Frequently Asked Questions
Charters
Do you offer discounts for multi-week charters?
Yes we do! Here is how the discount works:
- 1st week = regular price
- 2nd full week = 10% discount off the charter rate and 25% off the daily damage waiver for the second week.
- 3rd full week and beyond = 15% discount off the charter rate and 50% off the daily damage waiver for the third week and beyond.
Do you offer partial week charters?
Partial week charters are offered on a space available (bookable within 2 weeks of departure date) basis during Spring, Summer and Fall Seasons. During Early Spring Season and Late Fall Season 4 to 6-day charters may be reserved in advance. (We have a 4-day minimum for charters occurring during Early Spring Season and Late Fall Season.)
Partial Week charter rates:
1 day = 30% of the standard week rate, plus insurance and sales tax.
2 days/1 night = 45% of the standard week rate, plus insurance and sales tax.
3 days/2 nights = 60% of the standard week rate, plus insurance and sales tax.
4 days/3 nights = 75% of the standard week rate, plus insurance and sales tax.
5 days/4 nights = 85% of the standard week rate, plus insurance and sales tax.
6 days/5 nights = 95% of the standard week rate, plus insurance and sales tax.
What day of the week will my charter begin?
Our week-long charters start at 9am on Saturday and end at noon on Friday. Off-Pattern Charters (charters that do not begin Saturday at 9am and end at noon on Friday) may be available by special arrangement in non-peak periods of the season. ($150 off-pattern charter handling fee applies.) Please contact us to discuss partial week and 10-day charters.
The heart of our season is April 15 to October 1. Our winter weather can be unpredictable and severe so we end our charter season in mid October and begin it again mid March. However, in certain circumstances, based on experience and training, we may allow charters to be scheduled year round, provided the boat of your choice is not winterized or in the process of its annual winter maintenance. For consideration charters must be at least 4 days in length and requested at least two weeks in advance.
There are several excellent grocery stores in town but if you would like to have someone else provision for your charter, provisioning services are available through Brinda Honcoop at "To Do For You" (360-224-4225, todoforyou.biz), Sharon Steinbach at “Sharon’s Errand Service” (360-510-9850), or The Galley Girls (galleygirls.net). You can also pre-order online and pick up at Fred Meyer or order online for delivery to the harbor at Instacart.
Are linens and towels included with my charter?
Sheets, blankets, towels and pillows are included on all charters. Your charter agreement will show an order for linen sets and for towel sets. A towel set is one bath towel, one hand towel, and one wash cloth. We default the towel set order number to match the number of people that you've indicated will be aboard. The linen order will match the number of beds that you have indicated you will use and will include sheets and a comforter. For example, if you will have two couples aboard, using two beds, your linen order would be 2 and your towel order would be 4. Regardless of the linen order we will match the number of pillows to the number of people aboard. If you would like us to double your order of linen and towel sets for charters of two weeks or more, please let us know at least two weeks before your charter starts.
We have several fishing sets (1 tackle box and 2 fishing poles each) available to charter guests at no charge on a first-reserved basis. (The tackle boxes are maintained by the guests who use them.) Crab rings are standard equipment on all boats. Licenses for both crabbing and fishing are available in the harbor at LFS (360-734-3336).
Will crab season be open during my charter?
The season varies each year but is generally open in the San Juan Islands between mid July and the end of September. For specific dates or to purchase a license click here to vist the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife's recreational crab fishing web page. For season dates you will want to look for Area 7. Licenses for both crabbing and fishing are also available in the harbor at LFS (360-734-3336).
There is free parking in the harbor, with 24-hour surveillance. The Port does not allow parking of motorhomes or travel trailers in the harbor. If you will be traveling with a motor home or travel trailer please contact us for suggestions.
What services are located near your docks?
Laundry, showers, two chandleries, one hotel, and many restaurants are within walking distance of our dock and office.
In most cases you are welcome to preboard the night before your charter for a $50 flat fee. However, if you do not schedule the preboard at the time of booking, you will need to add preboarding at least one week before your charter starts or we may not be able to accommodate you.
We leave the decision about whether to allow pets up to each individual boat owner. Most owners will ask us to provide some basic information about your pet (size, age, breed, boating experience, etc) to help them make their decision. When pets are allowed we do require a $500 refundable "pet damage and cleaning deposit". If your pet is a shedding breed please expect to have approximately $50 withheld from the refund for the extra cleaning time required to thoroughly remove pet hair.
How does your insurance coverage work?
Our standard damage protection plan is a Daily Damage Waiver that varies according to the size and value of your boat. For your liability protection, a standard flat rate of $20/day provides you a minimum of $1 million coverage. Both the Daily Damage Waiver and Liability Coverage are discounted for multiweek charters.
What is your cancellation policy?
To reserve your charter we require a reservation deposit that is 30% of the charter rate. If you have to cancel your charter and it is more than 60 days before your charter starts then we would refund your reservation deposit less a $100 cancellation/rebooking fee. Between 60 days and 31 days before your charter starts we are only able to refund your reservation deposit if we are able to rebook the charter dates. In that case we would refund the reservation deposit less the $100 cancellation/rebooking fee. Thirty days before your charter starts your balance is due and at that point if you had to cancel we would retain the full balance unless we were able to rebook the charter dates. If we were able to rebook the charter dates we would refund you for whatever portion we were able to rebook, less the $100 cancellation/rebooking fee.
What do I do if there is a mechanical problem during my charter?
First make contact with us (call our office during business hours or the help line when the office is closed) so that we may assess the situation as some issues can be quickly troubleshot by phone. If that is not the case then, depending on what is fastest and most sensible we may arrange for service at your next stop, send a chaseboat/mechanic from Bellingham, or arrange a chaseboat/mechanic from one of our service providers in the islands. Thankfully our intensive Preventive Mainenance Schedule minimizes these calls.
Do you offer a "trouble-free guarantee"?
Yes we do! If a maintenance failure causes you to lose a day or more of cruising, we will not only refund you the proportionate charter fee, but we will give you $100 just for the hassle. If you lose even 5 hours we'll give you an extra day. Because we believe you deserve a trouble-free vacation... and we are that confident of our preventive maintenance procedures.
Do I receive a discount for chartering more than one boat?
If you are chartering 3 or more boats at the same time (for 7, 14 or 21 days, or our special Spring "10-for-7" dates) you will receive 10% off the charter rate for each boat.
I have chartered with you before. Do you offer a return discount?
As a repeat charter guest in good standing we give you a Preferred Charter Guest Discount of 5% off the charter rate on your week-long charter.
I am a member/veteran of the US Armed Forces or a first responder. Do you offer a discount?
As a member or veteran of the US Armed Forces we offer you $150 off your week-long (or longer) sail or power charter. This discount is also extended to police, fire and EMT first responders. (Cannot be combined with the Preferred Charter Guest Discount.)




