Inspiration often strikes the Pacific Northwest boater in December with the promise of a new year upon us. Aspirations such as “This is the year I’ll make it up to the Gulf Islands” are said aloud with conviction, and we know that this year (finally), we’re going to do it. To accomplish such goals, you might want to consider a charter company that can help transform these dreams into a boat load of exciting memories.
Fortunately, the great Pacific Northwest is home to many quality charter companies aimed at boaters who want to take on this area’s world-class waterways. Most companies in our annual charter guide have been around for years and boast glowing references from many happy clients. But as with any extensive adventure, research is a must!
Charter companies can vastly differ when it comes to their available services, price range, and target customer: hired crew vs bareboat, sail vs power, accredited instruction vs none, fishing gear vs none, generous cancellation policies vs strict. Our advice to you is to envision your dream charter, list must-have vs can-do-without items, and make your epic cruise adventure a reality.
We offer the 2018 iteration of our Northwest Yachting Charter Guide as one source for your research endeavor. Although we do our best, there are probably a few outfits that escaped our notice. In the interest of constant improvement, we encourage readers to submit their local knowledge for next year’s edition via email to editorial@nwyachting.com. It’s also important to note that the plethora of Oregon- and Alaska-based charter companies are certainly worth a look even though they’re absent from this guide. Not included in this guide are sight-seeing/scheduled tours, day-trip fishing charters, and venue charters, of which there are many excellent outfits in the Pacific Northwest.
Windworks Sailing & Powerboating has been a premiere sailing club in the Pacific Northwest since 1992. They are committed to making boating available, affordable, and approachable to anyone with the desire to sail or powerboat. Use the vessels as you would your own, hire their captains, or take lessons through their U.S. Sailing & Powerboating Certification Program. With annual and quarterly club events and a fleet with boats ranging from 22’ to 47’, the Puget Sound is your playground. All sailors welcome!
Web: windworkssailing.com
Phone: (206) 784-9386
Email: shelby@windworkssailing.com
M/V Discovery, a crewed charter boat built in 1931, is based in Seattle September through April and in Alaska during the summer months. Available for charters in Seattle, the San Juans, and Alaska’s Inside Passage, and the Canadian Inside Passage. Take a trip to Alaska watching whales and brown bears, or cruise in the San Juans and design your own itinerary.The yacht is a blend of classic design and modern comforts. Accommodations include six guest cabins and four large common areas; on board are two Boston Whaler skiffs, four kayaks, and plenty of fishing and crabbing gear. Available in the Seattle area from September 15 to May 1. Rates are $600 an hour (3-hour minimum) or $4,000 a day for six guests on extended cruises. A 50 percent deposit is required at the time of booking with the balance due 14 days prior to your cruise date for day cruises, and a 25 percent deposit is required at the time of booking with the balance due 30 days prior to departure for extended cruises.
Web: discoveryjourneys.com
Phone: (206) 406-7288
Email: captainswanson@msn.com
Cedar Wave provides custom private picnic tours and day cruises on beautifully restored classic wooden yachts. The company books year-round trips, starting at $375 for groups up to six. Gourmet meal options include entrées like clam bakes, fish tacos, and sunrise fruit puddings. Private tour guides and other special services including weddings, engagements, and memorials are offered. USCG licensed captains provided. Maritime heritage education and historic vessel preservation consulting are available. Cedar arranges pick-ups individually with clients.
Web: cedarwave.com
Phone: (206) 355-0133
Email: info@cedarwave.com
Reserve the crewed 75’ luxury motoryacht Jamal for an extended journey exploring the many coves of the Pacific Northwest coast. Cruise almost anywhere between Seattle and Alaska including—but not limited to—Desolation Sound, Princess Louisa Inlet, the Canadian Gulf Islands, the Sunshine Coast, and more. One to four guests for seven days and six nights is $29,500 and each additional person (up to eight people total) is $3,200. Rate includes the vessel rental, captain, crew, chef, meals, fuel, and beverages. An off-season, 10 percent discount is offered October 15 through April 30.
Web: jamalcharters.com
Phone: (206) 605-8484
Email: jhannacapt@gmail.com
Crewed sailboat and powerboat charters, plus bareboat powerboat charters are offered from Puget Sound to Southeast Alaska. The fleet boasts powerboats ranging 26’ to 72’ in length and vessels up to 180’. Crewed sailboats range from 60’ to 127’. Special services are available on all vessels upon request.
Prime season (July 13-September 7) weekly rates are $1,200 to $14,000 for power. Midseason rates (June 1-July 12 September 8-28) are 15 percent less. Low season (before June 1 and after September 28) is discounted 30 percent. The reservation deposit is 33-50 percent of the charter rate, due at the time of the booking. The balance of funds is due 60 days prior to the charter.
