Welcome aboard our 90’ steel hull custom built expedition Charter Yacht M/Y Bear Paw serving the San Juan Islands, Washington State to the South East Alaskan waters. M/Y Bear is launching for service spring of 2023.M/Y Bear Paw is focused on showcasing all that the Pacific Northwest and South East Alaska has to offer. Spring brings in the herring run which attracts hundreds of whales and thousands of birds to the Sitka area and beyond, appropriately known as a photographer’s paradise. Early summer brings out the waking Brown Bears and the King and Chum salmon runs begins. Sitka, Alaska, boasts to have one of the strongest King Salmon runs in the state. Late summer leading in to fall, the bears are fluffy and well fed with the continuation of King, Sockeye, Chum and Coho salmon runs that attract various other species whom all capitalize on this annual event. There is no set schedule and the vessel can go in to places that large cruse ships cannot go. This is a personalized experience depending on the guests needs, interests and activity level. An elevator is available to serve all three decks on board for any guests with limited mobilities. A wide range of activities like hiking, kayaking, beachcombing, fishing and setting shrimp and crab pots for the daily catch is a way of life. To sit back, relax and enjoy a book, or watch the shorelines go by while underway……you will birdwatch and find countless species like sea and river otters, humpback whales, orcas whales, porpoises’, stellar sealions, harbor seals, bald eagles, hummingbirds and we will discover some local natural hot springs too!
Yacht Description
“A 90ft Custom from 1967.”
Specifications
- Length overall
- 90ft / 27 m
- Beam
- 21.6m
- Draft
- 10m
- Builder
- Custom
- Year built
- 1967
- Refit
- 2011
- Type
- Motor Yacht
- Cruising speed
- 9 knots
- Top speed
- 12 knots
- Generator
- 2 x 30KW
- Consumption
- 9.5 US Gall/Hr
- Guests
- 6
- Cabins
- 3
- Crew
- 3
Charter Price
From $40,000 to $60,000 per week, plus APA.
All-Inclusive arrangement — expenses covered.
Charter days
Base price
APA (35%)
Total estimate
Note
14 days
$80,000 — $120,000
$28,000 — $42,000
$108,000 — $162,000
Discounts outside main season common
7 days
$40,000 — $60,000
$14,000 — $21,000
$54,000 — $81,000
Standard charter rate
3 days
$20,000 — $30,000
$7,000 — $10,500
$27,000 — $40,500
Estimate for a short charter
All prices generated as a guide. Availability subject to confirmation. Gratuity discretionary, typically 5%–25% of the base price.
Variable expenses — fuel, food, marina fees — are deducted from an Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA), an additional deposit added to the charter price. The remainder is returned after charter.
Summer Season
Winter Season
- Total guests
- 6
- Total cabins
- 3
- King cabins
- 3
- Heads
- 7
- Electric heads
- 7
- Showers
- 6
- Basins
- 7
- A/C
- Full
- A/C at night
- Yes
- Jacuzzi
- No
3 staterooms for 6 guests.
3
King cabins
This is a luxury expedition charter vessel like no other. Spacious king size walk around staterooms with luxury cotton linens and ensuite heads with stand-up showers is an eyebrow raiser to say the least. No one stateroom outshines the other and are fairly equal. A two-person elevator is available for guests whom have limited mobility. There is no off-limit area for guests who have limited mobilities. Ceiling height is 7’ throughout and the interior is immaculately adorned with mahogany woodwork and high-end furnishings. Relax and allow your crew to take care of you
All walk around king staterooms with dry heads.
60"TV
7' head room throughout
Bar, electric recliners + electric sofa
Starlink
18' Wooldridge Aluminum tender with fishing gear and 60HP Outboard.
- Captain
- Bill West
- Nationality
- USA
- Languages
- English, American Sign Language
- License
- USCG 200T
Caitlyn
Crew/Deckhand
Caitlyn is a keen calligrapher and has been commissioned to design and draw a number of restaurant chalkboard menus, as well as wedding seating plans and place settings. She also enjoys keeping fit, with weight lifting and boxing being her every day go to. Caitlyn also enjoys cold water swimming whenever she returns home in Scotland, and now happy to find cold water again in Alaska! Caitlyn finds it's great for both her physical and mental health. Yacht interior is her main background with experiences from all over the world. She is beyond excited to start his new journey with Bear Paw Charters in Sitka this 2023 Summer Season and serves as stew and deckhand. **BEAR PAW will operate with a crew of 3, and 4 upon request.
