My experience with purchasing my boat 2 years ago at CYW went very smooth and everyone was very professional. Unfortunately, there was a problem getting my title due to the Coast Guard government shut downs!!! It was very upsetting! CYW Rob Hannah (CEO) answered my phone calls every two week when I called for updates. I was pleasantly surprised that he did considering the sale was done and this was an issue that was really out of his control. After a year and a half, Carolynn Seabloom was hired and she was given the task to help me with my issues. I wasn't to happy at first thinking the ball just got passed to an employee and now it's not going anywhere! I was so wrong! Her energy and professionalism was unstoppable and a few months after she was on the assignment, I FINALLY got my title!!!!!!!!!! (Of course, NO more government shut downs help too!) So, I had to give them a shout out because both Rob and Carolynn I thought did an unbelievable job considering all the circumstances. Thanks Rob and Carolynn!!! read more

They treat their employees like disposable tools. Very unprofessional and cruel. It was better ran under sunset bay marina, the new owners don't care for their boaters as much as they do not care for the people keeping the company running. They tolerate abusive managers and the HR is extremely bias. read more

Pro: good at doing very specific work on Volvo Penta V8, ie change the oil and filter. Con: not good at problem solving, ie, why is a exhaust alarm active? Also, the communication was weak between the service coordinators and the service techs. Recommendation, don't let the service tech do work on your boat without you personally prepping them read more

If I had gotten better communication with Jonathan about scheduling, this would have been a 5+. We had a service date, but I was never given a time; even after calling and emailing a couple times. I finally got the appointment time at 0740 for a tech arrival at 0800. I'm an old guy, emails are fine; but I'd like to have a human answer a phone and just give me the appointment time when I ask. As for the engine service and repair we were doing, FANTASTIC. Anthony is an expert Volvo guy. Zipped through the routine service and troubleshot the intermittent start issue like the PRO that he is. All Fixey-Fixey. What had been a difficult EVC fault issue was solved as a grounding problem. Given the chance (are you listening Jonathan), I will call for service from CYW without hesitation. Anthony is now my ace #1 Volvo guy. I hope to get this kind of expert service on other problems also. read more

Step by step replay of our interaction when needing someone to fix our boat when the engine wouldn't start: CYW: Comes out to boat, looks for 20 minutes. "You need to plug the battery in to the shore power, that's the issue. Plug it in overnight and tomorrow it'll work, otherwise call us." Us: "Sounds good." Next Day. Boat is same as day before. Us: Calls CYW. No response. Calls 5 times over next two days. No response. In meantime have to call another shop who sends guy out. He finds several wiring issues and a dead starter. Fixes over the next week and finally gets the boat running again. Three weeks later. CYW: Email with bill for their great diagnostic service and asks if there's anything else we need. Us: Ask why they're charging us and what work they did. Was there a report? Could we get some clarification? CYW: Charge was for our insight into plugging the boat in..... End of interaction. read more

I've worked with CYW for a couple of years now. Capt Scott first, who did on the water training, was outstanding. He's a truly gifted teacher. I sent my kids for powerboat handling classes as well. Everyone gives Capt Scott two thumbs up. Based on the experience I chose CYW for my winter storage, indoors. Also a great experience. Nancy and the crew were fantastic. Decided the bottom paint fresh and Michael and the crew took it down to the gel coat and painted up. The guy who scrubs the bottom of the boat during the season keeps complimenting their work. And, I had some fiberglass work on the topsides recently and Michael's crew did the work dockside and I can't even find the repair spot. So I highly recommend CYW for your boating needs! read more

Totally unprofessional people. Michael and Vincent. Was seeking boat repair. After filling out online work order and a couple of phone calls inquiring about wait time all my emails and voicemails went unanswered. Totally ghosted me. If they didn't want my business just say so and I'll move on. I guess with today's eroding values and morals that's too much to ask. Deal with these guys at your own risk. read more

Our boat had a multitude of issues. Michael A. was professional and helped us understand every issue and how they could be remedied. Chicago Yacht Works went above and beyond to make sure our boat was treated like any other (even though it was a 1987 problem). They are the real deal and are the most honest service facility I have dealt with. Thank you!!!! read more

Great training class. Scott the class instructor was awesome. For brand new speed boat owners I highly recommend this class. Great two day class... read more

