All participants in the Chicago Loop Cruise shall comply with the legal and safety requirements of the U.S. Coast Guard and the State of Illinois. Visual Distress Signals are required equipment on the Great Lakes, which includes Lake Michigan. The easiest way to satisfy this requirement is 3 unexpired handheld day/night flares, which can be purchased at any marine/fishing supply as well as many department stores, such as WalMart and Meijer. Also, all passengers aboard must wear PFDs while in the Chicago lock.

The Chicago Loop Cruise enjoys the cooperation of the US Coast Guard, US Coast Guard Auxlilary, City of Chicago Marine Police, and Village of Worth Police Department. These organizations contribute significantly to the safety, and enjoyment, of this event. I am usually in regular contact with the Chicago Police and USCG Auxiliary by phone, and VHF, during the event.

Boats 26 feet and larger have a few more requirements, such as displaying Oil and Hazardous Substances placard and a Great Lakes garbage dumping restriction placard (a.k.a "MARPOL") as shown to the right. Click on either picture for a full size image

The USCG Aux inspectors usually provide these placards if you do not have them, and I have a limited supply that can be mailed as well.

The US Coast Guard Auxiliary (USCGA) will be present to conduct Vessel Safety Checks (VSC) Friday afternoon at the Double Tree Hotel, and again Saturday morning at the launch ramp in Worth. All participants in the Chicago Loop Cruise will be required to participate in this inspection process. Those who have already completed the VSC on their own, and are displaying this year's decal to prove it, will be exempt. The USCGA cannot issue violations, and failing the VSC will not, by itself, prevent anyone from participating in the cruise. However, the Coast Guard or any other marine law enforcement authority can board your vessel later in the day and issue violations, which could include fines. Here is a description of the VSC from the USCGA's website:


Several inspectors will be present so as to minimize any delay in our departure. US Coast Guard Calumet Harbor (Chicago) and the Chicago Police Marine Unit have been notified of our event and our voluntary compliance with this inspection. Accordingly, we are highly likely to enjoy a peaceful cruise without boarding delays for inspections. This is not guaranteed, merely a potential courtesy. There are a number of additional reasons one might still experience a boarding from any of these (and other) authorities including dangerous behavior, DUI, etc.

Click on the logo to the right for information which will prepare you for this inspection process. You can also request an inspection to occur at your convenience prior to the cruise. Pay particular attention to information within the links regarding the "top reasons vessels fail the VSC", and the "Virtual VSC". If everyone is prepared, the inspection will take a matter of minutes, and should be completed while you wait in line to launch or a member of your crew is checking in.

One final note for attendees living in northern Illinois. Our sponsor Craig Munson, owner of Munson Marine, is a certified vessel examiner. He would be more than happy to conduct a VSC for you prior to the cruise. If interested, contact Craig at (847) 587-4902, or via email at cmunson@munsonmarine.com.

This event is NOT a race. All participants are expected to maintain prudent operation and safe speed of their boat. This event typically produces a very large group of boats and our route takes us through fairly confined spaces. Give each other plenty of room and pay very close attention to everyone else around you. A good portion of the rivers are vertical retaining walls, so waves will reflect rather than dissipate. Expect a choppy ride.

Those participants with fairly large and/or fast boats should be especially careful as most boats in this event do not meet either description. The Chicago Loop Cruise is NOT the time to impress others with your horsepower, nor the incredibly large wake and potentially dangerous speeds that usually accompany such boats. Do what you want out on Lake Michigan, or when no other boats are nearby, but please operate your boat in a conservative and respecful manner when driving in close proximity to the group as a whole. Some other time you can show off, and I for one would love to be there.... now is just not the time.

If the group is sufficiently large, we will release the “armada” in 2 or 3 groups rather than one huge crowd. In that event, I will ask a few participants to be the first and last in each group and explain the implications of doing so. The entire group will converge at predetermined locations along our route so that a good portion of our trip is taken together.

There could be fairly substantial debris in the water so be alert for this possibility at all times. Boat traffic can easily disguise the presence of some fairly damaging junk lurking just below the surface of the water.

There are a number of no-wake zones along our route. Please be on the alert for "No Wake" signs and reduce speed in these zones. Also reduce speed for any moored vessels, vessels in tow, and commercial traffic. The entire Chicago River is a no-wake zone, between approximately Halsted Street and the Chicago River Lock.