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Business Spotlight: Seward Ocean Excursions - Bixler McClure

Business Spotlight: Seward Ocean Excursions - Bixler McClure

Home   Local Business   Business Spotlight: Seward Ocean Excursions - Bixler McClure

February 08, 2022

Seward Ocean Excursions is a locally-owned and family-run business, who pride themselves in providing custom, small group trips all year long. In fact, they boast the title as Seward’s only year-round on the water boat business!

On the boat, you're an active member of the trip. Unlike the big boats, you aren't just a passenger being talked to through a PA system. We are right here on the boat next to you. Have questions? Just ask! Want to go somewhere else, linger with an animal, or change angles for photography? Of course we are here to help you with that.

Our trips run with anywhere from 1 to 6 people. The means that it is a unique, customizable experience. Even with multiple parties on the boat, there's a lot of flexibility in the itinerary.

We love our "job" (it really doesn't feel like work!) So if you call us at 6PM and want a quick evening trip, we will do it if we can!

We love the community of Seward and give back to local charities, sports associations, schools, and the Alaska Sealife Center.

We are a proud member of Whale SENSE, a voluntary education and recognition program for responsible whale watching practices. Seward Ocean Excursions follows and promotes sustainable tourism and has achieved AGA (Adventure Green Alaska) certification.

We got to interview Bixler McClure - Owner & Boat Captain of Seward Ocean Excursions | Seward, AK:

I grew up in Shell Beach, CA and I moved to Seward in 2012. However, I feel like I’m from Seward because my mom’s side of the family is from here. Both my mom and grandma were born in Seward.
 
What journey brought you to start your business?
I grew up sailing in California with my dad, so have always been on boats. In college I worked as a deckhand/divemaster on a SCUBA boat, where I was introduced to the commercial aspect of boating. My (now) wife and I went to graduate school at the University of Hawaii Manoa where I studied for an M.A. in Geography with a focus on Environmental Geography, with my thesis being on SCUBA Ecotourism on Maui. I didn’t think at the time that that would help me with a business, but it got me thinking about ecotourism and small group tours.
When we moved to Alaska in 2009, we bought a sailboat and spent pretty much every weekend on it exploring our coastline between April and September, with all of our vacation time saved up for a 2-4 week long trip every summer. Exploring all the nooks and crannies and experiencing it got us hooked. I was working for an IT company remotely at this time, and decided in case I needed a career change, or it didn’t work out, I would get my USCG captain’s license. When I was laid off from that job, I tried to find work on a boat in Seward, but couldn’t break through the barrier.

So we decided, why not start our own business! The rest is history!

 

What's been your favorite thing about owning your own small business in Seward?
Being a part of the community and supporting local groups and events is a huge highlight. I was active before starting SOE, but the networking and ability to be involved in more things once I had a business helped. Also, meeting and working with new people that I may not have run across had I not started the business.
 

What inspires you? 
Helping our guests have an experience of a lifetime. Many people say our trips were the highlight of their time in Alaska. Also spreading my love for the ocean, Seward, and Alaska to locals and visitors alike. I’m very excited and proud of all the awesome things we have here and want to share them.

The uniqueness of our coastline (and land) gives so many opportunities to get out and see things and explore. I love checking out remote beaches, exploring remote forests, and discovering new things out there. It’s amazing to me how quickly in Alaska (and perhaps especially Seward) you can feel like you’re alone in nature, even if you’re close to town.

Besides those aesthetic things, I love doing outdoor activities with my wife and son including camping and staying at remote cabins, fishing, snowmachining, and flying our airplane. 

What's your favorite season to get out on the water? Do you have favorite spots to bring guests? Or favorite animal to spot in Res Bay?

I get asked this question a lot on the phone and on trips, but I usually tell people that all the seasons are my favorite - just different. Growing up in California, I never really had true seasons, and now that I live in Alaska I love the changing seasons, conditions, and activities that happens over the course of the year.

If I had to pick a favorite season to be on the water, it’s definitely the shoulder/winter season though. The views with the snow and ice are epic, and there’s still a ton of wildlife to see. And, of course, less boat traffic which makes it feel like we have the whole ocean to ourselves

My favorite spot in Resurrection Bay is hard to pin down. I also often get asked this, and I jokingly say it all is. I find myself on tours saying “this is my favorite spot” over and over, and it’s funny when people call me on it! But, if I had to pick, either Humpy Cove or Thumb Cove for the tranquility. For favorite beach, Bulldog Cove by Bear Glacier. Favorite island would be Rugged Island.

My favorite land-based animal to see in the Bay is definitely a mountain goat. I love how stable they are on the cliffs. For marine animal, definitely orcas (we see them year-round!).

 

Advice for aspiring small business owners:

"Set realistic goals and change them if you need to! Don’t start too big! You can always grow later!
Network a lot with other local businesses/etc. Word of mouth is HUGE, and having a good reputation with other local businesses helps. We get (and give) so many referrals from and to local businesses. A strong internet presence is great of course, but word of mouth means a ton."


Seward Ocean Excursions is located at Seward Harbor Slips M-3 & M-5
Seward, AK 99664. They are open year-round for charters & boat taxies and offer local (AK Resident) and military discounts. 


Visit their website, or follow their social media ( FB | IG ) to see their incredible views, tour or taxi bookings, and some of what Seward has to offer!

 



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