My group of 3 chartered a sailboat from Here for a five day, four night trip and bundled it with the ASA training courses to make you a certified sailor and it was AWESOME! We had Mitchell as our skipper who taught us everything we needed to know and was great with recommendations, general knowledge, and fun to hangout with. The boat was great and the trip couldn't have gone better. Already looking to book here again soon. read more

We had an outstanding experience with AYC. Esther is an excellent communicator and we knew exactly what expect and how much it would cost. We arrived on the morning of the full eclipse, and AYC offered us special glasses so we could view the eclipse safely. After our safety briefing, we met the moorage captain for a brief (well, rushed) training on the boat. It didn't matter that the trainer was cursory because we were on a learn and curse, and our training captain had our backs. We learned so much on our weeklong cruise. Captain Larry is an outstanding teacher and coach. I know at least 5 new hitches and feel more confident on a boat, both as crew and as captain. We also learned to crab and cook crab. We hiked throughout the week and learned how to deploy the dinghy. What a blast! We will certainly be back for more, especially in the "off" season of October. The weather was still beautiful and the wildlife was abundant. read more

We had a wonderful experience chartering a Catamaran for four days, three nights. Our group of four women on a writing retreat had just an amazing time with Captain Mitchell sailing the San Juan islands. He put us right at ease with his knowledge, experience, and love for sailing and boats. He handled everything, including a spat of windy weather that he navigated like a pro. I would return to AYC for any chartering needs I may be lucky enough to have in the future, and I will ask for Mitchell by name. Thank you AYC! read more

I have charted twice from AYC. our first was Gamopotay a 54' Meridian. It was in very good shape. The only tiny problem was a missing lever on the through hull fitting for the generator water supply. I was shocked that the charter included image stabilizing binoculars! My only complaint with management was failure to answer the phone on our last day of charter. We were at Deer Harbor on our last night. When we woke up the area was fogged in. Our charter agreement prohibits operating at night or in fog. We called for advice but our call was not answered or returned. Our second charter was Aurora a 60' Symbol. It was in excellent shape. The only thing that did not work was the anchor line monitor. Not having one is no big deal but my efforts to make it work was very frustrating. The operation seemed professionally run. The captain's briefing was useful. I sympathize with the other reviews who had huge maintenance problems. That was certainly not our experience. We have a third charter scheduled for 2024. read more

We chartered Salus, a Jenneau 40 .. guesssing at least 20 years old. This was my second, and probably last, charter with Anacortes Yachts. Rather disappointed in the boat... it should have been retired from charter service years ago. Lots of stuff went wrong... 2 out of 3 VHFs radios stopped working (only handheld worked, and then just barely). Fuel gauge didnt work. Fresh water intake on forward head didn't work. Broken oar. Beat up old dinghy. Just to name a few issues. I can put up with these problems when its my boat, but i'm used to a higher standard of boat when chartering. read more

I took the AYC 3 night/2 day twin power boat class last year. I have subsequently taken training from other companies. In retrospect, the AYC training is not an appropriate course for a relatively new boater and the amount of truly active instruction is over promised at least in my session. For example, on water training didn't begin until after 9 am and ended by 3 p.m. And, the instructor made it clear that he wasn't pleased with having to cope with a person new to boating. read more

This was our first time chartering with Anacortes Yacht Charters and will not be our last. Work circumstances limited the ability of some in our group to book earlier - understandably limiting our options. Staff was very helpful in working with us to find a boat to meet our needs and our tight schedule. While we would have preferred a larger boat, they can only work with what they have! They have a large fleet and very competent staff to ensure that customers find what they want. I highly recommend cruising the San Juans and highly recommend using Anacortes Yacht Charters. The boat we chartered was well-equipped with most items needed. They offered to provide more if needed. read more

