Captain Larry treated us to a 1x1/2 hour cruise around lake union and shared his expansive knowledge of the area and it's history. What a perfect way to celebrate my wife's 40th. We sailed off into the sunset. Check out the pics. Thanks Larry. read more

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I took the beginner's course with Anna and Nick, who were both amazing captains and instructors. Anna relocated after several classes, which I understood at the start, and Nick picked up for the last of my classes. I got some great instruction from them both, with helpful quizzing on what I had learned, and opportunities to put learning into practice. Both instructors were such a joy to sail with and learn from. Nick's broad experience and passion for teaching really shine through! Additionally, Lake Union Charters is one of the very few places that could accommodate my schedule for sailing lessons. I am a breastfeeding mama, so I can only be away from my little one for a few hours at a time, and most schools do their beginner's courses over a weekend of 8hr days. I also felt that my 2 hour/class 6 class beginner package was the perfect spacing to allow knowledge, book learning, and the experience I was accumulating to really soak in. These guys are awesome! read more

We had a wonderful time on the Lavengro that was headed by Captain Nick and crew. The Lavengro was nothing less than beautiful in itself on the waters. The process of booking was seamless, with quick communication from their end in ensuring that our reservation was accommodated and that questions/concerns were addressed prior. The crew was friendly and sociable during our time on board which also enhanced the experience we've had. Our guests on board had a great time and we owe that to Lake Union Charters; A business I would recommend to others looking to spend time with loved ones, or celebrate an occasion with. read more

My family took the Christine W into Puget Sound to spread my father's ashes and it could have not gone better! The staff of the Christine W on August 11th of 2023 were attentive, compassionate and very professional. I cannot say enough good things about how well the whole event went and I would not hesitate to use them again for another ash scattering. From the bottom of my heart and the hearts of my family we thank you for creating a memorable occasion! read more

Josh was incredible! We had a great time and would recommend to others looking for a relaxing night on the water. read more

Lake Union Charters & Adventures - Boating Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Loved our 2-hour family sailing lesson with Captain Nick! The three of us (me, my husband and our 10-year-old son) have been on friends' sailboats here and there, but we wanted to learn more about the basics of sailing ourselves. We all learned so much. Nick did a great job of explaining things, letting us see the theories in reality, quizzing us as we went, and having us switch around so we could all try steering, judging wind direction and deciding what action to take, tacking, and so on. Nick is also really emotionally intuitive -- not in a weird way, you could just tell that he was figuring out our family dynamic and how to have us work together effectively. It was funny and a ton of fun, and now we want to take more lessons. read more

Capt. Nick made this "get to know if sailing was in my future" trip a success. We were comfortable being in the water in one of the smaller sailboats we have been on. It was cool to learn how the boat functions and boating in Seattle. Will be sure to visit again next year. read more

Boffo guys on crew who seemed to enjoy taking an Alabama family out on a sunset sail. Personable, knowledgeable, and seemed to genuinely enjoy chatting with us, giving us more than our allotted hours. The tacks and linework was done smartly and with élan. My only quibble (And a minor one at that) is that the boat could use a little tidying up. However, we recommend this charter without reservation. read more

Booked them for my husband's 40th birthday celebration. We got on a small charter sailboat for 4 people. The captain and mate were both awesome! We had a super fun sunset sail. read more

Captain Nick made the experience fabulous! He was so funny, personable, and made the entire sail trip. He was extremely knowledgeable about Seattle and the lake, and let us help out too :) next time we sail here, we will be requesting for Nick! The sail was great and it was a easy reservation process. I would recommend this experience for sure!! read more

I was so excited to book 6 of our friends for a 4 hour Sunset Sail for my husbands birthday but it was really bad. We did not have Geoff as a Captain although that is who responded to my inquiries and reservations. I was told i could bring dinner on in advance and we had quite an organized picnic. When we arrived at the Lavengol, there were 5 crew on a relatively small boat. I did not want a party with crew members I wanted for my friends to be together and the 5 crew just hung out,we had to talk with and over them, they were volunteers and were not needed.. also the boat kitchen was HORRIBLE, a mess impossible to use for food, smelled like oil, dirty was not "under renovation" it had been a disaster for ages. The captain was rude after I asked to get some of the" crew" off the boat, so it was bad, and we opted to end the "tour" early so we could eat our lovely picnic at home. The owner was very cooperative and refunded our money which was more than i expected but simply did not make up for ruining my husbands 50th Bday, to this day it is not yet a funny story. read more

