Maine Portage is located in the small central Maine town of Carmel which is conveniently located on RT 2 between Bangor and Newport. We have been building canoe and kayak trailers since 2001. When we first started we built a ten place unit which was the standard at the time. We decided after the first season that even though the standard was adequate and easy to build we decided to let the user tell us what they wanted and that is what we have been doing since then. What we discovered is that customization, in most cases, did not add significantly, if at all, to the cost of the trailer. From a business standpoint, the primary effect was that we no longer prebuilt trailers. The lead time for a custom unit is only about two weeks but we typically get them done quicker than that.
All Maine Portage trailers are fabricated from 1/8" or 3/16" steel. We do not use galvanized steel or aluminum. The primary reason is that steel does not require any specialized equipment or fabrication techniques. Any repairs or modifications can be accomplished by any competent welder using basic steel fabrication equipment.
