Do you have to pay extra to bring a friend sailing?

I sail in the Chicago area and my park district charges a seasonal fee to keep my Hobie 16 tied down on the sailing beach. As part of the fee, four family members are allowed access to the sailing beach, controlled by photo IDs. If I want to take a non-family member for a sail, I have to pay a daily fee for that guest to gain entrance to the sailing beach. Is this typical?

That seems pretty ridculous, how much do they want for you to allow a non-family member to ride on YOUR boat ???? Personally I'd tell them to $&#@&$ the &@$?! off and go store your boat somewhere else!

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Blair T

I love these calm moments before the storm, it reminds me of Beethoven...


'02 Hobie Tiger USA 1152

Welcome to Chicago. And, Blair - there really aren't any other places to store boats on the beach in the Chicago area until you get much further north (Wilmette).

Can you start sailing solo and go pick up your passengers elsewhere?

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Marc...
1978 Hobie 16 Keoke, sail# 36 84

Next time you have photo IDs done, have one of your family members were a Nixon or Reagan mask for the photo. That way if you want to bring somebody along, all they have to do is where the mask to match the ID.

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Marc...
1978 Hobie 16 Keoke, sail# 36 84

Have you asked why they have the four-family-member policy? It's probably for security reasons since boats left on public beaches tend to be vandalized or messed with in some way.

You can park your boat on the beach in front of my house.No charge!
Makes for a long drive though.

Hey Robbor,

When are you going to visit us?
With adequate S or SSW wind, we often sail up to 12 Mile Island.
(Mostly H18's...mine is the SX, and this year, I'll have a brand new Whirlwind sail).
I'll even serve you a burger and a beer!

www.kanatasailingclub.com

best wishes

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2015 H16, with spin,
SOLD 1989 Hobie SX18 Sail # 1947 "In Theory..."
'Only two things are infinite, the universe, and human stupidity. But I'm not sure about the former.'

I like the Nixon mask idea!

I'm trying to gather as much information about other sailing beaches and their fees, so I can bring it to the park district. Any information about how your sailing beach charges would be helpful.

Sorry for the hijack guys.
Hi John,yep with that wind (15K +)we sail down to 12 Mile 3-4 times each summer,but we have to get home against the current so it's a quick turnaround before the wind dies.I'll keep an eye out for that sail.
Later.....

Kabuki masks ..... thats the ticket ... and on hot days you can use them to fan yourself also.

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HarryMurphey
H-18 mag/ #9458
Fleet 54 Div 11

Can you tell me where the landing beach is and how to get a hold of them? I want to know where to sail in and if I can put my Hobie overnight , Cost and such.

Thank you

I'm also in the Chicago area. The city is a bit ridiculous. No swimming before Memorial day, after Labor day, off any beach not staffed with lifeguards, not out past the rope, etc. It's also got the highest sales taxes in the nation. The city isn't alone, however. One of the impoundments on the Fox river just up the way charges a fee each year to use that section of the river. Lake Geneva is much the same.

Keeping the mast up on the beach is worth the hassle of trying to trailer though.

Dan

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Dan St. Gean
'82 H 18
'96 H Wave

It seems this is the way of the future for local governments, shore up falling revenue with user fees, surcharges and specialty licenses (e.g., invasive species tabs). I don’t mind so much when the funds are used for purposes related to the fee (park maintenance, invasive species eradication, etc), but not when they are put into a general fund. We better get use to them they won’t be going away anytime soon. More likely to be fruitful and multiply.