Portland Paddle

What Portland Paddle does

Portland Paddle is a Portland, Maine-based outdoor recreation company founded in 2013 that operates sea kayak and stand-up paddleboard (SUP) tours, lessons, rentals, and multi-day expeditions on the Maine coast. Its core offerings span guided day tours at $48-$85 per person (including the popular Sunset Sea Kayak Tour and Fort Gorges Tour), multi-day expeditions priced from $590-$1,225 per person (such as the Casco Bay Traverse, Penobscot to Acadia, and Downeast Ramble), a structured lesson and workshop program ranging from $75-$525, equipment rentals, and a seasonal membership program. The company is headquartered at East End Beach on Casco Bay, with a secondary retail and classroom location at 233 Warren Avenue, and operates seasonally from mid-May to mid-October.

Name

Portland Paddle

Legal name

Portland Paddle

Website

https://portlandpaddle.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Portland Paddle is a Portland, Maine-based outdoor recreation company offering guided sea kayak and SUP tours, lessons, equipment rentals, and multi-day expeditions on the Maine coast, serving tourists, locals, families, and corporate groups seasonally from mid-May to mid-October.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Recreation and Adventure Tourism

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Kayaking, Canoeing & SUP Tours (Guided/Paddling Excursions) (THAJAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water & Marine Guiding Services (Kayak, Canoe, Raft, SUP, Sailing) (THAAALAB), Whitewater & Paddle Sports Centers (Rafting, Kayak, SUP, Canoe) (THAAAKAF)

Keywords

• Sea kayaking tours
• Stand-up paddleboard lessons
• Outdoor recreation services
• Guided water adventures
• Paddling equipment rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Guided Tours: Revenue from guided sea kayak and SUP tours ranging from 1.5-hour sunset tours to multi-day expeditions along the Maine coast and Maine Island Trail.
2. Lessons and Workshops: Revenue from instructional programs including intro courses, weekend workshops, rolling clinics, navigation skills, guide training, and specialty programs like Greenland kayaking and SUP yoga teacher training.
3. Equipment Rentals: Revenue from kayak and SUP rentals, including multi-day rentals with delivery services, and membership programs for locals.
4. Membership Program: Local membership program offering free rentals for four months with additional benefits for frequent paddlers.
5. Gift Certificates: Sale of gift vouchers for tours, lessons, and rentals as gift options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Portland Paddle is a sea kayaking and stand-up paddleboard (SUP) outdoor recreation company based in Portland, Maine, operating from East End Beach on Casco Bay. The company sells guided tours, multi-day expeditions, instructional lessons and workshops, equipment rentals, and seasonal memberships to tourists, local residents, and corporate groups along the Maine coast.

