Sea Kayaking Gear I Provide

Wilderness Systems Northstar two person kayaks.

These kayaks are 19 feet long and are some of the largest and most stable kayaks made.

I am the only outfitter on the island to use these kayaks for my regularly scheduled day tours.

These are the most comfortable kayaks for those who are very tall.

Wilderness Systems Tsunmai single person kayaks.

These kayaks are sixteen and a half feet long and are very stable single person kayaks.

The tsunami is made specifically to be easy to use by the novice kayaker with wide comfortable cockpits and a hull design that makes the boat harder to flip than most other single kayaks.

Mount Desert Island Spring Water bottled in non-toxic Aquasanna glass bottles with neoprene shatter guards.

High quality Aquapac optically clear camera cases so you can use your own cameras and camcorder.

These cases are the best in the market in terms of reliability and photo quality.

The company will pay for your camera in the unlikely event that the case should fail.

Cameras in these cases will float if dropped.

I even have cases for large SLR camera and cases for camcorders.  

Other outfitters will give you a dry bag for your camera but you have to take it out of the bag to use it and then it is not protected and will sink if dropped.  Salt water damages electronics quickly.

Earth friendly EVA hooded rain ponchos.

Neoprene wetsuit pogies, which are mittens that attach directly to your paddles, for paddling in days of colder temperatures so your hands wont get chilled from the occasional splashing they take when paddling.`

Aquabound fiberglass paddles.  Fiberglas paddles are light and flex, making them easier on your joints.

Aquabound carbon fiber kid sized paddles.  These paddles are a shorter length appropriate for kids and are made of the lightest material available making them easy for younger people to use.  Unlike the adult paddles the blades are symmetrically shaped so it does not matter if they are held upside down. 

Extrasport, Astral, and Lotus Designs life-vest.

Seals 100% waterproof and breathable Sympatex spray skirts.

Pacific Outdoor Equipment and Outdoor Research dry bags.

North Water deck bags.

I can provide Patagonia fleece jackets for chilly days if you do not have a wool sweater or synthetic fleece jacket. 

I can provide Outdoor Research gore-tex fleece hats for chilly days.

You can read about all the gear I bring on my boat on the safety page.

I provide additional items for night tours.

I can also provide items such as sunscreen, sunglasses, and other items I ask you to bring if you forgot yours but I do this as a courtesy and so the trip won’t be delayed for the entire group waiting for others to go back to their car or hotel to retrieve forgotten items.  I would ask you to do your best to remember to bring the items you should provide for yourself which are listed below.

Sea Kayaking Gear You Provide

Yourself, appropriately dressed and on time, and having used the bathroom before you came down to the beach.

Clothing that is not water absorbent.

Synthetic clothing such as polyester and nylon is the best with wool being second best.

Light cotton clothing such as t-shirts and light cotton pants or shorts will be ok but are not ideal.

Heavy cotton sweatshirts, cotton jackets, and jeans are the not ok.

Depending on the conditions that day I may judge it unsafe for you to participate in the tour if you are dressed extremely inappropriately in which case you would still be charged for the full price of the tour because it is your responsibility to dress appropriately. 

There are other outfitters who allow people to participate in sea kayaking while dressed inappropriately.  I sometimes see these people at the end of their tours wet, shivering , and miserable and in the unlikely event that they had gone into the water their clothing would have been a serious safety hazard.

A light short sleeved first layer preferably of a synthetic material or a light wool but a light cotton shirt is fine if that is all you have.

A warming second layer such as a synthetic fleece jacket or long sleeved synthetic fiber or wool shirt or sweater. 

You don’t ned to wear it but it is good to have it with you just in case. 

If you don’t have any thing like this and can’t or don’t wish to buy something I can lend you a synthetic fleece jacket for the trip.

A waterproof third layer such as a rain jacket/hard shell jacket . 

You do not need to wear it but it is good to have it with you just in case. 

I can provide waterproof ponchos if it rains.

Synthetic or wool pants or shorts depending on the temperature or as a second choice light cotton shorts or as a third choice light cotton pants.

Water shoes or sandals with a heal strap like Chacos, Tevas, or keen. 

Cadillac Mountain Sports in town sells some inexpensive water shoes ($15).

Flip flops aren’t as good as sandals with heel straps but will work.

If you do wear some kind of regular shoe at least plan on taking your socks off if they are cotton.

The worst shoes to wear are hiking boots.  You will almost definitely have to take them off to be comfortable in the kayak.

You can not walk bear foot on the beaches because the mussel shells can be very sharp.

Sunscreen (very important), sunglasses, and a hat.

A snack.

Binoculars.

Your camera.

Cash or check so you save five dollars per person off the price of the trip.

Any medications you might need on the trip no mater how unlikely such as an Epi-pen, inhaler, nitrogen tablets, insulin, blood pressure medication etc......

If you forget to bring a medication that is potentially critical to your safety I reserve the right to refuse you participation on the tour and you will still be charged the full price of the tour.

If it is possible it is best to leave your own personal bags and backpacks at home or in your car and only bring what you will need for the tour.

Yourself, appropriately dressed and on time, and having used the bathroom before you came down to the beach.