What a wonderful experience on the amazing Cat Ballou! The entire process, from our initial booking to our eventual sailing was seamless, flawless...you got it... "smooth sailing"! We rented the Cat Ballou for our daughter's post SFSU celebratory graduation. It was an intimate celebration of 7 people. With the crew, there were a total of 9 people on board. There was plenty of room and I felt that we could have had several more people with still plenty of room to easily maneuver around the boat. The first thing I noticed was how wonderful our crew was. They were all very polite and it seemed that their number one goal was to make sure we had a fantastic ride. The crew communicated and worked well together but behind the scenes so that we were able to just focus on and have fun during our trip. They were also open to any questions we had. The second thing I noticed was how beautiful and how clean the sail boat was. There were several places we could be at any given time that provided us with a unique feel. The bow was the most thrilling because of the two separate nets over the water. You can just lay on them and it was like being on a fun roller coaster ride. I really loved that, especially given how beautiful the weather was this past weekend. The stern was where our skipper, Ken, was most of the time who provided us with cool information along with making sure we had a smooth and fun ride. Then there was the hull which was simply stunning! I believe that all of the woodwork was hand crafted and designed by Captain Chuck. Donald was our first mate and he was awesome! He was all over the boat raising and lowering the sails, ensuring that we got around the boat safely, helping us with food, popping the champagne and making sure our glasses were full. Win win! Our 3 hours went by too quickly! It was a beautiful day with just enough wind to get us all around the bay with full sails blowing. Thank you Chuck, Donald and Ken for such a wonderful time and helping us celebrate Maya's graduation. We hope to do this again! read more

Captain Chuck and Ken were AWESOME! Went out with a group for a birthday celebration on Saturday of Fleet Weekend. They were so attentive - even took our drink orders and waited on us so we could stay at the front of the boat and enjoy the scenery and stay safe... the ultimate experience! Felt like we were sailing with friends! They were friendly, chatted with us, constantly asked where we wanted to go and see. After we docked we ended up chatting for another hour. The boat was also very impressive. Well kept and so much room for a group of 12! Booking was straightforward and Chuck was very responsive. I noticed the ladies negative review below... my guess is it says more about her than Chuck and his team. Everyone else, including us, has nothing but great things to say about their experience. HIGHLY recommend them, (except for next years fleet week, because we want to go again!) :) read more

Cat Ballou Sailing - Birthday bash on the beautiful Cat Ballou! - Boating Near Me - Sausalito, California

We had a great time sailing with Chuck! A beautiful time on the bay. Highly recommend the Cat Ballou.

Had a great time with Chuck & Ruffin sailing the San Francisco bay last week - the Cat is beautiful & well-maintained, and the two guys took our party of 12 on a very scenic tour of the bay, planning ahead to keep us out of the cold wind when possible. We had to follow up with Chuck a few times to confirm booking details, but it was definitely worth it. Highly recommend Cat Ballou. read more

I had the most amazing experience aboard the Cat Ballou. While the Cat is luxurious in her hand-finished teaky splendor, she is equally if not more so a high performance catamaran. When under sail, she lifts as if hydroplaning, but never heels so you won't lose your balance or your beverage. By far, the best part of the charter is the team and crew lead by the owner/skipper, the very capable Captain Chuck, the most gracious host, Ellie, who will make you feel like family, and Kenny, the first mate who has tales as he tails. Couldn't recommend them more. That's 2 thumbs up for the Cat Ballou. read more

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. WE HAD A SPECTACULAR TIME. This completely superseded our experience from beginning to end. The crew was so attentive and so prepared. Perfect for all occasions. And everything was so clean. They had blankets, water, gear, socks, jackets, everything. I would do this again only with this group though. Highly recommended. I would give them 6 stars. read more

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I've had the pleasure of making a couple of trips on Cat Ballou, skippered by Chuck, and I highly recommend this charter company. The food was fantastic, the sailing (both the training and the conditions) was just what we had hoped for, and we enjoyed some extremely thought-provoking business conversation as well. The boat itself is well maintained and equipped for any weather conditions, complemented by some state-of-the-art electronics, and a great movie library. Chuck and his boat, Cat Ballou, provide an ideal environment for company team-building events and/or customer-appreciation social events - or just plain gett'n out on the bay to sail in a fast, yet roomy, 42 foot cat. read more

We went on a company bonding sail with Chuck and Kenny! What an absolutely amazing experience it was! The day couldn't be any better. The boat was so cool, the spread was awesome and the views were breathtaking! Chuck and Kenny were so nice and hospitable. What's fun is that Chuck knows a lot of he history about the surroundings so that was an added bonus! We truly enjoyed ourselves! Thanks so much to Chuck, Kenny and the Cat Ballou! read more

