Wiscasset’s waterfront has the Route One visibility and the foot traffic Maine Kayak is looking for, representatives for the New Harbor-based business told the Wiscasset Waterfront Committee Sept. 29. The business wants to apply as a 2017 vendor with a shack at the Main Street Pier and a kayak rack down Water Street, owner Alvah Maloney and office assistant Kelly Maloney said.

The couple are registered Maine sea kayak guides and the business does guided trips, in addition to the ones customers would take on their own when the business is open daily from July through Labor Day, they told the committee. They agreed with committee member Frank Sprague that the Wiscasset waterfront is a beautiful place for kayaking, but they said the Route One location was also a key draw for them.

“We’re really looking for the opportunity to increase our exposure to folks who are spending time in Wiscasset, and ones who are traveling through to further reaches,” Kelly Maloney said.

“We have to work really hard to get the word out because we’re so far off the beaten path. That’s why this is a very exciting opportunity for us,” her husband added.

Committee members explained they don’t start fielding 2017 applications until February, but that the early start in the business’ planning with the town was helpful. Following the couple’s slide presentation, some members voiced early support for the proposal and the prospect of kayak rentals.

“I think it’s a great idea. This whole area is really prime for it,” Sprague said.

“I love it,” fellow member Margo Rafter Strong said.

Maine Kayak does strong business online and has about 10 employees, Kelly Maloney said after meeting with the committee. With the addition of the Wiscasset location, the New Harbor shop will continue to be the business’ base, she said.

The Maloneys discussed possible locations for a shack at the Main Street Pier and explained that customers would receive safety and other instructions and have a changing room to gear up for their kayaking trips. Then the customers would walk along Water Street with break-apart oars to get to the kayak rack, which would probably have about four tandem kayaks and six single ones on it; the rack would be locked overnight, the couple said.

They asked the committee about parking downtown and about the state’s plan to remove on-street parking on Main Street from Middle to Water streets. Plans call for a net gain of more than 50 parking spaces downtown, Town Planner Ben Averill said. The Maloneys requested some of the parking be for more than two hours, since the kayakers’ outings may be two to four or even six hours. Besides, two-hour parking is not long enough for anyone to see Wiscasset, Kelly Maloney offered.

The couple said they want to work with the committee, selectmen and town officials to get sign and other permits and open in July 2017. Alvah Maloney said they were very open to feedback on the plans.

Also Sept. 29, the committee voted to recommend selectmen approve the band Y Wouldn’t U to play on the waterfront. Dates discussed included Oct. 8, 16 and 22. The performances would be weather-dependent, Damien Pinkham of Dresden said. Sprague warned it has turned cold but the bugs are gone. Pinkham and Plan Ahead Entertainment’s Laurie Dupaw, who said she promotes the band, had proposed playing from 5 to 8 p.m. but agreed to the committee’s recommendation of 3 to 6 p.m.

Pinkham said the band wanted to start this year and return to play on the waterfront in 2017. “Hopefully, this will set us up for next year,” he said. Dupaw said the band performs classic rock and roll and original music, but no rap, she added.

The committee meets next at 7 p.m. Oct. 27 at the municipal building. Averill said he will be inviting vendors to discuss what worked and didn’t work this year. That should help with planning for next year, Chairman Susan Robson said.

Averill also told committee members they may be hearing soon from a Wiscasset artist considering doing an art installation that would include a sculpture tying in with the schooners Hesper and Luther Little that used to sit in the harbor. Visitors still ask about them, Harbor Master Preston Dunning said.