What Schooner Zodiac does

Schooner Zodiac, operated by Vessel Zodiac Corporation, is a Pacific Northwest experiential tourism company that runs scheduled and chartered sailing voyages aboard a single 160-foot, two-masted gaff topsail schooner built in 1924 and added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1982. From its Bellingham, Washington homeport at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal, the company offers three core product lines: (1) Day Sails (3-4 hour cruises including brunch, dinner, wine pairings, floating concerts, fireworks, and themed beer sails) priced $45-$125 per person with capacity for up to 49 passengers; (2) Multi-Day Sails (3-12 day expeditions to the San Juan Islands, Canadian Gulf Islands, and Desolation Sound, including lighthouse, brewery, winery, literary, and knitting-themed cruises) priced $400-$3,295 per person with up to 26 overnight passengers; and (3) Private Charters at $950/hour (minimum 2.5 hours) or $4,250/day for corporate retreats, weddings, team building, and celebrations.

The underlying technology is the vessel itself - a USCG-certified classic gaff-rigged schooner with the largest working mainsail on the U.S. West Coast (~4,000 sq ft), a 127-foot deck with polished brass and varnished mahogany/oak/teak interiors, and a 12-story mainmast. Operations are seasonal, running spring through fall, and rely on licensed captains (third-generation Mehrers) and an experienced volunteer crew. The business model is direct-to-consumer with online booking via Starboard Suite and phone reservations; ancillary revenue comes from gift certificates and event-driven marketing through community festivals, social media, TripAdvisor, and partnerships with local breweries, wineries, and Village Books. The company has 1-10 employees and operates as a private entity with no disclosed external investors.

Name

Schooner Zodiac

Legal name

Vessel Zodiac Corporation

Website

https://schoonerzodiac.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1924

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Schooner Zodiac operates a single 160-foot historic 1924 sailing schooner from Bellingham, WA, offering seasonal day sails, multi-day themed cruises, and private charters to tourists, corporate groups, weddings, and special-interest travelers in Pacific Northwest waters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Recreational Sailing Charters

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Sailing Experiences (Lessons, Regattas, Day Sails) (THAJAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Luxury Yacht & Small-Ship Expedition Cruises (THAEABAF), Cabin Charters & Shared Yacht Trips (THAEADAH)

Keywords

• Sailing charters
• Tall ship cruises
• Private yacht charters
• Maritime tourism
• Experiential sailing vacations

Headquarters

HQ city

Bellingham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Day and Evening Sails: Tickets sold to individual passengers for scheduled day sails, brunch sails, dinner sails, adventure sails, and special event cruises (fireworks, floating concerts, brewery tours, wine pairing dinners). Prices range from $45-$125 per person depending on cruise type and duration.
2. Multi-Day Sailing Cruises: Extended voyages including lighthouse tours, Desolation Sound expeditions, San Juan escapes, brewery expeditions, seafood/winery tours, and specialty themed cruises (book club, knitting). Pricing from $400-$3,295 per person based on duration and accommodation type.
3. Private Charters: Exclusive use of vessel for private groups for day/evening sails at $950/hour (minimum 2.5 hours) or overnight charters at $4,250/day. Includes corporate team building, weddings, rehearsal dinners, celebrations of life, and recreational charters for clubs and school groups.
4. Gift Certificates: Gift certificates sold for dollar amounts or specific cruises, available for purchase online through Starboard Suite booking system.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Schooner Zodiac operates a historic 160-foot 1924 gaff-rigged sailing schooner offering public day and evening sails (3-4 hours), multi-day themed cruises (3-12 days exploring San Juan Islands, Canadian Gulf Islands, and Desolation Sound), and private vessel charters for corporate, wedding, and group events. The service accommodates up to 49 passengers on day sails and 26 on overnight voyages, with onboard dining, licensed captain operations, and hands-on sailing participation.

