Meet our Team
Maine Kayak staff are highly skilled paddling enthusiasts with extensive training and experience and have a true love of the outdoors that they live to share.
Take a look at the Maine Kayak team. We are truly passionate outdoor enthusiast who believe getting in the outdoors help the body and sole recharge and rejuvenate.
This page is a little information about the people who keep Maine Kayak running. We employee elite outdoor enthusiasts who love getting people in the Maine outdoors. Maine Kayak offers employment for professional Registered Maine Guides, Office and kayak rental shop staff.
Welcome to Maine Kayak staff page! We believe getting people outdoors helps the body and soul. Participation in kayaking trips allows people to commune with nature and relax and recharge in a serene environment. Maine Kayak is the first kayaking company in Maine to offer participants an option to choose from a variety of Maine kayaking vacations. We provide everything people need to enjoy a relaxing day on a picturesque Maine lake, a serene day exploring Maine’s rocky coast or a thrilling day tackling some of Maine’s finest whitewater.
Maine Kayak Staff
Meet Our Staff
Alvah Maloney
Master Maine Guide – Program Director
Alvah started kayaking at age six, running whitewater rivers with his family’s paddling company in northern Maine. That early foundation shaped a coaching style rooted in boat feel, risk management and sharp decision making skills he now brings to the coastal environment.
With over four decades of paddling, guiding and coaching experience, Alvah blends his whitewater background with a deep understanding of ocean dynamics. He has participated in a 90 day sea kayak expeditions in Patagonia and completed a self-supported whitewater descent of the Grand Canyon in just five days.
Certifications: Master Maine Sea Kayak Guide, Maine Recreation and Level 2 Whitewater Guide, British Canoeing (Paddle UK) Moderate Water Coach, Moderate Sea Kayak Leader and Performance Assessor, ACA Level 4 Whitewater Kayak Instructor, Wilderness First Responder, B.S. in Outdoor Recreation. Sponsored P&H Sea Kayak Team Paddler and Kokatat Ambassador.
Kelly Maloney
Maine Sea Kayak Guide
Kelly Maloney is the Assistant Program Director at Maine Kayak and a Registered Maine Sea Kayak Guide and Advanced Underwater Naturalist SCUBA certified. Kelly spent many seasons as the Office Manager for a whitewater rafting company while enjoying winters in the Caribbean. Kelly helped design the programming for Maine Kayak’s sea and lake touring trips and is the resident chef for Maine Kayak’s overnight trips. You’ll find her helping out around the shop on weekends.
Certifications: Registered Maine Guide, Masters in Environmental Policy, Master Chef of the Camping Culinary Arts
Spencer Maloney
Rental Staff – Guide in Training
Spencer is a dedicated seasonal team member at Maine Kayak. During the summer, Spencer contributes to providing exceptional kayaking experiences and ensuring the safety and enjoyment of all participants. Passionate about outdoor adventures, Spencer plays a key role in supporting Maine Kayak’s mission of delivering memorable water-based excursions. He shares his time at the Boothbay Harbor and Pemaquid Harbor kayak rental shops.
Certifications: Wilderness First Aid
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Hauns Bassett
Maine Sea Kayak Guide
Hauns Bassett is a wicked proud Mainer who graduated Unity College with a BS in Environmental Education in 1997, which is where he took his first sea kayaking course in Muscungus Bay. Both during and after college Hauns lived on Little Cranberry Island where he worked building lobster traps and serving as a sternman on his cousins lobster boat, ‘Just a Pluggin’. Hauns has been a Registered Maine Guide since 2003 and has led numerous trips on the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, the West Branch of the Penobscot River, St. Croix River, Flagstaff Lake and hikes in Baxter State Park and on various sections of the Appalachian Trail. He began guiding sea kayaking tours with Maine Kayak in the Spring of 2008.
Certifications: Registered Maine Guide with endorsements in sea kayaking and recreation.
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Matt Lutkus
Maine Sea Kayak Guide
Matt has been paddling for two decades and previously had been certified as an advanced level coastal kayaking instructor though ACA. He is an avid reader when it comes to the history of the Midcoast islands and has a keen interest in the birds and other wildlife in coastal Maine. Over the years he has taught many paddling classes with an emphasis on self-and assisted- rescues and basic and advanced paddling skills. He recently retired from local government management and has now begun to focus on using his many years of experience on the water in a second career as a Maine Guide.
Certifications – Maine Sea Kayak Guide, American Canoe Association Level 3 Coastal Kayaking Instructor
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John Hayden
Maine Sea Kayak Guide
John loves adventure, travel, and spending time outside. Last winter he kayaked in the Everglades and this winter Baja, Mexico. With degrees in Biology and Ecology he loves to learn about interactions between all of Earth’s inhabitants (human and non-human). In his prior career as an educator, international consultant and organic farmer, John’s focus was on healthy soil, biodiversity, and local food systems. He still gardens, but is now spending more of his time exploring the ocean in beautiful Mid-Coast Maine. He is a Registered Maine Guide and his favorite part of guiding is helping people to reconnect with themselves and their environment by getting out on the water in a kayak.
