per person

$825 deposit holds the date. Balance due the day of the charter.

Premium dates cost more. Holidays, holiday weekends, and major local events are quoted above standard. We tell you the number before you pay anything.
Minimum lengths apply. They vary by day and season. Dive and underwater work is quoted separately based on scope and depth.
50% deposit holds the date. Cancel 72+ hours out and the deposit comes back in full. If the captain calls it for weather, you pick refund or reschedule.
Check your date

Underwater works

Dropped something in the water?

Keys, phones, wedding rings, props, anchors, tools. Our certified divers work your dock, your slip, or your anchorage and go get it. We also handle the jobs you can't do from the surface: hull inspections, dock repair, underwater survey.

Move fast on recoveries. Silt, current, and boat wash move a dropped item every hour it sits. Same-day calls have by far the best odds.
  • Keys, phones, wallets, jewelry
  • Anchors, chain, lines, rods
  • Prop and lower-unit retrieval
  • Hull and running gear inspection
  • Dock, piling and marina work
  • Underwater camera survey

Before you send the form

Note roughly where it went in, how deep you think it is, and whether anyone actually watched it drop. Those three things decide how long the dive takes, which decides what it costs you.

Reserve

Check your date.

Send this over and we'll come back with availability, the all-in number, and deposit instructions. Usually the same day, always within 24 hours.

Charter reservation

Two minutes. No payment on this form.

Got it.

We'll confirm your date and send deposit instructions within 24 hours.
Keep an eye on your inbox.

Contact

Charter details

Payment & details

Agreement

Deposit & cancellation

50% deposit required to lock in your date. Cancellations 72+ hours out: full refund. Within 72 hours: deposit forfeited. Captain weather cancellations: full refund or reschedule.

Read the full terms & conditions
1. USCG Compliance & Safety

AQQQUAMAN operates a USCG-licensed vessel under a credentialed captain, carrying all USCG-required safety equipment. A mandatory safety briefing is given before every departure and all passengers must attend. Children under 13 must wear a USCG-approved life jacket at all times; non-swimmers are strongly encouraged to do the same. Maximum 12 passengers.

2. Captain's Authority

The captain holds sole and final authority over the vessel and everyone aboard. The captain may alter the route, itinerary, or duration, or cancel or end the charter at any time for weather, sea state, mechanical, or safety reasons. Such decisions are not a breach of this agreement.

3. Conduct, Alcohol & Substances

Alcohol is permitted for adults of legal drinking age only; the captain may end the charter and return to port if any passenger's behavior or intoxication jeopardizes safety. Illegal substances are strictly prohibited and result in immediate termination without refund. Passengers must follow all captain and crew instructions, stay in designated areas while underway, and not sit or stand on the gunwales, bow, or transom while moving. Swimming is allowed only when anchored and with the captain's explicit permission.

4. Deposit & Cancellation

A 50% deposit secures your date. Cancellations 72+ hours before departure receive a full deposit refund; within 72 hours the deposit is forfeited; same-day cancellations or no-shows owe the full charter fee. If the operator cancels for mechanical failure, all amounts paid are refunded. If the captain cancels for weather or unsafe conditions, you may choose a full refund or reschedule at no extra charge.

5. Assumption of Risk & Liability

Boating involves inherent risks — including personal injury, illness, death, and property loss — which the charterer and all passengers voluntarily assume. To the maximum extent permitted by law (including the Limitation of Liability Act, 46 U.S.C. §§ 30501–30512), the operator's liability will not exceed the total charter fee paid, and the operator is not liable for consequential, incidental, or punitive damages. The charterer agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the operator, captain, and crew for claims arising from passengers' acts, rule violations, or property damage.

6. Insurance, Environment & Guest Conduct

The operator carries marine liability insurance; it does not cover passengers' personal property or valuables, so personal travel/accident insurance is advised. Dumping trash or any substance overboard is prohibited and may be reported to the USCG/EPA. The charterer is responsible for the conduct of all invited passengers and for any damage beyond normal wear and tear.

7. Governing Law

This agreement is governed by U.S. general maritime law and the laws of the state where the vessel primarily operates. Disputes are first subject to good-faith mediation, then binding arbitration or a court of competent maritime jurisdiction at the operator's election.

This is a condensed summary provided for convenience. Read the complete Terms & Conditions. A full Private Charter Agreement governs your booking and will be provided for signature before departure. By submitting this form you acknowledge and agree to these terms.

No payment taken here. We confirm availability first.

Dive request

Tell us what went in.

The more detail here, the faster we can tell you whether it's a 20-minute dive or a half-day search, and what that runs.

Underwater services request

Recovery, inspection, dock work and survey

Request received.

Our dive team will review it and reach out shortly.
Urgent recovery? Email aqqquamanservices@gmail.com directly.

Your information

Service details

Item / vessel information

Anything else

Time matters on recoveries. We prioritise same-day drops.

Before you ask

The questions we get every week.

Can we bring our own food and drinks?
Yes, and most groups do. Bring coolers, bring a cake, bring whatever you want to eat. Alcohol is fine for guests of legal drinking age. Glass is discouraged. The captain will end a charter and return to port if drinking gets to the point where it's a safety problem, so pace it.
Can we swim?
Yes, when we're anchored and the captain gives the go-ahead. Not while underway. Kids under 13 wear a life jacket the whole time, and we strongly recommend it for anyone who isn't a confident swimmer.
What if the weather turns?
The captain makes that call, and it's final. If we cancel for weather or unsafe conditions, you choose: a full refund, or a reschedule at no extra charge. You never eat the cost of a storm.
Is 12 really the maximum?
Yes. That's a USCG limit, not a preference, and there's no negotiating it. Twelve guests plus the captain. If you have a bigger group, talk to us about splitting it into two windows on the same day.
What does it actually cost, all in?
Boat rate plus captain's fee, multiplied by hours. A 3-hour weekday charter lands around $1,650. A 4-hour Saturday runs closer to $2,400. Use the estimator above for your specific date and length, and we'll confirm the exact number before you pay anything.
How far ahead should I book?
Summer weekends go weeks out, and holiday weekends go earlier than that. Weekdays are often available on short notice. If your date is fixed, send it now and lock it with the deposit.
What should we bring?
Soft-soled or bare feet, sunscreen, layers for after sunset, and a bag you don't mind getting wet. Leave anything you'd hate to lose overboard at home. We know a dive team, but still.
How fast can the dive team get out?
Depends on the day and where you are, but same-day is often possible and always worth asking for. On a dropped item, every hour it sits makes it harder to find. Send the form or email us and say it's urgent.

The season is short

Good weekends don't sit around waiting.

Send a date and a headcount. We'll come back with availability and the all-in number, usually the same day. No deposit until you've seen it in writing.

Check your date Email the captain
Check your date