about us
meet our crew & learn more about nantucket
celebrate with us this summer
Welcome to Nantucket By Water, formerly Shearwater Excursions.
Founded in 1999, we are a local family-run eco-tour company dedicated to providing unique tours to individuals and families of all age groups. From small kids to grandparents, we have trips that cater to your needs and taste for adventure.
Whether you take a short, leisurely tour around Nantucket Harbor, or a longer adventure exploring the wildlife sanctuary of Coutue or visiting the unique 5th Bend Oyster Farm, we promise you an exceptional experience.
THE CREW
Rachael perkins
owner & coordinator
Rachael Perkins, founder of Nantucket By Water, is the “hard drive” of the business and handles everything from reservations for all the varied excursions to event planning to being a personal concierge.
From May through October, she can be found under the big blue umbrella on Straight Wharf, greeting customers and answering questions. Please stop by to say hello!
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max perkins
licensed captain
Captain Max was born and raised on Nantucket, working on boats his entire life. With over 15 years as a licensed captain, he has developed a true passion for the outdoors and the natural beauty the island has to offer.
He spent a number of years in Boston after high school working as a tug boat captain, professional soccer referee, and real estate broker.
During the winter he can be found at the ice rink where he coaches the Nantucket Whalers girl's varsity hockey program. His other hobbies include fishing, golfing, and surfing.
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alex perkins
licensed captain
Alex was born on Nantucket and could drive a boat before he could drive a car. He enjoys exploring the island from the water and showing others his favorite spots.
Besides the ocean, Alex loves the mountains. Alex's passions include snowboarding, hiking, canoeing, camping, and his dog Mako.
Alex also is an engineer who works on renewable energy and energy storage technologies.
john Stobaugh
licensed captain
Captain John Stobaugh, the only non-family member on our team, has spent most of his formative years on Nantucket, teaching sailing at Community Sailing, and renting bikes for Young’s Bike Shop, so he knows the island well. From May through October, you can find him piloting the Minke on Straight Wharf.
John splits his time between Nantucket and northern Minnesota. In the winter he travels a bit and otherwise enjoys his downtime.
renee perkins
dIRECTOR OF mARKETING
Renee was born and raised on Nantucket. She grew up exploring the waters around Nantucket and helped out both as a crew and dockside assisting Rachael with Marketing and Customer Service.
Today, Renee owns Blue Seven Studio, and assists Nantucket By Water behind the scenes with branding and messaging to continue growing the NBW name.
AWARDED BEST OF LAND & SEA EXCURSIONS
Nantucket by Water is proud to announce that we have been honored with the Best of Land & Sea Excursions award by Cape Cod Life. This award celebrates our commitment to delivering memorable and unique adventures on the waters of Nantucket. We are grateful for our loyal customers and the Cape Cod Life community. We look forward to continuing to offer tours that showcase the natural beauty and rich history of the region.