In July of 1974, Capt. Brad Cook, in conjunction with Naturalist Scott Mercer, operated the first whale watch excursion carrying passengers from a NH port. While accommodations aboard the old vessels were rather primitive in those days, a spectacular day of sightings planted the seeds that were to grow into one of the most fascinating and awe inspiring ways to spend an afternoon on the ocean. 

In 1981, Atlantic Fleet originated whale watching from Rye Harbor. In those early days, Capt. Brad, together with his former business partner Capt. Ric, relied heavily on their offshore fishing experiences to help them locate the larger concentrations of whales on Jeffrey’s Ledge and Stellwagen Bank. The rest, as they say, is history.

The M/V Atlantic Queen II  was custom built for Capt Brad by Gulf Craft, Inc. of Patterson, LA. She is New Hampshire’s only all-aluminum supercruiser in passenger service. Her design includes many features and amenities suggested by years of passenger carrying experience. The 80 foot hull and double chine construction combine for a stable platform, thereby reducing the incidence of motion sickness. She is capable of 20+ knots to get you to the whales quickly. Her upper and lower walk-around decks provide over 300 feet of rail space to ensure all passengers an excellent view of the whales. The comfortable enclosed cabin provides large windows for viewing as well as spacious accommodations in the event of a sudden rain shower. Dinette seating allows families to sit together for a snack in the galley. The restrooms are meticulously clean. (The Capt. cleans them himself between trips!)

The M/V Atlantic Queen II is equipped with dual state of the art communication, navigational and computer electronics. In addition, the vessel is inspected twice annually by the US Coast Guard and is licensed for 150 passengers up to 100 miles offshore. However, for our passengers comfort, we limit our whale watches to 100 persons.