On board the Sunday dinner cruise from Laconner to Deception Pass this past Sunday was one of the…read moremost pleasurable experiences I've had on any excursion in this area. The food was great, the crew fun and informative, the vessel was clean and ran beautifully. I highly recommend this experience.

Very friendly service and great naturalist- Emily. We took the five hour whale watching cruise…read morewhere they guarantee whale sightings or 50% off your next booking with them. We approached Emily to find out some details about the educational items she had available for viewing. The lunch was buffet style- two types of lasagna, biscuits, honey butter, Caesar salad, red grapes and cookies. It was very tasty. The scenery was gorgeous and it was a nice sunny day. Unfortunately the whales and orcas were playing any and we didn't see any during the entire cruise- we did see a harbour seal when leaving port, a quick glimpse of a harbor porpoise for a split second, harbor seals on rocks from a far distance and two sea lions on a red buoy... so we got cards to book at 50% discount for a future booking with the company. We also got 10% off coupons for the fish and chips place and gift shop inside the Bellingham cruise terminal. There were two bathrooms on board. I have to say if you're looking for an intimate experience with a handful of people this is not the cruise for you. We had a Thursday cruise that had about 60 people on board and felt like there were a lot of people... I was told the boat could have up to 120 passengers in which case it would have been absolutely jammed with people. I was glad we only had the number on board that we had. All in all it was a lovely day on board- you cannot dictate nature and they held up their promise if we didn't see whales. They also had some binoculars available if you gave them collateral- I had a set for the entire cruise.

This is a fantastic charter company. Their attention to safe sailing is epic! I was totally…read morecomfortable sailing in new waters with their detailed no sail areas marked on the local charts. We had problems with our first boat and Lothar brought us a replacement early the next morning. A charter company can not fix problems unless those problems are reported by charter guests! I will sail with them again and you should too.

San Juan Sailing is THE top shelf boating experience in the Pac Northwest. The San Juan's on their…read moreown are fabulous with more than a dozen great marinas/destinations to choose from plus even more pristine natural anchorages. San Juan Sailing and Yachting makes the experience accessible and delightful. Get your cert to bareboat a power or sailboat (they offer combo classes/vacations) or hire an instructor skipper- you won't regret it. The folks at San Juan think of everything, and unlike the global charter conglomerates it's a decades old stand alone Bellingham WA professional boat chartering operation with the principals involved in the day to day guest experience operation-managing a super friendly and over the top customer service oriented staff. They all appear to really like their jobs! They also run these "flotillas" where a pro skipper takes a lead boat with some stateroom guests, plans a whole week or longer itinerary for 10 or so boats to cruise around to anchorages and marinas- in San Juan's plus many go further to Canada overnights. Great way to get introduced to sailing the local waters. You can focus on the navigating and sailing/boating and someone's already got the stops, attractions perfectly planned, plus you meet some great people with you on other boats when you dock up or moor/anchor together. You are likely to see orcas, porpoises, sea lions, harbor seals and otters. Of course bald eagles, herons and all manner of waterfowl. Get your WA shellfish license if you want to drop a pot (on the boats standard) and get some Dungeness crabs to steam up and feast on. I went on one flotilla with furthest stop Princess Luisa Sound two days north of Vancouver (May 2023) whole trip from and back to Bellingham was 10 days. We lucked out with fabulous weather so I'm almost hesitant to tell people about it because it was so incredibly stunning and enjoyable. Secret I probably should keep. All the boats are professionally maintained and the fleet is mostly new or near new and perfectly outfitted for the experience- highly recommend. Full disclosure I own one of the boats (but still a "customer" of the San Juan Sailing experience) basically just a "perfect for me" way to immerse into new sailing grounds (I'm formerly an east coast and Caribbean boater) My wife (who is the consummate fair weather sailor plus food/cocktail steward) and I love the luxe experience of taking our own boat out as "charter guests." No "boat clutter" like used to develop on my old boat. All the cleaning and linens, galley outfitting taken care of. Just show up with food and bev! Fair winds‍

You need to check their Alaska expeditions. They have…read moreseveral different types of trips from what I understand there 2 and 3 month trips that voters can take

If you are looking for a unique experience with beautiful scenery every day, and the opportunity to…read moretravel safely and confidently while navigating your own beautiful boat, this company has everything you need. Their boats are clean and very comfortable and they travel to new and gorgeous locations every day. You have a guide, a mechanic and a naturalist, and an all around helper, as well as the company of a small number of other travelers. Beautiful mornings, fun evenings, short travels each day through stunning scenery, wildlife, hikes, fishing, sunsets, this kind of trip has it all. You will make memories and friends that will last a lifetime. Highly recommend!!

