FAQ

Start by taking a Beginner day tour, Sunset tour, Annsville Easy, Norrie Short Tour or a Thursday Night Skill Session. These programs are designed for people with little or no paddling experience. The group is usually made up of  first timers and some other more experienced paddlers. Guides move around to help as needed. If after paddling a few times, you decide you want to get better, than take a Basics instructional program. The First Time page will help guide you in how to get started.

Everyone should start with beginner tours. If you find them very easy and  have taken a instructional program you can move up to the intermediate tours. For advanced programs you need to have done a minimum of Coastal Paddling and Safety & Rescue (Canoe Safety Test).

If you have only kayaked a few times and have never taken a formal instructional program start with Basics. If you have been paddling a while then it might be fine to start with Core Techniques. If you have taken another companies program, read our program description to determine where you fit. It is better to start slow, take one program, than do a few days of paddling before your next instructional program. Each year you should take a minimum of one instructional program.

If time is limited, or your needs specialized, a private program is best. For two people needing equipment on a weekday, a private program is only slightly more than a regular instructional program. With a group of friends you can have a private weekday program for the same price as a regularly scheduled weekend program. We also have specially priced private programs for families and groups of all ages. Weekend availability is limited, due to trip volume.

Personal Kayak Training is purchased at a minimum of three sessions (one block) at a time. The sessions will be scheduled close to each other for two reasons: you can build on the skills you have recently acquired while they are still in your muscle memory, and the continuity will foster your rapid progression. Personal Kayak Training is more of a commitment than one or two Private Programs, but the cost is less per session.

All registrations are done by mail or in person at Annsvile or Norrie Paddlesport Centers. Fill out the registration form and mail it along with a check for the payment. If the program is within two weeks, you can call to check availability. In the Summer and early Fall most programs fill up two to three weeks in advance. If the program you registered for is full, we will call you. Registration Form .

Registration can be done on the phone (or by mail), on a first come basis. Please keep in mind that the phone is very busy and we are out running programs on many days, so mail is the easiest methord.

If the program is less than two weeks away - E-mail or call. If the program is more than two weeks away send in the registration form.

If a message is not urgent e-mail works best. In the busy season the phone rings constantly and it's difficult to answer every call. If you are trying to sign up for a program see "How do I sign up for a program." See the Contact page for more information.

For questions on rentals or retail sales, Thrusday Skill Sessions contact the Paddlesport Center

• Annsville; e-mail: Annsville@AtlatnicKayakTours.com Phone (914) 739-2588
  Norrie; e-mail: Norrie@AtlanticKayakTours.com Phone (845) 889-8461
  

For tours and instructional programs contact the main office

Payment must be included with the registration form, so it must be mailed in or over the phone with a credit card.

Once we receive your registration form, we will send an e-mail with a Program Description attached. The information will include directions, meeting time, equipment list, liability release form and other information relating to the program.

We accept credit cards in person at the Paddlesport Centers or over the phone.

We cancel programs only if the weather forecast is very bad, but we try not to cancel. Wind affects us more than rain. Spring and Fall programs get cancelled more than summer programs and we try to cancel the night before the program. It is important that the phone number you give us is where you can be reached the night before the program.

The cancellation policy is on the registration form.

Directions will be sent upon registration and are not located on the website. We do have directions to the Annsville Creek Paddlesport Center and to Norrie Paddlesport Center on the website.

We use boats from Necky Kayaks, Nigel Dennis Kayaks, Valley Canoe Products, and others. Our 125 boat fleet is made up of fiberglass, Kevlar and plastic kayaks. We buy many different models so there is a wide selection to pick from. We feel the quality of the equipment is reflected in the safety and enjoyment of paddling. Once you paddle a high qualitykayak, you won't want to paddle anything else!

Space is available on our registration form for your kayak request. The farther in advance you register and request a model the greater the likelihood we can provide it. If the request is very important please state that. Many people will request a general boat for example: a fast single, a stable single, a double.