As a boat owner I have been disappointed at how my boat was handled. The staff communication is poor which contributed to many additional boat owner charges. Since older boats require more rehab and care to be "charter ready", it seems incumbent on AYC to communicate specifics to the owner so that coordination of such rehab/care takes place in a timely manner prior to charter season. Perhaps these additional "emergency charges" could have been avoided by timely communication. It is also the responsibility of the charter company to ensure sailing instructors utilize the boat properly and leave it in order. This was not my experience. My boat was rarely left in proper order and was even found in a disarray (sheets incorrectly placed, lines poorly tied to dock and the boat overall a mess), following a sailing school event. Consequently the sailing school was banned from using my boat. This was unfortunate because my desire was to offer it as an opportunity for new sailors to learn. I wish I had positive experiences to add but they pale compared to the negative ones. read more

In September I rented Aeroknot for 2 weeks. I lost 2 1/2 days on my charter because of poor maintenance on the boat. We had trouble with the cable system on the dingy. I reported it to Anacortes Yacht Charters, and it took them 2 days to get the dingy fixed while we were in Friday Harbor. The other half day was me and my crew trying to fix the dinghy so we could get to the dock to pick up our crew. Anacortes Yacht Charters guarantees a 4-hour repair time. So far, I have tried to talk to Marcus about 8 times now he refuses to call me back or converse with me on this problem. I have been a customer of AYC for about 30 years, but I guess customer service is not a priority to you. I found a number of maintenance problems with the boat, and it seems to me that most of them are just poor maintenance on the part of AYC. I guess next time I charter I need to find a company that practices customer service and do what they say. I feel that I should be reimbursed for the two days I lost on my charter. read more

Took some training here and never felt ripped off as much as felt after doing business with AYC.

Incredible service, equipment and expertise! AYC set us up with "Surprise" (Beneteau 38) for our 4 day/3 night cruise through the San Juans. We found the staff to be well-prepared for our arrival, the boat clean, ready and stocked as advertised. After a short orientation video, we did our boat checkout with Colleen who was friendly, professional and very knowledgeable. She graciously took the extra time to ensure we felt comfortable with the systems on board and even made a clutch recommendation for one of our overnights. We will definitely be back. read more

What a company. So great and helpful. Honest and upfront. They really take the initiative to make you happy.

I recently went to the Seattle boat show with some friends of mine who are interested in a boat in the 0-5 year range. Wandering by the AYC booth, we enquired about rates and types of boats. We were asked how many people would be on the boat, and apparently 6 was the wrong answer. She immediately wanted to know about our boating experience, and told us a boat big enough for that many people would be too much for us. The two interested in obtaining the info are Naval officers - so getting experience boating and certifications should not be a problem. Frustrated by an aggressively rude attitude and lack of information, we walked away. I rarely rate businesses this poorly, but they truly deserve the rating "Eek! Methinks not." read more

Dedicated customer service and unique boats set them apart! Our family have been chartering with Anacortes Yacht Charters (AYC) for 25 years, and our most recent charter reminded us of why they are our favorite charter company! We have chartered with many companies in the Pacific Northwest, British Columbia, the British Virgin Islands, Florida Keys, Northern California. AYC set themselves apart in two ways: service and support in resolving problems with boats and cruises, and the wide range of well kept boats they offer. These things are what keep us coming back after so many charters. Our recent charter was aboard a wood-hulled Grand Banks built in 1973, a beautiful and classic boat rare to find in charter service and in beautiful condition. We have chartered several other power and sail boats with them over the years. The variety makes chartering a lot more interesting for us than getting another generic charter boat. Having chartered with seven different companies, the thing that makes the difference between a great trip and a hassle is the dedication of the charter company's staff. Even new boats often have small problems, whether rigging or electronics or otherwise, and many companies do not correct them well...or at all. This really is the place where AYC distinguish themselves. Several times, they have gone beyond the call of the contract and well beyond what other companies do. On our recent trip, they not only made great efforts to fix our heater, but even got us a temporary fix when the main unit could not be repaired. This saved our December trip which would otherwise have been cut short due to cold. This dedication shows in the condition of the boats, and we've had fewer overall problems with AYC over the years in addition to better resolution when needed. The cruising grounds in the islands are still among our favorites, with beautiful Rocky shores and forests. We will be back again...and will only charter with AYC! read more