Product overview

Portland Paddle operates a unified outdoor recreation platform offering sea kayak and stand-up paddleboard (SUP) adventures on the Maine coast, centered at Casco Bay in Portland, Maine. The portfolio spans multiple product lines: Guided Sea Kayaking Tours (ranging from 2-hour harbor tours like the Fort Gorges and Sunset tours at $60–$75 to half-day island-hopping tours at $85); Multi-Day Sea Kayaking Expeditions (3–5 day trips including the popular Casco Bay Traverse at $590, Muscongus Bay at $675, Downeast Ramble at $1,225, and the Penobscot to Acadia Expedition at $975); SUP Sunset Tours and rentals; a structured Lessons program including introductory workshops ($335), the Greenland Kayaking Weekend Workshop ($450), Navigation Skills and Women at Sea Weekend Workshops, rolling and bracing clinics, ACA instructor certifications, and Guide Training ($425); Equipment Rentals and a seasonal Membership Program; Custom Paddling Experiences for private groups (bachelor/bachelorette parties, corporate retreats, school groups); and Community Events including weekly community paddles, Monday Night Race Series, and Queer Paddling Night. A notable 2026 launch is the free SEEK program, a partnership with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution offering marine science and kayaking for 7th and 8th graders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fort Gorges Sea Kayak Tour A 3-hour guided sea kayak tour of Portland harbor and Casco Bay, visiting Fort Gorges and small islands. Offered daily, priced from $75 per person. Ages 10+. Includes wildlife viewing, lighthouse sightings, and exploration of the working waterfront.
• Sunset Sea Kayak Tour A 2-hour evening sea kayak tour across Casco Bay to watch the sunset over Portland's islands. Priced at $60 per person. Most popular tour. Includes seals and seabird viewing.
• Half-Day Sea Kayak Tour A 4-hour island-hopping sea kayak tour venturing further into Casco Bay's archipelago. Priced at $85 per person. Ages 12+. Features more wild and rugged coastline and increased wildlife spotting opportunities.
• Casco Bay Traverse Three-Day Expedition A 3-day multi-day expedition traversing the breadth of Casco Bay and hundreds of islands along the Maine Island Trail. Priced at $590 per person. Most popular multi-day trip. Includes camping on islands along the trail.
• Penobscot to Acadia Expedition A 4-day expedition from Penobscot Bay to Acadia National Park, exploring the island-dense stretch of waters between the two regions. Priced at $975 per person. Features pink granite islands and views of Acadia's mountains.
• Muscongus Bay Three-Day A 3-day sea kayak expedition in Muscongus Bay, one of Maine's wilder coastal areas. Priced at $675 per person. Features abundant wildlife, seal observation, island camping on the Maine Island Trail, and possible views of Monhegan Island.
• Downeast Ramble Five-Day Expedition A 5-day expedition exploring Maine's Downeast region, the most rugged and remote stretch of the Maine coast. Priced at $1,225. Destinations include Cobscook Bay, Bold Coast, Machias Bay, and Great Wass archipelago. Requires intermediate to advanced skill level.
• SUP Sunset Tour A 1.5-hour stand-up paddleboard (SUP) tour at sunset on Casco Bay. Priced at $48 per person. Ages 14+. Designed to take advantage of calmer seas and golden-hour light typical of the hour before sunset.
• Family Sea Kayak Tour A 2-hour family-friendly sea kayak tour designed for families with children ages 7 and up. Priced at $50 per person. Slower pace, exploring Portland's eastern waterfront and nearby small islands.
• Intro to Sea Kayak Weekend Workshop A two-day introductory sea kayaking workshop teaching basic skills and techniques for ocean paddling. Priced at $335. Ages 15+. 14 hours total. Designed for beginners new to ocean paddling.
• Greenland Kayaking and Rolling Weekend Workshop A two-day workshop introducing traditional Greenland style kayaking, taught by world-renowned instructors Cheri Perry and Turner Wilson of Kayak Ways. Priced at $450. Ages 16+. Covers Greenland strokes, braces, and rolls.
• Maine Sea Kayak Guide Training
• Kayak and SUP Rentals
• Membership Program A seasonal membership offering free kayak and SUP rentals for four months plus additional member benefits. Targeted at local Portland-area residents for regular paddling access to Casco Bay.
• Custom Paddling Experiences
• Women at Sea Expedition A 3-day women-led island-hopping paddling adventure on the Maine Island Trail in Casco Bay. Ages 18+. Priced at $590 for adults. Includes guided paddling, skill development, and overnight camping in a women-only group environment.
• Women at Sea Weekend Workshop
• SEEK Program