I took a group of 12 out for a birthday event. Captain Chuck responded quickly to my requests and took care of everything. He and Ken were also SO helpful in taking onboard and setting up our food & beverages. He offered a lot of information and advice which kept the birthday boy happy and engaged (including keeping his glass filled with wine!). We had a great day sailing, as the weather was perfect! We have been out on several boats in the bay, and this was our best experience yet. The Cat Ballou is a great boat, much easier sailing on a catamaran, and I'm now a fan! With 12 people we had MORE than enough space, no climbing over people and equipment. I also found them to be a good value compared to other boats. If they are available I would definitely recommend this ship and crew! read more

This 4th of July- Fireworks from the bay pretty incredible-- Sausalito- much better than San Fran Cisco (Fog hampered view in SF) read more

I've been sailing on Cat Ballou several times & have thoroughly enjoyed the leadership training & sailing experience provided by the boat's captain, Chuck Longanecker. The boat is docked in a wonderful setting in Sausalito. It's tricked out to the point of having all the latest communications & navigation devices allowing smooth sailing at high rates of speed. We got it up to 14.5 knots. The things that I liked the best on my multiple experiences include: * Comfort and appearance of the boat * Courtesy and service of the crew * Sailing conditions and optimal routes for scenery, speed and relaxation * Food quality * Great appreciation for safety, and, * Wonderful music Sailing on the Cat Ballou provides a great opportunity to develop deeper relationships with your clients and/or your own team. I highly recommend that you give it a try! read more

We chartered Cat Ballou with a bunch of 4th graders recently. Everything was easy and delightful, from the initial inquiry, to payment, arrival, parking and of course the event itself! Ken and Donald were wonderful crew, from guiding us into parking spaces as we arrived, patiently tolerating crazy antics of 10-year olds, encouraging them to take a turn at the helm, and answering all the nooby seafarer questions. The boat itself is beautiful.. so spacious and comfortable inside and out. Very stable in the currents and very smooth. We will definitely be back in the future! read more

The Boat is Called Cat Ballou, moored in Sausalito CA. Skipper and owner is Chuck Longanecker. Schoonmaker Marina, on Liberty Ship Way, Sausalito. I will never recommend this operation. I have never been so poorly treated by someone. Below is the letter I wrote to the company who organized the trip I went on. An offshore sailing trip to the Farrallone Islands. The idea was to give us offshore experience, and see the islands. It was an intimate group of only 6 people. I was really disappointed. We motored out, and motored all the way back, no wind on the way out, so of course it makes sense to not sail. As we got closer to home the wind picked up. Still no sailing. Inside the bay lots of wind still no sailing. We asked if we could sail and were told "NO". It would of been nice to sail even just 20 mins. I understand we left at 9.40am not 8am due to fog (safety) again that made sense. We never actually made it all the way to the Farrallones. We turned around without any announcement a few miles out from the Islands. At the beginning of the trip Chuck made an announcement we would be coming right back. When I enquired about the trip with the organizers of this trip, I asked how much time would be spent sailing (or motoring in this case) around the Islands. I was told 1.5 to 2 hours. When I mentioned this to Chuck my question was not addressed and was dismissed. I also felt unwelcomed when I stepped aboard. Chuck did not introduce himself or say hello. I had to ask who the skipper was. Through the day I asked a couple of questions and felt barely addressed by him. I am not a complainer type person, I consider myself, fun and independent and I contribute wherever I can. I was very upset to pay $195 to motor out and back and be treated in such a dismissive way by the captain. I will never sail with Chuck again. Not sure what his issues were, but I felt judged and uncomfortable on his boat. Basically my polite way of saying the guy is a sexist, arrogant, ass. Ruffin his first mate, was a delight, friendly bright and helpful. I was looking forward to this trip for weeks, hoping to see lots of wildlife, it was so upsetting to not even get to the islands, or spend anytime looking at the wildlife. What the big joke in all of this is that on their website they list this LOL. Master the art of leadership and teamwork Custom-designed team building courses Engage in challenging real-world exercises Improve corporate communication and cooperation Develop problem solving skills Learn to share and delegate work Respond quickly and adapt easier in fast-paced, changing environment Long-term tangible effects Well Chuck you might need to do some of this work yourself and become what you preach. So if you want to be a part of the good ole' boy's club then this is the boat for you. read more

I had the opportunity to join a group outing on the Cat Ballou recently and it was fantastic. The boat is in terrific condition and there are a number of different spots to help the crew, or just kick back and enjoy the ride. Chuck and Ruffin were a pleasure to sail with - engaged, friendly, and both had a number of interesting stories about past expeditions. The wind conditions on the day we were out were mixed, varying from "gale force" to still - note these are things completely out of Chuck's control! We went all the way from Sausalito out past the Bay Bridge and looped back - a beautiful day. I look forward to booking another trip soon, with my family, so they can experience a day on the bay as well... read more

Beautiful catamaran and wonderful, knowledgeable crew. Went out to see the Blue Angels on the Bay and everything was amazing. Smooth ride, food, drinks, and great hospitality. Plenty of space to sit, indoors, outdoors, and up front. I've been on too many boats where there's nowhere to "be" and everyone is climbing over each other to move about. My wife and I also appreciated the safety talk before we left, often times that gets overlooked on charters. We'll definitely be return customers and recommend to anyone who's looking for a great sailing afternoon on the Bay. read more

