Best Deal on Lodging in Prince William Sound

Alaskan Boaters Base Camp: We are here for Alaskans, not tourists. Have you checked out our supposed competitor’s prices (if you can find them that is)? Wow, pretty expensive to stay in a plywood shack in the middle of the black fly capital of Prince William Sound surrounded by large commercial fishing fleets. They are also loaded with hidden fees which is typical of the tourist industry. We operate differently: our goal is to provide comfortable lodging that Alaskans and their friends and family can afford with no hidden fees - our prices include everything. We are the only ones that post a complete price list for services with everything included.  For years I have seen businesses in Prince William Sound  cater to industrial tourism with their prices jacked up for the one time customers. Here on the Cathy G we cater to Alaskans who are repeat customers. All the amenities on the Cathy G are designed to fulfill the needs of Alaskans and their guests. We anchor the Cathy G in remote locations away from the noisy and dirty commercial fishing districts. Unlike the land based lodges that are stuck in one location, we move near to the best fishing, hunting or wildlife viewing locations. We offer meals included or you can save some money and bring your own food to cook up in the fully equipped galley, Most Alaskans enjoy cooking themselves especially when they have freshly caught fish and shrimp to cook up! The Cathy G galley has a full sized propane range and an infrared BBQ. Each room has a single and double bed and there are four rooms. Rooms are $150 per night (double occupancy) or $75/person/night and all the amenities of the boat are included with no hidden fees. Boat owners, we don’t charge a docking fee like some land based lodges and if you want to sleep on your boat while your guests stay on the Cathy G, that’s ok - you are also welcome to the all the amenities of the Cathy G. Bookings are best by email at ak_explorer@hotmail.com  or call Heidi at (907) 362 1290. We have many customers that have been using our services over the years so you need to reserve ahead.

SORRY NO TOURISTS PLEASE (ESPECIALLY FORIEGN TOURISTS) - OUR SERVICES ARE FOR ALASKANS, THEIR GUESTS AND MEMBERS OF THE US ARMED FORCES.

Off The Grid Freezer 12 Volt Sundanzer DCF 225

I’m more than happy to tell folks about a product that I purchased when it worked as advertised! In this case, it worked better than advertized which is VERY unusual! While refitting the R/V Cathy G we wanted to make the boat as energy efficient as possible. Installing 12 Volt battery banks to run appliances cuts down on generator time. Eventually we will recharge the battery banks with wind generators which will further cut down on diesel usage. A freezer is a must have for the type of marine services we offer, whether it is research support or boaters base camp or hunting base camp, we need a freezer. First we looked at propane freezers but having a full time propane appliance running on the boat even when we are off the boat makes me worry about a fire. Our other choice was 12 Volt. My first thought was it would be wimpy and take forever to freeze anything. The other concern was how much power it would use. So I did a web search and first looked at Norcold since my Norcold fridge/freezer has been very dependable for the last 6 years. They didn’t have a chest type freezer. Next was Sundanzer. Their model  DCF 225 chest freezer would fit the location I wanted to put it. The price for these 12 Volt freezers were of course much higher than an equivalent size 110V freezer so I wanted to check one out before forking out the money.  Since I have learned in the past not to go by on-line reviews only, I went to the nearest Sundanzer dealer which was Alaska Battery on East Potter Drive in Anchorage. I met with the owner and he named several outfits that were using them without any complaints. The freezer looked well built and was thick with insulation and I noticed the Electrolux logo on the lid handle. I did a little more research and found that Electrolux in Sweden make the cabinet. Electrolux has been manufacturing quality products as long as I can remember so I ordered the Sundanzer. It end up, with shipping, costing $1420 and took about a week to get to Anchorage. We got it on the boat, wired it in, turned it on and: nothing. I heard nothing. Opened the lid the light came on then I noticed frost forming but it didn’t make any noise. I’ve never had such a quiet freezer. Next came the big test: we loaded it up with a load of food and it took less time to freeze it than my 110V freezer of the same size! Now after a full season of use it still freezes faster than the old 110V freezer and is still quiet (I still regularly lift the lid to check if it is running!) As for the power consumption, we wired it to 6 X 6 Volt batteries. It runs for over a week without charging so there was no problem there. There are also lights on that circuit as well as the main fresh water supply pump. If I lived in a house I would run one these so I would not have worry about my food spoiling during a power outage, not to mention the power saving especially at Alaska’s electricity rates. Alaska Battery http://www.absak.com has been my choice for off grid supplies, the owner is very helpful and their prices are in line with what you find on the web. Their number is 1-907-562-4949

