Boats
" Hoonah Bound"
Our boat, the “Hoonah Bound”, is brand new for the 2013 season. She will be the only ground up, fully custom, purpose built Whale Watch platform operating out of Hoonah. We know our discerning clientele is one that is looking for a more personal, intimate small boat experience and that is exactly what we deliver! The Hoonah Bound is fully custom from idea to creation. She was built exclusively for us, with our customer experience being priority #1 in her development. From the large viewing decks to her oversized sliding windows, making sure every passenger has a great view is key! Similarly sized boats running out of Juneau pack on 28 passengers in the same size boat, our max will be 18. We are dedicated to providing the experience of a lifetime to our guests and our investment in the Hoonah Bound proves it! The Hoonah Bound keeps guests low on the water which makes a huge difference when the whales are close. She has a nice wide beam which enhances safety, stability and passenger comfort while underway. She has large viewing decks on both the front and the back so all guests will have a great view. She was designed with a shallow draft and powerful engines, so she is highly maneuverable and can go places much smaller boats cannot go while maintaining a more safe environment for the sea life we come across. She was built with the discriminating experience we want for our passengers in mind. She is fast, comfortable, roomy, and is perfectly suited for tours in the waters around Hoonah and Icy Straits. The cabin is heated so guests will stay warm and dry as they experience the wonder and beauty of our whale watching tour. Please see the photo gallery for images of the freshly completed "Hoonah Bound"!
"Ya'ay"
When looking for our first boat to we looked to Hewescraft. We chose the Alaskan 260 Hardtop with Extended Transom named by Hewescraft for the state where fishermen know their boats. The big, strong Hewescraft Alaskan is a huge reason Hewescraft is the best selling aluminum boat in the 49th state. With ample size and ruggedness, the Alaskan delivers for the most discriminating charter guides across the US and Canada. We powered our boat with a Suzuki DF300 horsepower, 4 stroke main engine for it's power, efficiency, and reliability. We then installed the highest quality GPS Navigation, Chart Plotting, and depth sounding electronics.
Named Ya'ay, which in the local traditional Tlingit language means "Whale", the Ya'ay get's us where we need to be with comfort and speed. Our goal is to get you out to the whales fast so you can spend more time with them. We pride ourselves in having one of the fastest Whale Watch boats in the area and currently the only boat with a fully covered viewing deck. The private restroom, heated cabin, and fully covered deck make for a no worries cruise.