Once upon a time there was a young man named Will, who loved to kayak.  He was born and bred in New England and loved the outdoors.  He studied history all his life and his love for both has become a key part of the vibe he has instilled in his company. 

Will’s first summer job in Maine was at Old Quarry Ocean’s Adventures, in Stonington. 

Will and his black lab Surrey loved working with customers on the waterfront and it was here that he learned to lead kayak tours. Will learned proper paddling technique, safety, navigation, crisis management, and all about the coastal wildlife, and qualified for his Maine Sea Kayak Guide license.   He went on to qualify as a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and an instructor…but that came later.

 When the owners sold Old Quarry and shut it down in the summer of 2020, Will finished the season living in Stonington with his sister, working part time in Bar Harbor, and paddling around Stonington in his spare time.  They often ended up at the Cockatoo Restaurant in front of a pitcher of sangria, a bowl of mussels, and brainstorming how to turn his love into a business.

Eventually he turned to me – “Hey Dad, I’d like to start my own business. Will you help me?”     As much fun as Bar Harbor sounds, the kayaking is soooo much better in Stonington, with its archipelago of over 70 islands, protected waters and plentiful wildlife.  

I was about to retire from corporate life, so this sounded like it could be a lot of fun, helping my kid learn how to be an entrepreneur by figuring out how to manage a P&L as well as how he could manage a kayak.  Together we put together a business plan to pitch to the rest of the family, seeking their support for financial advice (sister Sarah at JPMorgan), outdoor marketing advice (sister Katie at Alterra), overall best practices (brother Jack, a doctor in Rhode Island) and all around general support from Mom & Dad.

2021 was our first season – and as worried as we were about starting a business in the middle of a pandemic, it turned out to be a GREAT time to encourage people to get outside and on the water.   Along the way Will picked up skills and expertise from planning, to insurance, inventory management, product marketing and social media and back office booking capabilities.

And so it began….and we are thankful to be where we are in Maine, and to have earned the trust of our customers.