gyroscopic stabilizer

STATE-OF-THE-ART DESIGN

38 KNOTS TOP SPEED

2 engines-1600 hp

PRO GUIDES

Captain with 40+ years exp.

Brand New in 2025

gyroscopic stabilizer • STATE-OF-THE-ART DESIGN • 38 KNOTS TOP SPEED • 2 engines-1600 hp • PRO GUIDES • Captain with 40+ years exp. • Brand New in 2025 •

introducing a brand new, premier Alaskan Liveaboard Adventure yacht, Samantha j

Samantha J glacier cruise day and overnight tour whittier alaska liveaboard charter boat

Samantha J was built for delivering the ultimate Alaskan adventures! The entirety of the vessel –the hull, engine rooms, decks, salon, galley, pilothouse, and staterooms were all designed in a close collaboration amongst industry leaders with the highest quality materials and equipment.

a new state of the art private charter in prince William sound

Launching this February 2025, the Samantha J is a brand new U.S. Coast Guard-inspected overnight charter vessel offering multi-day trips in Prince William Sound, Gulf of Alaska or Kodiak island waters. The Samantha J stands apart as a liveaboard, blending exceptional details and industry-leading speed with unmatched interior comforts. Get ready to embark on breathtaking sightseeing and adventures throughout Alaska’s stunning waters and beyond. Inspired by the success of our current vessel, The Tundra, we aimed to create the ultimate adventure charter boat, capable of exploring farther and faster in grand comfort.

  • Safety Inspection: The Samantha J is a Bay Welding 2025 custom-built 60’ aluminum yacht, meticulously engineered and constructed to meet the highest U.S. Coast Guard Safety Rating Vessel standards. This ensures the utmost trust in our operation for guests as they traverse Alaskan waters with us.

  • Fast and Stable: Boasting a cruising speed of 25-38 knots, enjoy smooth sailing with a state-of-the-art gyroscopic stabilization system that eliminates seasickness (eliminating up to 95% of boat roll).

  • Your group: She can accommodate up to 12 overnight guests for multi-day excursions and can host up to 28 people for day trips.

  • Private Staterooms: Overnight guests will appreciate the four spacious staterooms with 6’6” headroom. Each stateroom features a lower queen-size bed and a single upper bunk, and can thus sleep up to three guests if desired. All staterooms have large porthole windows, ample storage, and dedicated electric heaters.

  • Lounge in the Salon: The primary indoor area is 300 square feet, featuring an open modern design. Highlights include beautiful teak and leather interiors with spacious seating for 18.

  • Culinary Focused Dining: Adventurers are treated to gourmet meals prepared by a dedicated chef, with fresh, local ingredients that complement the onboard luxury. We can accommodate dietary restrictions.

  •  Wheelhouse: A spacious pilothouse features  THREE captain’s chairs (two for guests) and additional elevated lounge seating for up to 10 more guests. These comfortable, elevated seats offer 360-degree viewing and active engagement with the captain and crew.

  • Additional Amenities: include bathrooms utilizing our water maker ensuring ample fresh water for luxuriously long hot showers, heaters in each stateroom and designated gear drying rooms.

  • Outer Deck: A nearly 300 sq. ft. aft deck designed for fishing, six downriggers, hydraulic 1500 lb crane and pot pullers, plus plenty of seating for sightseeing. The thoughtful addition of an extra large swim deck and dive ladder allows for easy disembarking for scuba, or on kayaks and paddleboards—designed to put ease into every moment of your adventure.

alaska liveaboard private yacht glacier cruise whittier

a deeper dive into STATE OF THE ART FEATURES

customized exterior

  • The large aft deck features 275 sqft of fishing and sightseeing deck space, 6 electric downriggers, a large, integrated fish cleaning station with a saltwater, hot and cold fresh water washes. Double 48” - wide access doors port and starboard allow for roomy boarding and disembarking.

    A 54”x16’ swim deck with a dive ladder for boarding/disembarking the tender boats and landing the monster Alaskan fish.

    Half of the aft deck is covered by the extended sun deck roof for additional protection in the event of rain during fishing sessions. 

     A built-in state-of-the-art sound system can be piped to the aft deck, bow deck, salon and pilothouse.

