About Best Day Ever Boat Adventures.

Best Day Ever Boat Adventures was founded by Avila Beach, California residents, Vincent and Emily Shay. They have created and operated multiple successful business endeavors in Avila Beach & Port San Luis Harbor since 2009.

Emily Shay is not only an accomplished water-woman, but is a professional educator at The Grizzly Academy where she mentors students to live their best life and pursue excellence.

Vincent Shay is an award winning photographer living in Avila Beach, California. He has over 35 years of experience documenting different scenes around the world and currently concentrates taking images of the ocean and the life that surrounds him everyday.

In 2009, he founded with his wife, Emily, Avila Beach Paddlesports which was an adventure tour, lesson and rental operation servicing over 15,000 patrons per year on average. They both operated this company until 2022 when they sold the business and concentrated on their little gift market, Mermaid Market, located in Port San Luis Harbor.

Since 2015, Vincent has become well known in the Central Coast and Avila Beach area for his photographs of whales, sea otters and other ocean scenes. It was his love of the ocean that he decided to embark on this motorized vessel adventure called ‘Best Day Ever Boat Adventures’ for 2024.

He has spent many hours and years in the waters on the Central Coast especially from Point Sal to Morro Bay, California.

Please feel free to read more about Vincent Shay here:

• https://www.mensjournal.com/adventure/the-whale-whisperer

• https://paddlinglife.com/sea-kayaking/catching-up-with-photographer-ageless-surf-kayaker-and-avila-beach-paddlesports-founder-vince-shay/

• https://www.newtimesslo.com/arts/a-part-of-that-world-slo-photographer-vincent-shay-gets-up-close-to-capture-images-of-elusive-whales-2978843

About our vessel , ‘Small Kine’.

Our vessel name is ‘Small Kine’ and this is pidgin word phrase heard in the Hawaiian Islands (our favorite place to be by the way!) and means simply,

“No Big Deal”

The vessel we use currently for our small boat whale watching and coastal adventures is a 20’ RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) commonly called a ‘zodiac’. These craft are know to be very stable and safe and FAST!

‘Small Kine’ is an open deck boat meaning there is no enclosed cabin. This is nice because when we see sea life the encounter can become very intimate if and when the animals come close to us. Also, because we are lower to the water the ride is super exciting!

We are equipped with all Coast Guard Required Safety equipment required for a 20’ foot vessel. We also have as an added security of an EPIRB which is an emergency positioning indicating radio beacon. Also, we have BOAT US which is an unlimited gold towing service.

We look forward to having you out on a fun adventure with Best Day Ever Boat Adventures with Vincent Shay and the vessel, ‘Small Kine’.

Mahalo,

Vincent & Emily Shay