Matt

The best off grid water heater 1.15.13

Every once and while you run across a product worth talking about. For over 8 years we have lived on our research vessel the Cathy G. We are constantly improving the boat to be more energy efficient with less generator time. Last year we decided to switch to an on-demand hot water supply. First we looked at the more commonly purchased on-demand water heaters sold in Anchorage. Most of them required 110V power for ignition. There was one model that generated the power to ignite the burner with a small generator that ran off the water flow. These units were very expensive and had lots of bad reviews, mostly complaining about break downs and the costly repairs. Then I looked up an Italian model I used in the bush years ago. The company had changed hands and the new manufacturer was very proud of their water heater. It would have taken several years to recoup the costs. One thing that was common with all of these water heaters was that the parts were hard to get and they don’t honor the warranty unless a certified installer installed it - so you could not work on it yourself. Well that’s a problem if you live in the bush or on a boat. You need to be able to install and maintain it yourself or have a spare so you can have hot water while you ship out your heater to get repaired. The next water heater I checked out was an Eccotemp. They had one that used a couple of D batteries for the ignition and was supposed to operate with low water pressure. The other thing that attracted me to this water heater was that all the parts were cheap and listed on line. We purchased it through Amazon.com. This heater was a BIG disaster. The Eccotemp hot water heater would not stay lit longer than a few seconds. The company told me to over ride the high temp safety sensor to get it to stay on and it would still not stay lit. Next they said to increase the water flow and pressure. We went from 5.7 gallons per minute to 11 gallons per minute. The water pressure went from 60 psi to 80 psi (more pressure than in most homes in Alaska!) The Eccotemp was still 100% unreliable. It would shut down just after you started your shower and to get the burner started you had to turn on and shut off the water 10 times before it may start again. When it did run you could not turn on the cold water or the burner would shut off. After all was said and done, all the water supply modifications and extra pumps cost many times more than the Eccotemp and we still had no reliable hot water system. We were very disappointed with the company claiming their product is good for ‘off the grid’ use. Obviously they are just using the term ‘off the grid’ as a sales gimmick and of course they wouldn’t take it back. I continued my search for an affordable and reliable on demand water heater that didn’t need electricity and this is when I ran into an advert on Craigslist:

“On-demand 88000btu tankless water heater - endless hot water $349.00”

I called the Ketchikan, Alaska number:  907-617-6286. The owner Mr. Walker Pryor answered and I proceeded to grill him on all the short comings that the Eccotemp had. He pointed out that his water heaters were built with high quality parts and were used by people who truly lived off the grid. Happy with the answers I got from Mr. Pryor, I ordered one. When the water heater arrived in a few days, I switched back to my old 5.7 gpm pump and installed the heater. In my research, I had heard of debris clogging the inlet screen on these types of water heaters so I installed a screen filter, the type used for pressure washers, they are clear and easy to clean. Right off the bat, this machine performed as advertised with no shut downs. You can turn on the cold water at the same time as the hot and the burner keeps going. It also has extra temperature settings for the seasons which I have never seen on any of the other water heaters plus it displays the output water temperature which is very handy. With the standard burner temperature control and water flow valve you can fine tune the water temperature. Since we installed this water heater we have had a large research group on board, numerous hunting groups and many groups of Alaskan boaters stay on board. We have had no problems with this water heater – it performed perfectly - some guests said the water was hotter than their shower at home. The only electricity it uses is 2 D cell batteries and we use a Shurflo 12 volt 5.7 gpm pump. I highly recommend Alaska Tankless Hot Water Heater LLC.

 
Oh and the Eccotemp water heater - I gave it away to a backpacking hostel! I hope you International backpackers enjoy the invigorating and refreshing showers supplied with endless glacier water - but before showering, please familiarize yourself with the treatment for hypothermia.

Matt

Prince William Sound Shrimping Spring 2013 1.2.2013

Getting to the last of the seasons shrimp in the freezer? Time now to plan next year’s shrimping adventure! I switched to the 37 inch diameter ladner stackable shrimp pots and noticed an increase in the amount of shrimp I harvested. The stackable pots were very handy when transporting as they didn’t take much room on the deck and were quick to empty and redeploy. I got a good deal on my pots, lines, buoys and bait at Donalson Company in Anchorage www.donalsoncompany.net Donalson Company also has lead line which I use to weight my pots so they will stay put and not drift off to the deep with the currents. For bait I prefer the pellets that Donalson Company carries. I’ve tried the canned cat food and fish carcasses but they attracted lots of fish, snails and crabs which either ate or ran off the shrimp. The only intruders I get now are the occasional octopus which we keep for dinner. If it eats good, then its good eating and they been eating my shrimp! For the 2013 shrimp season Aquetec LLC will have the Prince William Sound Lodging Boat R/V Cathy G based near the entrance of Culross Passage. We have 4 state rooms each with a double and a single bed. Rooms rent out for $150 per room per night. That’s $75 per person if you bring your own food and cook your own meals. We know many Alaskans love to cook and entertain their friends and family. Alternatively you can have meals provided at $65 a day per person that includes breakfast, box lunch to take with you on your boat and dinner. The galley on the Research Vessel Cathy G is full size and stocked with all the cookware needed and is equipped with a 30 inch wide gas range and a BBQ. The R/V Cathy G weighs nearly 100 tons and is very stable and comfortable with plenty of open deck and a 7 foot wide fish cleaning table for you to process your fish and shrimp on. There is a full sized bathroom with endless hot showers. After a night on our boat you’ll feel fully rested and refreshed, ready for a full day of fishing and shrimping. You can check out photos of the boat on our website: www.princewilliamsoundhunting.com

Don’t have your own boat? No problem, we operate Whittier Water Taxi with the Bayhawk which is a 31 foot Bay Weld boat designed to land on shore with heated cabin. It is Alaskan built for Alaskan waters. Aquetec LLC will be offering overnight shrimping tours for those of you who don’t have a boat. Our overnight shrimping glacier viewing tours are based off the R/V Cathy G and include lodging. During the day we deploy the shrimp pots then visit some of the local glaciers. We often see whales, Dall’s porpoise, northern sea otters and a large variety of sea birds on these tours. In the evenings, enjoy the comforts of the R/V Cathy G with home cooked Alaskan dinners - shrimp will be on the menu of course! This is a great tour for you and your out of State guests. We have many local Alaskans who return every year with their friends and relatives. This tour fills up quickly - unlike most boat tours in Alaska, ours is a personal tour with only your group aboard and we tailor the tour to what you want to see. More info on the shrimping glacier tour will be posted on our next web site update on www.princewilliamsoundlodging.com  or call Heidi for more details (907) 362 1290.

