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

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.

We embarked on a 4 hour day sail around the San Juan's during our honeymoon. I chose Emerald Isle…read morebecause of their reasonable prices and proximity to where we were staying. We also really wanted to go sailing (neither of us had been before) and not on a whale watching charter. We're glad we went with Dave as he is incredibly knowledgeable, passionate about sailing, and willing to teach. He involved us in helping run the boat during our adventure, which was fun. He has a beautiful boat, and he was open to us poking around to see all the sleeping quarters. His favorite sails are actually his multi-day trips. He was telling us all about the trips they take up to the rainforest in Canada and Alaska. We checked out photos online on his website, and wow! Those trips look like phenomenal, once in a lifetime experiences! During our trip, we saw seals, sea lions, porpoises, and exotic varieties of sheep and deer on Spieden Island (former hunting retreat). The weather was beautiful, although a little cold when the boat was moving. He provided blankets and seating pads, and we were welcome to sit anywhere on the boat - inside or outside. He also provided a snack of cheese and crackers, and we brought along sandwiches to eat, too. In the cooler, we had the option of a couple different sparkling waters, which I appreciated over soda. We had a lot of fun and would love to return for a multi day trip one day!

We splurged this summer and took our family of 5 on an unforgettable sailing trip around the San…read moreJuan Islands. It was the best trip of our lives. Dave and Katy were so accommodating and patient and are just plain good people. Thank you Dave for a great summer trip - we are hoping to book another summer trip with you soon!

A wonderful day on the water with Captain Amio!…read more Since we were on Lopez Island, and the ferry to get back to Friday Harbor was so complicated, Amio picked us up where we were staying, and took us on a fabulous ride. The weather was perfect. We saw porpoise, heron, eagles and seals-as well as a host of beautiful boats The whales didn't make an appearance but we got to see a number of the different harbors through & around the different islands. . Captain Amio's knowledge of the area enhanced our journey. Great day on the water. Noah's communication made it easy to figure out everything. The boat was clean, had a bathroom and OUR 3 hour tour ended successfully. (It was supposed to be a 4 hour tour, but we sacrificed a half hour on each end since he picked us up on Lopez, we thought it was worth it).

Noah and Friday Harbor Boat Rentals (FHBR) were fantastic. I rented the Nordic Sun for an…read moreafternoon island cruise on 7/17/2024 to show my mom and wife more of the San Juan Islands. He is very professional as he sent me a text in the AM asking if we needed anything special to help us prepare etc...so first the Boat...Nordic Sun is a wonderfully restored tug that easily accommodates 6 so having 3 on the boat with Noah was very spacious...the boat is very clean and has a full head!!! Our tour was awesome and Noah added color and history as we cruised while giving us our space to enjoy the beauty and have a glass of wine!!! CAN'T RECOMMEND NOAH ENOUGH....oh and I thought the price for a 4 hour private cruise was very fair!!! we will us Noah and FHBR again!!! Tim B.

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!!

Family and I booked with Northshore Charters, and we had no idea what to expect. We were definitely…read morea bit nervous. Being from Florida, the water is very different. Captain Marty did a great job helping us to be more comfortable and teaching us all about the area, history and sea life. We caught a few fish and the kids loved it! It was a very unique experience, and we are so glad we did it! Highly recommend to anyone traveling in that area and Captain Marty will make it smooth and fun!

I called Marty on the very last day of Salmon fishing, and he was able to accommodate me on his…read moreboat. His boat is very impressive, top of the line, extremely neat, clean and spacious. We motored out to a spot, and he just wasn't feeling it, so we went to another spot. We hooked into the Salmon and it didn't stop. Without a doubt, I had a great time. The other people on the boat were very friendly and welcomed me no problem, I didn't feel like I was imposing at all. Next time I am on Orcas Island, I will be lucky if I can get on Marty's boat for another epic fishing adventure! HIGHLY RECOMMEND this Charter and will pass that along to anyone who asks me who to use while out on the Islands.

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.

Thank you to Shearwater Kayak Tours and our very knowledgeable guide for a magical kayak adventure…read morewith multiple bald eagles, egg yolk and lion's mane jellyfish, seals and seal pups, pigeon guillemots, kingfishers, and views of mount Baker. I am looking forward to my next kayak adventure with you and your team!

The staff is super helpful with bookings! I highly recommend giving them a call with any questions.read more