Frequently Asked Questions
Contractual Questions
SailTime is just like a gym membership, but on the water. You join at a location near where you live, pay a monthly fee, use the equipment, clean it up when you are finished, and leave – without all the ownership responsibilities. SailTime also provides an online scheduling system and an electronic check-on and check-off system that makes it easy to schedule your boating time and ensures the boat is always clean and ready to go. SailTime is perfect for anyone who wants a smarter and more realistic way to sail on a new boat.
SailTime Chicago charges a $500 Joining Fee before your first season with us. This covers your 1-day check sail with an instructor on you rmembership boat. If, down the road, you change to a new membership boat, you will not be charged for an additional check-out.
Because of our different levels of membership (Lite, Classic, and Premier) our boats have a variable maximum of members. Every member has a guaranteed amount of time though, and we never oversell the time on a boat. The usual maximum is 8 users.
Members signup for a full season; the season being May 1st to October 15th every year.
If you signup during the season, the membership will be for the remainder of the current season, with the membership fee prorated accordingly.
Yes, a maximum of 2 people can share one membership. If you’re with a large group that always sails together, that means that one of the two people on the contract must be present for the boat to leave the slip during your scheduled time.
No. The SailTime model has been specifically crafted to alleviate this type of pitfall and ensures that Members pay a flat annual fee only.
Nope, you are not responsible for any maintenance costs and there is no per-use costs. The listed membership cost covers everything.
The only time you would have additional expense is if you create damage or lose an item onboard.
Yes. Many of our Owner-Members start with our program as members. They become familiar with how the program works, how the boats are maintained, and become comfortable with the local base owner. When they are ready they take advantage of our terrific Owner-Member program to own the boat of their dreams.
Using Your Membership
Every day is broken into 2 sail times: 10:30am to 6:00pm, and 6:30pm overnight to 10:30 the next morning. You can schedule one sail at a time, or put several together for a multiple day trip.
Absolutely! You can stay onboard at the harbor, or even cruise to another harbor and sail back the next day. The only restriction is that the boat is available in it’s regular slip for the next user when your time is done.
We clean every boat multiple times every week, but members are responsible for leaving the boat in the same condition they found it.
Members wash down the yacht after their use and remove their trash, etc. They use the Embark system to check on and check off the boat each time they sail. Embark helps hold individual members accountable by reporting the condition of the boat when they board and leave.
SailTime – at no extra charge to the Member. We see it as part of our concierge service.
In the event of an extended stay outing the Member then becomes responsible for these items upon return of the vessel to the marina.
Yes. With SailTime PLUS you have access to our ever growing network of nearly 35 locations around the world. With SailTime you not only get to sail near your home, but you can also sail anywhere we have a boat in the water. Certain qualification requirements apply.
We try to put everything we can on our boats. Nearly all of our fleet has roller-furling sails, full galley, air conditioning, full instruments & GPS chartplotter, auto-pilot, and cockpit bimini top. And every boat over 37′ in length is mandated to have a bowthruster, as do some of our smaller boats.
We also have all the safety equipment you need onboard, above and beyond what the USCG requires. Galley tools, cleaning supplies, and paper products are kept stocked too.