Web: ledgermarinecharters.com
Phone: (206) 283-6160
Email: ledgercharters@gmail.com
Bareboat and crewed yacht charters offered with approximately 75 power and sail boats in the fleet, ranging from 27’ to 70’. Special services include meal provisioning, outboard rentals, fishing gear, and kayaks. ASA certification and introduction and advanced power courses are available, as well as skippers for hire.
Web: ayc.com
Phone: : (800) 233-3004 / (360) 293-4555
Email: info@ayc.com
Crewed sailboat and powerboat charters, plus bareboat powerboat charters are offered from Puget Sound to Southeast Alaska. The fleet boasts powerboats ranging 26’ to 72’ in length and vessels up to 180’. Crewed sailboats range from 60’ to 127’. Special services are available on all vessels upon request.
Combine six days and nights of adventure in the San Juans while learning to sail with Cruise-N-Learn, and earn three levels of ASA certifications in the process. Passing the skills and knowledge tests at each level, along with additional practice, will get you certified to charter a boat and feel confident skippering. The curriculum is taught on Chariot, a restored classic Annapolis 44. The skipper, Captain Cathy Franklin, enjoys working with couples and small groups. Fine food included. Now taking reservations for spring and summer.
Web: chariotadventures.com
Phone: (360) 961-6657
Email: chariotadventures@gmail.com
Bareboat and crewed yacht charters offered with approximately 75 power and sail boats in the fleet, ranging from 27’ to 70’. Special services include meal provisioning, outboard rentals, fishing gear, and kayaks. ASA certification and introduction and advanced power courses are available, as well as skippers for hire.
Web: emeraldislesailing.com
Phone: (360) 376-3472
Email: charters@emeraldislesailing.com
The fleet is made up of luxury diesel trawlers (Grand Banks, Kadey-Krogen, Sabre, and DeFever) ranging from 38’ to 58’ in length. Bareboat charters are offered throughout the Pacific Northwest and Southeast Alaska. Mother Goose Flotillas include a USCG captain, marine technician, and an onboard naturalist on the lead vessel. The flotillas cruise Alaska (via the Inside Passage), Desolation Sound, the San Juan Islands, and the CanadianGulf Islands.
Special services included in the rate: linens, fully outfitted galley, RIB dinghy with outboard, crab pots, and cleaning upon return. High season rates are $5,500 to $12,400, low season 25 percent less. Multi-week discounts are available. The reservation deposit is 40 percent of the charter rate, with the balance due 120 days prior to departure.
Web: nwexplorations.com
Phone: (360) 676-1248 / (800) 826-1430
Email: charter@nwexplorations.com
Bareboat and crewed charters offered with a fleet of 32’ to 100’ powerboats. Dinghy with outboard, BBQ, linens, and towels for up to four guests, pre-charter briefing on boat systems and operation, assistance with itinerary planning, and cleaning after completion of charter is included. Numerous courses and instructional classes are available to hone boat maneuvering and navigational skills. Car parking is available near the marina. Prime season (June 21 to September 8), midseason (May 17-June 20/September 9-29), and low season (January 1-May 16/September 30-December 31) have different rates. Modest additional charges are added for liability insurance and vessel hull insurance, with reductions in deductible amounts. Early booking and payment receive a 5 percent discount, as do repeat customers. Ten or more nights are 5 percent off.
Web: crownyachtcharters.com
Phone: (360) 293-9533/(800) 426-2313
Email: info@crownyachtcharters.com
Power yachts ranging from a 29’ tugboat to a Nordlund 65’ motoryacht, and sailboats ranging from a 30’ Catalina to a 50’ Beneteau are available. Special services such as sleep aboards, provisioning, and instruction are available. Free linen packages, planning maps, and outboard engines are offered. Luxury crewed yachts also available. Rates vary according to season. Off-season rates are $1,367 to $7,641 per week, while prime season rates are $1,785 to $9,980 per week. Four-day, three-night charters are the minimum length. Multi-week charters have a 10 percent discount. The reservation deposit is 30 percent, and the balance is due 60 days prior to the charter.
Web: shipharboryachts.com
Phone: (360) 299-9193 / (877) 772-6582
Email: info@shipharbor.net
Bareboat and skippered charters offered on powerboats 29’ to 57’ in length, sail monohulls 33’ to 45’, and sail catamarans 34’ to 41’. Special services include complimentary linens and towels, and guided flotilla options. Provisioning and crewed charters are available. Full-service powerboat training and weekend/week-long liveaboard sail courses are also available. Peak season (June 22 to August 30) rates are $3,200 to $7,975 and the second consecutive week of a charter is discounted 10 percent. The option of daily damage waiver or refundable damage deposit is offered. Liability insurance is $140 per week. The reservation deposit is 30 percent, and cancellations are required 60 days prior to departure.