Matt

Prince William Sound Oysters 11.15.12

Alaskan oysters are the best and Perry Island has got them for sale. We called up ‘Royal Wave One’ on the VHF last week and picked up a few dozen oysters to make my favorite oyster stew. Growing up on the Oregon coast our Dad would take us to the historic Oyster Bar in the old part of Portland. I would always order the oyster stew. Having acquired a taste for oysters at a young age, I enjoy sampling oysters everywhere I travel. The next best oysters to the Alaskan oysters, that I’ve tasted, are the Knysna oyster in South Africa. In Knysna we rented an oyster boat and sampled 6 different types of oysters grown in that area, while driving around the oyster farms in the Knysna lagoon. There we found an oyster very much like the Alaskan oysters except with the warm waters of the Indian ocean they would go into spawning cycle later in the summer. Just like oysters from the lower 48, when they go into the spawn, their flesh turns white and fluffy and tastes like an old dish rag. Anyone trying oysters for the first time slurps down one of these spawning oysters, they will swear off oysters for ever – yuck! Unfortunately most the upscale restaurants in Alaska serve lower 48 oysters, even when they’re spawning. When I order oysters, I always ask if they are Alaskan. Most will tell you if they are. But beware, I have been told they were Alaskan and was then served spawning oysters in Anchorage and Seward. Alaskan oysters don’t spawn as a result of the cold water, so if you get spawned oysters, send them back. Restaurants should tell you where their seafood comes from, especially shellfish. Of all the restaurants that I have sampled oysters at, only one did the waiter tell us that it wasn’t a good time to order the oysters because they were spawning. That was at a restaurant on the Victoria Waterfront in Cape Town Harbor, South Africa called Quay Four. I was shocked and impressed, never had a waiter ever warned me of the quality of their oysters. However, you don’t have to travel around the world to get the best oysters - just to Perry Island in Prince William Sound. Give them a call on Channel 16 on the VHF. There call sign is ‘Royal Wave One’ and they will meet you at the oyster barge. The couple working the farm this year has brought the quality of the oysters up - we noticed the oysters are much cleaner than before. Remember to bring cash. Enjoy!
Matt

Alaskan Boaters Base Camp 9.8.12

We have moved to Shotgun cove for a few days so we can catch up on e-mails. We are transporting hunters this weekend with the water taxi and next week we will return to Culross cove. We still have rooms available for this weekend. Often boaters waiting to launch in Whittier see our notices posted in the window of the Aquetec suburban parked next to the launch waiting zone. We try to keep our current location posted there. You can contact us on the VHF: the base camp boat is the Cathy G and the water taxi boat is Bayhawk or call us on the cell 3621290 and 3621291. A Labor Day weekend storm really put the dampers on everyone’s holiday weekend: many boats holed up most of the weekend dragging anchor all night. We had a couple of boats tied up to the Cathy G at the last minute so they could get a rest from having to tend their boats all night. We met some new friends - it is great hearing everyone’s experiences boating around the sound. There are so many boaters who have been playing in the sound for over twenty years and now their kids have boats and are visiting the same places they went while growing up. Alaska is really a small place when it comes to Alaskans - when we meet folks, after a while you realize they know someone you have known for years. The folks we met last weekend started out exploring jackpot bay when their kids were little and their only boat was a raft. Now Mom and Dad have their own boat kitted out for them and their dog and the kids have their own skiff to explore the sound. We also got to spend time with a couple who had a Tolman boat that they built themselves. They also have spent many years boating in Prince William Sound. The Tolman was their third one they built and the great craftsmanship really showed.

Check out our Base Camp Boat details on:

http://www.princewilliamsoundlodging.com/boaters-base-camp.html

Alaska Boaters Base Camp 8.12.12

We are back in Louis Bay, Knight Island with flat seas and blue skies. What a great time we had at Glacier Island with the Alaska SeaLife Center sea lion capture crew. The Alaska SeaLife Center was capturing Steller sea lions to collect data on the health of the Prince William Sound sea lion population. They also attached satellite tracking devises that will give vital information to researchers. On this research cruise we had Jeff Corwin of Ocean Mysteries with his film crew documenting the sea Lion research. Jeff and his crew were also great fun to work with. The R/V Cathy G proved to be an excellent base camp for the research team to work off of. There are lots of boaters cruising the sound right now chasing salmon, ling cod and halibut. Deer season is open and we are hearing several boaters on the radio reporting deer sightings on the beaches. A few days ago a commercial fishing boat reported seeing a group of deer swimming between the islands. The good weather has hung around for a week now and it looks like the next few days will be nice too. We still have rooms available for this week. The last group  did very well on the lingcod and rockfish as well as halibut and they found our 7 foot fish cleaning table very handy. Check out  www.princewilliamsoundlodging.com  for more info on the Alaskan Boaters Base Camp or call (907) 362 1291.

