Route specialty
Alaska & Inside Passage Yacht Delivery
One of the most spectacular — and demanding — deliveries on the Pacific coast. We move boats to and from Alaska through the protected Inside Passage or outside in open ocean, and we've done it to Valdez, Whittier, Wrangell, Ketchikan, Juneau and Kodiak.
An Alaska delivery is a Pacific Northwest specialty. Most runs go north through the Inside Passage — the sheltered maze of channels behind Vancouver Island and the British Columbia coast — but the choice between inside and outside depends on the boat, the weather, and how much time there is. Inside is protected and stunning; it's also tidal, narrow in places, and unforgiving of poor timing at spots like Seymour Narrows.
Beyond the piloting, Alaska is about self-sufficiency in a remote place: fuel and provisioning stops are far apart, the water is cold, and the good-weather season is short. We plan the passage around real distances and the summer window, not optimistic ones, and we've run this coast in both directions for years.
What this route demands
Why owners hire a licensed captain for it
Inside Passage vs. the outside route
The Inside Passage is protected and scenic but tidal and narrow; the outside route is faster but fully exposed. We choose based on your boat, the forecast, and the schedule — and we know the tidal gates either way.
A short summer window
The sensible season for an Alaska delivery is roughly late spring to early fall. We plan the trip inside that window instead of forcing a passage in shoulder-season weather.
Remote fuel & provisioning
Stops thin out fast heading north. We plan fuel and stores for the real distances between them, so the boat is never caught short in a place with no services.
Tides, currents & cold water
Big tidal ranges, strong currents through the narrows, and cold water raise the stakes. Local knowledge and proper timing are what keep the passage safe and on schedule.
From our delivery log
9 deliveries on this route — and counting
A sample of yacht delivery to Alaska runs from our logged deliveries, across 5 different builders. Explore the full delivery database →
Selene 53′ · 2024
Seattle, WA Wrangell, AK
Nordic Tug 42′ · 2021
Juneau, AK Anacortes, WA
Selene 53′ · 2020
Seattle, WA Wrangell, AK
Selene 53′ · 2018
Anacortes, WA Ketchikan, AK
Maritimo 50′ · 2018
Sidney, BC, Canada Whittier, AK
Maritimo 50′ · 2017
Whittier, AK Sidney, BC, Canada
Selene 57′ · 2015
Victoria, BC, Canada Ketchikan, AK
Meridian 49′ · 2014
Whittier, AK Seattle, WA
See it for yourself
See a yacht delivery to Alaska in action
Real footage from our own deliveries on this route, filmed underway.
Nordhavn 62 - Kodiak Alaska to Baranof Island, refueling in Kodiak, crossing the Gulf of Alaska
Nordhavn 62 Delivery Preparation from Kodiak Alaska to Anacortes Washington 1600 nautical miles run
Nordhavn 62 Kodiak AK to Anacortes WA Yacht Delivery,Prince Rupert, CAN stop and final run
Questions about this route
Do you deliver to Alaska via the Inside Passage or the outside route?
Both. Most deliveries go north through the protected Inside Passage behind British Columbia, but we run the outside (offshore) route when the boat, the weather, or the schedule calls for it. We advise on the best choice for your vessel.
When is the best time for an Alaska yacht delivery?
The practical season runs roughly from late spring through early fall, when the weather window north is most reliable. We plan the passage around that window.
How far north into Alaska do you deliver?
We've delivered to Ketchikan, Wrangell, Juneau, Whittier and Prince William Sound, and Kodiak — and back south again. Tell us your destination and we'll plan the route.
Planning a yacht delivery to Alaska?
Tell us about your boat and route — quotes are free, with no obligation.