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Ocean Skills Trips
Once you have learned the basics, it's time to develop your sea kayaking skills out on the ocean. It is essential that sea kayakers practice bracing, rescues, re-entries, towing, and boat handling in realistic conditions.
Paddle in realistic ocean conditions under the watchful eye of our guides during our Ocean Skills series.
This series of five separate trips (Ocean Skills, Advanced Ocean Skills, Ocean Skills: Surf Lauching & Landing, Ocean Skills: Playing in Surf, and Ocean Skills: Navigation) builds on the skills developed in our introductory courses and is designed to prepare paddlers for their own ocean adventures. Experience the fun and excitement of learning to handle your kayak in waves, current, wind, and surf with an expert guide alongside.
Ocean Skills :: Ocean Skills – Navigation :: Advanced Ocean Skills ::
Ocean Skills – Surf Launching & Landing :: Ocean Skills – Playing in Surf
Ocean Skills & Ocean Skills Cold Water
During this full-day trip, we will travel to Cohasset Harbor and practice basic and more advanced skills in realistic ocean conditions.
Realistic Conditions
If you haven't practiced rescues in the conditions of the day, you shouldn't paddle in those conditions. The prudent paddler learns and improves by experiencing realistic ocean conditions with a veteran guide alongside. Our Ocean Skills Clinics provide an environment in which to test your limits.
The clinic will cover a broad spectrum of topics including refining the forward stroke; practicing boat lean, bracing, ferrying, solo and assisted re-entries; and navigation.
The class will spend time in ocean waves (weather permitting) and in a tidal rip with moderate current (see photo above), introducing you to conditions commonly encountered on the ocean. Our guides will help you test your limits while taking advantage of situations that are within your capabilities.
This trip is designed for those who have taken our Introduction to Kayaking or have the equivalent experience. Paddlers should be able to perform assisted rescues and paddle 6 miles over the course of the day.
The May 9 & October 31 Ocean Skills double as Cold Water Clinics, and each participant will enjoy complimentary use of a Kokatat Gore-Tex drysuit, and will get 15% off a Kokatat drysuit or drytop purchase. Practice rescues, rolls, and other fun skills in the comfort and safety of a drysuit — you've got to wear one to believe it! Be sure to enter your height and weight for proper fitting.
Ocean Skills Full-Day Trip meets at our Newton Boathouse and travels by van to Cohasset. We plan to return to Newton approximately 9 hours after the trip departs.
$139 includes full-day trip with expert guiding (max. 5:1 student:instructor ratio) using your own boat.
$155 with a composite or plastic sea kayak (model depends on availability).
Formal Introductory Instruction Required
Students who have not participated in our Introduction to Kayaking, Introductory Trip, or private lesson must have previous kayaking instruction, including a wet exit, before participating in our Ocean Skills (our Quick-Start Your Kayak is not sufficient).
If you are not comfortable performing intermediate skills like sweep strokes, boat lean, braces, assisted rescues, and self-rescues, you'll be shocked by how much your skills improve by taking our Intro. to Kayaking course or its equivalent. While the name says "Introduction," this course covers many intermediate and advanced skills and will greatly benefit anyone who has never had formal instruction. We guarantee it!
If you have had no formal training and have questions about the pre-requisites for our Ocean Skills, please contact us.
Wet Exit Practice Required
Students who have not performed a wet exit may sign up for our Ocean Skills but must complete the Introduction to Kayaking course, an Introductory Trip, or a private lesson before participating in our Ocean Skills (our Quick-Start Your Kayak is not sufficient). If you have questions, please contact us.
Assisted Rescue Practice Required
Students who have not performed an assisted rescue may sign up for our Ocean Skills but must complete the Introduction to Kayaking course, an Introductory Trip, or a private lesson before participating in our Ocean Skills (our Quick-Start Your Kayak is not sufficient). If you have questions, please contact us.
Paddle 6 Miles in an Outing
Students participating in our Ocean Skills must be able to paddle 6 miles in an outing. For most people, spending more time kayaking will help them increase their endurance so they can fulfill this requirement. For a quick and easy way to spend more time on the water, visit one of our rental locations! If you have questions, please contact us.
Registration & Cancellation Policies for Classes, Trips, and Tours
  • Full payment is due upon registration for a class, clinic, tour, or trip.
  • For cancellations received 7 days or more before your scheduled activity, we will issue a refund less a 10% registration fee.
  • For cancellations received less than 7 days before your scheduled activity, we are unable to offer any refunds.
  • Participants in all activities will be required to sign a waiver of liability. To save time, you can download this waiver and bring it with you.
  • Classes, clinics, and trips always run unless the weather is extreme.
  • A minimum number of registrants is required for any event to run. If we cancel a trip due to low enrollment, we will provide a full refund.