Alaska Vacation Planning 3.27.12

Alaska 2012 – Are you planning a trip of a life time but you don’t want to do any of those industrial touristy tours? You know, where everyone is herded around like cattle and you have to elbow your way to the front to get a view; standing in line to go to the bathroom or waiting for stragglers to get on the bus? Then there is a crowd holding up everything you do. All the services are over whelmed such as restaurants that are maxed out with stressed out servers. You end up waiting until you are starved then pay top price and get served a meal that rates along with your old high school cafeteria. When you get home you show off your photos and everyone guesses where each photo was taken because millions have taken the same cattle tours with the same photos. Unfortunately this is the case for most that come to Alaska. They read all those big dollar ads and are fooled into believing that’s the best way to see Alaska. They couldn’t be further from the truth. First of all those who take the industrial tour route find themselves  spending their time waiting for others , riding buses for hours, and riding trains for most of a day in each direction . You end up spending a lot of your valuable vacation time commuting. I would think most would have had enough of commuting back at home. Paying top price for a marginal experience mostly seen through a bus window or from a train doesn’t seem like a good vacation. My recommendations: first choose what you want see and experience while here. Remember Alaska covers a vast area, so unless you plan to spend a month or more here, you won’t have enough time to see everything you want. I have lived here for over 26 years and still haven’t seen everything. Next, what kind of experience do you want? Some seek a true wilderness experience where you leave the crowds and the road system behind. Others have a check list of major attractions that are must sees. You can make your once in life time Alaska vacation a truly great experience with a little research. For those who don’t have the time or patience to do the research there are small local Alaskan businesses that can plan and book your trip using other small local Alaska businesses. Going small and local means you are dealing with Alaskans that are not supportive of industrial tourism, as opposed to large out of state corporations, run by people that seldom set foot in Alaska. These small businesses know who offers good service and who has the best deal. They are also much better at matching up the customers desires with the best local Alaska business.  If this sounds like what you are looking for, check out www.sewardalaskaadventuretours.com . If an Alaska coastal adventure is what you are looking for check out www.princewilliamsoundlodging.com. We will custom tailor your Alaskan adventure to you! No waiting in line, no crowds, far from civilization, close to the wildlife.  We are a local small business and proud of it.

Alaska Sportsman Show 3.27.12

We just got back from the Mat-Su Outdoorsman Show last weekend. What great spring weather we had in Wasilla - sunshine every day, not one snow flake fell. The stadium was filled with lots of Alaskans looking for deals on the latest fishing and hunting gear and planning their trips for the year. The Mat-Su Outdoorsman Show is my favorite. Folks in the valley are really serious about fishing and hunting. They are not interested in the touristy cattle tours. I saw lots people of picking up great deals on shrimp pots and dip nets at the Donaldson booth. If you missed them they will be at the Great Alaska Sportsman Show in Anchorage next weekend. I’ll be getting some of their larger shrimp pots for this season myself! Every year there is something new at the show. This year we launched our Alaskan Boaters Base Camp. Many boat owners stopped by the booth to see what we had to offer. Most boaters who cruise Prince William Sound have seen our Bayweld water taxi boat the Bayhawk. Some boat owners have rode on the Bayhawk for the late season deer hunts. Our Boater’s Base Camp the R/V Cathy G has been refitted using the input from many of our friends who are avid boaters and long time Alaskans. The only thing that everyone wanted that we won’t have is gas for sale. Unfortunately to have a legal and safe way to sell gas off the boat would be very expensive. However we did completely remodel the galley to accommodate up to 12 guests and added 4 state rooms. The other big change is we added a 17’ by 16’ addition to the house and a 7 foot wide fish cleaning table on the back deck. We know that many Alaskans are great cooks and enjoy cooking up the days catch. So we offer lodging deals where you cook your own meals and save. Check out the web site www.princewilliamsoundlodging.com. We will be posting special events and deals on our face book page. I would like thank all our past customers who came to visit us at the show - we really enjoy hearing about everyone’s adventures. One thing I especially enjoy at the Mat-Su Outdoorsman Show is seeing all the parents bringing their kids to the show and encouraging them to get involved in the great outdoors and not sitting in front of a TV. Looking forward to seeing you all out in Prince William Sound this year!

12.16.11 Alaskan Boater's Base Camp

New: starting June 2012 - a floating base camp in Prince William Sound designed for Alaskan boat owners. Hi, Matt Cline here: I’m the owner/operator of Aquetec LLC, Whittier Water Taxi. Many local boaters are familiar with my boat, the Bayhawk, a 32 foot Bay Weld boat. For years I have been operating my water taxi service catering to Alaskans and their guests. I recognized years ago that most water taxi services cater to the summer tourists, not Alaskans. Having operated my own boats in and around Prince William Sound for over 25 years, my friends and I have had to camp, due to the limited room on the boat. One never gets a good night’s sleep worrying about the boat all night. Then there is all the camp gear we had to load up and haul out. The load of gear didn’t help the fuel mileage and consumed a lot of time packing and unpacking again after we got home. After all, we are supposed to be having fun but often the trips end up being a lot of work. We looked at staying at the remote lodges but once again they were priced more for tourists than Alaskans and they are located in the middle of commercial fishing districts. We are refitting our 76 foot, 111 ton Covacevich trawler, Cathy G, into a base camp designed for Alaskan boaters. The Cathy G will have 4 rooms available with double and single bunks in each room. The galley and dining area is designed for groups up to 12. We have always enjoyed cooking up gourmet meals when camping out. On the Cathy G we give the option of meals provided or cook up your own meals in our full galley or barbeque on the back deck - the choice is yours. There is nothing better than cooking up freshly caught fish, shrimp, wild game or crab. Our 17 by 22 foot heated sheltered deck is very handy for bad weather days or late season deer hunting. You can clean your fish or process your game on our 7 foot wide fish cleaning table with plenty of space to process your fish and game before taking it home. We know many Alaskan like to vacuum pack or can their fish fresh. Bring your vacuum packer or canner – there is plenty of room in the sheltered deck to process your fish. Got guests coming or a group of friends? You can fish or hunt all day and come back to the Cathy G with all the comforts of home but located close to the fishing or hunting hot spots. Unlike expensive land based lodges, we can move close to the hot spots and away from the crowds or the commercial fishing districts. Whether it is early spring shrimping, spring or fall black bear season, salmon, halibut or lingcod season or deer season, we will be located close by. We all know how Alaskans like to entertain their out of state relatives and friends, but most don’t have enough room on their boat for everyone sleep or a galley to cook dinner. On the Cathy G the large galley fully stocked with all the cook ware you need, allows you to show off your culinary skills and make your guests envious of our great Alaskan lifestyle. No more worrying about dragging anchor at night - you can get a good night’s sleep tied up to the Cathy G. Do you love to cruise the sound with other friends that also have boats? You can rent the whole boat and cook up your own meals for only $700 a night for up to 8 guests. That’s less than half what the land based lodges charge and there are no hidden fees or added on taxes. Once again they are designed more for the tourists. Don’t want to cook your own meals? We can provide meals for you at $75 per person per day. That includes breakfast, box lunch to go and a hearty Alaskan style dinner of seafood or steaks. We also take requests for your favorite Alaskan dish - just let us know well ahead of time so we can stock up. Got guests that don’t want to fish or hunt all day but want an Alaskan wilderness experience? For an extra cost we can take those guests on a glacier wildlife tour or a hike. Maybe they always wanted to try kayaking or kayak fishing? We offer many wilderness activities at very reasonable rates and all excursions are guided by me, Captain Matt or Captain Heidi. Check our Alaska Boaters Base Camp page on www.princewilliamsoundlodging.com

