Bear Paw Description
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!
Cruising Area of Bear Paw
Accommodations
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
20´ Boston Whaler Outrage tender
Specification
Starlink will be available
Water Sports
2 Hobie fishing kayaks available - for independent fishing and exploring. Depth sounder, self propelled peddle style.
Kayaks, hobie kayaks, paddle boards, fishing, crabbing, shrimping. Guests must purchase fishing license in advance.
Rods and reels will be provided, guests are encouraged to bring lures. Crab and shrimp pots are provided. Inquire for more details.
Scuba Diving 
Entertainment
Yacht is wheelchair accessible, but does not meet ADA requirements. Please inquire for more info.
Cuisine
Green Initiatives
All LED lighting throughout.
Bear Paw Crew Profile
Captain
Chef/mate
Bill grew up hunting, fishing and flipping hot rods in Montana. One day a friend invited him to go Sailing on Flathead Lake, Montana and life has never been the same since. Yearning for more, his two young boys and wife headed to the Caribbean to a newly purchased sight unseen sailboat to give the cruising lifestyle a whirl. Turning wrenches, doing marine mechanical repairs supported his family over the next 14 years travelling on various boats, later doing the Pacific side of the USA doing the Columbia River and eventually settled in to San Juan Island, Washington State so the sons’ would be involved in sports and finish high school. Having an established business doing marine repair, Bill also operated the Vessel Assist fleet (Now called Boat US) for the San Juan Island territory working closely with the USCG on search & rescue and salvage operations. You can imagine the tall tales of such operations and miles travelled, Bill is a story teller. Lots of bold moves and close calls in that line of business.
Remarried in 2014 to Chrystal, Bill returned to the Caribbean to operate charter boats together. Hurricanes Irma & Maria steered Bill and Chrystal to return to their roots back to the Pacific Northwest and return to their 57’ sailing ketch. Alaska has always been on the bucket list so they untied the lines in 2019 for Alaska and now call Sitka, Alaska home. Back to the land of hunting and fishing, Alaska has provided and become home under the northern lights. It is customary to raise a drink with good company for sundowner’s and raise a little yee-haw and hell-yah!!! Alaska and the Pacific Northwest lifestyle on a boat is incredible and Bill is keen to share his world with you…..especially on Bear Paw!!
Chrystal spent her youth playing billiards and managing a lighting showroom in Victoria, BC Canada. Her passion for the ocean began with her first 16’ power boat at age 20, to use as a Gulf Island hopper for the weekend get aways, packing a tent to pitch under the apple trees at Port Browning, Pender Island to enjoy the live music. Three upgraded boat later, expanding her cruising grounds, solo handed, she met Bill in Friday Habor, Wa and soon married, on a yacht of course! The shared dream of sailing away in to the sunset on a path to anywhere was the plan!! Chrystal does admit power boats are better……you never miss a happy hour destination that way! Especially when your island hopping!!
Food is Chrystal’s passion. Hands down, the reason for living. Accompanied with good company and fine drink, life doesn’t get any better. Her casual approach to dining is inclusive and your welcome to hang out in the galley!! Chrystal has taken a special interest since being in Alaska in smoking salmon. This is a perfect opportunity for guests to learn how to smoke your own fish if your out there catchin it!! Chrystal is happy to accommodate dietary needs and likes to cook from scratch…….not a box!! Homemade breads, BBQ’, fresh caught fish and smoked meats are Chrystal’s favorite items to share with guests.
Chrystal also holds a USCG license, complimenting Bill’s license which makes them a formidable team. Combined, Bill and Chrystal know the San Juan Islands’ and Gulf Islands’ thoroughly and have spent the last 3 years discovering what SE Alaska has to offer. Thousands of miles covered together and more to discover. Bear Paw is a dream come true and awaits new friends to join.
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.
Bear Paw Calendar
Bear Paw does currently not provide a calendar or bookings list. Please inquire for more information.
Bear Paw Rates / week
The prices shown are for the entire yacht for a week-long (7 nights) charter.Low price: $36,000
(normal rate)High price: $45,000
(normal rate)The high and low prices of this yacht depend on both the number of guests and the traveling season. Send us an inquiry for exact pricing.
