Alki Kayak Tours reopening, with Seacrest dock work done

Greg Whittaker from Alki Kayak Tours shares what he says is the first photo of a kayak in the new “finger piers” that are part of the King County Water Taxi dock upgrade at Seacrest – work we’ve been tracking here. And with the work done, he says Alki Kayak Tours is ready to reopen. From his announcement:

Alki Kayak Tours, one of the 2009 recipients of the City of Seattle Mayor’s Small Business Award, will be reopening for the season this weekend at its location at Seacrest Marina in West Seattle.

… Alki Kayak Tours has prepped its sea kayak fleet and will be offering guided sea kayak tours of Elliott Bay, exploring the natural history and human history of Puget Sound. Migratory waterfowl are prevalent this time of year along with sightings of marine mammals including the California sea lion, harbor seal, and occasional grey whale and porpoise!

Alki Kayak Tours also offers “other outdoor adventure gear,” plus inline skates, beach cruiser bikes, longboards and Stand Up Paddleboards. As for the Water Taxi – it’s still on track to start the season exactly one month from today, Monday, April 5. (Did you see our stories with a sneak peek inside the new boat and the first look at it with the official paint job?)

6 Replies to "Alki Kayak Tours reopening, with Seacrest dock work done"

  • MTM March 5, 2010 (4:47 pm)

    Does anyone know if the finger docks are public, where anyone can launch a kayak… or do they belong exclusively to Alki Kayak Tours?

  • Greg Whittaker March 5, 2010 (5:32 pm)

    We (Alki Kayak Tours) are operating the boatyard and are dock residents. We will often be working on the pier to help facilitate our rental and touring operation. It is always advisable that paddlers just use beach launch to minimize the interractions with the water taxi.
    That said, if a person needs to use it please communicate with us so that we can help keep an eye on it.
    We are a water dependent business, and will often use the slips for rentals…hopefully that is thought of as a positive service for the community as well.

  • MTM March 6, 2010 (6:53 am)

    Thanks. Good to know. :)

  • Alki Observer March 8, 2010 (10:53 am)

    So just to clarify, the finger piers were built exclusively for Alki Tours, or the pier tenants?

  • Greg Whittaker March 9, 2010 (10:38 am)

    Alki Kayak Tours works as the concessionaire fulfilling the boatyard requirement for Seacrest Marina. We pay $ to Seattle Parks for revenues from our operations. They would not have been installed without our facilitation with King County and its partnership with Seattle Parks and Rec. We will be using them to tie up our rental fishing boats as well.
    AKT will use them so we have kayaks available to people who need the instruction and support of finger piers. Many residents and tourists who have never kayaked need this extra support so they don’t get their jeans and loafers wet. This will also ensure we have boats available for both rescue and rental.
    If the piers are open, the public can use them, but I must reiterate, if you are a kayaker generally it is better to just use the beach! If you are learning how to kayak, please use us for instruction.
    To answer the Alki Observer, Alki Kayak Tours operates as the pier tenants. Things will be clarified as we put the pier into operation, but we are pretty easy to work with if everybody acts respectfully of maritime law and human health and safety.

  • Alki Observer March 11, 2010 (1:22 pm)

    Sounds good Greg. I agree, it seems easier and safer to launch from the beach than carrying a kayak down the pier. Best of luck this season.

Sorry, comment time is over.