Limits the size of my tour groups to six people / 3 tandem boats*.  All other outfitters in Bar Harbor or on Mount Desert Island will take up to twice that many.  I can take out private groups of any size of up to twelve people at a time by request.

Will demonstrate the hauling of a lobster trap on your tour (Catch and released if requested.  Lobster traps are seasonal.)

Gives you the opportunity to explore an island on every tour (weather permitting).

Charges as little as 40 dollars for a three and a half hour tour.

Does private tours without requiring reservations far in advance or a group size minimum.

Donates 5% of profits to charity.

Carries on every tour a VHF radio, a cell phone, a GPS, and a satellite personal tracker beacon.  A bonus of having the satellite tracker is that after the trip you can look on google maps and see the course we paddled in detail (you may want to remind me at the start of your tour to turn on the tracking feature if seeing your exact course on google maps after your trip is important to you).

Provides optically clear waterproof camcorder and camera cases (even for SLR cameras) that you can take pictures through and that float.

Provides drinking water (spring water in non-toxic glass containers)

Provides earth friendly EVA rain gear.

Provides wetsuit mittens or pogies that attach directly to your paddle, are easy to slip your hands in and out of, and keep your hands warm.

Provides Patagonia fleece jackets.

Provides gore-tex fleece hats.

Provides deck bags for easy access to your water, snack, camera etc...

Provides kid sized paddles.  The carbon fiber kid sized paddles I use  are a shorter length appropriate for kids and are made of the lightest material available making them easy for younger people to use.  Unlike the adult paddles the blades are symmetrically shaped so it does not matter if they are held upside down.  It is important for kids to have a sense of contributing something to the trip.  Other outfitters either do not give kids a paddle or let them use the adult paddles which quickly tire them out.

Gives sunrise tours.

Gives night time star gazing tours.

Uses Wilderness Systems Northstar two person kayaks for my regularly scheduled day tours.

These are the longest and most stable two person plastic sea kayaks made and are the most comfortable kayaks for taller people.

I have paddled most of the plastic two person kayaks that are made and have paddled all of the two person kayaks that other outfitters in the area use and while they all perform well in perfectly calm conditions in even mild wind and waves the Northstar two person kayaks I use are noticeably more stable and easier to steer.

Uses spray skirts made of a 100% waterproof and breathable material (Sympatex).

The spray skirt is what keeps the water out of the boat.  Most outfitters use nylon spray skirts which are neither waterproof (they have a low level of water resistance) or breathable.  Some outfitters use PVC spray skirts which are very water resistant but not waterproof and are not breathable. 

Nylon spray skirts are almost a guarantee of having a wet bottom after your trip and on a hot day a PVC spray skirt will have you soaking in your own sweat.

Does not use equipment made with PVC plastic.  PVC is not an environmentally friendly material.

Launches from the beach but does not use a gas powered vehicle to get kayaks or people to the beach.

Allows people to use their own boats and equipment on the tours if they wish, provided that I approve them as being safe.

Does not hire other people to guide trips.

I may hire others to help with certain aspects of the business but you can be assured that only I will be your guide and that you are going out with a reliable and experienced guide.

What is important is how experienced your individual guide is not how long the outfitter has been in business.

With other outfitters you may get a guide that has twenty years of experience leading trips or you may get a guide with less than a month of experience even being in a kayak.

I am one of the only sea kayak guides / outfitters on Mount Desert Island or in the state who-

Does not cancel a tour if only a small number of people sign up for it.

Starts my tours at the water giving more paddling time per tour.

Can take out children as young as six (private tours only).

Is actually on the water when the sun sets for the sunset tour (there is a half an hour of daylight after the sun sets and we will not be paddling in the dark on the sunset tour).

Provides hand warmers.

Gives night tours.

Gives private tours.

Is a certified wilderness (medical) first responder.

Is a certified life guard.

I am the only sea kayak guide / outfitter on Mount Desert Island who-

If you are looking to go on an ocean adventure and want your money to support sustainable business practices and ocean conservation, want the best service, want to see how a lobster trap is hauled, want to go out with a small and intimate group, and/or would like a private tour or night tour Acadia Park Kayak Tours is not just the best but the only tour service that offers what you want.