- Salon stereo
- Yes
- Salon TV
- Yes
- Nude charters
- Yes
- Books
- library
- Watermaker
- Yes
- Water capacity
- 1400 Gallons
- Ice maker
- Yes
- DVDs
- Yes
- CDs
- bluetooth
- Board games
- Yes
- Special diets
- Yes
- BBQ
- Yes
- Gay charters
- Yes
- Hairdryers
- Yes
- Port hatches
- Yes
- Smoking allowed
- Yes, aft deck only
- Crew smokes
- On inquiry
- Children welcome
- Yes
- Generator
- 2 x 30KW
- Inverter
- Yes
- Voltages
- 120v
- Internet
- Onboard WIFI
- Dinghy size
- 18'
- 1-pax kayaks
- 2
- 2-pax kayaks
- 2
- Dinghy HP
- 60HP
- Dinghy pax
- 16
- Boarding ladder
- Swim Step
- Paddleboard
- Yes
Onboard Entertainment
Yacht is wheelchair accessible, but does not meet ADA requirements. Please inquire for more info.
Diving
Yacht offers Rendezvous Diving only
Fishing
Sustainability
Registry & Permits
- Flag
- USA
- Homeport
- Sitka Harbor, Alaska
- License
- 1
- Permit
- 1
- Turnaround
- 24
Charter Reviews
BEAR PAW
Unforgettable Experience in the San Juan Islands
For those who have never charted a yacht, Bear Paw is a great place to start. After you’ve cruised with Bear Paw, you’ll likely want to charter them again. I chartered Bear Paw for a three-night, four-day cruise of the San Juan Islands. Most people who visit the San Juans see only the islands accessible by the Washington State Ferry system—Orcas, San Juan, Lopez, and Shaw. Yet, there are more than 172 named islands and reefs and, in low tide, the number rises to 450 if you include exposed rocks and small islands. Many of the islands not accessible by public ferry have public parks that can be reached by private boat, such as Stuart, Jones, Lucia, Clark, Patos, and Matia. Having been to the San Juans by public ferry many times, I wanted to experience more of the San Juans.
Bear Paw can get to these places but it also offers an amazing on-board experience. Bill and Chrystal are both seasoned Captains. Between them you’ll hear true stories of life on the sea. Bill has worked in many capacities at sea, including many years rescuing mariners who ran their vessels onto rocks. With him at the helm, there is no need to worry as he knows all rocks in the Salish Sea! Chrystal serves are First Mate, Chief Hospitality Officer, and Head Cook. (She too has Captain credentials and crewed her own boat for many years.) Chrystal strives to ensure guests never go hungry. The meals are creative, colorfully plated, and plentiful. Our group loves seafood, and seafood we had! Fresh crab, spotted prawns, black cod, salmon smoked by Chrystal, and halibut were some of the delectables we were served.
The yacht is very comfortable, with only 3 guest cabins. For a 90 foot yacht, having so few guest cabins means lots of space. Each cabin has an ensuite bathroom with a marine-size shower, conventional flush toilet, and small sink. There was plenty of closet and drawer space for two of us. The king-size bed was super comfortable. Each guest cabin has a king-size bed, so the yacht is ideally suited for couples or friends who don’t mind sharing a bed.
Bill and Chrystal anchor the yacht every night. This ensures a quiet sleep. Commercial small boat cruises often cruise during the night or start out at sunrise, which means engine noise. Bear Paw favors the slower paced cruise life over cranking out the miles.
Most of the main deck is devoted to the dining and living space. If the weather is cool, this is a great place to sit, sip on coffee, and gaze out the many windows. The upper deck has a seating area with an outdoor fire pit. At night, I enjoyed sipping on wine and gazing at the full moon and its reflection on the water.
I consulted with Chrystal to put together the itinerary. One of my party had never been to the San Juans. Another only once, and the rest of us had been there numerous times. We decided to include a standard stop, a new stop, and a unique experience. In between, we cruised past islands looking for wildlife and whales.
