Welcome aboard Seattle’s one-of-a-kind tour boat
The Motor Vessel Fremont Avenue is a purpose-built 50-foot, steel hulled tour boat built in 1985 at the T. D. Vinette Shipbuilding Company in Escanaba, Michigan. She was originally built for tours on the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland. Captain Larry Kezner had her trucked to Seattle in 1998, and she began to provide tours and charters in 1999.
The Fremont Avenue is inspected and licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard under “Subsection T” regulations. She is approved for up to 42 passengers, plus captain and crew. She is allowed to operate with passengers on the freshwaters inside the Ballard Locks, as well as Shilshole and Elliott Bays on the saltwater.
The Fremont Avenue features a bright, cheerful main cabin with seating for 20 along the windows, ample space for catering and beverage service, and two restrooms. Stools and tables feature creative and whimsical painting by local artists. We encourage decorations and invite you to plug into our excellent sound system to get the party moving.
The main level has a covered back deck area and our guests enjoy the view from the bow.
The upper deck has a large central seating area and gathering space along the railings. The upper deck provides unobstructed views of all the action on the shore, in the air and on the water.
Our historic photo collection shows you what things looked like along the Lake Washington Ship Canal years ago.
For you motorheads, the Fremont Avenue is powered by a vintage 1943 Detroit Diesel 4-71. The 71 series engines were used extensively on land and on the water during World War II, and have proved reliable and indestructible, remaining in production until 1995. Between the engine and the shaft is a Snow-Nabstedt transmission.
