Quote: Playpen: there is a channel between Navy Pier and the water filtration dock just north, may be called playpen. Bob I think you are slightly off on the location. The Playpen is an unofficial, but widely used term for the area north of the water filtration plant. There is no dock or pier to its north only a breakwall and a view of the Oak St. Beach. Used as a lunch anchorage or just to go swimming. No commercial traffic, no services, no dinghy dock. Not a place to leave an unmanned boat. The cheapest deal in Chicago is the mooring balls at Monroe Harbor. Comes with access to the water taxis (shuttles) provided by the park district. Monroe Harbor is the lakefront for the downtown and is between DuSable and Burnham marinas. Marty Campanella Bay Pelican KK42