Portland · Casco Bay, Maine
Madeline Adventures
A working harbor. Islands in every direction. Opening Summer 2027.
COMING SUMMER 2027
Get on the Water
Portland · Casco Bay, Maine
A working harbor. Islands in every direction. Opening Summer 2027.
— A simple way to get on the water
We started Madeline Adventures because we wanted kayaking to feel like kayaking again. Not waiting in line. Not signing clipboards. Just book a boat, walk to the rack, unlock, paddle.
01 — The Fleet
Sit-on-top kayaks for certain; paddleboards if Casco Bay earns them. The exact boats, their names, and how many go on the rack will be set over the winter and posted here before booking opens in spring 2027.
02 — How It Works
Pick a boat and a duration. Pay online in under a minute.
When we open, your lock code arrives by email. Walk to the rack at Portland — the boats on the rack. Your code releases the boat and opens the paddle storage box; life preservers are in the black boxes — no code needed.
Lock the rack back up when you're done. The bay is yours in between.
03 — Plan Your Visit
Safety first: there is no lifeguard on duty. Life jackets must be worn at all times on the water (they're in the black boxes at the rack). Island ferries run year-round and cruise ships use the harbor; big boats can't stop or turn quickly, so stay close to shore, give them plenty of room and never cross in front of them. Check the tide before you go: the water level changes a lot through the day, and currents run strongest between high and low tide. And never drink alcohol or use drugs before or while boating.
A self-service rental works best when you know where you're going and what to throw in the car.
Find us
Portland
Portland, Maine
Exact rack location arrives with your booking confirmation
Open in Google MapsPortland, Maine — the exact launch is announced with the fleet — the exact address arrives with your confirmation. Parking details come with the launch announcement; use public parking only and follow posted signs.
When You Arrive
The boats live on a single rack at Portland. Boat names and rack positions will be posted before booking opens. One code opens everything.
Hours & Season
What to Bring
We provide the kayak, paddle, and PFD. Everything else is on you.
After You Book
Good to Know
04 — About
Madeline Adventures is a small, self-service kayak rental on Casco Bay — based out of Portland in Portland, Maine.
A small fleet. A combination lock. A code in your inbox. The bay does the rest.
A boat is a small permission to be elsewhere for a while.
05 — FAQ
Pick your boat, choose a duration, and check out. You'll get a confirmation email with your combination lock code within a few minutes.
One rack on Portland; the exact address is in your confirmation email. boat names and rack positions will be posted before booking opens. Your combination opens the boat locks and the paddle box.
If you've never been on the water, you're in luck — the sit-on-top kayaks we plan to offer are wide, stable, and forgiving; falling in is part of the fun, and climbing back on is easy. Stay along the shoreline, go in the morning when the harbor is calm, and don't venture past the moorings.
In the storage box on the ground beside the boats — one box beside the rack. The same combination from your confirmation opens the storage box and both boat locks — one code unlocks everything.
Maine law requires a properly-fitted U.S. Coast Guard–approved PFD on board for every paddler. We provide one with each boat, and we strongly recommend wearing it the entire time — Casco Bay is cold, even in July.
If conditions are unsafe (small craft advisory, thunderstorms, sustained winds over ~15 mph), don't go out — use the reschedule link in your confirmation email to move your booking to better weather (standard cancellation terms apply). Check the marine forecast for Portland before you head down.
Yes. You can move your date or time anytime using the reschedule link in your confirmation email. For a refund, reach out at least 48 hours before your start time — inside 48 hours, bookings aren't refundable, but you can still reschedule.
A little late is fine — we get it, the bay is hard to leave. If you're significantly over your booked time and another paddler is waiting, we'd appreciate a quick heads-up.
Each boat is single-paddler. A small child can ride on the nose of a parent’s boat for short, close-to-shore paddles on calm mornings. PFDs are required for everyone regardless of age — they're in the black boxes at the rack. A small, calm dog can ride along at your own risk — please dry the boat afterward.
06 — Get in Touch
For day-of issues — lost lock codes, last-minute weather calls — call 715-913-7879. For everything else, the form on the right reaches our inbox within the hour during the season.