Ten Years Later – A Legacy That Still Guides Us

In Loving Memory of Michael Allen McIntosh

Ten years ago today, the world lost a giant—and I lost my father. Michael Allen McIntosh was more than the founder of The Boat Company. He was a visionary, a fierce protector of wild places, and a man who understood, perhaps better than anyone I’ve ever known, the responsibility we must steward what’s been entrusted to us.

In the early days, when few were paying attention to the slow erosion of Alaska’s wild character, my father stepped forward. He didn’t just talk about conservation—he funded it, he fought for it, and he built a business rooted in it. From the decks of the OBSERVER, the LISERON and MIST COVE, he showed thousands of guests the raw, soul-stirring power of the Tongass National Forest. And behind the scenes, he poured millions into litigation, education, and advocacy to ensure it would remain wild and intact for generations to come.

The Boat Company was never just about travel. It was a vessel for change—a floating conservation mission—and it still is. Because of his efforts, entire watersheds are protected. Trawl boundaries were fought. Old-growth forests stand today that otherwise wouldn’t. His impact can’t be measured in miles or years, but in legacies—and we are now the keepers of that legacy.

Every time we cast a line into a clear Alaskan stream, hike through an ancient forest, or watch a guest experience the awe of this place for the first time, we are walking in his footsteps. And we are reminded that this work—his work—is not done.

I miss him every day. But I see his fingerprints all over this landscape. I feel his presence in the spray off the bow, in the stillness of a hidden cove, and in the purpose that drives our team forward.

Here’s to you, Dad. Thank you for showing us the way. We’ll keep carrying the torch. 

—Hunter