12.4.11 Prince William Sound Deer Hunting Nov 2011

November started with large storm fronts, high winds and heavy freezing spray. The hunters that were in the field at that time reported much higher winds than what was forecast, but even though the weather was less than ideal, there was plenty of deer harvested. Some hunters felt the noise of the wind helped them stalk the deer but the wind chill was rough on any exposed skin. Their hands would go numb while dressing out a deer. After breaking some low temperature records across the state we got a good dump of snow. By the end of November the snow was chest deep on some of the northerly islands and knee to waist deep on Montague Island. Check out your tent and make sure it can hold up to strong winds and a snow load. Often new tents come with weak poles. Quality tent manufacturers offer stronger poles, more suited for Alaskan conditions - always get the stronger poles! Tarps that are set up right can catch and shed the snow and can also be set up to deflect the main gusts of wind off your tent. When shopping for tarps, look for heavy weight tarps as they flap less in the wind and usually have better eyelets. This is the time of the year to dig out the snow shoes and plastic sled. If you are renting one of the Forest Service cabins, or bringing a wood stove for your tent, remember to bring the chainsaw! With the deep snow, most hunters are maxing out their limits now. I just got back from Montague on December 1st with a group that limited out. They were there for our first big pineapple express of the winter. Arriving there, the snow was just over knee deep but by the time I picked them up over half of it had melted. With the fickle weather at this time of year, we often have to move the departure and pick up times to fit the weather. Most experienced Alaskan hunters are very familiar with bad weather holding up hunts - that is just the way it is. You have to have a plan B and many hunters seem to have employers who will let them be flexible with their days to make it work out. Some are not so fortunate and have to cancel out or reschedule. Whittier Water Taxi does not keep your deposit for weather cancelations. When the weather turns bad and trips are backed up, the groups returning from the field have priority over those deploying to the field. For more info, check out our website www.princewilliamsoundhunting.com  We post  our round trip rates to the most popular drop off spots on our web site. All rates posted are round trip, per person, all taxes and fees included NO HIDDEN FEES.

10.27.11 Alaska Deer Hunting – Prince William Sound

We started the ‘everything open’ month with rain, then got 8 days of great hunting weather and now we are back to intermittent rain with low clouds and a storm once a week. The storms have been depositing lots of kelp on the beaches. The rain has brought up the water levels in the streams making it difficult to cross some of them. It’s that time of year to dig out the canvas tents, portable wood stove and cots. I would recommend bringing or renting a raft to get around the shore or to cross the flooded creeks. It does not need to be a big raft just something to paddle around obstructions or across a lagoon. A chain saw is also very handy during the late fall season as there is plenty of dead and downed wood to harvest. Remember to pack your gear in waterproof containers (totes) or bags as it could be raining on your way out or back. It is also best to put your rifles in hard cases. Port Chalmers Cabin has a new diesel heater, installed this summer. Five gallons of fuel lasts 2 ½ days and set on low, it will cook you out. The snow line is still up high in the southern half of the sound. Sea water temperatures are hovering around 43 to 42 degrees F near Montague Island.  We have seen an increase in bookings in November this year - many are past customers wanting to try out their hunting skills when the snow is deeper on the high ground. Whittier Water Taxi will be transporting through December or till the weather stops us. Check our web site for more info on the services offered by Whittier Water Taxi   www.whittierwatertaxi.com  Our hunting web site is www.princewilliamsoundhunting.com  You can get a hold of me: Captain Matt Cline at 907-362-1291 or Captain Heidi at 907-362-1290. We are collecting info and hunters’ photos to add to the princewilliamsoundhunting web site to help hunters plan their hunts. If you have info, tips, recipes or photos that you wish to add to the site e-mail us at ak_explorer@hotmail.com