I went out on Cat Ballou this past Sunday and had a wonderful experience. The boat was beautiful, and the captain was accommodating to our comfort levels with sailing. It was overall a great experience. One thing I'd like to point out is that the capacity of the boat is 12 people max, INCLUDING babies. We had a 1.5 year old in our group, which ended up having us go over capacity and I had to ask my niece and her boyfriend to stay behind. Wish I would've known that babies were included in the capacity beforehand and that the 12 passenger limit is an insurance restriction. read more

Had a lifetime memorable event sailing on Cat Ballou during a Fleet Week Blue Angels show. 75 degrees, sunny, calm waters and jets screaming just a couple hundred feet above us. It doesn't get any better. The captain and crew expertly navigated in the understandably crowded and festive Bay. And they were exceptionally attentive constantly asking if we needed a drink or snack from inside. Can't wait to do it again. read more

Cat Ballou Sailing - Boating Near Me - Sausalito, California

Had the pleasure of spending Sunday of fleet week on the bay aboard this beautiful boat (also named after my favorite movie!!!). Why it was so amazing: 1. Competent and fun crew 2. insanely beautiful boat 3. Not only is she beautifully crafted but she's high performance and exhilarating 4. attentive service 5. Staff has limitless knowledge about not only the birds and local history but also the jets we were watching. 6. They sailed us directly under the flight path taken by the jets 7. outrageous and extravagant (and delicious!!) spread of food and beverages and even had extra coats and blankets. 8. First mate Kenny both skilled and hilarious The only negative part of my day aboard the Cat Ballou was that it had to end! Thank you Cat Ballou for the exceptional trip! read more

Booked the Cat Ballou for a surprise birthday party for my father - nine adults in all. Had a fantastic time. The boat is beautiful, clean, and well-maintained. The crew was helpful, attentive, and a lot of fun. They have a great relationship with Whole Foods, which we used to deliver food to the boat. The crew took care of loading the food onto the boat, warming it up, and making sure everyone was fed and hydrated. Highly recommended overall, and looking forward to booking again. read more

Attended a small networking event for an afternoon of sailing on this great catamaran. The crew was great - Friendly, responsive, and willing to let anyone take the helm for a bit. They supplied appetizers and wine. Everyone on board had a great time, about 10-12 of us. It was the best networking event I have attended and plan on organizing my own on the boat in the future. read more

Took friends out on Cat Ballou for a friends birthday. We had 12 people and an amazing time. The food provided by chuck was great, and both chuck and Ruffin were wonderful to work with (though hard to reach to set the arrangements up, ergo a 4 instead of a 5 star review). Overall, a great experience and recommended. read more

If you want a turnkey wow experience where you just show up and soak up the experience of a lifetime, then you've found the right place. If I could teleport to where you are and tell you to just go for it, I would. This is my experience: showed up, they loaded up everything from my car onto the vessel, smiling and as gracious as ever. Crew is the best, professional and courteous, you should see how they cater to your every need, blankets, getting drinks, promoting comfort at every juncture. They are experienced, they know where to go, they know where not to go, they know how to make you feel the magic of the bay in a way you will never experience anywhere else. On the water for 3 hrs, and experienced views I didn't know existed - been in the bay for 25 years.... go out of Sausalito, the views in the north bay are magnificent. The boat is unique, it has netting in the front so you can experience the feeling of flying above the water... this is just the tip of the iceberg... you'll have to experience the rest yourself. Don't waste time, money or your research budget... just go with confidence... message me directly if you need more convincing - I'll shake some sense into you. read more

I have sailed with the Cat Ballou team a couple of times. Both experiences were terrific. The boat was immaculate and Chuck and Ruffin were very helpful. There was a specific focus on safety - which all of the passengers appreciated. We had great food and great sailing. I highly recommend this experience! read more

We used Chuck and the Cat Ballou for our company off-site event. I have to say that the entire experience was wonderful. From the planning of the event to the day of actual sailing, I was more than impressed with Chuck and his first mate Ruffin (what a wonderful name for a first mate, right!!) The boat is gorgeous and is LARGER than you would assume which made for a very comfortable ride. The speed of the boat was more than exciting AND on top of all of that, we all got an opportunity to try participate as much or as little with the operation of the boat. In addition, both Chuck and Ruffin were a pleasure to talk with during the ride, very engaging and funny! As a person that puts together tons of office events and have seen some pretty cool vendors, I have to say that Chuck, Ruffin and the Cat Ballou were THE BEST SAILING experience I had for a work function!! read more

I had the pleasure of taking a charter on the Cat Ballou in July. What a truly amazing experience it was! The charter was about five hours long, and I can honestly say, I had a smile on my face for the entire five hours. The Captain, Chuck, and his crew made us all feel at home and very safe. I would most definitely take a trip on the Cat Ballou again. read more