On The Water -- Seattle Overflowing With Boating Options

With its many harbors and lakes, the Seattle area is a boaters' paradise.

And even if you don't own a boat, there still are plenty of ways to frolic on the water.

You can rent a kayak or canoe and paddle around Lake Union; take a tour boat around the harbor and through the Ballard Locks; or join a dinner cruise.

There are boats of every size and style to charter - for everything from a quiet day's fishing with a few friends to a corporate cocktail cruise for 600 people.

Below is a sampling of what's available; the Seattle-King County Visitors and Convention Bureau also has information on boat tours; phone 461-5854; the Yellow Pages has a half-dozen pages of boat listings.

HARBOR TOURS

Gray Line Water Sightseeing: Tour boats leave several times daily from Pier 57 on the downtown waterfront and cruise Elliott Bay, the Ballard Locks and Lake Union. Phone 623-4252.

Seattle Harbor Tours: Tours of the harbor aboard the "Goodtime" boats. Daily departures (up to five a day in summer) from Pier 55. Phone 623-1445.

Major Northwest Tours: Daily saltwater fishing expeditions depart from Pier 54. Major also books harbor tours, whale-watching cruises in the San Juan Islands and more. Phone 292-0595.

Tillicum Village & Tours: Half-day cruise and salmon meal at an Indian-style longhouse at Tillicum Village on Blake Island in Puget Sound. Tours leave daily from Pier 56. Phone 443-1244.

Spirit Cruises: Daily lunch and dinner sightseeing cruises aboard the Spirit of Puget Sound around Elliott Bay and Puget Sound. Plus Sunday brunch and occasional moonlight party cruises. Phone 443-1442.

CHARTERS:

There are dozens of charter companies around Seattle. They offer everything from small sailboats to luxury power yachts that can accommodate corporate gatherings of several hundred people or more.

The Yellow Pages carries extensive listings of all sorts of charter boats; look under "Boat-Charter." Also check "Boat Renting & Leasing" in The Yellow Pages. (Most of the tour companies listed above also charter boats.)

One company that acts as a broker and books many charter yachts is Blue Water Yacht Charters in Seattle, phone 286-3618. Other brokers also are listed in The Yellow Pages.

A charter boat often seen on Lake Union and Lake Washington is the Virginia V, a stately, historic steamboat. Public cruises also occasionally are offered aboard it. Phone 624-9119.

CANOES, KAYAKS AND MORE

Want to rent a small boat that relies on your own horsepower? Here are some places to rent canoes, kayaks, rowboats or paddle boats.

University of Washington Waterfront Activities Center: Canoes and rowboats, for rent by the hour, from the waterfront center near Husky stadium. Phone 543-9433.

Northwest Outdoor Center: Kayaks and canoes for rent by the hour, half-day or longer from the center on Westlake on Lake Union. Reservations recommended. Phone 281-9694.

Center for Wooden Boats: Rowboats and small sailboats for rent from the center at the south end of Lake Union. (People renting sailboats must first be checked for sailing ability). Phone 382-2628.

Greenlake Boat Rentals: For peaceful small boating (no power boats around) head to Green Lake where you can rent paddle-boats, rowboats and canoes. The boat rental office is near the Green Lake Community Center. Phone 527-0171.

Last, but not least, consider Washington State Ferries. Go to Bainbridge and back. Or Whidbey. It's a cheap and easy excursion - especially if you leave your car behind and walk on. Phone 464-6400.