Water Taxi Service
Some of the most beautiful places in Southeast Alaska are accessible only by boat. Our water taxi is ideal for getting small groups to the Misty Fjords or Forest Service Cabins. Whether you are bringing your own kayak or plan to rent from us, Southeast Sea Kayaks’ water taxi is the only boat in Ketchikan with a cabin and a rack designed specifically for transporting kayaks. The MV Jessie May can accommodate up to 6 passengers and gear in the roomy, comfortable cabin and can fit 3 double kayaks or 5 single kayaks on the rack (please call or email to check on other combinations.)

The Boat
The MV Jessie May is a 26 foot 2005 Hewescraft Alaskan Sea Runner powered by a Yamaha 250 outboard engine with a 9 horse back-up motor. The aluminium deep V hull and extended transom were designed by Hewescraft to meet the challenges of Alaskan waters. The cabin has ample seating for 7 passengers (6 is the maximum allowed by law) and a marine toilet. There is room for gear outside on the fore and aft decks. The MV Jessie May is outfitted with GPS, Sonar and most importantly radar to handle the often misty Southeast Alaskan weather. We chose the MV Jessie May as our water taxi vessel because her size makes her cost efficient for small groups yet she is large enough to handle the ocean conditions and comfortable for passengers on the 2 - 3 hour journey to Misty Fjords.

Availability and Reservations
The water taxi is available for either morning or afternoon departure and pick-up times. You can use our secure online request form or call or email us for prices to different destinations and to check the availability of the boat. Prices are for the boat and based on distance. Once you are ready to book we take a 50% deposit at the time of booking. The other 50% will be charged 14 days prior to the transport. Cancellations outside of 30 days are refundable less a $25 cancellation fee. The 50% deposit is non refundable for cancellations inside of 30 days.

Weather Considerations
Although it is rare during the summer, we may experience severe weather conditions which make it unsafe for us to transport by boat. When you are planning a trip build in a weather factor. It is a great idea to have a back-up plan for the event that conditions are unsafe for your departure from town and please do not plan to depart from Ketchikan on the same day you return from a kayaking or cabin trip. All water taxi guests complete a "weather delay" form which helps us know what to do in the event that we are unable to pick up at the designated time but it is always a good idea to purchase travel insurance for your trip.

Logistics
Guests will assist their captain in loading the vessel and unloading once we reach your destination. We drop directly on the beach at most locations, so plan to wear waterproof shoes, boots or waders for the journey so that you can step off the boat without getting wet feet. Kayaks must be empty to be loaded on to the roof-rack of the water taxi. There is room inside the cabin for passengers and some gear but most gear travels on the aft deck, so may get wet from rain or spray. For kayakers, with gear packed into many small packages ready to fit into a kayak it is a good idea to bring along several large garbage bags or water resistant duffels to store and protect small items while in transit. We are happy to store luggage and gear at our downtown store while you are in the wilderness but our space is limited so please let us know if you have a large amount of gear to store.

How to Book
You can request a water taxi by completing our online request form or by emailing us for a quote. We take a 50% deposit at time of booking which is fully refundable less a $25 processing fee for cancellations outside of 30 days. The remaining balance is due 14 days prior to your trip. Check out our trip planning page for maps and more information on kayaking in Southeast Alaska.