Choose a Charter Sailing Company That Makes a Difference in Traverse City, MI

By paying for a sailing excursion, you will be supporting our mission to provide underprivileged and at risk youth a no cost excursion for themselves

Seaside Sailing Excursions & Charity Charters in Traverse City, Michigan

Excursion Services

Marriage Services

Custom Excursion

Gift Certificates

Embrace the Experience of a Lifetime

Schedule a tour with our charter sailing company in Traverse City, MI

If taking a charter has been on your bucket list, book your excursion with Seaside Sailing Excursions & Charity Charters. Our company’s owners have a lifelong love of the water and a passion for providing the ultimate sailing experience. We offer various excursions off Traverse City, MI’s beautiful and pristine coast. Your nautical experience will give you a day of beautiful sailing while supporting a worthy cause.

Learn more about our different excursions by visiting our Excursion Services page. Or, create your own experience with a custom excursion with our charter sailing company. We can help you create the marriage excursion of your dreams, reach our now to start planning.

Learn about our mission

Seaside Sailing Excursions & Charity Charters aims to provide our guests with the highest level of safety, comfort and enjoyment while in our care. Proceeds and contributions from our paying boat tour customers will be used to support our charitable mission.

Our passion is to provide opportunities for underprivileged and at-risk youth who will benefit from an at-sea experience. These excursions expose children and youth to a potentially life-changing experience they might not otherwise have the opportunity to explore.

Want to learn more about our charitable mission? Call 616-437-1711 to ask any questions you have.

A family enjoying a sailing cruise.

Get Married on the Pristine Waters of West Grand Traverse Bay in Traverse City, Michigan

Our Clergy Captain officiates all-inclusive wedding ceremonies

OUR VESSEL

Sailing Vessel “Impulse”

The sailing vessel “Impulse” is an impeccably maintained, modern, well equipped 2006 Catalina C-310 measuring 32’6″ in length with a 11’6″ beam. She is Coastguard Certified to carry up to 6 paying passengers plus crew and is extremely safe and stable with a 4000 lb, 6’5″ deep keel and a total vessel weight of 14,000 lbs.

She offers all the creature comforts from cockpit cushions and stern rail seating to protective dodger and sun awnings.

The luxurious cabin below is fully plumbed from the private head (bathroom) to electric refrigeration in the galley. She is a joyous, beautiful, and seaworthy vessel.

WHO WE ARE

We are a Privately Owned Operation and Captain the Impulse with a Passion for Sailing in Traverse City, Michigan!

About Us

Our Mission

Our sailboat carving the water on the lake.

Our Services

Services

Sunset over Grand Traverse Bay

Book a Charter

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Captain "Ger"

ABOUT THE CAPTAIN

Captain “Ger” is fully licensed and certified by the US Coastguard as a Master Captain and has 50 plus years of nautical sailing and boating experience in both Canada and the United States.

He is very capable and knowledgeable as a Captain, and is known for being a jovial, gracious, and friendly host. He has often been likened to Jimmy Buffett.

LICENSED & CERTIFIED US COASTGUARD MASTER CAPTAIN

Captain "Ger"

ABOUT THE OWNERS

Gerry Shiffman was born and raised in Toronto, Canada where he was introduced to sailing at the age of thirteen. He quickly became infatuated with the sport, and has been expanding his knowledge and fine tuning his skills ever since.

Charol Shiffman was born and raised in west Michigan; she was always drawn to the water. Gerry and Charol have been married for thirty three years, and together they have owned and operated multiple sailing vessels, and have charted many nautical miles.

They have owned and operated “Impulse” since 2018. With a love of sailing and their passion for bringing joy, comfort, and aid to others, they founded Seaside Sailing Excursions & Charity Charters.

We Have a Passion for Sailing

EXPERIENCE SAILING WITH A PURPOSE

We are a charter sailing company with a little different mission. Our top priority is the safety, comfort, and enjoyment of our sailing patrons and crew as we strive to provide you with an exceptional nautical experience.

In addition, our mission as a Charity Charter is to provide a potentially life changing experience to under-privileged and at-risk youth who might otherwise never have such an opportunity.

By signing up for an excursion aboard the sailing vessel “Impulse,” you will not only enjoy a beautiful day sailing the pristine Caribbean blue waters of West Grand Traverse Bay off Traverse City, Michigan, you will also be partnering with us in playing a vital role: assisting us to accomplish our vision.

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to provide our guests with the highest level of safety, comfort, and enjoyment while they are in our care. Proceeds and contributions from our paying customers will be used to support our charitable mission of providing opportunities for under privileged and at-risk youth who will benefit from an at-sea experience, and to expose them to a visionary potentially life changing experience that they might otherwise never have the opportunity to explore.