This is the worst ppl to deal with . I am dealing with them since last year . They not call beck even if you leave 10 massages . They never respond to emails. Ever time they have excuses after excuse. When i come personally they told me they don't have time for me or the manufacturing company didn't responded to them for over more then 2 months . Lie after lie . They told me to bring the boat to check what exactly they need to order when i go there they ask me why i come with the boat . This is game between the customer. How you can deal with the customer. How you treat everyone who come to you . If you will be dealing with everyone like with me since last year the ppl will never come to you. Well you lost me as the customer and i will never send someone to you read more

I made an appointment 10-days ahead of time for a harbor call to fix a freezer. I had to put down a credit card to make the appointment. On the day of the appointment I was onboard at 0800, and spent the ENTIRE day listening to excuses why the tech was not there. At 1600 I was told the tech was not coming. They rescheduled for two days later, "first appointment in the morning, 0800". Currently 0945, the excuses are coming in, but no tech. These guys are absolutely terrible. There are so many other Yacht Service companies out there. read more

Boating in Chicago is not easy! Trailers... Boats... Storage... Service... There is a lot to do. We have been using Chicago Yacht yard for 2 years now and have been happy. The reason we are writing this review is because recently they went above and beyond to help us out. After a long day of getting the boat, launching the boat, and dragging the trailer to their facility through chicago traffic we finally got our trailer at their facility. Upon leaving our SUV would not start... Not good! At least the trailer was delivered and put away. By all standpoints CYY had fulfilled their duty. Instead of offering to use their phone we had their - Owner, Boat Mechanic and Facilities Coordinator all helping to jump the SUV, try a boat battery and offering to give a lift. This went on for over 1 1/2 hours. Please keep in mind this is Chicago & Opening to Boating season. These 3 individuals took the time to help us. We were not huge customers, just people needing help. They helped! My husband and I own our own business and always strive for this level of service in our business and where we shop. We are OFTEN disappointed with poor service, lack of respect and blatant disregard for the customers needs. Not today. Thank you CYY! read more

I just completed a course in Basic Powerboat Cruising. I am an absolute beginner to boating. I just wanted a taste of boating to see if it is something that I want to pursue. It was a great course. Capt. Scott is a wonderful teacher. All of us had ample opportunity to learn how to maneuver the vessel as well as learning about boating safety, regulations etc. It is a fun way to spend the weekend and the course was conducted in a manner to keep us safe. Highly recommended. read more

Poor customer service. And they disrespected my wife. You don't need to be so arrogant and a know-it-all. Listen to what your customers have to say. Some of them have been boating for decades, and may know a little more than you give them credit for. Edit: Chicago Yacht Yard reached out to me after this review. I want to thank them for doing so. I will discuss these concerns with them and I am willing to give them another chance. Because of this effort on their part, i have adjusted this rating to 3 stars. read more

Worst customer service. I have been storing my boat in my second year, and it was clear that after the first year you are treated as a #. There is no communication between the Busn. Manager and the Service "director" who is new but clearly demonstrates his main concern is his position and his own needs instead of the needs of the customer who pay thousands of dollars for in door storage. The boating community has it share of jerks. Those busn. who provide services to those who value the boating life should not hire staff who expect the customers to kiss their rear end just to get service done. I am taking my busn. and money elsewhere. read more

What an absolute waste. I met with Bob in service around the first week in January. He toured the facilities with me, I gave him all the specs of what I wanted upgraded on my boat (which was being shipped from out of state). He mentioned that they just rehabbed the office and it would take him a couple days to get me an estimate. Mind you, I was having a decent amount of work completed. Two weeks later I heard nothing. So I called and Bob was very apologetic. He said he'd have an estimate to me that afternoon. It never came. I called the next day for an update, explaining that my boat was to be shipped soon and I needed to know if I could use their services. Frantic, he promised me an estimate within 30 minutes (over 2 weeks later than expected). 10 minutes later he called to say, "I'm not going to be able to get you an estimate in 20 minutes. My canvas guy isn't even here today. I would like to earn your business, but I understand that you need to do what you need to do." To which I responded, "Bob, just give me what you can without the canvas." And sure enough, 20 minutes later I received the estimate. The hours estimated seemed incredibly high, the prices quoted for the parts were astronomical, and the estimate was missing about 25% of the items I requested. It was just an annoying waste of time. Go elsewhere and get treated professionally by people who actually want your business. read more

Earl, need I say anymore? This guy knows his boats. We came from Cincinnati to purchase our boat and after one season, we are very satisfied. So, if your in the market for a great boat, then go see a great salesman, Earl. read more

What a difference a year makes! CYW brings in a new service manager and THINGS GET DONE - 180 degree improvements in customer service, overall helpfulness, and most importantly COMMUNICATION... Ownership (Rob Hannah) has made big strides to deliver a top of the line facility. Keep up the good work CYW. read more

