Sea Kayaking

Kayak rental outfitters are sprinkled throughout the lower mainland. Usually a 2 hour rental will cost you between $26 and $36 and will include all needed accessories such as paddles, and PFDs. Due to this hefty pricetag, you may wish to get a season’s pass if you intend to paddle frequently, or check out the cost saving tips listed below.

Though price is a factor, what will drive your decision as to where to rent,… will likely be your intended destination. Unless you enjoy paddling the same stretch of water over and over, you may want to check out one or more of the following.

Rocky Point Kayaks – based in Port Moody this place offers up close seal views, and exploration of the Eastern End of Burrard Inlet, and also can be launching point for an Indian Arm multi-day adventure.

Ecomarine – with 2 urban locations, this outfitter is a great option for after work. From Jericho explore Wreck Beach, from Granville Island Explore False Creek, Stanley Park, or paddle to Kits Beach. The Granville Island location is open year round.

Deep Cove Kayaks – This spot is a great put-in for exploring scenic Indian Arm, and a great overnighter destination is Granite Falls.

Kaymaran Kayaks – Based in Ladner, this is a complete departure from most other lower mainland rental locations. Explore the slough amidst an area teeming with a huge variety of birds.

Bowen Island Kayaks – Take the ferry to Bowen and make a day of this one. This place has 3 hour rentals so presents one of the best “hourly” rates around. Paddle clockwise or counterclockwise around part of the island and end your adventure at one of the pubs.

For those with cars capable of hauling a boat from place to place, there are also the following options with MEC probably being the cheapest day rental:
BC Dive
MEC

Cost saving deals:

* There is a 50% off coupon for Bowen Island Kayaks in the 2009 Entertainment book
* In Summer Ecomarine Jericho offers 2 for 1 Tuesdays

You can never have too much knowledge when it comes to paddling. Even the most experienced paddlers run into trouble when the weather conditions are not co-operating.

At a bare minimum, all kayakers should know how to do a solo, and assisted rescue. ALL of the rental outfitters listed in the section above (except MEC) offer such courses and have reputable instructors. Deep Cove Kayaks and Ecomarine offer a range of more advanced courses also, so if you intend to advance to the intermediate level and beyond, you may wish to stick with one outfitter. What is also critical, but NEVER done, is to practice these skills with other trained kayakers. This should be done at least 2 times a season because it is very easy to forget the details that may some day be needed to save your life.

Instruction in the following areas should also be considered essential for any multi-day trip:
-nautical navigation and chart reading
-GPS navigation (but only in addition to the above!)
-weather and climate reading
-swimming
-advanced maneuvering and bracing
-trip planning

Books and DVDs also are a great way to augment your knowledge and approach it form a different angle (the Vancouver Public Library has a great arsenal of instructional books and videos for all skill levels). We recommend:

-Nigel Foster video series by Starling Productions
-The Basic Book of Sea Kayaking by Derek Hutchinson

Lastly, a great way to learn more is to paddle with those that have more experience. Joining a club such as the Sea Kayaking Association of BC is one great way to do this.

Many 2 hour kayak call-outs will likely be transit accessible, so the meeting spot would simply be at the rental location. In cases where boat owners and renters mix, the actually meeting spot may need to be on the water (eg. by the Maritime museum)

Subject: KAYAK CALL OUT [day of week] [date], [location]
DESCRIPTION:

DISTANCE:

TIME NEEDED:
RATING: eg. advanced paddlers only

MEETING TIME AND LOCATION:
LATEST RETURN TIME:
AFTER PADDLE PLANS:
MAXIMUM # PADDLERS:
STRICT SIGN-UP DEADLINE:
PLEASE INDICATE: eg. if meeting spot is not at the rental, are you bringing a car
ORGANIZER:
BRING: eg. water, lunch, wetsuit, rain gear, dry clothes
COSTS: (eg. rentals)

Sea kayaking and camping are a match made in heaven. Sea kayaks have huge amounts of storage and filling your boat almost comes at no cost to your speed or endurance for the day. In addition, it comes the hull of a kayak is a built in fridge so your camping food is far less limited.

We are fortunate in Vancouver to have a few ready-made multi-day trips that are a snap to plan (note: that does not mean that there is no danger involved, all trips require skills and planning).

Most Vancouverites will do their first overnighter up Indian Arm at Granite Falls by renting at either Deep Cover or Rocky Point. By leaving either Friday night after work and camping on twin Islands, or by paddling up the whole arm on Saturday, it is an efficient weekend of paddling with plenty of sites built in, and minimal transit time.

Beyond that, the trips start to require more days and planning, and usually revolve around taking a ferry to either the Sunshine Coast, or Vancouver Island. BC is a true mecca for paddling, with few rivals for options. For a great list of research start points check out this list of recreational maps that highlight some of the best places to go from Coastal Waters Recreation.

suggestions?
email info@wanderung.ca