Web: sanjuanyachting.com
Phone: (360) 671-8089 / (800) 670-8089
Email: charter@sanjuanyachting.com
The 74’ M/V Lady of the Sea is a classic motor yacht crewed by captain and first mate Jack and Kerstin Decook who are also the owners of Lady of the Sea Adventures LLC. Those who charter M/V Lady of the Sea will cruise the Salish Sea and surrounding waters, exploring the secluded anchorages of our local waters. Comes with water toys and a tender that can handle the entire crew for shore excursions. Spring special rates start at $995 per person for a three-day double occupancy charter. It’s $2,985 for a six-person all-inclusive trip. Call to discuss additional options.
Web: ladyoftheseaadventures.com
Phone: (360) 319-7119 / (360) 961-1535
Email: info@ladyoftheseaadventures.com
Sail and power boats with bareboat and skippered charters options. Vessels are 25’ to 60’, including Grady White (day charters available), Ocean Alexander, Bayliner, Meridian, Hunter, and Silverton. Watch the website for new additions, special offers, and discounts. Power boat instruction for novices or “rusty skippers” offered as a separate course or with a skipper while on a charter. Prime season charter rates are $1,975 to $8,400 per week. Off-season rates are discounted 20 percent. Discounts are available for multiple weeks, multiple boat charters, and returning customers. Insurance by refundable damage deposits. Reservation deposit is 30 percent, with balance due 60 days prior to departure. Additionally, they are looking for boats to join their fleet at the time of this writing.
Web: bellhaven.net
Phone: (360) 733-6636 / (877) 310-9471
Email: bellhaven@bellhaven.net
Bareboat or skippered powerboats from 34’ to 54’ and sailboats from 31’ to 49’ offered. All charters are fully serviced except for food (provisioning available). Courses in sail and power yacht handling with international certifications are available. Prime season (June 15 to September 15) rates for power are $3,500 to $6,200. Sail is $3,600 to $5,500. Off-season power boat rates are $3,400 to $5,700, sailboats are $3,300 to $5,000. The damage deposit is $2,000 to $5,000, while insurance is $30 to $45 per day. The reservation deposit is 25 percent plus applicable taxes, balance due 60 days prior to departure. Cancellation policy is 90 days prior to departure with a $300 service fee. If within 60-90 days, the cost of cancellation is 25 percent of the total charter fee.
Web: desolationsoundyachtcharters.com
Phone: (250) 339-7222 / (877) 647-3815
Email: charter@desolationsoundyachtcharters.com
Kenmore Air
Looking to meet up with a charter or reach a remote location quickly? Kenmore Air, a floatplane chartering company, is often utilized by boaters and those interested in exploring the Pacific Northwest’s waterways from the air. The company offers a variety of packages and services to and from Seattle, the San Juan Islands, Victoria, and the remote locations of B.C.’s Inside Passage. Whether you are planning a rendezvous with a boating charter underway, just need to get somewhere quickly, or want to soak up the sights, Kenmore Air can probably help. Check out kenmoreair.com for more details.
The Nanaimo Yacht Charters management has been in the charter business for over 40 years, having run charter operations in Brazil, the Caribbean, Greece, Vancouver, and now in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island – their favorite charter destination. They manage a fleet of 25 boats both sail and power ranging from 27’ to 60’. Nanaimo is the perfect spot for starting a charter. It’s located at the head of the Gulf Islands, close to the Sunshine Coast and the world-renowned Princess Louisa National Park. Another day’s sail from here puts you in the heart of Desolation Sound. Nanaimo Yacht Charters is also an accredited sailing school.
Web: nanaimoyachtcharters.com
Phone: (250) 754-8601 / 877-754-8601
Email: info@nanaimoyachtcharters.com
Monohull and catamaran sailboats and power yachts from 30’ to 50’, all in pristine condition.Ownership options are available in the fleet. A Leopard catamaran as well as Beneteau and Jeanneau monohulls are some of the makes available. Offering bareboat to competent sailors or skippered yachts that include ASA-trained professionals. Additional charter options from Comox, B.C.
Web: islandcruising.com and coastlinemarine.ca
Phone: (250) 656-7070
Email: info@islandcruising.com
Bareboat charters out of Vancouver, B.C. Powerboat fleet ranges from a 21’ Sea Runner 210 to a 76’ McQueen 76. Rates range from $900 CAD a day to $6,000 CAD a day during peak season (July through August) and $800 CAD a day to $5,000 CAD a day during off season. The fleet also includes a 2012 Bayliner 255, 2008 Princess 50, and a 2016 Sea Ray L650. Charter options range from one to 22 days.
