A small Boat for Ambitious Work
Nearshore research and charter access for marine stewards and researchers along the Northern California coast.
MendoNoma Marine supports coastal research and conservation through wildlife monitoring, community collaboration, and nearshore research vessel charter. We provide a field-ready platform and scientific expertise to connect data, people, and place.
good work shouldn’t wait on a boat
Get your work on the water.
Whether you're running a volunteer monitoring program, working for a local agency, or chasing down a research question on a shoestring, getting safely on the water is too often the hardest part of the job.
We started MendoNoma because that barrier shouldn't be there. We run lean, we run safe, and we run for the love of the ocean.
We offer affordable, safety-first vessel access for researchers, conservationists, and community stewards on the Sonoma-Mendocino coast. You bring the project—we bring the boat, the experience, and a crew that gets fieldwork.
what we offer
Ecological Field Services
Science-driven consulting and ecological field support rooted in real coastal field experience. We help partners collect meaningful, high-quality data safely and efficiently.
Nearshore Vessel Support
Field-ready nearshore research vessel supported by a uniquely qualified team ready to take you where you need to go. Small enough to launch almost anywhere. Tough enough to do real work.
Education, Outreach & Volunteer Services
Educational programming, public engagement support, and volunteer coordination to make coastal science more approachable & collaborative.
Have something else in mind?
We take on a range of work and can tell you quickly if it's a fit.
our story
MendoNoma Marine started in 2026 because there are simply too many barriers to getting meaningful work done on the water. Cost and safety are two of the biggest: researchers and community stewards shouldn’t have to choose between affording their fieldwork and having a capable, safety-first crew.
We want to remove those barriers by providing affordable, approachable vessel access where choosing safety never comes with a penalty. At the end of the day, we want good science and stewardship to move forward because getting on the water is actually within reach
real trips, real people
The MendoNoma team knows exactly what it's like to be you: An impassioned explorer left frustrated by the barriers of entry into the field. With decades of experience working on the water and in wildlife conservation, you'll rarely interact with boat captains that ‘get it’ the way that the MendoNoma team does.
They know the difference between the perfect spot and a total waste of time, and they have set themselves up to take you and your project to the finish line, whether it's making that perfect frame or taking you to that one place you'd always dreamed of sampling.
Photographer & Science Communicator
what makes us different
MendoNoma is the bridge between the researcher and the capable boat operator for an experienced, safe trip out on the water.
we’re Biologists too
We've done this kind of fieldwork ourselves and understand exactly what you need for a research-ready trip on the water.
accessibility first
Unlike traditional research vessels built for big budgets, we run lean by design. Getting out safely on the water doesn't mean pricing yourself out of your project.
Safety without penalty
If conditions turn, you rebook and you don't lose your trip or your deposit for choosing safety.
No experience required
New to boats? That’s okay! Every trip starts with a plain-language rundown of what to expect, no question too basic to ask.
ready to get on the water?
No project's too small, and no question's too simple. Tell us what you're working on and we'll see if we're the right fit.