Best customer service I've experienced in a long time... best experience with the owners and…read morecaptain Rick! Definitely will be returning

What an incredible Greenling fishing trip with Highliner Charters in the San Juan Islands! We had a…read morephenomenal time, with everyone successfully catching a good amount of greenling for a delicious fish taco dinner. The wildlife viewing was spectacular, and we were absolutely charmed by a large pod of baby seals. The staff were outstanding--so friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely focused on making sure our entire family had a wonderful and fun experience!!

My husband and I purchased tickets on Groupons. We had the best time. The crew was lively and…read moreengaging. We were encuraged to walk around, visit the captain. The only suggestion would be is to install a monitor showing our location as we traverse the Straights. We will book again for next summer and bring out grandchildren.

Took boat out of Lopez Islander. 10/10 experience. TK and Jake crewed. Loved the small sturdy boat…read moreand the great visibility. Only a dozen folks on board and you can see everything from your seat thru big open windows. We saw bald eagles, steller sea lions, orcas, a grey whale, a minke whale, harbor seals, and lots of seabirds. Good explanations. Loved every minute.

The sailing experience aboard the Spike Africa was everything I hoped for. The entire family…read moreenjoyed the sail. The captain, first mate, and deckhand were all knowledgeable and friendly. The captain even let kiddo steer the ship for a while. Booking can be difficult if you're not standing in the office. Online booking isn't an option. When you click the link it merely has the customer fill out an information card and they're supposed to call you. If you cal the number listed you'll always be routed to an answering service. Basically customers just have to leave a message and hope someone calls you back. Even through all that, the experience was totally worth it.

Spike Africa turned one of our unplanned evenings into a delight. We were accidental guests on it…read morewhen we discovered that they had slots open for a few more when it was just about to sail. Everything about the sail was memorable. Right from the humorous introduction to sailing and water protocols to the camaraderie and warmth of the crew. First hand Chris is a very interesting person and knows how to make visitors feel involved in the sailing by drawing volunteers for stowing ropes and hoisting the mast. He is helped very ably by his crew Rosy! Captain Gunner keeps a leisurely pace allowing even the most hesitant of sea-farers to relax and take in the sights. Sunset over Pugetsound onboard Spike Africa will be one of my most-cherished moments from the San Juan Islands trip. The schooner allows for your own beverages on board and the open sea makes for an excellent place to have a sip of wine. The sail is pleasant with the added element of other like-minded strangers joining you on a ride, added to that, the very reasonable price makes for an offer hard to refuse! An evening well spent..

Captain Brian is very knowledgeable and personable. We had a great cruise plus he drove us past the…read morePenn Cove mussel grounds and explained everything in detail to us. He is a local and just the nicest guy!

My wife and I booked a 3-hour sailing trip with Jess and Karl while on Orcas. It was wonderful!…read moreTheir calm demeanor, friendly attitude, willingness to answer questions and just chat about sailing and life in general was refreshing. It is obvious they both have a deep passion for sailing and respect for our planet. We would HIGHLY recommend booking a sail with them!

WOW! What an unbelievable experience, with an amazing crew!…read more I rented a private charter, more on this later. My girlfriend (American) and I (Canadian) had never been on a sailboat so we were a little unsure what to expect. I did the majority of planning with Jess, she was extremely helpful and very response. I could instantly tell she wanted the experience to be a memorable journey, not just another sail on the water. Tip - they also work with a caterer, which I highly recommend as well. In early August we set out on sunset sail to Boundary Pass (water border of Canada, EH and the United States). It took about 2 hours to get to BP and on the way we saw a pod of orcas. Breathtaking. We reached the water border, it was time. I couldn't think of a better place to ask my beautiful and talented girlfriend to marry me. My hands were shaking, but I didn't drop the ring... and then she said YES! It was quiet, the sun was reflecting off the water, the moment was perfect. Jess captured the moment and sent us several amazing photos. The trip was perfect. Now, you know why I wanted the boat to be private.