Whittier Water Taxi Alaska Fall Black Bear

September 14, 2011 prime time for Alaska Black Bear hunting. I just returned from Knight Island with a group of Alaskan hunters. They were very successful at harvesting a couple of nice black bears. One hunter got his with a bow - his first bear with a bow.  After harvesting their bears they saw 10 more bears in the area. I saw two bears just during the time it took to load the boat on the return trip to Whittier. The rainy weather doesn’t bother the bears - they keep on feeding even in a down pour. Some of the bears’ bellies only cleared the ground by a couple inches. The hunters kept a fire going and a lantern burning all night to keep the bears away from the tent while they slept. The only bear problem they had was one stole away with a 5 gallon gas jug. These hunters took great care to protect their food and gear from raiding bears. October is the last good month to hunt black bear in Prince William Sound. After October, food starts to get harder for the bears to find and many start hibernating. These hunters brought a raft to check out the coves and to harvest some rock fish. Kayaks also work well to explore the coves in the area. Heidi with http://www.sewardalaskaadventuretours.com/ rents out sit inside fishing kayaks and a 12 foot raft with a 6hp 4 stroke outboard. Just because you are camping, there is no need to chow down on MRE’s and freeze dried food. I noticed our experienced hunters bring Dutch ovens and often brag about the gourmet meals they make at camp. A little meal planning before departing to the bush will make the hunt more enjoyable – it doesn’t matter what the weather does. We still have some open times with the Water Taxi in October but they are filling fast. For more info on services offered by Whittier Water Taxi check out  www.whittierwatertaxi.com or call  Matt 1-907-362-1291. For raft or kayak rental call Heidi 1- 907-362-1290.

Whittier Water Taxi 2011 Deer Hunter Transport

Prince William Sound Alaska deer season is just starting. Whittier Water Taxi is gearing up for our favorite buck season. This is the time to hunt Prince William Sound deer if you are looking for bucks in velvet. From August 1st to September 30th is bucks only. I personally enjoy hiking to the high ground and taking in the spectacular views from atop the mountains on the islands of Prince William Sound. Around the upper alpine slopes is where I have harvested some of the nicest velvet bucks ever. When going after these high ground bucks I go prepared to bone them out on the spot. Two boned out bucks is my load limit for the hike back down to camp. Due to the warm weather of this early season we carry black pepper to sprinkle on the meat to keep the flies away and good quality game bags are a must. I always look for the real finely woven cloth bags. The tight weave will prevent flies from laying eggs on the meat. I find the old style army laundry bags work perfectly as well. When hiking to the high ground, remember to carry plenty of water. A water filter will cut down on the amount of water you have to carry. The hike to the high ground can be hot and humid but once on top, expect a cool breeze. You might consider bringing a light wind breaker to prevent a chill from the evaporating perspiration. We have hunted Prince William Sound for over 25 years and enjoy filling our freezer with the delicious table fare it has to offer. Whittier Water Taxi is a licensed State of Alaska game transporter #928. We offer the most affordable rates and the most reliable service. Check out our Prince William Sound hunting web site for information on hunter transportation and rates at www.princewilliamsoundhunting.com You can reach me, Captain Matt Cline at 907 362 1291 or email ak_explorer@hotmail.com Members of our military should remember to ask for our active armed forces discount. Whittier Water Taxi is a local Alaskan Disabled Veteran owned business.

Prince William Sound Kayak Fishing

Whittier Water Taxi is now renting Wilderness Systems Pungo 140 fishing kayaks.  We have been testing a pair of these very stable kayaks since this spring and our customers who have rented these kayaks have given us very positive reviews. Not only are they very stable and track nicely, they have a roomy cockpit with very comfortable seats. The Pungo 140s are lighter than most kayaks and are easy to handle in and out of the water, making your kayaking adventure more enjoyable! The increased weight capacity, storage hatches for gear and increased tracking let you go the distance in the comfort of a sit-inside kayak. Many who own these kayaks have found out how versatile these boats are and have written very good reviews about them.  Fishing from a kayak can be very challenging with a standard single kayak - a nice sized silver salmon can roll you into the water or wrap your line around the rudder and deck rigging. Not so with these kayaks - they are designed to be stable enough to fight your catch and have no snags to break your line. Our Pungo 140s have two rod holders: one behind you for while you’re paddling to your destination and one on the front deck. (No fumbling with your fishing rod while trying to maneuver around!) Wilderness Systems also installed holders for your paddle while you’re fishing and there is a removable consol for your tackle with a beverage holder. These 14 foot kayaks can carry close to the same amount of gear as a typical 17 foot single. This is perfect for those who want to explore the more remote parts of Prince William Sound and catch dinner on the same trip! Many of the islands in Prince William Sound offer some of the best rockfish, salmon and halibut fishing as well as great remote camping.  Whittier Water Taxi caters to Alaskans and their families and guests as well as independent travelers. We provide water taxi services throughout western Prince William Sound from March through December. Check out our website www.whittierwatertaxi.com  for kayak rental, kayak transport, rates, locations and all services offered or give me a call on (907) 362 1291.

