By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES — The Songo River Queen II has a new owner who is no stranger to marine vessels.

“I’ve had a boat since I was 12. I was a commercial fisherman out of high school, a lobster fisherman out of the Saugus River. I’ve had a boat my entire life. It has always been a dream to have a retirement job that involved boats, like with a marina,” Ryan Carvalho said.

“When I found the Queen, I said, ‘This is it. I’ve found my retirement job,’” he said.

Carvalho discovered through a friend that the owner was interested in selling the Songo River Queen, a replica paddleboat that is synonymous with Long Lake and Naples, Maine. 

“It was actually one of the employees on the boat. She gave me a call that it was for sale. She put me in touch with Kent Uicker who is the owner,” he said.

In 2009, Uicker purchased the Queen from Frank Gerrish who built the boat and started the boat tours company. Therefore, Carvalho will be the third owner.

“The closing should happen later this week,” Carvalho said. 

“Everything right now has been smooth sailing,” he said.

On Monday, the Town of Naples granted him his entertainment permit and liquor license.  

“I have been on the boat for the last couple months, working with the crew and the captain, getting to know everyone,” he said.

He already has driving the boat down pat. Plus, he’s got food-service experience under his belt.

“Also, I’ve owned bars and restaurants. I’m pretty well-versed in alcohol and food and those operations,” he said.

Carvalho pulled the Queen from the water earlier than usual to start the capital improvements he has lined up.

“We have a three-year plan. First year, we are upgrading the bar and painting the boat. Second year, replacing the canvas tops and making additional safety upgrades. Year three, we will consider renovating the bathrooms. I’ll keep reinvesting into the boat, putting some TLC in it,” he said.

“We are keeping the boat as original as it is. We are keeping the nostalgia. We are just refreshing it up,” he said.

The boat tour company will be business as usual. 

“There are different organizations throughout the town, like the Lions Club, that rent it for the night cruises. Then, they sell the tickets,” he said. 

That is going to continue to happen, he said. 

“Obviously, the boat is available for private parties, weddings, 50th birthdays, anniversaries and company parties,” he said. “Our last day in the water was the first week in October. It was beautiful. For me, it was like wow. It is very relaxing,” he said. “The sunsets are phenomenal.”