Choosing a boat · December – April
Maui whale watching by raft or catamaran
Maui whale watches run on three kinds of boat: rafts, catamarans and larger cruise boats. They all see the same whales. What changes is how close to the water you sit, how the ride feels, and how many people share the rail. We run a raft, and it is not the right boat for everyone.
Check Dates & BookWhat a whale watch raft is
"Raft" is what people call a rigid hull inflatable boat, or RHIB. The bottom is a solid hull, like any boat. Around the edge runs a thick inflatable collar. The collar makes it very stable side to side and lets it sit low in the water.
Ours is a custom rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) with twin outboard engines and full coverage overhead shade. It carries 20 passengers max. Boarding is by shuttle boat from Kaʻanapali Beach, behind Whalers Village.
Three things follow from that design. You sit close to the water. The boat is quick. And it is a lively, fun ride.
Raft, catamaran or big boat
Our column is our own boat. The other two describe the type in general. Individual boats vary, so ask the operator.
| Raft (ours) | Catamaran | Large boat | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your eye level | Low. You sit a short way above the surface, level with the whale rather than above it. | Higher deck. You look down onto the water. | Highest, especially from an upper deck. Good overview, less sense of scale. |
| Ride | Lively and fun. Smoothest in the morning. | Steadier. Two hulls spread the motion. | Usually the steadiest. Weight smooths out chop. |
| Speed | Fast. Quick to reach whales and to reposition when they move. | Moderate. | Slowest to get anywhere. |
| Guests | 20 passengers max. | Varies. Large catamarans can carry well over a hundred. | Usually the most people aboard. |
| Shelter | Full coverage overhead shade. Open sides, so you may catch a little spray. | Usually a shaded area and sometimes a cabin. | Usually enclosed cabin space. |
| Restroom | None on ours. | Often one aboard. | Usually aboard. |
Who the raft suits
People who want to be close to the water
A whale at 100 yards looks very different from a few feet above the surface than from a top deck. This is the main reason to choose a raft.
Photographers
Low angle, open sides, no window glass. See whale photography on Maui.
Families with young children
Ages 2 and up, and 2 hours is about right for a young attention span. See whale watching with kids.
Anyone short on time
Beach departure, a short run to the whales, back on the sand in 2 hours.
Before you book
If you are pregnant
We cannot take guests who are pregnant, at any stage. This is not caution for its own sake: a rigid hull inflatable moving over chop delivers repeated hard impacts through the seat, and that is not a risk we will take with a pregnancy. A private charter does not change the answer — it is the same hull and the same water. If someone in your group is expecting, the rest of the party is very welcome and we will happily help you plan around it.
Back or neck problems
We do not take guests with back or neck problems, on any trip, public or private. A raft moving over the water can jolt through the seat, and it is not a risk we will take. Please do not book for anyone in your group who has a back or neck condition. If you are unsure, call us before you book.
If you need wheelchair access
The boat is not wheelchair accessible. Boarding is by shuttle from the beach and then a step across into an open boat, which needs a reasonable degree of mobility and balance at both ends. If you are unsure whether it will work for someone in your party, call us before you book and we will talk it through honestly rather than have you find out at the water.
If you get seasick easily
A RHIB is fast and stable but livelier than a large catamaran — you feel the water. Three things help: take the earliest departure, when the channel is calmest; take anything for motion sickness before boarding rather than after, because it works far better ahead of time; and keep your eyes on the horizon rather than on a phone. And always let the crew know if you start to feel seasick. We have a spot on the boat that usually helps, and we will move you there. Our seasickness guide goes into more detail.
Raft questions
Is a raft whale watch bumpy?
A little. It is an open boat close to the water, so you feel the motion more than on a big catamaran, and most guests say that is part of the fun. It is at its smoothest in the morning, before the trade winds build, which is why our first trip leaves at 7:00 AM. The ride is also smoother toward the back of the boat than at the front.
Does a raft get closer to the whales?
The federal 100-yard rule applies to every boat in Hawaiian waters, and we keep to it. What we see on the water is that whales are more at ease around a small, quiet raft than around big boats, and they often come over to us on their own. When they do, we cut the engines and let them. Sitting low, a whale that close looks far bigger than it does from a high deck.
Will I get wet on a raft?
You may catch some spray, especially toward the front on a breezy day. The boat has full coverage overhead shade, but the sides are open. Bring a light layer, and keep your phone in a case or the dry bag storage aboard.
Is a raft or a catamaran better for kids?
It depends on the child. A raft trip is shorter — ours is 2 hours — and children usually love being low and close to the water. A catamaran is steadier and usually has a restroom, which ours does not. Our minimum age is 2.
If the raft sounds right
Our public raft trip is 2 hours from Kaʻanapali Beach, from $79 per guest. Private charters on the same boat start at $1,350 per boat. Full details on the raft tour page.
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