Captain Matt

2011 Spring Black Bear Season

Whittier Water Taxi would like to thank everyone that went out on a spring black bear hunt with us this year. We enjoyed seeing so many local Alaskans that have used our services over the years return for another season as well as our new found friends that we met at the sportsman shows! It was an honor to transport our members of the United States Army and Air Force, many of whom are deploying overseas or have recently returned. We thoroughly enjoyed hearing the stories from the soldiers and of how they dreamed of hunting in Alaska and now got the opportunity as a result of getting a duty station here. Over the years we have had several soldiers who have transferred out of Alaska and still fly back every season to go on their traditional hunt with us. Most hunters were successful and harvested the Alaskan black bear of their dreams this year.  All got the opportunity to enjoy the great beauty of the Alaska wilderness and honed their hunting skills. One hunting tradition that we have seen an increase in over the last few years is the father - son hunting trips. With many troops having to deploy to combat, fathers have taken their sons out to the wilderness for several days of bonding. Then there are those fathers that have brought their young sons on their first hunting trip, exposing them to one of the greatest American traditions. We were so busy this bear season that we didn’t get to harvest any bears of our own but it was very rewarding to be able to provide a service that fulfilled so many hunters’ dreams. For those who didn’t get a bear this spring like us, there is always a fall black bear hunt! We like to wait till the salmon are gone and the blueberries are falling off the bushes. Berry bear is my personal favorite and I’ve always believed: if it eats good, it’s good eating! Whittier now has a taxidermy shop located at the boat harbor. They not only process the hide but also handle the meat for you. Deer season starts August 1 and it’s never too soon to plan your next hunt. We have already had soldiers book trips for the coming deer season calling from Iraq and Afghanistan. We look forward to seeing all our friends who have chosen our services over the years as well as our new clients. See you soon!

Captain Matt Cline

Whittier Water Taxi
Quality not Quantity

Prince William Sound All Day Custom Glacier, Wildlife Viewing and Shrimping Tours

Are you planning your great Alaska vacation? The calls are coming in from all states at the moment! Many of our callers have been here before but now they’re bringing guests and they want to show them the real Alaska. Do you want to go to the wilder side of Alaska, off the beaten paths you went down when you first came to Alaska? Do you want to see what you don’t get to see on the common big boat tours? Now you can explore the wilderness of Prince William Sound with an all day custom marine tour that will be your most memorable Alaskan adventure. Whittier Water Taxi caters to small groups offering custom tours covering all of the South Western Prince William Sound. Whether you’re looking for glaciers, whales, historical sites, beach combing, shrimping, berry picking, birding or wildlife viewing, we can take you to the more remote locations where the wildlife is more abundant and beyond the areas utilized by the industrial tour companies. You will see a part of Prince William Sound that is usually only accessible to a handful of local Alaskans. Our boat, the Bayhawk, is custom built for exploring these waters, is heated and fully insulated for your comfort and has a large open front deck to view and photograph from. The Bayhawk is designed to ride smoothly and is able to land on shore, providing easy access with its custom bow gate. We are a small local Alaskan business and Captain Matt has been operating his own boats in Prince William Sound and the North Gulf Coast for over 25 years, with some years clocking over 1500 hours of time on the water in one season! The advantages of touring on a small boat are: It is more personal – the focus is on you and your guests. The smaller boat is less intrusive on the wildlife with less noise and environmental impact. The boat is on your schedule and you can choose where you want to go and what you want to see. We offer an all day tour where you decide how far and how long your tour is for $150 an hour for the whole boat – with up to 6 people. An 8 to 10 hour tour is the most common request. In this tour, there is enough time to explore the area from Whittier to the South West entrance of Prince William Sound. We will see glaciers with lots of ice and plenty of wildlife including a variety of birds. With our local knowledge of the area we can show you several bird rookeries as well as marine mammal haul outs and sea otter pupping areas. Humpbacked whales are often sighted several times during our all day tours. We may also see members of the several pods of orcas that visit Prince William Sound during the summer. If you don’t have enough time for an all day tour, we also offer a 3½ hour glacier viewing/shrimping tour. We depart from Whittier to visit the black-legged kittiwake rookery in Passage Canal and then cruise on to Blackstone Bay looking out for wildlife on the way. In Blackstone Bay we will visit the tide water glaciers: Blackstone and Beloit glaciers. There are several other hanging glaciers you will see flowing from the ice field which stop short of the ocean as well as some impressive waterfalls. On the mountain sides and along the salmon streams in the bay we often see black bears. After exploring Blackstone Bay we stop at one of our shrimping hot spots and pull up our shrimp pots and check out our catch. This tour is designed for those who don’t have the time do a full day tour, giving you a taste of what Prince William Sound has to offer. We are a small local Alaskan business and our tours and water taxi service schedules fill fast so it is best to reserve your tour well ahead to ensure you get the dates you want. Whittier Water Taxi operates from mid- March through mid-December and we transport mostly Alaskans and their guests as well as independent travelers. Our fall day tours offers bird migration viewing, humpback whales, Dall porpoise, sea otters, sea lions and harbor seals to name just some of the species. For information on all our services and Alaskan adventures check the Whittier Water Taxi web site at  www.whittierwatertaxi.com If you are looking for remote public use cabins in the Prince William Sound area try http://www.princewilliamsoundcabins.com/ Our Prince William Sound Cabins website makes it easy  to book with direct links to the cabin reservation pages for the Chugach National Forest Public Use Cabins and the Alaska State Park Cabins in Western Prince William Sound.

