The Island Caper

The Island Caper is the largest and most comfortable boat dedicated to whale watching in the Pacific Northwest. She is also one of the most comfortable tour boats on the West Coast. That is why PACT '95's "Young America" team hired us to be their VIP boat during the America's Cup sailboat races held in San Diego in 1995. We took thousands of their corporate sponsors & guests out to watch the races.

The Caper can handle groups up to 149. Anywhere from 20 to 120 passengers is ideal for day trips. She is an extremely stable vessel and all of our cruises are within the calm, protected waters of the San Juan Islands.

The Caper has these features and more:

  • More railing space per person
  • Stability for viewing and photo taking
  • Seats for everyone, both inside and outside
  • The front half of the upper deck covered for bad weather or sun
  • Fully carpeted throughout
  • Wheelchair accessible with no stairs getting on or off the boat.
  • 2 large, clean restrooms located on the main deck
  • Our own area close to the boat for loading and unloading buses
  • FREE PARKING for cars and buses
  • Superb public address system and sound system with 32 speakers throughout
  • Climate controlled seating inside for ALL passengers
  • Forward, aft & upper deck outside seating for all passengers
  • Plenty of room in and outdoors for ceremonies or entertainment
At 110 feet long and 22 feet wide, the Caper is a very stable cruising ship. Traveling at her normal cruise of 13.5 knots, a lot of water can be covered in a day. She has a complete galley that includes two refrigerators, two freezers, trash compactor, commercial oven and range, two microwaves, and plenty of storage and counter space.
For overnight cruises, she has 7 two-passenger bunkrooms and 2 heads (restrooms) - one with a shower and the other with a tub/shower combination.

She also has a washer and dryer. She even has a hot tub under hatches, for Inside Passage Cruises, in the aft deck. The main deck has full walk around decks and two enclosed cabins. One cabin has sofas, easy chairs, and an entertainment center (CD player, stereo cassette deck, top quality speakers, 25" color TV , and VCR). The other cabin has tables and chairs for dining, outside viewing or just relaxing. The upper deck has plenty of seating and the forward 1/3 is covered with a sunshade offering outdoor viewing of some of the most spectacular scenes to be found.

The Caper and crew are licensed by the United States Coast Guard and fully insured. We have been cruising the waters of Washington, British Columbia, and Southeast Alaska since 1962 and would love to share our world with you.

P/V Island Caper:

  • Purchased 1990 Glouster, Massachusetts. Brought to Bellingham on it’s own keel thru the Panama Canal, consuming 50,000 gallons of diesel fuel, in thirty two 24 hour days.

  • 110 feet long, built entirely out of aluminum
  • 22 feet of beam, 6 feet of draft

  • main power 3-12v.71 G.M.C. diesel engines, 750 horsepower each

  • 3 generators-1-371-30kw 3 phase, 1 northern lights 20kw 3 phase and 1 onan 8kw

  • main engines air start --- generators electric start

  • top speed 21 knots,  cruise speed 13.5 knots.

  • propellers 3- 34”  by 32” – 4 blade

  • air controls – 2 stations, one in pilot house, one topside.

  • 4 air compressors 1 driven off center main engine, 3 electric compressors, 1 -5 horse, 1- 7 horse, and 1 -1 horse.

  • 8,600 gallons fuel capacity

  • 1,600 gallons potable water capacity

  • 65 gallons lube capacity
  • 50 gallons hydrolic oil capacity
  • 2 horse power salt water pump, 2 horse power fresh water pump
  • 5 horse power fire pump, 5 horse power main bilge pump

  • anchor tackle, 100 feet of 5/8" chain, 600 feet  1/2" cable, 350 lb. navy anchor

  • 600 feet ½ inch cable, 350 lbs. navy anchor

  • 1 - 600 foot 1” amstel emergency line

  • power capstan aft deck

  • 1 – 16 foot telescopic crane (for lifting skiffs topside on northern trips)

  • electric heat and hotwater heat throughout boat

  • potable hot water capacity 135 gallons

  • 350 gallon hot tub (under hatches back deck)
  • washer-dryer
  • complete galley
  • 60 cubic feet of refrigeration, 35 cubic feet freezer capacity

  • 7 guest bunk rooms, 2 beds each, 1 crew bunk room 3 beds

  • 4 heads (2 topside with toilet and basin, 2 heads below deck, one with toilet, basin and shower, one with toilet, basin, shower and bathtub)

  • 132 valves throughout vessel, 128 switches throughout vessel

  • 4' by 18' boarding step at stern with stair to aft deck

  • 1 - 16' loading ramp

  • TV, VCR, CD, tape player, and AM/FM radio

  • U.S.C.G Licensed 149 capacity  

  • seat 100 passengers inside

  • seat 100 passengers outside  

  • front half upper deck covered with bimini top

  • ENGINE AND GENERATOR ROOM TOURS AVAILABLE

  • Navigational equipment