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About Canderé Cruising

Aboard Canderé you will be in the hands of a professional and in the lap of luxury.

Explore Seattle’s waterways in luxury and style with Canderé Cruising’s intimate experiences for up to six guests. Offering social and private cocktail cruises and sailing adventures via motor or sailboat, Canderé Cruising will introduce you to Seattle in ways you didn’t think possible. What we offer is among the best things to do in Seattle, even on a rainy day! All boats can be enclosed to keep you dry and comfortable.

Get up close and personal with Seattle’s floating home and houseboat community, beautiful classic cruisers, modern mega yachts, and breathe taking views of Mt. Rainier, and the Seattle Skyline!

 

The Captain

a man standing next to a motorcycle

A talented bartender and skilled boat handler, Captain Dylan will introduce you to Seattle via a most enjoyable boat tour. Starting in South Lake Union where all of Seattle’s major industries have flourished, you will cruise by boats and floating homes of all sizes, shapes and ages, including the oldest floating home (built in 1907). Cocktail in hand (or “mocktail” for those not enthusiastic about alcohol or too young to imbibe), you will get a great look at UW stadium, and on a clear day, Mt. Rainier will loom beautifully to the south of Lake Washington. Returning to Lake Union, you are likely to see draw bridges that are nearly 100 years old open up for sailboats and large yachts, Seaplanes taking off and landing, locals enjoying the sunshine from kayaks and stand up paddleboards. After your journey aboard Candere, you will want to stay all day.

Captain Dylan is a young man that has pursued many avenues and aspired to be many things. He spent time in the commercial diving industry, traveling to Alaska and Louisiana. He spent time in the cruise industry working for Holland America in the Yukon Territory and Alaska. He then decided to return to Seattle with the intention of rejoining the restaurant industry to become a bartender, go to college, and live on a boat. Dylan had no idea how he would fall in love with the Puget Sound live aboard lifestyle, and his first boat. “Candére” is a 28’ long Thomley cabin cruiser. She was built in Auburn, Washington in 1972. When Dylan purchased her in 2011, she was fully functional, but old and tired. After many breakdowns and misadventures he decided that he needed a new boat, or needed to restore Candére to better than new condition. With a rudimentary base of knowledge in woodworking, mechanics, and electrical, as well as an uncanny drive and work ethic, Dylan embarked on a journey that would utilize and enhance these skills and instincts that have come to define him in a mere 26 years. Now a skilled craftsman, artist, mixologist, and Coast Guard licensed Captain, Dylan, his father, and a few of his closest friends are excited to share the beauty and joy that is Seattle and the Pacific Northwest.

a man smiling for the camera

Captain Ben Garman

Fleet Safety Officer

From the start of Canderé Captain Ben has helped Captain Dylan (the owner) develop and maintain happy boats, happy well-trained crew and happy customers with a consistent focus on safety and fun! A water baby and sailor from the time he could walk, Ben has worked and played on sailing dinghies to 1000 foot-long container ships and most everything in-between.

Captain Ben and Dylan were both living the bachelor’s life in the same marina on their tiny boats when they first met. After a few beers, Dylan shared his dream of driving people around the lake, serving them great drinks, and telling jokes for a living to which Ben said, “no problem…just need a little elbow grease.” After many lessons learned and years of growing and maturing, Captain Ben is a family man with a loving wife, dumb dog, and adorable daughter.

Though known to still captain every now and again, Ben’s role in the company is presently focused on training the other captains in emergency response and developing company safety practices and policy. Having worked in many dangerous environments, and having seen ugly accidents firsthand at sea has motivated him to lend his experience and wisdom to Canderé so that any challenge Poseidon throws us we can all walk away with happy and healthy customers and crew.