West Coast has been servicing and repairing all my trailerable boats for over 20-years, I…read morewouldn't go any place else. They go the extra mile and give me expert advice; treat my repairs like it was their boat. Between West Coast for my trailerables and BMR for my cabin cruiser, I couldn't be happier. We are lucky to have these companies in Bellingham!

I just got hung up on ***twice*** by a guy named Brandon in the service dept while trying to…read moreschedule for the second week of Aug to bring my boat in. I had emailed them 2 times just to get some info about an older Volvo motor and possibilities regarding it's issue. They never responded so I called them yesterday, and after they found the 2nd email, they answered the questions. So I said please respond to the email. Then today I got a call from a Brandon, while he told me of the possibilities on the phone, he would not put anything in writing, i.e. email response, not even that there are a lack of parts for this motor. I've had good luck dealing with these guys in the past, but I don't know about this Brandon guy and his boss. Finally, upset I did call a 3rd time after being hung up by him twice, and he told me after talking to his boss that they would pass on looking at it, even though they work on Volvo boat motors. Very surprised and disappointed with these guys. Honestly, I hate posting negative reviews and prefer to post 5 stars as I often do for people, but I don't know how anybody can say West Coast Marine Services didn't earn this 1 star! Update: I just got off the phone with Volvo Penta

Under new ownership, captain Scott made me feel like part of the crew. NW sailing is classy. It was…read moregreat learning so much about weather, currents, local history, and exploring the islands. Go for a multi day charter, you do not want to miss Scott's coffee. I am a vegetarian and the food was so healthy and delicious! Scott has a clear love for sailing and sharing the islands with guests. Best vacation ever. If you are going sailing in the San Juan's don't mess with other charter companies.

Captain Scott and First Mate Todd were excellent sailors and hosts again. We have sailed with them…read more3 times now , once in the San Juan Islands and twice in the British Virgin Islands. They make sailing in the BVI easy, arranging the boat charter, provisions and details. Todd is a great cook. We always felt safe. This team is highly recommended and we will be sailing with them again.

How do we keep adding stars! From the time we met Jette and Jon, we felt right at home and spoiled…read more Sailing the San Juans was a dream come true, but little did we know how wonderful every single day would be. Attention to every detail from warm coffee mugs to fill our fresh coffee at 7am to gourmet lunches and dinners, and of course desserts. We had a wonderful time. Jon and Jette are the most gracious hosts, who now we consider friends. Jon keeping us safe and informed of the wildlife and sealife, but also taking us on hikes on islands only accessible by boat. Jette with her great sense of humor surprising us at every turn with a new talent from gourmet cooking, writing songs, playing her guitar and sharing her doodles are a few of the many talents she revealed to us. And then there is Geni, sweet Geni, their portugese water "boat" dog. We instantly fell in love and could not get enough of her. I don't now the last time I felt so relaxed and pampered. Thank you Jette and Jon for the wonderul memories! We are looking forward to returning next year! To anyone considering Sailing the San Juans - this is your charter! You will have the time of your life!

From the moment you step onto the Northwind, take in every single second you can!! Every…read moresecond--every peaceful moment, every sweet and savory bite Captain Jette serves, every bit of island trivia Captain Jon offers--as you sail calmly past thick green forests dotted with specks of white the resident bald eagles offer in the form of head and tail. This is truly an adventure awaiting! If you have ever wanted to sail but don't know how, just leave the sailing, cooking, and swabbing of the decks to Jette and Jon. They love to help make wonderful memories for all of us, and do so graciously and kindly. So stop wondering and take the leap (sail). You will have a blast

We took a dinner cruise and it was lovely. From Seldovia we sailed along the south side of Kachemak…read moreBay into Tutka Bay, catching sight of sea otters and watching the salmon jumping. The ship is beautifully appointed, with comfortable seats from which to view the gorgeous scenery. And the dinner was absolutely delicious! The food was wonderfully prepared and beautifully presented by the talented young chef. Highly recommended!