We had our first charter experience last night with the July 4th Cruise. I was excited for the trip - I'd never watched the fireworks by boat. It seemed like a fun idea for a reasonable price. We had no trouble finding the terminal, although it might've been nice to have clearer instructions to get to the boat. What we got was a GPS link for the location, but it took some trial & error to figure out we had to walk all the way around to a different dock. The boat set off on schedule. It was a beautiful evening to be on the water, and we found ourselves next to a friendly group of passengers offering to share their drinks with us. I was a bit surprised that a "family-friendly" event was sponsored by Rainier beer. The DJ took requests and played until the show started. As promised, everyone had plenty of space for picnicking and dancing and a great view of the fireworks (and the enormous crowd at Gasworks). Unfortunately, once the show was over the party soured - in large part because the Fremont bridge refused to let us pass. We were told that there would be a delay due to the heavy traffic crossing the bridge, which seemed reasonable. However, the delay lasted far longer than the traffic - we could all see that the bridge was no longer jammed with cars, yet our boat still wasn't moving. Although the bridge situation may have been beyond the Captain's control, a number of us grew increasingly frustrated that there was NO communication from Captain or crew regarding the continued delay. I eventually tracked down a crew member and asked for an update. I was told the bridge would let us through "some time after midnight." That was around 11:30pm, and we didn't get through the bridge until almost 12:30am - 90 minutes later than the expected itinerary, and we were concerned that we wouldn't be arrive back at the dock in time to get a bus home. At the same time, the party had started to resemble something more like a drunken frat house than a "family-friendly" cruise. Unless you are a parent who takes your kids to adult music & dance venues with a lot of bumping & grinding, I would not suggest you bring them on this cruise. Around midnight it was announced that the Seattle Police had ordered the music to stop. With luck, we got back to the dock just in time for us to catch the last bus. I would consider doing a July 4th Fireworks cruise again, but next time I might look for one that won't get stranded waiting for a drawbridge. Edit: I just received an email from Captain Geoff about the bridge trouble with a discount voucher for our next booking. Thanks, Captain! read more

The sailing battle was a perfect team-building event! We had so much fun getting out on the water. The entire crew went above and beyond to make us feel at home, especially Captain Nick. We will absolutely be doing more team-building events with Lake Union Charters soon! read more

Could not have asked for a nicer private sail to celebrate a birthday. Nick, our captain, was personable, knowledgeable, engaging and fun. We learned a lot about the lake, the city and sailing. The only thing missing was wind, haha, a big surprise to all of us on a fall evening. But it was a nice calm float, with good company to see the sunset and the beautiful city lights from the water. Thank you Nick! read more

Captain Geoff was great. Got back to me quickly and everything went perfect, he even got us some chocolates for our "sunset cruise." He showed us some great views of the city and when the sails weren't up, his electric engine was super quiet which made for a peaceful ride. Would recommend to everyone, very reasonable and safe. 5+ stars. read more

Looking for something special and personal to do for my water loving husband's 36th birthday I contacted Lake Union Charters with some specific questions about their date night package. Captain Geoff responded within hours of my initial email and continued to field my questions and offer suggestions to tailor the perfect evening even when my schedule and budget were constantly evolving! I was impressed from the get go with his enthusiasm and prompt correspondence. The day of our sail the weather turned but Geoff's sunny disposition and positive outlook more than made up for it! From the moment we set foot onboard it was like we were sailing with a buddy. We bundled up in the cold weather gear Geoff provides (complete with a "toasty buns" warmer to sit on) and just moseyed around the lake. The conversation flowed and the hubs enjoyed soaking up Geoff's sailing knowledge while driving the boat himself. I appreciated that Geoff managed not to mention the rest of the surprise evening he had helped me to line up for the birthday boy. Kudos. And of course we ate every last bite of the chocolate and raspberries he put out for us. =) The evening finished with a short walk to dinner at Pasta Freska (reservation made by Captain Geoff) and a very special excursion to Banya 5. Although I had recently heard wonderful things about Banya 5 it would not have even been on my radar to include it in the hub's birthday festivities had it not been mentioned on the Lake Union Charters website and come so highly recommended by Captain Geoff. Although my husband thanked me profusely for such a special night I can honestly credit Geoff for the ideas and inspiration! All in all, the best date we have had since we got married 5 years ago and an AHHH-MAAAZING retreat from the hustle and bustle of work, kids and the daily grind. THANK YOU, CAPTAIN GEOFF AND LAKE UNION CHARTERS! We will be back! read more

