The Nautilus is a floating love letter to reinvention — a cabin, a tiny home, and a houseboat all rolled into one quietly wonderful idea. Moored beside 1 Big Sustainable Island, it lets you wake to gentle waves at your door, watch the sunrise from bed, and step straight onto a floating porch for morning coffee. It’s proof that with a little imagination (and a lot of care), something old can become something entirely new.
Helpful Guides
The Nautilus Waterhouse - our floating off-the-grid stay. Not near the lake. On it.
Firelight, reflected. The lake holds the night.
Sleep where the lake lives.
Getting to the island is easy. Leaving is hard.
Connected if you want to be. Pretending to be unplugged is also allowed.*INT
Fish stories here require no exaggeration.
Grill, stove, or fire: Outdoor cooking, covered. Just add a cooler-full of your favorite foods*GRL
Composting toilets. (This is not an outhouse - Clean, sanitary, and nose-friendly).*TLT.
Night feels softer on water. The lake doesn’t rush you.
Meals float easily here. The lake sets the scene
Arrive by floatplane. Island bragging rights included.*BTG
The Nautilus feels far away. It isn't.
Arriving and departing are part of the adventure.*CHO
By day it's a couch. By night, it's a comfy bed.
Dock your boat at the floating porch.
Everything you need to cook. No gear lugging required.
Paddle to the Eagles's nest...
Meet Larry the Loon. Loons outnumber humans most days.
Wood stove warmth for ambiance on a cool night. Firewood included.*WST
Berry the Bass was temporarily unavailable.
Wake up floating. Bedside sunrise included.*SLP
S'mores belong here.
The fish bite at sunset.
Worth the rain. Silver linings included. *RBW
The stars like to show up here.*MTR
Meet your new time keeper.
Compare all of our eco-island stays.
A treasure map for island explorers.*IMP
You are here. Adventure nearby.*LMP
This stay works beautifully on its own — and it also plays well with others, combining with nearby island stays through our event console to create an easy basecamp for medium-sized gatherings. 🌲
Paddling gear included. Dogs welcome. Involuntary swimming possible.*BTG
Arrive by canoe, ferry, or bring your own boat or float plane.
Cozy, afloat. Still water below.
Hot Sauna. Cold plunge. Repeat.
An island visitor that quietly manages the place.
Gather ‘round. The fire’s on us with free firewood.*PIT
Off-grid floating comfort. The lake is part of the room.
Caution: this can be hypnotic.
Sunset Proposal Rock. Dog approved.
A small navy of canoes, kayaks, and SUPs are waiting!
Clean, hot showahs — eco-friendly.*HSH
...fishing with your bestie.*FSH
Peter Tuttle the Painted Turtle.
This counts as a commute.*EXP
A whole lot of nothing out front. Exactly the point.
BYOB could also mean Bring Your Own Boat.*BTG
All kinds of island visitors.
Occasionally the sky has something to say.*NTL
The private hammock does the work. You do the lingering.*HAM
The Loon Point public shared beach. Seating for humans. Commentary by loons.
Guest Reviews from Revyoos — Showing 10 of 143 Reviews
Easily the most enchanting, peaceful, quiet and gorgeous place I've ever stayed in Maine. The bucholic island life, environmental sustainability, and best communication from a host all made the trip absolutely perfect. I'm going to have to come back for an extended break from reality in the near future!
Kent was an amazing host and was very responsive. He dropped us off on the island, and walked us through all the important bits of information which were needed to make our stay smooth. It was a full moon on the night we stayed, and the moonrise over the lake was a view to cherish. Same for the sunrise as well! <br/>The hammock in the middle of the lake is an amazing place to relax. <br/>The one mistake we did was to cook after sunset as we were busy enjoying the sunset on the other side of the island. Would strongly recommend getting your meals prepared during daytime. <br/>Thanks you so much Kent for having us, and I’m looking forward to visiting your place again soon!
It was great! we booked our trip a couple days prior on a whim and we don’t regret a thing. The island was beautiful. My partner and I were running late and Kent was very accommodating with getting us to the island. The Houseboat was very cozy and had an amazing view of scenic Maine. It was nice to be able to fish right out the front door (I was also able to catch quite a few bluegill since they were nesting under the house). Kent was also kind enough to give us a couple bundles of night worms! It was a great experience to be able to start our own fire and cook what we caught. We came with our dog and we’ve never seen her happier, we were able to take her canoeing, hiking, and feed her the freshest fish she’s ever eaten. We’ll be back again soon!
kept and Heather were great. it was definitely an experience. and will be going back
This is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places I’ve visited. The hosts were amazing, constantly informative and available. More importantly they were friendly and so helpful. Made sure they met your every want and need.
Kent and Heather could not have been nicer or more helpful. They really seemed invested in making our stay enjoyable. <br/>There were some great touches to the cozy water getaway at Nautilus, and we did not feel like we were "roughing it" with the cloth napkins, French press, and battery operated fan, even though we were definitely out there in nature in a very secluded spot. They have thought of many details already, and were very responsive to any of our requests. <br/>I had to go online for a zoom meeting for a summer course that I am taking, and it was smooth as could be with the hotspot. My classmates were very jealous to see the beautiful backdrop and my obvious state of relaxation during the class!
We stayed in the Nautilus for one night and it was just as magical as it looks! We opted for the early ferry ride over to get some extra island time and had no problem filling the day before we could check in. This is definitely the spot for folks who love all things water, you can kayak right off the floating dock and explore the lake. The little kitchen was well equipped and the grill was in really great shape! Highly recommend stopping at “the milk store” just a couple miles down the road to pick up some fresh yogurt and meat! Would definitely love to come<br/>Back here! Kent and Heather were both so sweet and open, so happy to see good folks makin their dream happen ❤️ do not forget bug spray and layers!
my accommodation on the island was a pleasant surprise, I had the best nights sleep, the connection with nature was everything I needed to rest from the tiring life in Boston, the host is very helpful and friendly, a good point to say is that I I am a woman who travels alone and I felt safe and calm and my stay on the island, my return is certain, the island captured my heart ♥️
Kent and Heather were fantastic hosts who went above and beyond to make sure the stay was comfortable and enjoyable. We had everything we could need and more at our fingertips because of their thoughtfulness and anticipatory service. Not only is the island a peaceful and secluded getaway but the service heightened the experience ten-fold. Thank you Kent and Heather for an unforgettable stay! Looking forward to returning in the future.
Amazing place to stay. I will definitely be back. Fantastic hosts and unbelievable location.
Nautilus Water House FAQs
What's special about the Nautilus Waterhouse?
The Nautilus is a floating waterhouse docked at the island - offering a unique on-the-water stay with stunning lake views and immediate access to swimming and paddling.
Is the Nautilus Waterhouse off-grid?
Yes. Like all 1BSI stays, the Nautilus is off-grid by design, using thoughtful systems that balance sustainability with comfort.
What's included in this stay?
A cozy sleeping space, cooking gear, hot shower/bathroom access on the island, firewood, canoe or kayak use, and access to a hammock swim dock, boat dock, and swimming spots.
How do I access the Nautilus Waterhouse?
You'll arrive on your front porch by boat.
Ready to plan your overnight island stay?
Bookings go fast in peak season. We'll help you pick the right spot.
