I found Katherine when I put out a call for women in business, and from the moment she reached out, it was such a joy to dig into her story. Thumbing through her photos felt like flipping through a dream board for every Pacific Northwest local in February — all golden light, glassy water, and those impossibly perfect summer days on the Canal and the Puget Sound. Now all I can think about is an evening this summer on her boat, eating the incredible food she prepares and finally checking something big off my bucket list: taking a guided dive to see what’s beneath me. I’ve been a water baby my whole life, especially in the Hood Canal, hunting for those magical warm pockets of water during a swim. If you didn’t grow up here or haven’t swum in the Canal, you might not understand exactly what I mean. But trust me, it’s a thing. And I’m already dreaming up a summer meet-and-greet so we can all find an excuse to get out on the water together.
Katherine and her husband officially launched their charter business in the spring of 2023, but the story really began a year earlier when they purchased their wooden boat as a foreclosure. What followed was a year of restoration, grit, research, licensing, insurance hurdles, and plenty of hands-on problem solving. She brought her entrepreneurial spirit, culinary talent, and diving expertise; he brought his skills as a carpenter and mechanic. Together, they rebuilt not just a boat, but a floating experience.
The Olympic Peninsula had already captured their hearts back in 2019 during an 18-month road trip in “Mildred the Van.” Of all the places they explored, this one stuck. Before launching the business, Katherine worked locally as an office manager and mortgage advisor while continuing to teach and guide scuba diving and work as a private chef throughout the Puget Sound region. Her husband built his reputation in carpentry, working independently and with local businesses. Piece by piece, their skills aligned into something uniquely theirs.
What they offer isn’t just a charter, it’s a memory in the making. Guests have encountered six-gill sharks and orcas, celebrated surprise proposals, scattered ashes for loved ones, and spent long summer days exploring remote beaches along the Canal. Early summer guided shellfish and kayak trips have become seasonal favorites, the kind of experience that reminds you why we endure gray winters in the first place.
After a successful charter, the two of them climb up to the flybridge, breathe, and debrief. What went well? What can we refine? Small business ownership is stressful, yes but deeply rewarding. They joke that they’re always 50% working and 50% playing, their personal and professional lives woven together. And somehow, that balance works especially when diving or cooking creates built-in, phone-free presence.
Katherine loves that being small allows them to stay nimble. They can pivot for weather, accommodate dietary needs with ease, and personalize each trip. Her ideal client? Someone who communicates their hopes clearly and then lets the magic unfold.
This May marks the start of their fourth season. In five years, they may invest in a more efficient boat or move their home port to continue growing. She dreams of expanding into more international dive trips and, closer to home, introducing more people to diving, a sport she describes as life-changing. There’s something about being underwater, the sensory quiet, the physical pressure, the mental focus, that resets you in ways few other experiences can.
If there’s one lesson she’s learned, it’s that she has to take care of herself first. When you carry the weight of a business, self-care isn’t optional, it’s foundational. And perhaps the most surprising gift of this journey has been how much the community wants to see them succeed.
Outside of work, she’s happiest underwater or on her yoga mat. She loves memoirs, the film American Hustle, and a cozy cup of sweet and spicy black tea with hazelnut creamer. She once lived without refrigeration (beyond a cooler) for three years, proof that she doesn’t need much beyond freedom, daily adventure, creativity, connection, and purpose.
And honestly? After hearing her story, I think we could all use a little more of that. Summer on the boat can’t come soon enough. My only question is who is coming with me?
Katherine@PallinAround.com $175/person 4-course meal with 3-hour cruise BYOBMore info at www.PallinAround.com or text Katherine at 360-710-4035, Again prices may vary & subject to change. Also if you are looking for a place to stay on the canal this summer they can accommodate that as well. Don’t miss their water view Olympic Oasis with room for up to 8 guests! Packages available to include private chef, diving, activities, etc.
