get to know Our fleet...
We provide an unrivalled selection of trips from our fleet of boats, so you can choose one that perfectly matches your requirements. Because we have four boats, many of our customers try several different trips before deciding on their favourite one, which they will then book every summer, or even several times in the same week! All our boat trips head out to the Cardigan Bay Special Area of Conservation, which boasts a rich and diverse range of marine species.
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​With the emphasis on providing the best possible experience for our customers, along with an increase in demand for our services, we have grown our fleet to four boats. In addition to our iconic Ermol V and Ermol VI we have added Dreamcatcher and then in 2024 we launched our flagship Suncatcher. Each boat has its own unique features that appeal to different customers, and many have their favourite boats. Both Suncatcher and Dreamcatcher are wheelchair accessible, just notify us in advance of booking.
Have a look at our boats below and decide for yourself.
suncatcher
The pride of our fleet and Cardigan Bay can carry 75 passengers and with an upper deck Suncatcher provides the ultimate viewing experience. Purposely built for spotting marine wildlife, Suncatcher has been designed around the passengers’ experience.
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By building the boat with an island wheelhouse on the lower deck, passengers on this deck also get a 360-degree view of Cardigan Bay and its wildlife. Passengers are free to explore this double-deck boat and try out the views on both levels.
Suncatcher has an indoor bar serving snacks, hot and cold drinks and a full-size WC for passengers’ convenience. This 15 metre Blythe catamaran also provides greater stability in choppy seas.
You only have to step aboard Suncatcher to understand why it attracts so many admiring looks from other boat operators in the Bay.
dreamcatcher
Since launching Dreamcatcher in 2021 it has been the most popular choice amongst visitors to New Quay.
The boat has an island wheelhouse, which allows passengers unrestricted 360-degree access to the deck. Although there is allocated seating you are free to walk around the boat and choose the best viewing positions for spotting marine wildlife.
The boat only carries a maximum of 12 passengers, so it provides a more intimate passenger experience, which many prefer compared to the bigger boats. This 10 metre Cheetah catamaran provides excellent stability at sea, while its stylish design makes it the most desirable Cheetah catamaran in Cardigan Bay.
For this reason, Dreamcatcher is the ideal boat for a private charter
our iconic ermol v & vi boats
These classic boats are popular choices for customers and provide just as good an experience as the newer additions to the fleet.
The Ermol V carries 45 passengers and has recently been refurbished.
While the Ermol VI – affectionately known as the red boat - accommodates 50 passengers and has been fitted with two brand new ultra-efficient engines, which has improved the passenger experience.
Both Ermol boats have cushioned seating, with a canopy covering half the seating and the Ermol V has a toilet on board.
safety on our boats
The safety of our passengers is of paramount importance to us and our immaculate safety record during the past 70 years of operating boat trips in New Quay proves that.
All our boats are fully licenced by the Maritime and Coast Guard Agency (MCA). Each vessel has life rafts and a life jacket for every person on board and conforms to the latest MCA regulations.
Our skippers are fully qualified and hold a Boatmasters Licence, trained in first aid, firefighting and sea survival techniques.
All passengers are fully insured, and with the added assurance that you are with the most experienced passenger boat operator in Cardigan Bay, you can relax knowing that you are in safe hands.
investment
two new boats, one refit & two new engines...
Our continued investment in the family business is testament to our commitment to continuing to provide the best possible experience for our customers.
Although we have always received excellent reviews about our excursions, we knew we couldn’t rest on our laurels. During the past four years we have increased the size of our fleet to accommodate high demand.
Dreamcatcher was bought and launched in 2021. Then we took the bold decision to build a brand-new boat, which was designed specifically for wildlife spotting excursions and although Suncatcher only enjoyed its first season in 2024 it is already proving to be a successful decision.
We understood how much our classic boats, the Ermol V and Ermol VI, mean to our customers and they have both played a key role in the heritage of our business. For these reasons we decided against replacing them and opted to spend money on refitting them and re-powering them.
Ermol V has been refurbished and has reconditioned engines; while Ermol VI has her new engines to improve the passenger experience, with a refurbishment planned for 2026.
We are proud to say that both boats are lovingly maintained.
"The crew were absolutely amazing and it was a wonderful experience! We saw multiple dolphins as well as Cormorants and Kitty Wakes, and learnt so much about New Quay’s wildlife. Would highly recommend!"
-Emily s