Chicago Yacht Works aims to give 1st class service. Nancy is so organized and works so well with her clients. Christine does an amazing job with billings. We have already signed up for next year storage and we tell our fellow boaters to store their boats at CYW. read more

I hate to do it but after wasting so many hours of my time dealing with Chicago Yacht Yard, I have to share my experience so no one gets trapped here with work to be done, or if you do you know what you are getting into. First off, this is my 4th year boating but my first year storing with Chicago Yacht Yard, so I am not new to this process or having work done on my boat. I came by the yard at the end of February to create my punch list to pass onto the yard. I began working with Bob in the service department who is either completely overwhelmed or inattentive to customer needs. When he finally got an estimate onto me it had an hourly rate that a mechanic should charge to paint the bottom of my boat, and massive markups on parts and the duration of time to perform certain tasks. Through some back and forth we got some of the items to reasonable quotes but I ended up dropping off a lot of the items and just doing them myself. No big deal there, we have come to an agreement. If you need the bottom painted on your boat though, you probably should not haul here for the winter. The work order was then completed in a very backwards manner. Within a week of approving the quote, my hull was buffed, waxed, and topsides detailed. This was in March. Why would this be completed before the mechanics are done on the boat and much closer to launch? Nothing like paying $$$ detailing a boat to get dirty for a few months in storage. It's now 3 days before launch and there are still 2 open items, documents I have not been sent, talks with people in the yard with no follow-through on getting me items, and I am becoming one very angry customer. When I spoke with Bob today to let him know there were still a couple things that I e-mailed him on he didn't respond to he sort of snapped at me on the phone. All I can do is cross my fingers and hope Saturday goes well. The part that bothered me most was that Chicago Yacht Yard don't take accountability for things that they mess up. In the course of working on the boat they snapped a hydraulic lift to my engine compartment. I noticed it the next time I was down at the boat. After a very challenging conversation with Bob he agreed that the tech did indeed break the lift and wrote it up. To my surprise, I was charged for that on a later invoice! Begin more back and forth to get this resolved which to date is still not taken care of after escalation to the yard manager. They also left my master battery switches in the ON position completely draining port, starboard, and house batteries. I pointed this out and at first Bob said the batteries must be at the end of their serviceable life (batteries had NO issues last year and were in heated storage), then that they tested them and they were fine. Interestingly the batteries hold barely any more than 12V when not charging, so my gut tells me they are shot. Anyway, I could continue on with more examples, communication mishaps, things they charged way too much money for, and about the 20 errors I had to fix in agreements we had over phone and e-mails that were never translated properly to quotes, but I'm tired of writing. I hope this is helpful for those looking at their options for boat storage. read more

As a seasoned Chicago boater, I expect and received superior service from the new Chicago Yacht Yard team. There have been MANY changes in the last 2 years and most recently some new staff additions as well as new website functionality allowing boat drop-off and haul-out forms, a ship store, and great photo gallery. They also now carry several new lines of boats including Nisi, Comittee and Fairline. Hats off to Rob and the new crew for doing an outstanding job! read more

this would be my 7th Storage Marine, I think I finally found a better place for my boat.

I've stored here for many years and never have had any major complaints. The new ownership has done a great job giving a good value for the cost. I've had them detail my boat while in storage and have always been amazed at what a great job they do. I also find them to be very honest and fair with any mechanical work they've done. I've asked their advice on a number of items and I find they are concerned about me as a customer not about trying to sell me something. read more

I can't seem to find the area within Yelp that gives me the opportunity to score below 1 star, I certainly would have. My experience with CYW started very positive with two days on the water with Captain Scott Souders going through USCG Basic Powerboating course. Based on my experience with Captain Scott we decided to store (indoors) and service our new boat (Chaparral Signature 330) with CYW for the winter. Working with the service department I felt it was a consent sales job with very poor communication on service and price in order to maintain my twin 350 Mercruiser's warranty, according to CYW (I should have pushed harder). Fast forward to April when it was time to make arrangements to get my boat in the water, called CYW and was informed my boat was behind approximately 130 boats and I had to wait for things to loosen up..... mid-May I was in the water? Insofar as the service that was actually done, I spent over $3,200.00 for service and a complete detail plus the winter storage. Showed up to pick up my boat with dead batteries and a detail job ($938.00) that looked absolutely ridiculous (topside - mud front to back) from the dock hands walking all over the boat and blotches all over the haul. Tried working through the issues with ops manager Rob to no avail? I've given up on CYW and will find another facility to store and service my boat in the future. read more