Excellent time. Friend bought us a "intro to sailing" class as a gift. Completely forgot about it and technically the voucher expired a couple months ago! I emailed Lake Union Charters and they were happy to continue accepting the voucher. They also accommodated MY schedule which I was ecstatic about. Thinking that I was pretty much at the mercy to Lake Union Charters for accepting and expired voucher, I didn't expect them to be very kind to me. I was sooo wrong. Anyways, had a great time. Learned a lot of things and really just wanted to praise this company for excellent customer service. Thanks a bunch Lake Union Charters!!! read more

Lake Union Charters is no-fail fun! I've chartered Solana several times now as a treat for out-of-town visitors, and Captain Geoff always delivers a great adventure. I just had the chance to attend a new Lake Union Charters adventure on Trek, a retired open-deck ferry that Geoff has added to the fleet. What a party! Where else can you cruise around Lake Union and Lake Washington, watch the sunset, and dance under the stars to a live band? I'm already looking forward to my next chance to enjoy Captain Geoff's fleet! read more

We did a 1.5 how private still with Nick and had an amazing time on the water! Got a chance to learn a bit about Lake Union and also how to sail! It was a great experience and would recommend it. read more

If you're looking to learn how to sail, or just want to get out on the water for a day and enjoy some sailing on Lake Union, I can't recommend Geoff and his awesome crew of captains enough. I'm currently on the 'intro to sailing' learning track, which I'm really enjoying. You learn everything from the basics, like how to rig the boat and get yourself out of the dock, to more advanced maneuvers like 'man overboard' and tricky wind scenarios. The instructors/captains are great at breaking down basic sailing concepts, and are just all-around solid teachers. They keep progress of all the topics you've covered through a mobile app, so you can track the improvements in your progress over time on certain skills. For example, if you've really mastered your knots and tacking upwind, but still need to work on your downwind jibes, then they'll focus on that more for the next lesson. Overall, a great place to learn how to sail and get the basics (and some more advanced stuff) under your belt. Lessons and teaching aside, these guys also run some awesome lake charters (it's in the name, after all!) If you're looking to have a get together with friends, or want to organize an event for work, this is a great experience to get everyone out on the water. If you get a chance, you should definitely head out for a sunset (or anytime) cruise on the Lavengro. She's a beautiful, wooden gaff-rigged schooner - makes you feel like you were sailing back in the good ol' days! Whether it's sailing lessons or just wanting to get you/your family/friends out on the water, I'd strongly recommend this company! read more

Planned a work party on the Lavengro, easy booking process, Captain Nick & crew were great & let a few people get some hands-on sailing time. Great experience all around. Hope to come aboard again! read more

If you're looking to get into sailing, Lake Union Charters has got to be the perfect place to do it! I took the Intro to Sailing course with two friends and it was worth every penny. Our instructor (Captain Larry) was patient and explained things very well. He created a great learning atmosphere by keeping things easy going, fun and safe for us throughout; and he ensured that the three of us all got a ton of hands-on experience. The boat we learned on is perfect for learning. It's manageable when learning to dock and really makes you feel like you're sailing. When you're trimming the jib or the main sail you can really get a sense for how the sail position accelerates the boat. The wind on Lake Union is also relatively irregular so if you're at the helm you get a lot of experience reading the wind to figure out the best course or direction. I did some homework between lessons because that's my learning style and there's a lot of info to keep in mind. But by the end of the course I felt like me and my two friends collectively have the knowledge and experience to take out the boat we learned on under the right conditions, or jump in and help out on someone else's boat. And so if you pass through the course there's an opportunity to join the Lake Union Charter's sailing club. The prices are definitely reasonable, and Geoff is incredibly helpful. There's a forum to find others who are also interested in sailing and many workshops and the like to build connections. Ultimately this is a great place to learn the basics sailing, to subsequently build up the experience and confidence to sail, and to start building connections with others who are interested in sailing! You can easily tell that Geoff and his crews' main goal is honestly to help you gain confidence and skill on the water, and to experience the joy of sailing. I would highly recommend checking it out!! read more