    The fore deck on the bow has built-in seating for unparalleled sightseeing when cruising, early morning coffee, enjoying evening cocktails and admiring the view when at anchorage.


  • On the roof there are 6 two-person ocean touring kayaks and 2 single-guide kayaks.

    The tender boat is a 16-foot, 10-man Rigid body boat w/100HP outboard.

    Premium fishing gear and paddleboards are also on board.


  • Meticulously maintained fishing poles, tackle, and high quality bait products will be supplied for you.

    A 54”x16’ swim deck , helpful when landing the monster Alaskan fish.

    We have a commercial hydraulic pot puller (for prawns, shrimp and crab) and a deck crane.

  • There is an 800-gallon fresh water tank and an 800-gallon-per-day state-of-the-art fresh water maker for enjoying long hot showers.

Interior comforts

  • The Samantha J has four luxurious staterooms that will sleep up to 12 guests for your comfort,  privacy, and relaxation. Each stateroom features a lower queen-size bed and a single upper bunk, and can thus sleep up to three guests if desired. All staterooms have large, porthole windows, ample storage, 6’6” headroom, and dedicated electric heaters.

    There are two full bathrooms on the stateroom level with vanities, sinks, and enough hot water for longer showers.

  • Forward of the main salon and above the staterooms sits a spacious pilothouse of 225 sq ft featuring  THREE captain’s chairs (two for guests) and additional elevated lounge seating for up to 10 more guests. These comfortable, elevated seats offer 360-degree viewing and active engagement with the captain and crew. To the aft of the pilothouse is the captain’s watch bunk and a couch seat

  • The main cabin salon is 300 sqft. open modern design and features a beautiful teak and leather interior with fine leather seating for 18, a 65” OLED television a DVR with connection to bridge Navionics,  sonar and fish finder screens. A built-in state-of-the-art sound system can be piped to the aft deck, bow deck, salon and pilothouse. The main cabin features an aft-deck accessible half bath, which doubles as a deck drying room.

  • We have designed a professional grade galley, which features a 36” Wolf induction range/oven, microwave oven, dishwasher, three refrigerators, and a deep freezer. 

    Guests will enjoy our gourmet chef’s preparations of three meals a day on our multi-day adventure charters.

  • The Samantha J operates year-round. She is well insulated with double thermal pane glass windows for fog and cold weather control. She boasts dual cabin heating systems (diesel and electric): A diesel hydronic 50,000 BTU for cabin heat and domestic hot water, along with built-in King1000-Watt  redundant backup heaters in every berth, main salon, and pilot house.

    Two drying rooms allow for rapid drying of wet clothes and gear.


Speed + Safety

  • The Samantha J is a fast yacht. Powered by twin Volvo D13-IPS 1050 drives, generating a total of  1600 HP. This combination of a superior planning hull design and state-of-the-art propulsion system propels her up to a top speed of 40 knots and a comfortable cruising speed of 25 to 38 knots. 


  • The Samantha J is an Inspected Passenger Vessel ensuring that she is built to the highest safety standards of the US Coast Guard. The certificate of inspection is the pinnacle of sturdy, sound, and safe construction, with safety and navigational systems redundancy requirements well above those of any uninspected, or voluntarily starred vessel.  

    This 60-foot expedition pilot house custom planing hull is designed to seamlessly ride on the water. She has a wide 20-foot beam and built-in hull chimes for an exceptionally stable ride.

    Safety Equipment: Three VHF’s and loud hailer, Satellite Phone, Starlink Internet System, Emergency Locator-2 EPIRB’s, 28 man Solas A pack life raft.


  • The Samantha J boasts an integrated Seakeeper gyroscopic stabilization system. Our oversized Seakeeper 16 is designed to illuminate up to 95% of boat roll. This allows motion sickness-free enjoyment of traveling, sightseeing, and fishing.

  • The vessel has multiple ways of staying in communication with “the rest of the world”. We have three VHF radios, a Satellite Phone, as well as a Starlink Internet System.

  • Electrical power is supplied by a state-of-the-art 20KW Northern Lights generator with full sound shielding. This allows our guests to enjoy multiple amenities common to land-based Alaskan Lodges. 