This was the second time we charted with AYC. The people in this office are the most competent, customer service oriented folks I have ever dealt with. Christine, Beth, Dannielle and the others have been extremely helpful from start to finish. They take super good care of their clients. Our family had a cruise of a lifetime. read more

Our experience with the AYC team went beyond expectations! Christine, Beth, the Captains - Chuck, Chris and Glen and everyone we encountered were wonderful to work with from beginning to end. We had a mishap with one of the boats and their quick and efficient assistance made the process seamless - all that they promised us for our chartered experience in the San Juan Islands became a reality. We are looking forward to our next excursion through AYC - highly recommend them for the ultimate San Juan Islands experience. Mark & Julee Midden. July 2018. read more

We put our boat in Charter with AYC and after being charged a small fortune for endless and needless repairs and only one charter we pulled it out. We now are in the process of having to do the actual repairs that we were charged for (this was not a small amount, over $15,000 and most were unnecessary and not authorized) One was for $3000 to 'fix' our diesel heater system that we did not even want done and the boat was not required to have diesel heat. As I am writing this I'm sitting on my boat and the diesel heater is not working.... This is the first negative review I have ever wrote, but we feel totally taken advantage of, glad to see the customers are happy but not sure how the boat owners can ever see any financial gain with this company. read more

Just finished a 6-day charter on a 35' sailboat with Anacortes Yacht Charter with my family. It was everything we had hoped for. Our first trip to the San Juan islands and the combination of service, weather and ambience was outstanding. We give them an enthusiastic two-thumbs up. We'll be back for more! Som Sikdar & family SF Bay Area read more

This review is from an actual customer. Very good service and the boat was in good running shape, Very clean and the check out of our boating skills was not to long. We had a couple of problems with the boat but they were minor. if you have ever owned a boat you always have little problems. They even had a repair man meet us at a dock to try and fix one of the problems. read more

My husband and I took a 60' boat (Shimbumi) for two weeks through the San Juan Islands and all the way up to Desolation Sound. It has been an amazing experience. I called AYC as they had been recommended to us. We have little experience as big boaters. We knew what we wanted but we were not sure how to go about getting it. We were asked a lot of questions. Some felt uncomfortable only because I knew we were so inexperienced that I hated to admit it. But the facts are the facts. These are very expensive, well maintained boats that I am sure they don't want ruined. It is important for the staff to determine the correct fit. From the beginning of our booking process their goal was to accommodate our wishes and at the same time protect their fleet...seems reasonable to me. We discussed many options including having an experienced skipper drive the boat for two weeks or having an experienced skipper train my husband (who has a great knowledge of machines and everything mechanical) for as long as it took. We opted to have a trainer. I was really nervous about the personality of a stranger coming on the boat and being annoying. It is difficult to actually teach someone a skill and few people have the personality to affectively train someone. I expressed my concern and discussed what type of person we were wanting. The folks at AYC reviewed several possibilities and recommended Mark. We couldn't have been happier. He stayed on board with us for 48 hours training my husband how to skipper and myself how to handle the ropes and the anchor. He was patient, funny, easy going and above all an incredible teacher. We are nearing the end of our two week trip as I am writing this review. The charter has been everything and more than what was promised. Any problems were resolved immediately. I would highly recommend the experience to anyone...and don't be afraid if you haven't done it before...they will help you. read more

We have chartered multiple times at AYC. Each and every time was a fabulous vacation. The yachts were great and the customer service is FANTASTIC!. Our August, 2013 trip was on Gamapotay. The boat owner checked us out and in and gave an excellent briefing. The only negative thing about the trip was we were unable to catch any keeper crabs. :-(. Check out the video on Youtube. Search for "DJI Phantom Jerry Sparks Gamapotay". THANK YOU AYC! Everyone was great but special thanks to Christine. We will be back. PS: The boat owner recommended Frida's Mexican on Anacortes. Wow, the best Mexican food ever! read more