    • Pre-Requisites & Requirements. Before signing up, you must have:
  • Formal introductory instruction, like our Introduction to Kayaking, Introductory Trip, or equivalent.
  • Previous practice of a wet exit, where you flipped a kayak, removed the sprayskirt, and exited the kayak while underwater.
  • Previous practice of an assisted rescue, where you wet-exited the kayak in deep water and were rescued by another kayaker.
  • Ability to paddle 6 miles in an outing.
    • Ocean Skills: Navigation
    How do we plan our trips? What would you do if the fog rolls in while you are paddling? During this full-day trip, we travel to beautiful
    Learn how to use a chart and compass so you can plan your own trips and find your way on the ocean. Our Ocean Skills: Navigation will show you how.
    Hingham Bay and the Boston Harbor Inner Islands to practice these and many other navigational skills on the water.
    The bread and butter of this trip is chart reading and compass work. We will begin with a refresher on nautical charts and using a compass. Students will then use the chart and compass on the water to determine their location, plot a course, and avoid hazards while underway. We will discuss piloting, dead reckoning, navigating in fog, and what to do if you're lost.
    In addition, we will discuss how to predict tides and currents using tide and tidal current tables, the effects of wind and waves on kayakers and how to plan your trips to decrease these effects, planning escape routes in case of emergency, and using a chart to select a landing site.
    This clinic is designed for those who have taken both our Introduction to Kayaking and our Introduction to Navigation (or have the equivalent experience). Paddlers should be able to perform assisted rescues and paddle six miles over the course of the day.
    Ocean Skills: Navigation Full-Day Trip meets at our Newton Boathouse and travels by van to Boston Harbor. We plan to return to Newton approximately 9 hours after the trip departs.
    $139 includes full-day trip with expert guiding (max. 5:1 student:instructor ratio) using your own boat.
    $155 with a composite or plastic sea kayak (model depends on availability).
    Formal Introductory Instruction Required
    Students who have not participated in our Introduction to Kayaking, Introductory Trip, or private lesson must have previous kayaking instruction, including a wet exit, before participating in our Ocean Skills: Navigation (our Quick-Start Your Kayak is not sufficient).
    If you are not comfortable performing intermediate skills like sweep strokes, boat lean, braces, assisted rescues, and self-rescues, you'll be shocked by how much your skills improve by taking our Intro. to Kayaking course or its equivalent. While the name says "Introduction," this course covers many intermediate and advanced skills and will greatly benefit anyone who has never had formal instruction. We guarantee it!
    If you have had no formal training and have questions about the pre-requisites for our Ocean Skills: Navigation, please contact us.
    Formal Navigation Instruction Required
    Students must have previous formal navigation instruction, such as our Introduction to Navigation classroom session, before participating in our Ocean Skills: Navigation.
    Wet Exit Practice Required
    Students who have not performed a wet exit may sign up for our Ocean Skills: Navigation but must complete the Introduction to Kayaking course, an Introductory Trip, or a private lesson before participating in our Ocean Skills: Navigation (our Quick-Start Your Kayak is not sufficient). If you have questions, please contact us.
    Assisted Rescue Practice Required
    Students who have not performed an assisted rescue may sign up for our Ocean Skills: Navigation but must complete the Introduction to Kayaking course, an Introductory Trip, or a private lesson before participating in our Ocean Skills: Navigation (our Quick-Start Your Kayak is not sufficient). If you have questions, please contact us.
    Paddle 6 Miles in an Outing
    Students participating in our Ocean Skills: Navigation must be able to paddle 6 miles in an outing. For most people, spending more time kayaking will help them increase their endurance so they can fulfill this requirement. For a quick and easy way to spend more time on the water, visit one of our rental locations! If you have questions, please contact us.
    Registration & Cancellation Policies for Classes, Trips, and Tours
  • Full payment is due upon registration for a class, clinic, tour, or trip.
  • For cancellations received 7 days or more before your scheduled activity, we will issue a refund less a 10% registration fee.
  • For cancellations received less than 7 days before your scheduled activity, we are unable to offer any refunds.
  • Participants in all activities will be required to sign a waiver of liability. To save time, you can download this waiver and bring it with you.
  • Classes, clinics, and trips always run unless the weather is extreme.
  • A minimum number of registrants is required for any event to run. If we cancel a trip due to low enrollment, we will provide a full refund.
    • Pre-Requisites & Requirements. Before signing up, you must have:
  • Formal introductory instruction, like our Introduction to Kayaking, Introductory Trip, or equivalent.
  • Formal navigation instruction, like our Introduction to Navigation classroom session.
  • Previous practice of a wet exit, where you flipped a kayak, removed the sprayskirt, and exited the kayak while underwater.
  • Previous practice of an assisted rescue, where you wet-exited the kayak in deep water and were rescued by another kayaker.
