WHAT YOU GAIN
WHEN YOU SAIL
WITH KELPSTONE
Private vessel access, crew who know these specific waters, and a pace of travel that follows yours rather than a tour bus timetable.
HOME
THE KELPSTONE DIFFERENCE
Measured against most charter options available in Phuket, the differences are not cosmetic — they are structural.
LOCAL ROUTE EXPERTISE
Our skippers have navigated the same routes for years. They know where the bay is calmest, which anchorages are quiet, and which reef zones are healthiest and worth visiting.
FULLY PRIVATE CHARTERS
Your group books the whole vessel. You set the mood, you choose the pace — no shared deck space with strangers on a group tour schedule.
ADAPTABLE ITINERARIES
On multi-day passages, the daily route is planned with your input each evening. Conditions permitting, we go where you want to go.
FRESHLY PREPARED FOOD
No cold buffets or catered boxes. Thai meals are prepared onboard from fresh local ingredients, adjusted to your group's preferences and dietary needs.
SAFETY AS FIRST PRIORITY
Departures only happen when conditions are appropriate. Equipment is maintained and inspected regularly. Crew hold current passenger vessel licences.
TWELVE YEARS OF REFERRALS
Kelpstone has grown almost entirely through word of mouth since 2013. That tells you something about what guests experience on the water.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE
The crew at Kelpstone are not generalists brought in for the season. Pieter van Houts and lead skipper Somchai have combined sailing experience in Thai waters exceeding twenty-five years. That depth of familiarity shows in how departures are prepared, how routing decisions are made, and how guests are kept informed.
- Valid Thai Marine Department passenger carrying licences
- First aid certification maintained by all crew members
- Extensive knowledge of Phang Nga Bay tidal and weather patterns
- Ongoing local relationships with marina and park authorities
When a skipper has been on the same water for a decade, the difference shows in small ways that add up: they anchor in spots tour boats don't know about, they read the wind before it shifts, and they know when to hold back and when the conditions are ideal. Experience here is not a marketing claim — it's the reason guests come back.
NAVIGATION & VESSEL SYSTEMS
Our vessels are fitted with current navigation and communication equipment. We regard this as baseline operating standard rather than a selling point — every charter vessel should have proper electronics. What distinguishes Kelpstone is that we know how to use them well, and we maintain them so they're reliable when it matters.
- Pre-departure equipment checks before every charter
- Annual service schedule for mechanical and electrical systems
- AC cabin ventilation on multi-day charter vessels
THE GUEST EXPERIENCE
From the first enquiry through to the moment you step back onto the dock, Kelpstone handles communication without urgency and without the sales pressure that characterises many tour operations. We answer questions honestly, suggest the right charter for your group's preferences, and give you the information you need to decide at your own pace.
- Responsive enquiry handling — typically within a few hours
- Clear pre-departure briefing covering what to bring and expect
- Attentive onboard crew who read the group's preferences well
- Follow-up contact if there are any questions after the charter
We have noticed that guests who feel rushed — either into booking or during the charter itself — come away with a different impression of the water. Our charters are not hurried. Lunch is not served on a timer. If the bay is calm and beautiful in the late afternoon and you'd like to linger, the skipper will not be watching the clock.
All charters are private. Up to 10 guests share the price between themselves. Includes crew, fuel, and catering where specified.
PRICING & WHAT'S INCLUDED
Kelpstone's pricing reflects what a well-run private charter actually costs to operate. We do not cut corners on maintenance, crew qualifications, or catering to offer a lower headline number. When you divide the charter price across your group, it compares favourably with commercial tour boats — but it isn't a shared tour.
Every charter is all-inclusive within the stated scope: crew, fuel, and specified catering are covered. There are no surprise additions at the end of the day.
WHAT GUESTS TAKE AWAY
The measure of a good charter is not whether the sea was flat or the sky clear — those are outside anyone's control. It's whether the time on the water was well-spent, and whether the guest was in capable hands throughout. Kelpstone's repeat booking rate and the proportion of enquiries that come via word of mouth suggest that guests generally feel this way.
- Access to anchorages not on standard tour routes
- Time at sea calibrated to your group's pace, not a schedule
- A crew worth talking to, rather than one just doing a job
KELPSTONE VS TYPICAL OPERATORS
A side-by-side view of how our approach differs from the majority of charter and tour operations available in Phuket.
| ASPECT | KELPSTONE | TYPICAL OPERATORS |
|---|---|---|
| Charter type | Fully private | Often shared/group |
| Route flexibility | Collaborative daily planning | Fixed route, fixed stops |
| Onboard catering | Freshly prepared Thai meals | Basic boxed or buffet food |
| Crew depth of experience | Same crew, years in role | Seasonal or rotating staff |
| Departure decisions | Safety-first, transparent | Commercial pressure to depart |
| Booking pressure | None — enquire at your pace | Frequently pushy |
| Group size | Up to 10 (day) / 8 (multi-day) | 20–50 on group tours |
THINGS YOU WON'T FIND ELSEWHERE
EVENING ROUTE PLANNING
On multi-day passages, the next day's route is discussed with you the evening before. You're not handed a printed schedule — you help write it.
BAY ANCHORAGES OFF ROUTE
Somchai knows several bay anchorages that tour operators don't use. On the right day with the right tide, we can put you somewhere genuinely quiet.
GENUINE TRANSPARENCY
If a charter is not right for your group's needs or the conditions aren't appropriate, we will tell you so, even if that means suggesting a different date or route.
DIETARY ACCOMMODATION
With advance notice, we accommodate a wide range of dietary requirements — vegetarian, pescatarian, allergies. The menu is adjusted to your group, not the other way around.
PARK FEES INCLUDED
On the Phuket–Krabi passage, marine park entry fees are included in the daily charter rate. No surprise costs at the gate.
HELM ACCESS FOR SAILORS
Guests with sailing experience who'd like to take the helm on an appropriate stretch of water are welcome to ask. It's an unusual offer but one we're happy to extend on calm passages.
MILESTONES & MEMBERSHIPS
Member since 2015. Adherence to marine safety and environmental standards.
Continuous berth holder since 2013. Part of a professionally managed marina community.
Completed since 2013 across all three routes, without a serious safety incident.
Operates within park guidelines; contributes to conservation briefings for guests.
ENQUIRE ABOUT YOUR CHARTER
We'll help you choose the right route for your group and answer any questions without sales pressure.
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