If you are thinking of putting your yacht into charter with AYC, you might be interested in my experience with the company during the five years I unfortunately had my boat in charter with them. Regardless of what happened to my boat during charter during that time AYC never took any financial or other responsibility for it in any way even when the problem was caused by AYC employees or actions. They always denied responsibility and denied that anything was their fault. This apparently is their policy. I emphatically recommend against putting your boat in charter with them, and if you do you should consider hiring someone other than AYC to do your yacht maintenance and repairs as I found their mechanics to be excessively expensive and in some cases not very satisfactory. After writing this review, again AYC denied any responsibility for anything that happened to my yacht while under charter with them. I rest my case. read more

We just came back from a week on a bareboat sail charter with AYC. We had an excellent experience. It started with an easy and responsive reservation process. The briefing on site was thorough (with both personal explanations and a great video that I later repeatedly thought had prepared us well for sailing in the San Juan Islands). The boat was well-maintained and in good shape (which, I've learned from past charters with other companies, cannot be taken for granted). The check-out and check-in process were efficient and the people very friendly and helpful. We'll consider chartering here again when we come up to the San Juans next time. read more

First time chattering from AYC, very professional, check in check out procedures went smooth and easy, the Reveille was in great condition and very clean. read more

We have chartered from AYC for many years. There was a period about 5 years ago when we felt they were not maintaining their boats very well. But we just chartered with them again last summer 2011 and we had a very good experience and their boat maintenance people were much improved. I would definitely recommend AYC. read more

Chartered the Double Eagle last month. We were delayed leaving because maintenance issues that should have been taken care of before we arrived. The skipper that checked us out and the service guy both made it clear that the boat owner just won't spend any money on the boat. There were several other broken items and one of the cabins leaked water so bad we had to catch rain water with a trash can. The office lady that checked me out was very nice and quit embarrassed but I have heard nothing from management. Why would AYC have this boat in there fleet? Why would they rent a boat in this condition? To be fair we chartered the same boat in 2005 and had a much better experience. I wouldn't recommend AYC and defiantly would NOT charter the Double Eagle. read more

We have chartered from AYC twice now. While the first charter did have some issues with electronics this last charter was perfect. The staff is great and the area is magical. We will be back. read more

Great customer service. Our boat was New Adventure. It has all the bells and whistles that everyone loves. All systems worked and the boat is perfect for two to handle easily. After our bad experience from Ship Harbor yacht charters, this was a welcome change.. The boat was clean and very well maintained. Will charter again from these folks. read more

My family and I have chartered from AYC three time in three years, but sadly I must now report our third experience of significant equipment failure. I would say this is a very poorly maintained fleet, having just returned from a near disaster in which a rusted, old hose clamp broke, causing the boat to take on water, potentially endangering the vessel and crew. The "emergency response" line went unanswered. The final straw was a spraying oil leak in the engine compartment on our return trip to Anacortes this morning. We will definitely not charter here again. read more

The best for chartering a cruise in the beautiful San Juans. They have selection of boats and good prices. We love Captain Glen so if you charter with them, get his resume. My kids did hear a derogatory comment made about me by someone working in the office. That is why the one star mark down. But they do have a comfortable lounge area with great refreshments; an informative video; efficient check in and check out; a nice captain checking out your boat handling. read more

9/28/2013. I have rented at least 15 boats from Anacortes Yacht Charters over the past 20 years and I have always been a very satisfied customer. The level of service is very high from the reservations to the check out and the check in. The boats have always been very well maintained. My most recent charter was for the week of 9/21/2013. My wife and I and another couple charted the 35 foot Benneteau, "Leap of Faith", for a week-long cruise in the San Juans. The boat was in excellent condition and everything worked as advertised including the remarkable diesel heater which we ran during the entire trip since we encountered some rather cool conditions this time of year. I would highly recommend Anacortes Yacht Charters. Richard Noble-richardnoble@richardnoble.com read more

