Captain Ben’s passion for the ocean started at an early age as his father was a local lobsterman.  As a Boothbay native he spent summer weekends on Damariscove Island at the family camp and helping fill bait bags on his father’s lobster boat the Mary Anne.   Throughout high school at Boothbay Region and during college Ben’s love for the ocean grew and you could find him working his summers as a sternman on lobster boats (F/V Rebel, F/V Mary E, F/V Absolut and F/V Suzanne B) or unloading local fisherman’s catch at, Dan Kaler & Sons, his father’s lobster pound on the east side of the harbor.  After graduating from the Virginia Military Institute, Ben served his country in the United States Marine Corps as an Infantry Officer with tours in the South Pacific and Iraq.  Wounded during his tour in Iraq, the Purple Heart recipient, underwent numerous surgeries to repair his left arm.  After working for the government for 22 years between active duty, defense acquisition, defense contracting, and with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Ben has turned his focus to expanding his charter business. 

The passion for rod/reel was always with Ben and as time and opportunity came available he started fishing striper in Linekin Bay quickly expanding into different areas and trying new techniques. After jumping on charters with Captain Danny Stevens on Blackjack and Captain Dan Wolotski on Sweet Action Charters he was inspried to persue his liscenses.  The tips and words of encouragment from two local fishing leaders, did just that, and Mainetain Charters came to life in 2018.