On our first evening, we tendered ashore at Roche Harbor to view the Colors Ceremony, a tradition since 1957. The next morning we tendered back to Roche to hike to Afterglow Vista and then on to the outdoor sculpture garden. In the afternoon we stopped at Stuart Island for a rigorous hike to the old schoolhouse and then on to the lighthouse. The last full day Bill ran us out to the Smith and Minor Island Aquatic Reserve in the “rib” (a fast, inflatable, double-hulled boat with GPS instruments). Few people ever get to these exposed islands. With a flat sea that day, we were able to visit. It was a truly special experience! We saw seals, cormorants, eagles, gulls, and guillemots. (Other times of the year puffins and rhinoceros auklets nest there.) On the return, we went through Deception Pass and then on to our night moorage off Lopez Island. On our fourth day it was drizzling, so we opted for a leisurely cruise back to Friday Harbor. On the way we looked for whales, seals, and eagles.
We were sad to disembark! The next stop for Bear Paw was Alaska. One day I hope to travel with Bill and Chrystal to see bears and experience the beauty of Alaska. They both know Southeast Alaska quite well, having worked in many capacities (including the fishery) prior to starting their charter business. I can’t imagine any better people to travel to Alaska with.
Bear Paw can get to these places but it also offers an amazing on-board experience. Bill and Chrystal are both seasoned Captains. Between them you’ll hear true stories of life on the sea. Bill has worked in many capacities at sea, including many years rescuing mariners who ran their vessels onto rocks. With him at the helm, there is no need to worry as he knows all rocks in the Salish Sea! Chrystal serves are First Mate, Chief Hospitality Officer, and Head Cook. (She too has Captain credentials and crewed her own boat for many years.) Chrystal strives to ensure guests never go hungry. The meals are creative, colorfully plated, and plentiful. Our group loves seafood, and seafood we had! Fresh crab, spotted prawns, black cod, salmon smoked by Chrystal, and halibut were some of the delectables we were served.
The yacht is very comfortable, with only 3 guest cabins. For a 90 foot yacht, having so few guest cabins means lots of space. Each cabin has an ensuite bathroom with a marine-size shower, conventional flush toilet, and small sink. There was plenty of closet and drawer space for two of us. The king-size bed was super comfortable. Each guest cabin has a king-size bed, so the yacht is ideally suited for couples or friends who don’t mind sharing a bed.
Bill and Chrystal anchor the yacht every night. This ensures a quiet sleep. Commercial small boat cruises often cruise during the night or start out at sunrise, which means engine noise. Bear Paw favors the slower paced cruise life over cranking out the miles.
Most of the main deck is devoted to the dining and living space. If the weather is cool, this is a great place to sit, sip on coffee, and gaze out the many windows. The upper deck has a seating area with an outdoor fire pit. At night, I enjoyed sipping on wine and gazing at the full moon and its reflection on the water.
I consulted with Chrystal to put together the itinerary. One of my party had never been to the San Juans. Another only once, and the rest of us had been there numerous times. We decided to include a standard stop, a new stop, and a unique experience. In between, we cruised past islands looking for wildlife and whales.
On our first evening, we tendered ashore at Roche Harbor to view the Colors Ceremony, a tradition since 1957. The next morning we tendered back to Roche to hike to Afterglow Vista and then on to the outdoor sculpture garden. In the afternoon we stopped at Stuart Island for a rigorous hike to the old schoolhouse and then on to the lighthouse. The last full day Bill ran us out to the Smith and Minor Island Aquatic Reserve in the “rib” (a fast, inflatable, double-hulled boat with GPS instruments). Few people ever get to these exposed islands. With a flat sea that day, we were able to visit. It was a truly special experience! We saw seals, cormorants, eagles, gulls, and guillemots. (Other times of the year puffins and rhinoceros auklets nest there.) On the return, we went through Deception Pass and then on to our night moorage off Lopez Island. On our fourth day it was drizzling, so we opted for a leisurely cruise back to Friday Harbor. On the way we looked for whales, seals, and eagles.
