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
Such a nice space and great experience. Our host was very helpful.
An absolutely wonderful stay, with a wonderful host. Kent goes to great lengths to make sure that your stay on the island is as relaxing as possible, and can take care of anything we needed.<br/>When we ran out of gas for our grill, Kent showed up at our dock on a jet ski within 10 minutes with a fresh tank! Whether it's extra fresh water, or extra fresh linens, or extra cooler ice, anything we wanted or needed was taken care of quicker than most hotels.
Such a memorable experience! Not often you find such a peaceful and tranquil setting to spend your birthday in! Loved the kayaks, going to bed and waking up with all of the windows and Loons was such a highlight!!
My partner, kids and I loved our stay on the floating house, and at the island in general. It was such a beautiful, unique spot with a fun mix of camping-ish experiences and the ease of staying in a home. Kent and Heather were incredibly helpful and made our stay comfortable. Grateful to have found this amazing spot!
The property was cute and peaceful. It was everything we were looking for to get away from our busy life. Kent was very attentive to every one of our needs and was great with communication. Definitely planning a return trip
Absolutely incredible from arrival to departure. Kent does an incredible job making the island comfy for guests and his care for the island really shows. If you have an opportunity to stay in this beautiful space, do so! Couldn’t have asked for something lovelier.
I can’t speak highly enough of my stay at the Nautilus and 1BSI. Getting onto the island was easy and convenient with all kinds of canoes, kayaks, paddles, and life jackets ready for me at the dock. The 30 minute paddle to the island was beautiful! The floating cabin was lovely and the view out the picture windows at sunrise was breathtaking. A quick walk to the west side for sundown in the evening was just as great! Kent and Heather were so friendly, helpful, and laid back. I did a lot of cooking over the fire and my pup had an amazing week. We will definitely be back!
You will find what you are looking for here!
Kent is the man. Wildly cool place, can’t wait to go back.
My husband and I decided to honeymoon to this lovely get-away in Maine and it did NOT disappoint!! We stayed in the new Nautilus Floating House and it was a dream to wake up to breathtaking views from our bed every morning. Hiking, swimming, and canoeing filled our day with fun. Kent and Heather were amazing hosts that made sure our stay was top notch. If you’re looking for a peaceful, beautiful, vacation, you’ve found it!!
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.
