WHAT YOU’LL FIND OUT HERE
It's Better Down East
There is only so much of the coast you can see from the road. Once you leave the harbor, Jonesport starts to open up differently.
The water gives you a better view of Maine’s coast than any overlook or pull-off ever could.
Maine Authentic Ventures was built for people who want an authentic boat tour along the Downeast coast. With local people who know where they are taking you and care about making the ride worth remembering.
Scenic Boat Tours
Downeast Waters
Private Tours
MEET YOUR CREW
Maverick & Gabrielle Beal
Captain Maverick Beal
Maverick grew up learning the water the old way. He started fishing at 9 years old alongside Ralph Smith and Raymond Otis Smith. For four years, three generations worked together on the water, passing down the kind of knowledge that does not come from a manual.
Gabrielle Beal
Gabby came to Maine from Florida and married into a way of life shaped by the coast. She brings a warm and welcoming side to the experience, helping guests feel comfortable while they take in a place that can feel brand new the first time you see it from the water.
THE STORY BEHIND THE BOAT
Before She Carried Guests, She Carried a Promise
The Joyce Ellen name began with Ralph “Pappy” Smith.
He put the name “Joyce Ellen” on his boat as his way of asking Joyce Ellen Amero to marry him. Around here, that said more than a long speech ever could. From that day on, the boat carried more than a name. It carried a promise. Years later, the second Joyce Ellen arrived in Jonesport. She came into town in 1975 as a 36-foot fiberglass Jarvis Newman hull, one of the early boats of her kind in the area. At a time when wooden boats were still the standard, she helped show what the next generation of working boats could become. Today, the Joyce Ellen carries that same name forward through Maine’s Authentic Ventures.
Coastal views away from the harbor
Why Choose Us
A lot of boat tours can show you the water. This one gives you a reason to remember it.
When you step aboard the Joyce Ellen, you are stepping onto a boat with family history behind her name and a captain who learned these waters through real work. The trips are kept small so the ride feels personal. There is room to ask questions. There is time to look around. There is space for the coast to speak for itself.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Before You Come Aboard
Every trip on the Joyce Ellen is a little different because the water is never exactly the same twice. The weather, tide, route, and tour you choose all shape the experience.
These questions will help guests know what to expect before they book. Keep the answers simple and honest. The goal is to make people feel prepared, comfortable, and excited to step aboard
Yes. Tours aboard the Joyce Ellen are designed for small private groups of up to six people. That keeps the trip personal and gives you more room to enjoy the water, ask questions, and take in the experience without feeling packed into a crowd.
If you want the fuller experience, choose the Coastal Legacy Tour. It is a three-hour trip that brings together the Jonesport coast, local history, wildlife, scenic water, and the working-harbor side of the area.
If you want a shorter hands-on trip, choose The Lobster Way. It is a two-hour rugged coast tour with more focus on lobster fishing, hauling traps, reading buoy strings, and learning how the work is done.
Yes, depending on the tour you choose. The Lobster Way is the best fit for guests who want a hands-on look at lobster fishing. Captain Maverick can walk guests through things like hauling traps, reading buoy strings, measuring lobsters, banding lobsters, and understanding more about the catch.
Dress for the water, not just the weather on land. A jacket or sweatshirt is smart, even on a warm day. Comfortable shoes are best. You may also want sunglasses, sunscreen, and a camera or phone for photos.
Yes, especially for families who want something more personal than a crowded sightseeing boat. The trip gives guests a chance to slow down, ask questions, see the coast from the water, and experience a side of Maine that feels more connected to the people who live here.