We were sad to disembark! The next stop for Bear Paw was Alaska. One day I hope to travel with Bill and Chrystal to see bears and experience the beauty of Alaska. They both know Southeast Alaska quite well, having worked in many capacities (including the fishery) prior to starting their charter business. I can’t imagine any better people to travel to Alaska with.
BEAR PAW
Titanic
Amazing! Can't speak enough of how amazing this trip is and how wonderful Bear Paw is! Thank you for showing us your world Bill and Chrystal!
-T.Oliver
-T.Oliver
BEAR PAW
Fancy Nancy
Just wow!! My day trip experience on Bear Paw was amazing! Fabulous food and the yacht was over the top!! Loved the firepit area and my friends loved it!
BEAR PAW
Fantastic!
Thank you for such and amazing vacation. We enjoyed everyday of our stay. The food, excursions and scenery were fantastic. Would love to do it all over again!
Meredith, Hunter, Grace, Alexander & Caroline
Meredith, Hunter, Grace, Alexander & Caroline
BEAR PAW
Dynamite Duo
Bill and Chrystal...what a wonderful trip!!! It was the adventure of a lifetime for the four of us. We loved everything about this week and the wildlife delighted us! Chrystal's fantastic cooking kept us happy, full, and marveling how she could create such culinary deliciousness in a the galley of a boat. Bill's masterful captaining kept us on-course and successfully finding the most beautiful anchorages.
Thank you Bill and Chrystal for taking such good care of us - for inviting us into your home with such warm hospitality and custom tailoring our itinerary to perfection. You are a dynamite duo!!
With love & gratitude,
Cynthia, Erich, Devin and Annika
Thank you Bill and Chrystal for taking such good care of us - for inviting us into your home with such warm hospitality and custom tailoring our itinerary to perfection. You are a dynamite duo!!
With love & gratitude,
Cynthia, Erich, Devin and Annika
BEAR PAW
Best vacation of our lives
We have been planning this trip for so long, and you both have made it a dream come true!! From the moment we got on the boat, we knew we had the best crew ever!! All the food and drinks were amazing - Chrystal made everything look effortless. I love watching Bill and Chrystal's teamwork. You can tell they truly love what they do and are good at it! We went to so many memorable places and we love all the recommendation and fly by the seat of your pants changes due to the weather.
Thank you for making this experience better than we could have imagined. You two truly made this the best vacation of our lives!!
Until we see you again!!
Krista and Clay
Thank you for making this experience better than we could have imagined. You two truly made this the best vacation of our lives!!
Until we see you again!!
Krista and Clay
BEAR PAW
Amazing Vacation!
After I booked 6 nights, I began to have questions. Could we spend 6 nights in tight quarters with these two strangers and all get along? Could just the five of us (including 2 teen boys) all get along?? Would we get seasick? All my fears and apprehensiveness melted away as soon as we stepped foot on the boat and met Bill and Chrystal. From start to finish, Bill and Chrystal couldn't have been more gracious or accommodating.
Bill and Chrystal have a true gift of being able to read their guests. They truly want to please you and make this a trip of a lifetime. As I look to returning home, I know I will miss waking up on this amazing boat and being taken care of by Bill and Chrystal. We had an amazing vacation. Thank you with all of our hearts!!
Bill and Chrystal have a true gift of being able to read their guests. They truly want to please you and make this a trip of a lifetime. As I look to returning home, I know I will miss waking up on this amazing boat and being taken care of by Bill and Chrystal. We had an amazing vacation. Thank you with all of our hearts!!
BEAR PAW
What a blast!
Thank you for opening up your home to us and showing us this beautiful part of the world! The paddle boarding was a blast!! Thank you for your efforts and it was truly enjoyed and appreciated. The food was delicious and plentiful. Thank you for the hard work you put in on the boat. I am sue there were challenges, but we certainly did not see them Your generosity and hospitality provided a great example of boat life!
All the best,
Matt, Melanie & Katherine
All the best,
Matt, Melanie & Katherine
BEAR PAW
Sept 2023 Alaskan Charter
My family had the most amazing Alaskan charter experience aboard Bear Paw! Captain Bill and Chrystal's expertise was far far beyond my expectation. They made my family feel comfortable, safe, fulfilled and loved. A thousand "thank you's"! would not scratch the surface of expressing my gratitude. We are truly blessed to have connected with you.
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