Web: paradisecharters.ca
Phone: (604) 428-6978
Email: info@paradisecharters.ca
Bareboat and skippered sailboats and powerboats are available ranging in size from 30’ to 62’ from a fleet of over 40 vessels. Flotillas, offshore training, and circumnavigation of Vancouver Island are options. Professional instruction is offered as a special service. There are three operation bases to choose from: Vancouver and Sidney for Gulf Islands cruises and Powell River for Desolation Sound trips. Spring season (April to June), peak season (July to August), late summer season (September), and off season (October to March) rates vary. Damage deposits are $1,000 to $10,000. Reservation deposits are 30 percent of the balance, due 60–90 days prior to departure.
Web: cooperboating.com
Phone: (604) 683-6837 / (888) 999-6419
Email: crew@cooperboating.com
Crewed charter service specializing in wildlife tours, but custom tours also available. Luxury accommodations and dining offered aboard 54’ motoryacht, Great Bear II. Space for eight passengers on day trips and five to six for overnight trips. Take multiday bear tours, 11-day tours of Southeast Alaska, and trips to Haida Gwaii to explore the Haida Heritage Site. Small group sizes provide a closer experience with nature and less impact on the environment. You can also design your own trip, emphasizing local locations of your choice. Fifty percent of the trip cost is required for deposit on custom trips. The balance owing is due 90 days prior to the start of the trip.
Web: oceanadventures.bc.ca
Phone: (604) 812-9453 / (604) 812-9453
Email: info@oceanadventures.bc.ca
A chartering service based in Vancouver, B.C., on Granville Island, offering crewed and bareboat charters. Fleet includes the 40’ Marquis Mimi, which seats 10 passengers, and the recently refurbished Anglers Dream II, a 42’ convertible fully stocked with fishing gear and bait, and a 25hp-Yamaha thruster for trolling salmon. Take the Mar Y Arena out with a group of four for a day on the water, or charter the 65’ Desert Mariner, which comfortably sleeps eight, for a week. Aquatic Venture also provides fishing and whale-watching charters.
Web: fishingchartervancouver.com
Phone: (778) 882-3474 / (866) 742-3474
Email: info@fishingchartervancouver.com
Bareboat power yacht and sailboat charters offered with a fleet of 27’ to 65’ powerboats and 40’ to 42’ sailboats. Cruise the British Columbia waters on three- to ten-day charters through Howe Sound, the Gulf Islands, or the Sunshine Coast, or create your own custom itinerary based on preferred charter vessel. Rates vary per vessel and length of charter. A booking deposit of one-third the overall price is due 60 days prior to the start of your charter. Some boats allow pets with an added cleaning fee. If you are unable to fulfill the dates you’ve booked, choose to rain check and reschedule for a different date (subject to availability). Otherwise, cancellations should be made 90 days in advance to receive a full refund minus an administration fee.
Web: northwestcoastalcharters.com
Phone: (604) 283-2330
Email: northwestcoastalcharters@gmail.com
Vancouver-based, luxury crewed yacht charters. Big Blue Yachts operates throughout the West Coast in addition to other popular destinations around the world, including—but not limited to—the South Pacific and the Mediterranean. Work with the Big Blue staff to design your unique trip. Each charter is priced by the week and vary per boat and according to season.
Web: bigblueyachtcharters.com
Phone: (778) 928-4941
Email: emma@bigblueyachtcharters.com
A luxury crewed charter out of Vancouver, the Spirit of 2010 is a 120’ mega-yacht that can be chartered for several hours, days, or weeks. Up to 100 passengers for a daytime sail with sleeping arrangements for 10 to 12. Charters are available for Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Alaska, the San Juans, Haida Gwaii, and others. The six-person crew includes a private chef and steward. Amenities include wireless internet, 12 LED TV’s, a 900-gallon hot tub, and jet skis. The weekly charter rate is $100,000, although, trips as short as four hours are possible. Price includes all crew, but food, fuel, and tax are additional.
Web: spirityachtcharters.com
Phone: (877) 832-3518 / (604) 562-4164
Email: info@spirityachtcharters.com
Charters on the 96’ Burger superyacht Oriana travel through British Columbia’s Inside Passage and include Desolation Sound, Broughton Archipelago, Great Bear Rainforest, and Haida Gwaii destinations. She features four guest staterooms and accommodates up to five crew members with Wi-Fi, surround-sound stereo and seven TVs. Their onboard chef will cater to your food preferences. Paddle board, snorkeling equipment, fishing gear, a 15’ inflatable Zodiac tender, and two 50cc Yamaha BWS scooters are available for use. After adventuring, return to your luxury en suite complete with a vanity and king-sized bed. Contact Oriana Yacht Charters/Sager Charters for details.
Web: sagercharters.com
Phone: (604) 913-9888
Email: mark@sagerllp.com