Product overview

Schooner Zodiac operates as a historic sailing charter service offering a single unified product: chartered sailing voyages aboard a 160-foot 1924 gaff-rigged schooner. The company provides three core service lines—Multi-Day Sails (3-12 day themed adventures including lighthouse tours, brewery expeditions, wine tours, literary cruises, and the flagship 12-day Voyage to Desolation Sound), Day Sails (3-4 hour excursions featuring brunch, dinner, wine pairings, beer tastings, and floating concerts for up to 49 passengers), and Private Charters (exclusive use of the vessel for corporate events, weddings, team building, and group outings accommodating 26-49 passengers). Special Events participation at maritime festivals rounds out the offering. The company also operates a gift certificate program and online booking through Starboardsuite software.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Day Sails Three to four hour sailing excursions on Bellingham Bay featuring brunch, lunch, dinner, and specialty cruises including wine pairings, floating concerts, and beer tastings, with capacity for 49 passengers.
• Multi-Day Sails Multi-day sailing adventures ranging from 3 to 12 days, exploring the San Juan Islands, Canadian Gulf Islands, and Desolation Sound, with themed cruises including lighthouse tours, brewery expeditions, wine tours, literary book clubs, and knitting retreats.
• Private Charters Private charter of the entire vessel for day sails (up to 49 passengers) at $950/hour (minimum 2.5 hours) or overnight voyages (up to 26 passengers) at $4,250/day, available for corporate retreats, team building, weddings, rehearsal dinners, celebrations of life, and club or school group outings.
• Special Events and Festival Sails Participation in maritime festivals and special sailing events, including the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival with themed adventure sails ($75 per person) and race/festival sails ($99 per person).
• Gift Certificates Gift certificates sold for dollar amounts or specific cruises, available for purchase online through Starboard Suite booking system.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 49 passengers per day sail, 26 for overnight voyages
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Village BookscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Village Books (Bellingham, WA) for annual Books A'Sail cruise - a seabound book club adventure featuring selected books and guest authors (Eileen Garvin, Lyanda Lynn Haupt for 2026). Village Books handles book sales with 15% discount using coupon code 'VBSAILS'.
• Kulshan BrewingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBellingham-based brewery serving as beer 'sherpas' on San Juan Islands Brewery Expedition, guiding passengers through craft beer world and providing beers for on-board tastings.
• Island Hoppin' Brewery (Orcas Island)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal brewery visited during San Juan Islands Brewery Expedition. Passengers treated to tasting flights.
• San Juan Island Brewing Co.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrew pub in Friday Harbor visited during San Juan Islands Brewery Expedition. Passengers can fill growlers to enjoy on board.
• Boudreaux CellarscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRob Newsom of Boudreaux Cellars joins Pacific Northwest Seafood and Wine Tour, guiding passengers through wine exploration during sailing adventure.
• San Juan VineyardsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVineyard outside Friday Harbor visited during Pacific Northwest Seafood and Wine Tour with transport and tastings included.
• Lopez Island VineyardminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVineyard visited during Pacific Northwest Seafood and Wine Tour with transport and tastings included.
• Westcott Bay Distillery and CideryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOptional hike and tasting destination at Roche Harbor during Pacific Northwest Seafood and Wine Tour.
• Bosun's WorkshopcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner501(c)(3) non-profit maritime education organization in Bellingham partnering for High School Spring Break Sailing Experience. Provides scholarship funds for students. Joint program delivery with experienced crew.
• Northwest Yarns (Cephalopod Sisters)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFiber arts business sailing on Nautical Knitting cruise to introduce regional fiber arts scene, culture, and history. Provides knitting instruction.
• Pam Connolly (Hand Knitter/Designer)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerHand knitter and designer from Issaquah, WA specializing in traditional fishermen's handknitting from Ireland, Scotland, and British Isles. Provides knitting instruction and classes during cruise.
• Chef/Sommelier Marcello MazzoleniminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBellingham-based chef and sommelier providing wine pairing presentations and expertise on Wine on the Water dinner cruises.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Puget Sound Express: Whale-watching and sightseeing boat tour operator departing from Edmonds, WA into the Salish Sea. Comparable on water-based sightseeing customer and Bellingham/PNW regional market overlap, though a power-catamaran product rather than sailing.
• Clipper Vacations (Victoria Clipper): Seattle-to-Victoria passenger ferry and tour package operator serving overlapping Pacific Northwest leisure tourism customers. Regional multi-modal competitor for tourist dollars spent on water-based experiences in the same corridor.

Direct peers

• Maya's Legacy Charters: Bellingham-based sailing charter offering day sails, multi-day island cruises, and custom itineraries throughout the San Juan and Gulf Islands. Head-to-head competitor for the same customers, with overlapping pricing bands and route portfolio.
• San Juan Sailing: Yacht charter and sailing excursion operator based in Bellingham and the San Juan Islands, the exact home cruising grounds of the Zodiac. Directly comparable on day sails, private charters, and multi-day island itineraries with similar customer demographic (tourists, families, corporate groups).
• Sound Experience (Schooner Adventuress): Operates the 1913 Schooner Adventuress from the Pacific Northwest as an educational sailing tall ship offering day sails, multi-day programs, and youth maritime education. Closest direct competitor: same region, same vessel class, same hands-on sailing experience model, and even shared history (Tim and Mike Mehrer helped rebuild and certify the Adventuress).

Broad incumbents

• Argosy Cruises: Seattle-based harbor cruise and water tour operator offering sightseeing, dining, and seasonal charters. Broader incumbent with multiple vessels in the same Pacific Northwest waters-from-tourism market; overlaps on sightseeing and event/charter use cases but does not operate a tall ship sailing-only product.
• American Cruise Lines: U.S.-focused small-ship cruise line with itineraries in the Pacific Northwest and beyond, including San Juan Islands sailings. Adjacent incumbent offering multi-day domestic cruising at higher capacity, competing for the same experiential cruise customer.
• UnCruise Adventures: Small-ship adventure cruise line operating in Alaska, the Pacific Northwest (including Desolation Sound-style itineraries) and beyond with comparable multi-day expedition-style product. Larger incumbent in the small-ship cruise category with broader geography and more capacity per sailing.

Emerging players

• Schooner J&E Riggin: National Historic Landmark windjammer out of Maine offering two- and three-day windjammer cruises with hands-on sailing participation. Closest analog on the tall-ship, overnight-cabin-charter, sails-only experience model, though operating in a different geography (East Coast).
• Tall Ship Windy of Chicago: Chicago-based 148-foot traditional topsail schooner offering daily sail experiences and private charters on Lake Michigan. Comparable vessel class and product (sailing-only day sails plus private charter) but geographically distant and smaller scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheSchoonerZodiac/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel
• Instagraminstagram.com/schoonerzodiac
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schooner-zodiac

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Schooner Zodiac