Parasailing FAQs

No experience is necessary, your captain and crew will take care of getting you up in the air and back down safe and sound. All you have to do is enjoy the ride. However, anyone with a physical ailment such as back or neck injuries/problems must inform the captain before disembarking. We do not recommend that people with back or neck injuries/problems go on the boat at anytime due to the bumpiness of the ride.

 The youngest we are able to take up parasailing is 5 year olds. There are minimum size requirements (due to the size of our harnesses); children must be able to fit in our smallest child harness. Participants under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian sign their liability waiver. Parasailing is great in that it truly is an activity that most family members can do together!

No, you don’t have to get wet if you don’t want to. Our way of flying is called controlled parasailing, meaning you take off and land smoothly right from the back deck of the boat. If you opt for it, there is fun wet part towards the end of your flight. The captain slows the boat down and has you gently freefall, dipping your feet and legs in the water for a refreshing splash. He then lands you back safely on the boat deck.

To fly alone you must weigh at least 100 lbs. and for multi-passenger flights weighing over 450 lbs., it will be up to the captain to determine based on current wind conditions. This all can vary according to weather conditions.

All of our flights last approximately 10 to 12 minutes, and usually if we have a full boat of 6 people, you are out on the water for an hour.

You are allowed to take a camera up at your own discretion, and should take into consideration the height and water risks. Disposable cameras are best. We also offer a digital photo package as another option to capture your good times.

Yes, because of the popularity of parasailing and the limited space we encourage reservations. There have been times when guests have shown up
without a reservation only to have to wait for a couple of hours until there was a space open for them. We take phone reservations from 7am-11pm.
HOWEVER, if there is room on the boat walk-up guests are welcome.

Memorial Weekend – Labor Day: We are open 7 days a week, weather permitted with boats going out at 9:00am and every hour on the hour after that, with the last boat leaving at 7pm. After Labor Day, we parasail upon reservation and weather permitting from our Mackinaw City location only until mid September.

Just like others in the service industry, the crew works very hard to make sure all your needs aboard the boat are taken care of. It is customary to show them your appreciation by tipping.

Tandem flights are two flyers together, side by
side. This is the most common but singles and even triples are available.

Absolutely! For an extra $25, passengers are welcome as long as there is space and or they were reserved in advance with the flyers.

Dress for the weather, if you are sensitive to the sun we recommend that you bring a long sleeved shirt/sweatshirt. Bathing suits or beach attire can be worn, as are towels, bottled water, sun block, and perhaps a tip for the crew.

If the boat suddenly stops for any reason the participants will slowly and safely descend towards the water. In the unlikely event of a mechanical malfunction, or the rope breaking participants would continue descent until they are gently lowered into the water and held safely afloat by their mandatory lifejackets. We follow an extremely rigorous maintenance program, and all equipment is inspected at least once a day. Our tow line has minimum breaking strength at least 1000lbs stronger than the industry standard and is of the highest quality obtainable.

We will provide a full refund for cancellations
at least 24 hours prior to your scheduled
activity. No refunds will be given for
cancellations made less than 24 hours prior to activity.

Opt for peace of mind with our Trip Protection Add-on! Purchase this optional add-on at checkout for flexibility. Cancel for a refund or reschedule your tour up to 3 hours before the scheduled time. Please note that the Trip Protection fee and processing fees are non-refundable.

There is no age restrictions, however there is a size restriction, (due to the sizes of our harnesses). Children age five (5) must be able to fit in our smallest child harness. Please call Mackinaw Parasailing for specific size restrictions.

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Minimum weight to fly alone is 100 lbs; Maximum weight to fly alone, tandem, or triple is 450 lbs. Weight restrictions may be increased or decreased by the captain, depending on wind or water conditions, on that date. Please note that refunds are not issued based on your preference to fly alone, tandem, or triple. Participants must be willing to parasail at the captain’s discretion for safety.

We cannot accommodate anyone with chronic back/neck problems; anyone who has had previous back/neck surgery; or anyone who is pregnant or thinks she may be pregnant. Participants must be able to walk down and board the parasail vessel with minimal or no assistance. The boats are not wheelchair accessible.

Time in the air remains the same for
single, tandem, or triple Maximum 6 passengers per trip.
rides.