The Partnership between Go Sail Montana and the Flathead Lake Biological Station

In the not so distant past, the demand lake recreators had for maps of Flathead Lake far outweighed any sort of supply available. 

“People who came here would basically try and buy the old versions of Flathead Lake maps off of our walls,” Tom Bansak, the associate director of the Flathead Lake Biological Station said. None of the maps in the Bio Station’s ecological research and education center on Flathead Lake were even in production any more. They were artistic relics more than anything else, but they were certainly in demand. In 2017, Tom decided that should change. 

“I went down the hallway to our GIS person and said ‘Diane I bet you can make an amazing Flathead Lake map’,” he said — and she did. The first Flathead Lake map FLBS released was 24×36 inches and printed on poster paper. With the success of that first map, they decided to come out with maps for Whitefish Lake, Swan Lake, and a smaller waterproof version of Flathead Lake with more detailed info about the lake itself. 

It didn’t take long for Captain Genevieve, the owner of Go Sail Flathead Lake, to catch wind of the new Flathead Lake maps that Tom and his colleagues at the Flathead Lake Biological Station had been working on. 

In March of 2021, Captain G called Tom to introduce herself and make a proposal. First, she asked to buy the waterproof maps Tom had already made and give them to her sailing customers. Second, a larger ask – would Tom be interested in collaborating to create Flathead Lake’s first navigational map for sailors?

“The sailing community on the lake had been using a really old book that had locations of rock hazards and safe harbors,” Tom explained. “The vision was to get all of that information compiled in one place and accessible to the sailing community.”

From Tom’s perspective, Genevieve’s call had come at the perfect time. Their supply of waterproof maps was starting to dwindle and it was an ideal time to partner on a new map.  

“We just saw it as an opportunity to increase visibility of the lake and both of our organizations,” Tom said. “That [type of map] had not really existed before— there weren’t navigation maps for Flathead Lake.”

So the pair got to work. Tom and Genevieve sat down with the FLBS GIS department to label navigational hazards, shallow areas, safe harbors, and more on Flathead Lake. They added a compass rose to the map, changed the color scheme, and made it look more like a nautical chart.  

“The things that sailors use are different than what a powerboater would use,” Tom said about the specifics added to the new sailing map of Flathead Lake.

Go Sail Flathead Lake and the Flathead Lake Biological Station released the sailing map of Flathead Lake in 2021. With its completion, a partnership between Go Sail and the Bio Station was cemented, with a common goal in mind. Supporting the “people who care about the water and love recreating on it,” Tom said. “This also increases awareness and appreciation of the lake itself, and the myriad of benefits it provides to all of us.”  

For the 2025 sailing season, Go Sail is partnering with the Flathead Lake Biological Station once again. This time to bring the Bio Station’s employees sailing on Flathead Lake and also, encourage Go Sail customers to donate to the organization. In August, any Go Sail student who donates $50 to the Bio Station will receive $100 off their booking made for the remainder of the 2025 season. 

You can purchase the sailing map of Flathead Lake here.