Our second year and third charter experience with this company and again I cannot say enough good things to communicate the professional dedication AYC has for their customers and fleet. We had 24-7 access to support staff out on the water and they immediately answered our novice question with tact and reassurance. Our 42' powerboat was roomy, comfortable and felt so safe in the Gulf/San Juan Islands. We went through a weekend Captains Course with AYC that was not only fun, but we were able to safely manage a boat of this size through the islands for the week, despite our limited experience prior to the course. Wonderful company, I highly recommend! Thank you AYC! read more

We rented a boat a few years ago and had a great experience. As lake sailors we were unsure of sailing in the San Juan's so we hired captain Mike. The boat we rented was broken so they upgraded us. It isn't an all included experience, I cooked and provisioned, but we had a great time. read more

We chartered with Anacortes Yacht Charters recently. It was our fourth charter with them during a 15 year period. They were excellent as always. We were pleasantly surprised at a number of improvements that they made in their process since the last time that we did business with them. One special note: the boat that we had reserved developed a mechanical issue the day before we arrived. They provided us with a much larger more expensive yacht for the same price as the much less expensive boat that we had reserved. Our charter sailed on time as planned. We had a wonderful time. Thank you Anacortes Yacht Charter!!! read more

This is a very professional operation. They know their business very well from beginning to end. After many years of chartering in Alaska, I was very impressed by the size and diversity of the AYC fleet. The prices are reasonable. Our chartering experience was very well managed with all the right encouragements and cautions. Even though the boat we chartered (a 37' Nordic Tug) was over a decade old, it was in excellent shape. We had no problems with it. We have had a great deal of experience with Nordic Tugs and this was an excellent vessel. Every time we contacted AYC, they were thoroughly professional and provided excellent help and advice. While we have not thought of chartering in the San Juans (all the salmon seem to have left), this was a spur of the moment decision based on some other considerations. The AYC wonderful experience will encourage us to return. read more

This is a first class operation with great people. Our first time chartering and we were treated with respect and encouragement. We had a great teacher / skipper getting us started - he was patient and gave us lots of encouragement. We would highly recommend this company to anyone considering trying their hand chartering a power or sail boat. Their instructions and expectations are very clear. Our boat was well equipt and in great shape. We hope to charter again. read more

I found AYC to be tops in service. I really appreciated the checkout spin that we took with Frank to make sure we could handle the boat we selected. If I ever own a boat, I would put it out to charter with AYC in a heartbeat. The boats we've been on were beautifully maintained, the office staff was friendly and knowledgeable, and the whole operation seems A-1 to me. I will be using AYC again and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to my friends. read more

We chartered the "Shibumi" the end of May and had a blast! There were 6 adults and the boat we took out was a perfect size. The living/dining area is a good size, and the staterooms and the beds were very comfortable. The heads were roomy. The boat is nicely decorated and the galley has been stocked with everything you need to cook meals and entertain. The engine ran great and we all recommend the boat. As to the service we received from the staff at the Yacht Charter...well, it was impeccable and hard to top! They bend over backwards to make sure you have a wonderful experience. You can be sure we'll be back! read more

We recently chartered a 53' motor vessel and skipper. We spent 5 days in the San Juan islands. Our boat was in tip top shape and the skipper furnished by anacortes yacht club was very knowledgeable and friendly. Great trip and great people! read more

I have chartered now six times with AYC, and another time with a charterer in the area. I have charters seven and eight scheduled for this summer with AYC. The boats are privately owned and are of varying ages. The reason I don't own a boat is because they are very complex and are constantly having problems. I don't expect boats to behave perfectly, as I might a rental car, but that said, the AYC boats have been satisfactory mechanically. There are sticky doors and BBQs that don't work, clunky anchors, etc., but I sort of expect that from a salt water boat. I think AYC is better for me because of flexible schedules and pretty reasonable rates. There is a modest loyalty program. The range of boats is fairly wide. The problems I have had have been resolved reasonably. I can't do a rigid week to week schedule so they work with me. The captains I've requested have been very good. read more