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Woods Hole Oceanographic InstitutioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 April 2026Portland Paddle is partnering with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to offer SEEK (Science, Exploration, and Education from a Kayak), a week-long kayak and coastal science program for local 7th and 8th graders. The program runs August 3-7, 2026, combining kayaking with marine science education on Casco Bay.
• Kayak WaysminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-teaching partnership with Kayak Ways for traditional Greenland kayaking and rolling workshops. World-renowned instructors Cheri Perry and Turner Wilson from Kayak Ways co-lead these specialty workshops with Portland Paddle.
• Maine Island Trail AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortland Paddle guides have extensive experience on the Maine Island Trail and offer multi-day tours to popular Trail sites. The company supports MITA stewardship through island clean-ups and promotes MITA membership to customers. Classroom portions of guide training courses held at MITA offices.
• SailMaineminorOthersPortland Paddle co-founder Erin Quigley serves as Development Manager at SailMaine, Portland's community sailing center, indicating a connection between the organizations.
• Adventure Travel Trade AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate member of the Adventure Travel Trade Association, using ATTA member badge on website for credibility.
• Portland Buy LocalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate member of Portland Buy Local, displaying logo on website to signal local business credibility.
• Maine TourismminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMember of Maine Tourism organization, displaying member logo on website for tourism marketing support.
• Visit PortlandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner with Visit Portland tourism organization for regional marketing and visitor referrals.
• Wild Craft Yoga and Healing ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with yoga teacher Sarah Graham of Wild Craft Yoga and Healing Arts to deliver SUP Yoga Teacher Training programs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Maine Island Trail Association: Non-profit steward of the 375-mile Maine Island Trail; Portland Paddle partners with MITA on guide training, island stewardship, and multi-day expeditions. Comparable as the enabling trail organization whose destinations and brand drive Portland Paddle's expedition demand, even though MITA is a non-profit rather than a commercial competitor.

Direct peers

• Portland Schooner Co. Portland, Maine operator of historic windjammer schooner sailing cruises out of the same harbor. Comparable as a waterfront tourism outfitter selling guided on-water experiences to visitors on Casco Bay.
• Coastal Kayak Touring Company: Maine-based sea kayak touring company offering guided trips and instruction along the Maine coast. Directly comparable as a New England sea kayak outfitter with similar lesson, tour, and expedition offerings aimed at coastal tourists.
• SailMaine: Portland-based community sailing and water recreation center connected to Portland Paddle via co-founder Erin Quigley (Development Manager). Comparable as a Portland waterfront outfitter running lessons, youth programs, and on-water experiences for locals and visitors.
• Acadia Outfitters: Bar Harbor, ME outfitter offering sea kayak tours, rentals, and instruction near Acadia National Park. Directly comparable because both are Maine-based sea kayak tour/rental/lesson businesses catering to coastal tourists with similar pricing and skill-tiered product menus.
• Kayak Ways: Traditional Greenland-style kayaking and rolling instruction specialist run by Cheri Perry and Turner Wilson; a documented Portland Paddle co-teaching partner. Directly comparable because both offer specialty sea kayak workshops and instructor-led skill clinics in the Northeast paddling market.
• Lucky Catch Cruises: Portland, Maine operator of waterfront fishing and lobstering cruises for tourists. Comparable as a Portland-based on-water guided experience provider serving cruise-ship and hotel visitors with similar ticket pricing and seasonality.

Broad incumbents

• REI Co-op (REI Adventures / Outdoor School): National outdoor retailer and experience operator running guided adventure trips and outdoor skills classes across the U.S. Comparable as a broader outdoor education and guided-experience incumbent that competes for the same beginner-to-intermediate paddling customer, but at far larger scale and across multiple regions.

Regional players

• Paddle Boston: Greater Boston paddling outfitter offering kayak and SUP rentals, lessons, and tours on rivers and harbors. Comparable as a Northeast urban paddling outfitter with multi-tier product menu (rentals, lessons, tours), though operating in a different metro geography.
• Casco Bay Lines: Portland-based ferry and excursion service running scheduled routes and island cruises on Casco Bay. Comparable as a Casco Bay water-transport operator with overlap in tourists seeking Peaks Island and bay sightseeing experiences, though its core is scheduled transit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/portlandpaddle
• Facebookfacebook.com/portlandpaddle
• Instagraminstagram.com/portlandpaddle
• TikToktiktok.com/@portlandpaddle

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Portland Paddle