Spring Black Bear Drop Offs

It’s spring and by now you can see the bottom of the freezer – there are just a few packets of last years fish left! Soon spring black bear season will be starting and that means fresh meat for the freezer. That’s right - black bear are good eating and spring is a choice time to harvest them. The best cuts are the rump roasts, back straps, tenderloins and ribs. Don’t waste a single scrap - many hunters I transport rave about the bear bratwursts, Italian bear sausages and breakfast bear sausages made by their local butcher shops. I have personally tried the bratwursts and summer sausages made by Pioneer Meats in the Mat-Su Valley and they are excellent. My next bear will be going to them – I can’t wait to try the breakfast sausages! Every year many hunters ask for recommendations on where to hunt in Prince William Sound. First, I must point out I’m a licensed game transporter so I can not guide you, but I can say the most successful hunters I transport are those that camp. That’s right: they camp! No cabins, no lodges, just tents – that’s the trick. Hunters who stay in cabins and lodges tend to spend too much time hanging out at the lodge or cabin. Lodges and cabins are fixed locations that the game in the area key into and avoid. If you have a bear that hangs around a cabin or lodge, more than likely it’s an immature bear trying to scavenge food from the occupants. It’s not very good sportsmanship to shoot a begging bear. In addition to this, they tend to be small and not as healthy as those that fend for themselves. Camping places you in the territory of the game. You will both hear more and see more wildlife. Often game will check out something new in their territory such as a camp. Hunters who camp not only get more game but they fork out less money. Hunters that stay in lodges are spending more than double that of hunters that camp. Let’s face it if you are spending more than $200 per person a day to hunt from a lodge maybe you should check into the price of a full beef freezer package from Mr. Prime Beef in Anchorage! Camping not only gives you the advantage of being in the territory of the game it also gives you the opportunity to distance yourself from other hunters. In a lodge you have to share the area with other lodge guests. The next most important tip I have is: Do your homework: Many hunters I transport check the forums for hunters who write about their hunts. The Alaska Department of Fish & Game has tons of info on their web site and you can call up the biologist who studies the area you are looking to hunt in. Google Earth maps will give you an idea of what the terrain is like. Also, take the right gear: if you didn’t use it the last four times out hunting, more than likely you won’t need it (unless it is safety/emergency gear). Bringing the same duplicated gear as your hunting partner is a waste of space – be sure to check each others gear and if you both have the same items, pick the better of the two and leave the extras at home. Having too much gear will bog you down loading, unloading and lugging to and from your campsite. How long should you hunt: this is very important and too often we have hunters that plan too short of a hunt. You will need a day to set up and a day to pack up and you should plan for at least 2 days of solid hunting and that’s at a minimum. Bad weather also needs to be factored in. Personally I plan for at least 5 days, which gives me three full days of hunting. Whittier Water Taxi caters to Alaskans: we provide a wide range of transportation services through out Prince William Sound. Our rates are the lowest and our service is the most reliable. We operate from mid March through mid-December. Whittier Water Taxi is a licensed big game transporter #928. We are also a licensed transporter for the Alaska State Parks. Plan your Alaskan adventure now checkout out web site www.whittierwatertaxi.com or give me a call Captain Matt 1-907-362-1291.

Whittier Water Taxi - Licensed Game Transporter #928

Hunters beware of unlicensed game transporters. There are over a dozen unlicensed game transporters in the Prince William Sound area. Many advertise that they operate out of the Whittier and Seward Boat Harbors. These illegal, under the table operators are making it easy for poachers to get transported around Prince William Sound without being documented. As all of the hunters that have been transported by Whittier Water Taxi, also known as Aquetec LLC, know, a licensed transporter is required to fill out a State of Alaska game transport form before leaving the dock and before returning from the field. This form records all the hunters’ licenses, destination, the type of game hunted and how many were harvested. In addition to this form, the transporter is required to have a written contract with each hunter. This protects the hunter from hidden charges and clarifies the drop off and pick up times. The contract also records the method of communication while in the field and emergency contact details that the transporter should call if your pick up is delayed by weather. Many find it annoying to fill out all the paper work but it’s very important - poachers prefer to take the under the table operator. That way they can come and go without notice. When I see an unlicensed transporter, I think poacher supporter. The State of Alaska hunting regulations are often changed because of poaching and undocumented take of game. This hurts all the ethical hunters in Alaska. If you go to the Great Alaskan Sportsman Show this year you can easily spot the illegal unlicensed game transporters. If you have a transporter license, you are required to display your license. Licensed game transporters are listed on the State of Alaska commercial license web site. Save and protect your right to hunt by reporting unlicensed transporters. Let’s make it tough on poachers and poacher supporters otherwise they will ruin it for the rest of us.

Whittier Water Taxi, game transporter #928. For more info on hunter drop off check out http://www.whittierwatertaxi.com/ or http://www.princewilliamsoundhunting.com/. Whittier Water Taxi is the only water taxi out of Whittier that posts our rates on our web site. All rates are quoted round trip, per person, no hidden fees or taxes and we operate from mid March through December. We are year round local Alaskans that enjoy harvesting game for the table.

Captain Matt Cline

Whittier Water Taxi at the Mat-Su Outdoorsman Show

Whittier Water Taxi spent another great weekend at the Mat-Su Outdoorsman Show in Wasilla, Alaska, networking with other businesses, both in Whittier and elsewhere in South Central Alaska, in addition to sharing memories with some of our awesome past customers and helping future customers plan their Prince William Sound adventures. This first outdoor show of the season is always a lot of fun as people are so excited about getting out on the water and enjoying another Alaskan summer, whether it’s taking the family to a rental cabin, kayaking with friends in the endless waterways of Prince William Sound, watching glaciers calve, fighting a feisty silver salmon on the end of their fishing line, waiting with anticipation to see the shrimp pots rise to the water’s surface or strategizing a hunt for black bear or Sitka black-tailed deer. With the arrival of the Sportsman Shows in Alaska, spring is finally here and Matt and Heidi Cline with Whittier Water Taxi are looking forward to helping make your 2011 wilderness adventure dreams come true. We are already open for business and have been taking numerous groups of Alaskans out for cabin rental, camping, skiing and research support. Remember, public use cabins need to be reserved 6 months ahead of time! Book early for your trip as some of the days are already full and we don’t want you to be disappointed!

http://www.whittierwatertaxi.com/

Capt. Matt