Bear Paw Special Offer!
Discount: $1,000!
Offer: Book Bear Paw in Alaska this 2024 summer and get a $1000 bonus! Home port is Sitka.
Old price: $36,000 - $45,000 / week
New price: $35,000 - $44,000 / week
Minimum nights: 2
Book before: Feb/01/2024
Travel between: May/01/2024 - Oct/31/2024
Yacht terms: All Inclusive
An all-inclusive charter covers all provisioning and running expenses. This includes a captain and crew that is fully trained and committed to your safety and enjoyment of your trip. A chef will provide the kind of exceptional, personalized meal preparation that you would expect of a five-star restaurant. The listed rate may not include all local taxes, cruising permits, premium beverages and scuba activities. Inquire for more information.
ADDITIONAL RATE DETAILS
Rates are Inclusive (not including hard alcohols) Taxes, lodging fees, re-location fees, cruising permits and licenses may be extra. International sailings will have added custom fees.
All meals are included, beer and wine included. Hard Alcohol is not included. Guests are welcome to supply their own.
ALASKA RATES
MAY - SEPTEMBER
All meals are included, beer and wine included. Hard Alcohol is not included.
7 NIGHTS (TRADITIONAL) 4 PAX $42,000 5 PAX $43,000 6 PAX $45,000
A 6 guest package works out to $937.50 PER PERSON/DAY for this 8 day package!! (Sitka-Sitka)
4 NIGHTS (POPULAR) 4 PAX $26,000 5 PAX $28,000 6 PAX $30,000
A 6 guest package works out to $1000 per person/day for this 5 day package!! (Sitka-Sitka)
2 NIGHTS (MINIMUM) 4 PAX $16,000 5 PAX $17,000 6 PAX $18,000
A 6 guest package works out to $1000 per person/day for this 3 day package!! Amazing rate for an amazing Alaskan experience.
Note: City of Sitka tax is 5% for sales <$12,000. There is a cap on tax for bookings of a family unit. Inquire for more information. Fuel surcharge is applicable for charters ending or starting in a different port like Juneau or Petersburg. Add $4000 to the charter fee to cover the fuel for the repositioning and delete the tax in doing so.
WASHINGTON STATE/SAN JUAN ISLANDS
SEPTEMBER - MAY: Pick up & Drop off locations are negotiable. Anacortes, Bellingham and Friday Harbor are all options.
All meals, beer and wine are included. Preference sheet to be provided by guests. 6.5% Sales tax applies.
7 NIGHTS (TRADITIONAL) 4 PAX $36,000 5 PAX $38,000 6 PAX $40,000
6 guests works out to $833.33 per person/day
4 NIGHTS (POPULAR) 4 PAX $20,000 5 PAX $22,000 6 PAX $24,000
6 guests works out to $800 per person/day
2 NIGHTS (MINIMUM) 4 PAX $10,000 5 PAX $11,000 6 PAX $12,000
6 guests works out to $800 per person/day. Great deal!!
REPOSITIONING VOYAGE & INSIDE PASSAGE
Trip Northbound - May 2024 Dates are flexible with guest inquiry to book it.
Trip Southbound - SEPTEMBER 2024 Dates are flexible with guest inquiry to book
The repositioning voyage will depart from Ketchikan to Friday Harbor or visa versa. This is the most highly desirable “trip of a lifetime” to do the Inside Passage of beautiful British Columbian coastline as we visit multiple harbors along the way. An effort will be made to find the elusive Spirit Bear during our voyage. This trip will cover the Queen Charlotte´s, various Gulf Islands and the San Juan Islands. This is a 14+ day trip and custom priced.
MOTHERSHIPPING SERVICES
$4,000 PER DAY FOR UP TO 8 GUESTS
Bear Paw is never underway but positioned at a predetermined location, near or in Sitka Harbor. Tender services provided from shore to vessel.
Will sleep up to 8 but note, there is 3 king sized staterooms, additional bedding can be provided using the same three staterooms. Up to the guests to determine their sleeping arrangements within their staterooms.
All meals are included, beer and wine included. Hard Alcohol is not included, as per Alaska State Law
Bear Paw Guest Reviews
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
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
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
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!!
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