Coming from Glasgow, Scotland this was my first cruise! Jack and Kerstin, Captain and firstmate…read morewhere outstanding hosts! We toured San Juan's, went crabbing, Orca spotting and visited the resort of Rosario where we treated to a Spa. The bedrooms where comfortable, spacious and had great WiFi access. Whether it be there patience answering all my questions and educating me or the fantastic tasty creative meals Kerstin cooked! I give them the very highest of recommendations and have already booked my Alaskan tour with them for summer 2020.

I was visiting my daughter in Bellingham and was invited on a day out by Chariot Adventures. Cathy…read morethe owner of the boat made me feel relaxed as I was pretty nervous. She is very patient and teaches the people on the boat a lot about sailing while you are on your excursion. I would highly recommend her for an excursion or the other services she offers. She will take you out for a day or many days. You want a great experience, than Chariot Adventures is who you should call.

Our 2-day sail on Chariot with Cathy Franklin was fantastic. The boat is beautiful, Bellingham…read moreharbor is a great gateway to the San Juan Islands, and Cathy was wonderful. Chariot is well stocked, well organized and totally charming. The crew of six included my wife and I, our two girls (12 and 15), our good friend Murray, and Cathy. Cathy was calm, capable, and great fun to be with. She encouraged the girls to take turns at the helm which they loved, but I think they loved piloting the dingy best. Cathy pulled us all into the experience and shared her love of sailing and the San Juan Islands. We spent the night at Matia Island, then explored Patos, and Sucia. Finally we had a late dinner in secluded Inati Bay on Lummi Island and sailed back into Bellingham harbor under the stars. We will definitely be back. Thank you Cathy!

What a wonderful community resource. As stated by S A, there are lots of options for hourly…read morerentals. We had rented paddle boards for a few hours. They asked if we had any questions or needed help. Since we did not, they just let us do our thing. I liked that. It gets intimidating having people always watching you or floating around if you do not want it. We did see them answering questions and helping people who requested it, so if you are nervous or in need of assistance they will happily help you out. There were also life jackets, wet suits, and even dry bags available for rental in addition to the equipment (canoes, paddle boards, sail boats). You reserve a slot and off you go to launch from their nice ramp, which is also open to the public. I definitely recommend wearing flip flops or water shoes. I am not from the area, so did not know what to expect. It was a bit rocky in some areas so I was glad to not be launching barefoot. The staff we had that day were fantastic. They were very nice and many of them very experienced and helpful. My friend told me they were also all volunteers. They do have a tip jar for their assistance though, so be sure to bring some cash to support them! All around great experience and I highly recommend if you are in the area looking for something fun to do!

We took the bioluminescence tour with Carley and Takoda. It was amazing! We had a perfect night…read more Watching the fish and jellies dart around us was so cool! I didn't even know this existed in Bellingham.

We went on the Orcas Only tour in the 3 oclock time slot. The process to check in was smooth and…read moreeasy. A thing to note: parking right by their building is about $13. I believe there was street parking farther away, but we didn't look. TJ and Sophia were great hosts to us. Sophia was very knowledgeable and so willing to answer any questions we had. On the tour, we saw a grey whale from a ways a way. Orcas were being scarce today but we traveled near Seattle and pungent sound. They really went the extra mile to make sure we were able to see orcas as this was not close by. The pod had a NEW BABY! Such an exciting experience. Not only that, they were also having fun socializing and slapping their tails. Then we saw some glorious breaching. It was honestly such a great experience. We were in awe!

I've only experienced them through assistance through the booking process. Called and spoke with…read moreEthan twice cause I needed help. He was so hospitable! Can't thank him enough! If the rest of my experience is compared to how Ethan took care of us, I know we're going to have the best time!