Meet our Crew

  • Captain John Earle

    Captain John Earle has been navigating the waters of Prince William Sound for over 45 years. A seasoned commercial fisherman, he’s done it all—longlining for halibut and sablefish, seining and gillnetting salmon, dropping pots for crab and shrimp—and he loves sharing his deep knowledge of these waters with others. After the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989, John shifted into oil spill response, leading training and preparedness efforts for SERVS and offshore Arctic operations in both the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. He holds a USCG Master License with towing endorsements, and certifications in cold water survival, CPR, AED, First Aid, HAZWOPER, and FEMA incident command.

    Meticulous when it comes to safety and comfort, John is deeply committed to curating the best possible experience for every guest. He’s spent hundreds of hours personally tailoring the Samantha J—Tundra’s new state-of-the-art adventure yacht—to ensure every detail supports both luxury and adventure. But beyond the logistics, what drives him most is showing people the wonders of Alaska. He loves to power down the engine when a pod of whales appears, letting guests take in the quiet awe of the moment. And while he's got decades of maritime experience, John is also known for his fun-loving spirit, great taste in music, and willingness to DJ to your group’s vibe. With John at the helm, you’re in the best of hands—and in for an unforgettable journey.

  • Alex Otto- Chef/Deckhand

    Alex grew up in the mountains of colorful Colorado. After a childhood spent skiing and climbing everything summit county had to offer he ended up at culinary school at Johnson and Wales University in Denver. Once culinary school was finished Alex spent time working in the finest restaurants in the city, learning new techniques, cultures, earning awards, and even landed air time on the food network.

    Alex now spends his time riding his motorcycles, exploring Alaska, and skiing everything he can hike, fly, or take a chairlift to. Alex spent time as a chef at the world renowned “Jack Sprat” restaurant in Girdwood Alaska, and brings a myriad of culinary talents to our team. He is capable of catering a menu and experience unique to your desires. Alex brings creativity and care to every meal he prepares aboard the Tundra, from scratch-made sauces to grilled seafood straight from Alaskan waters. His menus highlight seasonal ingredients and coastal flavors, whether it’s a golden salmon quiche fresh from the oven or handmade pasta tossed in a foraged herb pesto. Guests can expect comforting, elevated meals that reflect both his skill and the wild beauty of Alaska

  • Iris Gannon- Adventure Guide

    Iris Gannon grew up between the coastal waters of Cordova, Alaska and the islands of the Pacific Northwest. Summers at her aunt and uncle’s shellfish farm on Hood Canal—canoeing, digging clams, and picking oysters off the beach—ignited her early love of good food, fishing, and foraging. She spent much of her youth on and around the water, and some of her fondest memories are salmon seining in Prince William Sound alongside her dad. This past year, Iris has been working as an Ordinary Seaman aboard an international research vessel, sailing through the Indian Ocean, South China Sea, and Australian waters, while actively pursuing her AB, Lifeboatman, and RFPNW credentials.

    With a background in fine dining and years at award-winning restaurants like Canlis and Seabird, Iris brings a passion for hospitality and an eye for detail to every guest interaction. What drives Iris most is creating meaningful connections and sharing what she loves—especially when it comes to Alaska. Her passion for hospitality and her deep ties to Prince William Sound make her a natural fit for guest experience aboard the Tundra. Whether she’s offering local insight, helping guests feel at home on board, or curating thoughtful touches throughout the trip, Iris brings warmth, knowledge, and genuine care to every adventure.

  • Adam Behr- Angler in Chief

    Adam Bahr came to Alaska 17 years ago and has been exploring its wild coastlines ever since. His guiding journey began in Bristol Bay and continued through the Gulf of Alaska and Southeast, building a deep foundation of outdoor knowledge and respect for the elements. Since then, Adam has sailed professionally across the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans, as well as the Great Lakes—logging thousands of hours in some of the most extreme environments on Earth.

    A true outdoorsman at heart, Adam thrives on sharing his passion for wild places with others. Whether he's helping a first-time angler hook their first catch or swapping stories with seasoned pros, he brings warmth, patience, and a lifetime of experience to every trip. His personal favorites include fly fishing, saltwater fishing, hunting, hiking, and kayaking—but what he loves most is simply being on the water, immersed in nature’s rhythm.

Come explore the Seas With US