About us | Go2sea | Ramsgate boat tours
Meet Stuart at Go2sea: 40+ years of maritime expertise, including 20 years in coastal rescue and 26 years as a professional Pilot Boat Coxswain. Ramsgate's local boat trip expert. At Go2sea, you aren't just booking a boat trip-you're heading out with a skipper who has spent over 4 decades mastering the Kent coast.
Stuart's Journey began as a beach lifeguard in Broadstairs, a role that sparked a lifelong commitment to sea safety. This lead to 20 years of dedicated service to maritime search and rescue.
Arctic Storm - The Flagship Arctic Blaer - The reliable partner
What is a pilot boat?
You might see the distinctive Pilot Boats working in and out of Ramsgate Royal Harbour. These aren't ordinary vessels-they have one of the most specialized jobs at sea.
A Pilot boat is used to transport a maritime Pilot in/out to massive commercial ships, tankers, and cruise liners waiting in the North Sea. The Coxswain has the incredible task of pulling alongside these moving giants-often in heavy swells and gale force winds-so the Pilot can safely climb a ladder onto the ship to guide it into port.
From Big Ships to Seal trips
With 26 years of experience as a pilot boat coxswain, Stuart has spent over two decades mastering the art of 'coming alongside'. This requires
- Millimetre precision: Handling a boat in tight spaces and moving water.
- Weather wisdom: Knowing exactly how the wind and tides will affect a vessel.
- Safety instincts: Making split second decisions to keep everyone on board safe.
When you step aboard Arctic Storm, you are benefiting from that exact same professional expertise.
The Arctic 28: A special forces legend
When you step aboard Arctic Storm, you aren't just getting on a tourist boat-you're boarding a piece of maritime military history.
The Arctic 28 is a world-renowned RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) originally designed by Halmatic for elite military units, including the special forces and the Royal Navy. These boats were built to handle the most extreme conditions on the planet.
Why is it the perfect boat for your seal trip?
- unmatched stability: its deep-V hull and massive inflatable tubes mean it grips the water. It provides a incredibly steady platform for photography-perfect for getting a clear shot of that seal!
- Safety First: Built to military standards, these boats are virtually unsinkable and designed to keep passengers safe and secure even in a Kentish swell.
- Reliable Performance: The Arctic 28 is designed to navigate the Kent coast with ease. Its professional-grade hull ensures we reach the seal colony promptly and smoothly, maximizing your time for wildlife spotting while keeping the ride incredibly steady.
A small local Family business
We arent a big corporation; we are a local family run business. We love Broadstairs and Ramsgate, and we take pride in supporting our local community. When you book with us, you're getting a truly personal experience from people who live and breathe the Kent coast.
Proudly serving the Ramsgate community and visitor since 2013
Testimonials-What our passengers say
5 stars
Fantastic seal tour!
An absolutely fantastic boat trip from start to finish! Seeing seals up close in their natural habitat was simply wonderful. The host made the journey even more memorable with a great sense of humor, keeping everyone entertained and laughing throughout. The atmosphere was relaxed and full of excitement, making it a truly fun outing for all ages. Highly recommended!
Visited September 2025
5 stars
Well worth it!
Our two families had a superb time with Stu on this trip. He was friendly, professional, funny and very knowledgeable. It felt like he had given a bit extra to make it a great experience for us all and we would not hesitate to recommend it, especially as it was such great value for money.
Visited August 2025
5 stars
Superb trip and great captain!
The trip was great from start to finish. Captain Stuart was welcoming, fun, informative and caring, both of the seals and his guests. The safety was carried out in a professional but fun way, so that his younger guests could understand. He imparted heaps of information about the seals and the local area, now and in the past. He clearly cares about the environment and how we interact with it. The trip back was super fun and exhilarating. I’d book it again tomorrow. Thanks Captain!
5 stars
Brilliant! A must for the whole family!
Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant! What an experience. Magical trip made very special by excellent boat ride. Great seal viewing and magnificent history lesson from our Skipper. Both my daughters had an unforgettable experience and appreciated the extra special wave surfing on the Arctic 28 ex-special forces boat. A must for the whole family if you are in the Ramsgate area.
5stars
Fantastic!
I would highly recommend this boat trip - it has everything. Great captain (very informative and how he spoke to the varying ages of our group was spot on), amazing to see the seals in their natural environment and an exhilarating trip back for all of us (really great fun!).
Visited April 2025
5 stars
Aug 2025Absolutely loved this trip the boat ride was great fun and the 🦭 s are so adorable. Stuart was a great guide who gave us loads of knowledge on the history of the area. We will be doing this trip again next summerWritten 1 September 2025