I bought a date night sail for my brother's birthday, we chose to start the ride just before the sunset and it was a magnificent view. The boat (solana) was really beautiful and they gave us a lot of good strawberries and some broken pieces of chocolate which were ok but not what I had expected. I do recommend it, the sail it was really charming. read more

Sailed with Greg Lewis and his crew mate Anna on Greg's fifty foot sail boat. They took us across the Puget Sound from Shilshole Bay. It was so beautiful and peaceful. We even saw a dolphin! A bunch of us are prone to sea sickness but none of us got sick. Greg and Anna were gracious hosts, pointed out the sights to us, and were enjoyable company. We only paid for a two hour trip but Greg asked us if we had anything planned afterward that we couldn't be late to. We didn't have dinner reservations until much later in the evening so he extended the sail trip to about three hours. I highly recommend! read more

Great sail with spectacular views of Seattle skyline accompanied with a fun guide made this trip a memorable one. Was a short 1 hour trip but it was gorgeous. Wish we could have booked longer. And also make sure to check the weather before u book it. read more

My husband took me on a date night. Geoff was great and the boat was fun. The sunset through the clouds was beautiful and after living in Seattle for 10 years I had never seen a more beautiful sun set. I highly recommend using this service. We all can't afford to buy a boat but we can afford to rent one for a special evening. read more

My girlfriend and I went on a beautiful sunset cruise. It was the perfect night for it and the staff was very friendly. We had never been to seattle before so it was really cool to see it from the water. Make sure you bring jackets if you're doing it in the evening because it gets a little chilly! They'll bring blankets out though so that is really nice! read more

Lake Union Charters was fabulous! We had a double date with a couple friends of ours and it was amazingly romantic! Even with Geoff captaining, we felt like we were one with the water. The chocolates and treats helped us through the trip and he dropped us off just in time for our reservation at a local South Lake Union Restaurant, Re:Public. Thanks for making it a memorable night! read more

Captain Geoff is an awesomely fun-loving guide who has adopted an incredible teaching style that really resonated with me. I'm a fairly anxious person and I had so much fun onboard largely because of the laid-back way he approached teaching me how to maneuver the giant sailboat. He is a great coach with an obvious love for what he does and a total knack for anticipating his guests' needs. It was an amazing day full of laughter on the water! read more

What a ball we had on our sailing lesson! This was a wedding present from my best friend and we loved every minute of it. Captain Mike took us out on the lake and made the most of a 0 - 2 knot wind day. He was very accommodating, providing instruction, giving us a tour of neat points of interest around the lake, or just chatting to keep the day fun and laid back with really good energy. We felt safe, relaxed, and truly walked away from this beautiful experience with an excellent grasp of beginner sailing techniques! read more

Looking for something fun to do in the heart of Seattle? Look no further! Captain Geoff provides a great way to do something different. His knowledge of sailing and the Lake Union area help make your time on the water even better. He took my sweetheart and I out for a cruise and showed us some incredible views. The boat is clean, in great condition, and environmentally friendly. You can't even hear the electric motor, making for a most peaceful and romantic time. I would recommend Captain Geoff to anyone and everyone! read more

We recently hosted a corporate event for about 25 people on the Christine W and couldn't have been happier. Captain Nick and Jack were aboard and after a brief but appreciated safety announcement, we headed off. The route was perfect and timed excellently. The downstairs was perfect for us to host our self-catered event; there was a bar where we could store cold beverages and have our team act as amateur bartenders as well as tables and other surfaces where we set up food. There were plenty of supplies on board to comfortably eat and mingle. The sound system worked really well across the whole boat and Nick and Jack were happy to help with any requests along the way while also letting us enjoy our time as a team. Really appreciated them taking pictures of our group at the end. The staff that helped us book and organize this trip were also super quick to respond and very helpful and easy to work with! I'd recommend this boat and charter group to anyone looking for a business or personal event for 20-40 people who are ready to enjoy time "at sea" and make their own fun with music, food, and drinks. Thanks to Lake Union Charters for a really excellent time! read more