Fill in your approximate size and we will bring a boat to fit you.

Check our acceptable kayak list.

All beginner programs meet at about 9:30, so you have time to get your kayak and equipment ready. It is important that we be courteous to the entire group, so please arrive on time. Some advanced programs start earlier. Always check the trip description for starting time.

Beginner trips are the least difficult, Intermediate tours are harder, but the degree of difficulty is affected by you physical condition. The weather (wind) and the other clients will also determine the speed and difficulty of the program.

Most programs are for 16 and above. We do have several programs suitable for children and families.

Disposable waterproof cameras are best. Zip locks or dry bags are not a guarantee for your valuable cameras.

It depends on the time of year. Our insurance requires that you wear footwear at all times. You will need to walk into the water to get in and out of the kayak. In the spring and fall keep away from cotton. A detailed equipment list is sent upon registration. We have Polartec farmer john suits with Kokatat dry tops available for rent, if you don't have appropriate clothing.

Yes we can. On our registration form there is space for you to let us know what your special needs are. Below is our Access Statement.

Atlantic Kayak Tours is dedicated to expanding opportunities for paddlers of all abilities through equal access to our programs, adaptive training, and the enthusiastic support of our staff and all who paddle with us.

We don't recommend you bring cell phones. They don't hold up well  in water, even the best dry bag will leak a bit. They also take away from other clients experience. If you need to be in touch and must bring a phone, than we ask that you walk away from the group before using it, so it does not disturb other clients.

Alcohol cannot be allowed on any day program.

Bring your own lunch for all programs, and of course plenty of water!

The trip directions you receive will offer information on restroom availability at the launch site. Rest stops are taken while on the water, but we need to rely on the facilities provided by nature.

While there are other good outfitters, they are in the minority. This is our twenty plus year of running kayak programs. The success of our business is measured by the number of returning clients. Most of our 30 staff members were our clients at one time. We spend a great deal of time on staff training and many of our guides are BCU certified. No other company has a better and wider selection of equipment. Our tour and instructional selection is the most varied available. Our business plan remains focused on quality, not quantity.

All our head guides and instructors are BCU certified. We have staff certified as high as 5 Star and Coach Level 4. The BCU offers the most complete certification program for paddlers in the world. We also run programs for paddlers who want to be trained for and certified by the BCU.

We hear lots of feedback from clients. See the index of clients letters.

Yes, gift cards are available at Annsville, Norrie or by phone.

If you have never kayaked before you should start with a Beginner day tour, Sunset tour, Annsville Easy, Norrie Short Tour or a Thursday Night Skill Session. Next the Basics Instructional Program will start to lay a good foundation. If you have been paddling a while but have only had limited instruction then a Core Techniques instructional program is the best starting point. If you have been paddling for many years and have taken instruction, Proficiency is the place to start. Don't forget about Safety & Rescue which covers rescues and other safety issues. Safety & Rescue may be the most important program to take.

With regular instructional programs you are not assessed. You leave with what you have learned, but the instructors don't evaluate your performance. With BCU programs you are being assessed against a worldwide renowned syllabus and leave knowing what you need to work on. If successful you receive a nice certification with the program title and your name printed on it.

Our brochure which can be downloaded in PDF format from the Literature & Brochure page has prices and dates for BCU programs. Many booklet and Syllables to help you understand the different levels can also be downloaded from the Literature & Brochure page. Also check out the BCU Certification page to read more about BCU programs.

Paddlers who run instructional programs for clubs, friends or professionally and those who want to perfect their paddling skills. By learning to teach paddling skills your own skills will be improved. Before you take Coach 2 Training we recommend a minimum of three years of paddling, a few intermediate tours, plus the BCU prerequisite of 3 Star Assessment and Canoe Safety, plus Central Registration.

We have Centers located in Maine, Florida, Michigan, Washington, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island and other places listed on our Outfitters link page.