Certifications – Registered Maine Sea Kayak Guide, Wilderness First Aid
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Eric Duffy
Maine Sea Kayak Guide
Eric Duffy has spent his career at an intersection of education, backcountry trip leading, and emergency medical care. While living on the edge of Muscongus Bay for 25 years, he logged more than 10 seasons as a professional guide, and held leadership positions with some of Maine’s most highly regarded independent schools and outdoor education programs.
He now works in an emergency clinic, teaches courses in wilderness medicine, and “gets paid to take people paddling!” With a friendly and down to earth approach, Eric’s affection for sharing Maine’s coast from sea level easily rubs off. He says, “Facilitating safe, fun, and interesting trips is the best part of the Maine Guide tradition – so, for me, it’s become more of a vocation than a job.”
Certifications – Registered Nurse , Wilderness EMT, Registered Maine Sea Kayaking Guide, Lead Instructor: Wilderness Medical Associates International
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Kristin Knox
Maine Sea Kayak Guide
Kristin Knox was born in Colorado and now calls Maine’s coast home in the summer. She holds ACA Level 2 Coastal Kayak Instructor credentials and is a newly licensed Maine Sea Kayak Guide. A whitewater kayaking enthusiast and winter ski instructor, Kristin brings energy and a strong commitment to outdoor education.
She’s passionate about guiding scenic coastal trips and blends her expertise in sea, river, and alpine environments to create fun, thoughtful experiences on the water.
Certifications – Registered Maine Sea Kayak Guide, ACA L2 Coastal Kayaking Instructor, Wilderness First Aid
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March Truedsson
Maine Sea Kayak Guide
March is an experienced whitewater raft and kayak guide passionate about sharing the beauty of Maine’s waterways with others. With a deep appreciation for coastal ecosystems and a strong background in whitewater, March brings enthusiasm, expertise, and a commitment to safety on every trip. Whether guiding coastal tours, running Maine’s premier whitewater rivers, or multi-day coastal island camping adventures, March ensures that guests have an engaging and memorable experience on the water.
Certifications – Registered Nurse, Registered Maine Sea Kayaking Guide, Level 2 Maine Whitewater Rafting Guide
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Oliver Hodous
Maine Sea Kayak Guide
With an easygoing style and a sharp eye for detail, Oliver Hodous brings calm and confidence to the Maine Kayak team. Whether guiding a group along the rugged coastline or helping beginners find their rhythm on the water, he leads with quiet competence and steady enthusiasm.
Off the water, Oliver’s background in yoga and his natural rapport with people make him a valued guide and teammate. He’s here to make your time on the water not just safe and scenic but genuinely memorable.
Certifications – Registered Maine Sea Kayaking Guide
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Burc Oral
Maine Sea Kayak Guide
Burc Oral
Certifications – Registered Maine Sea Kayak Guide in Training, ACA L3 Coastal Kayaking Instructor, Wilderness First Responder
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Jenny Cusick
Maine Sea Kayak Guide
Jenny Cusick, from East Boothbay, Maine, is a lifelong endurance athlete and outdoor educator. She biked 2,700 miles solo along the Great Divide and now trains for local triathlons. A passionate advocate for outdoor learning, she also leads hiking safety workshops in the Boothbay region. Her energy and love for Maine’s coast make her a natural guide.
Certifications – Registered Maine Sea Kayaking Guide
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Mercy Buchwalder
Rental Staff
Mercy Buchwalder keeps the gears turning smoothly at Maine Kayak. Whether she’s helping customers at the rental shop, organizing gear or answering questions in the office, she brings patience, precision and a strong work ethic to every task.
Her behind the scenes support plays a key role in making sure each day runs efficiently and that every guest starts their paddling experience on the right foot.
Certifications – Guide in Training
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Alva Gandler
Rental Staff
Alva Gandler brings a grounded, capable presence to the Maine Kayak crew. Unfazed by the chaos of a busy summer day, she moves seamlessly between roles—handling gear, supporting guests, and keeping operations flowing with quiet confidence.
Certifications – Rental Staff, Guide in Training
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Jon Levitt
Maine Sea Kayak Guide
Jon Levitt is a guide, instructor, and naturalist with a calm, thoughtful presence and a deep respect for Maine’s coastline. Whether leading through dynamic water or teaching stroke refinement, he balances precision with patience, helping paddlers find rhythm and confidence on the sea.
Beyond the kayak, Jon is a professional photographer and writer whose essays have been published internationally. His background in gastronomy and foraging deepens his perspective on Maine’s ecosystems and our connection to place and wildness.
Certifications – Registered Maine Sea Kayak Guide, BCU 4-Star Sea Leader, Paddle Canada, Wilderness First Responder; writer and visual artist
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Morgan Murray
Maine Sea Kayak Guide
Morgan
Certifications – Registered Maine Sea Kayaking Guide
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Aiden Locke
Rental Staff
Aiden brings a helpful spirit and a friendly attitude to the Maine Kayak team. A student at Boothbay Harbor High School entering his junior year, he enjoys making sure every guest has a fun and memorable experience on the water. Off the water, Aiden stays active playing basketball and football, carrying the same energy and teamwork into everything he does.
Certifications – Guide in Training
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Sophie West
Maine Sea Kayak Guide
Sophie
Certifications – Rental Staff
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Cierra Combrink
Maine Sea Kayak Guide
Cierra
Certifications – Rental Staff
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