Lake Union Charters & Adventures always has great ideas for fun nights on the water! I've been out several times with Captain Geoff, once when we all dressed as a pirates; another time when we took the small electric boat over to a local restaurant; and a couple times to watch the sunset opposite the glowing Seattle skyline. Capt Geoff is a very creative and attentive guide, and I would highly recommend his trips to others, whether you're visiting or live in the Seattle area! read more

We chartered Solana in August for a sunset cruise for my husband's birthday. There were 5 of us (including a toddler). It was a beautiful, fun sail with Captain Jordy. Solana is electric and so very quiet and peaceful. Captain Jordy was very warm, fun and quite talkative. We brought our own food and drinks and enjoyed sailing around Lake Union and taking in the sites. Captain Jordy was a wealth of information. This is a very personal boating experience that you can make your own. I didn't find the boat as "spic and span" as I'm used to, but the captain I've sailed with previously is particularly finicky about that, so my standards may be high. In general it was a clean, fun boat, with the added interest of an electric motor. Captain Jordy is a genuine and happy person to hang out with. read more

Wonderful experience on an historic sailboat. We basically zigzagged back and forth across Lake Union but it was great to see the city from the water--you notice things you wouldn't otherwise and it was beautiful being on the water. Very pleasant and informative captain--Ryan. We saw another small tour-type boat at the dock and were so grateful we had chosen the Lavengro, with it's charm and history and a feel of being much closer to the water. Recommended both for those new and familiar with Seattle. read more

We had a fantastic sailing experience with Lake Union Charters. My in-laws were in town and we wanted to show them the city in a fun way, especially on such a beautiful (90F degree+) day! Lake Union Charters definitely delivered. We arrived at the dock and the boat was ready to go and the smiling captain, Patrick, helped us on board and was incredibly friendly, engaging and in-control of our experience. He zipped us around Lake Union and over to Lake Washington, pointing out different Seattle landmarks and teaching us about the sailboat (even letting us help here and there). We left with great tans, smiles on our faces and a memory for a lifetime. read more

Our work team went out for an event on the Mallory Todd. It is a lovely sail boat (sail wasn't out because it needs to be fixed) with a pleasant crew. Ian was our captain and Eric and Patricia were our crew. They were very chill and offered knowledge about the area and the boat. We brought snacks, drinks, and music, and enjoyed cruising around the Lake Union waterways. The whole group really enjoyed our time on the water together. read more

Cannot believe there's a sandy beach on a boat for our chartered tour of Lake Union. Also, the bathrooms were the fanciest "port-a-potties" that I've ever seen. Such a blast! read more

Took my boyfriend on a surprise sail around lake union for his 30th birthday. Although his birthday was a month prior, I had to reschedule because he made plans of his own. So anyways, it was really great, the weather was amazing, and we had some entertainment while out on the water (there was a boat with a band playing, quite the musicians). He got a chance to sail it a little bit with the guidance of our captain, and overall we enjoyed the experience. They were also very helpful, at first I wanted to go on the Lavengro (if thats how you spell it) but instead we took the solana and it was great. Prompt responses via email. Oh! And I forgot to pay by the 48 hr deadline and they put my reservation back up when I emailed them with my forgetfulness. Brought our own little mason jars of wine, and we had a great time. Definitely recommend. read more

The crew aboard was delightful and ensured a fantastic time on one of my first charters ever. It started off with a gracious warm welcome and made me feel right at home, chasing away any anxiety I had about being on the water (*cough* I'm not the greatest swimmer *cough*). They answered every question I had (even some of the painfully simple ones) and even got me involved during the sail. Aside from being out on the water in the sun and the breeze, I learned a ton. I got to tie knots, hoist sails and even took the helm which was awesome! Got to see Seattle from a completely different angle and even got a history lesson! read more