Stormy day with a small craft advisory and suddenly you can't get to Blakely Island in your…read morefriend's boat? No problem, just book yourself a spot on the ol' Paraclete! This is exactly the predicament I found myself in on a recent Friday, and although the seas were a bit choppy I was excited to finally get to ride on the legendary Paraclete. The Paraclete provides charter/passenger service to islands not served by the Washington State Ferry system. This includes Blakely and several others. They operate on a daily schedule (available on their website) or you can also book a charter. Without services like the Paraclete, it would be much more difficult to get around the islands. I arrived about 20 minutes before my scheduled departure, and soon me and about 10 other passengers were aboard. Our skilled captain guided us through the stormy seas with great skill. While the ride was bumpy it was never scary or felt unsafe. Soon we arrived at the dock at Blakely's marina, where many passengers (and a large, unaccompanied propane grill) were quickly unloaded. The price for this one-way trip was just $40 (woulda been $38 if I had cash - something to keep in mind for next time). The captain and his mate were friendly and professional, and masks were required to be worn by all passengers during this time of covid. Thanks, Paraclete, for delivering me safely to my weekend getaway!

I am now a customer for life. I am very impressed with the newer management for the Paraclete! They…read morehave always been a good company, and now I am beyond impressed. They are extremely organized, timely, clean, and kind/professional. Our entire family has always had a WONDERFUL experience on the Paraclete. Highly recommend

Fabulous trip!!! 75' wooden boat cruise around Glacier Bay Nat'l Park. Hikes, kayaks, wildlife…read morewatching, all in the company of knowledgeable naturalist Sarah. Anchoring in quiet harbors, watching the bears (black and brown) on shore a few yards away. Sneaking into the spots where the big cruise ships never go. Not to mention sitting up in the bridge watching everything and chatting with Captain Bill while waiting for Traci to ring the 'come-and-get-it' bell for another great gourmet meal. Then head down to have engineer Barry give a tour of the engine room. More advantages of a small boat - you linger when there's wildlife (and you're right on the water to see them)! We stopped to watch an orca pod, went off looking for humpbacks (and even saw them bubblenetting), had a school of Dall porpoises surfing our bow wave just below where we were standing (video: http://youtu.be/Q5lDLvl1e_4 ), sea lions, sea otters, puffins, mountain goats....and many more. If you're a birder, lots of great avian species, too. Great people running a great trip. I can't recommend them enough. Tight quarters in the cabins, but you're not going to spend much time there....you want to be on deck, up on the bridge, under the overhang on the stern lower deck, or in the lounge/dining area reading from their extensive naturalist collection or eating another delicious meal.

Doesn't get any better than this! The views of the mountains and inlets were stunning. We just…read morecame back from a 10-day cruise through Glacier Bay and the surrounding waters. With only 9 other passengers, on a 72 foot vessel, we kayaked and hiked small bays that most people never see. We saw bears, sea otters, wales, puffins, mountain goats... all with knowledgeable input from the ship's naturalist. The food was excellent and the company great, though I can't say who you'll cruise with ;) This adventure cruise is for those who are in moderately good shape. We had some older folks with us, in their 60's and they did ok with getting in and out of kayaks and walking through some uneven trails. But it is not for the couch potato, or the seriously obese. If you want to experience the incredible beauty of Alaska up close, this is your cruise.

Captain Tom Griffin is extremely educated in boating. We wanted to do a refresher class with him as…read morehe was highly recommended as well as credentials and years of experience. Tom was very informative and helpful in every aspect from safety to etiquette. His teaching skills are extremely easy to understand and straight forward. Captain Tom is a very kind man who has patience and compassion for others and he demonstrates this every day. From the moment we spoke with him on the phone, we knew he was definitely the Captain we wanted to learn from. Very reasonably priced and well worth every penny and then some!

I found Captain Tom Griffin at the Seattle boat show, where I spoke with several other captains and…read moreboat schools. I had a dream of buying a boat and living on it, though I'd had next to no large boat experience. Tom helped make that dream come true. He is very knowledgeable, and was very flexible as we had to change dates a couple of times. Not only did he help me get my boat from Port Townsend to Brinnon, he taught me all kinds of things on the way and when we got there - using charts, navigation, rules of the road, proper dock tying, etc. And all in one day. Decent rates too!