  • Ability to paddle 6 miles in an outing.
    		•  
    Advanced Ocean Skills
    Come with us to beautiful Woods Hole on Cape Cod to play in some of the strongest tidal currents in New England. The turbulent conditions
    Paddle in very challenging ocean conditions in Woods Hole during our Advanced Ocean Skills.
    found here provide the opportunity to both test and refine your boat handling skills.
    During this clinic students will have the opportunity to work on boat lean, ferrying, eddy turns, bracing, and rescues in challenging conditions of wind, waves, and strong current. The emphasis will be on capsize prevention and recovery. Our experienced instructors will help you improve your kayaking skills and learn your capabilities.
    Advanced Ocean Skills requires previous ocean paddling instruction (like our Ocean Skills) including the ability to perform re-entries, boat leans, braces, ferrying, and paddle at least 10 miles.
    Advanced Ocean Skills Full-Day Trip meets at our Newton Boathouse and travels by van to Woods Hole. We plan to return to Newton approximately 11 hours after the trip departs.
    $139 includes full-day trip with expert guiding using your own boat.
    $155 with a composite or plastic sea kayak (model depends on availability).
    Formal Ocean Paddling Instruction Required
    Students must have previous ocean kayaking instruction in waves and very strong, turbulent current , such as our Ocean Skills full-day trip, before participating in our Advanced Ocean Skills. The conditions we expect to encounter during our Advanced Ocean Skills are very challenging, and students must have strong bracing skills, excellent boat lean, and be very comfortable performing wet exits and assisted rescues.
    If you have had no formal instruction (even if you've been paddling for a while), we strongly recommend that you take our Introduction to Kayaking course or its equivalent. While the name says "Introduction," this course covers many intermediate and advanced skills and will greatly benefit anyone who has never had formal instruction. We guarantee it!
    If you have taken introductory instruction but are not comfortable performing skills like boat lean, braces, assisted rescues, and self-rescues in waves and strong current, you should take our Ocean Skills trip.
    If you have had no formal training and have questions about the pre-requisites for our Advanced Ocean Skills, please contact us.
    Wet Exit Practice Required
    Students who have not performed a wet exit may sign up for our Advanced Ocean Skills but must complete the Introduction to Kayaking course, an Introductory Trip, or a private lesson before participating in our Advanced Ocean Skills (our Quick-Start Your Kayak is not sufficient). If you have questions, please contact us.
    Assisted Rescue Practice Required
    Students who have not performed an assisted rescue may sign up for our Advanced Ocean Skills but must complete the Introduction to Kayaking course, an Introductory Trip, or a private lesson before participating in our Advanced Ocean Skills (our Quick-Start Your Kayak is not sufficient). If you have questions, please contact us.
    Be Prepared to Paddle in Challenging Conditions
    Students must be prepared to experience challenging conditions during our Advanced Ocean Skills. We will hold this trip in conditions of 10- to 15-knot winds and 2- to 3-foot (head-high) waves, if necessary.
    If you are not yet comfortable paddling in significant wind and waves, we recommend building your skills in our Ocean Skills trip. If you have questions, please contact us.
    Paddle 10 Miles in an Outing
    Students participating in our Advanced Ocean Skills must be able to paddle 10 miles in an outing. For most people, spending more time kayaking will help them increase their endurance so they can fulfill this requirement. For a quick and easy way to spend more time on the water, visit one of our rental locations! If you have questions, please contact us.
    Registration & Cancellation Policies for Classes, Trips, and Tours
  • Full payment is due upon registration for a class, clinic, tour, or trip.
  • For cancellations received 7 days or more before your scheduled activity, we will issue a refund less a 10% registration fee.
  • For cancellations received less than 7 days before your scheduled activity, we are unable to offer any refunds.
  • Participants in all activities will be required to sign a waiver of liability. To save time, you can download this waiver and bring it with you.
  • Classes, clinics, and trips always run unless the weather is extreme.
  • A minimum number of registrants is required for any event to run. If we cancel a trip due to low enrollment, we will provide a full refund.
    • Pre-Requisites & Requirements. Before signing up, you must have:
  • Formal paddling instruction on the ocean, like our Ocean Skills.
  • Previous practice of a wet exit, where you flipped a kayak, removed the sprayskirt, and exited the kayak while underwater.
  • Previous practice of an assisted rescue, where you wet-exited the kayak in deep water and were rescued by another kayaker.
  • Skills to paddle in challenging conditions of 10-15 knot winds and 2-3 foot waves.
  • Ability to paddle 10 miles in an outing.
    • Ocean Skills: Surf Launching & Landing
    Eventually, all sea kayakers will encounter waves and surf during an outing. Wouldn't it be nice to face these adverse conditions with confidence?
    Experience the ultimate in confidence when you conquer the surf zone. Our Launching & Landing in Surf will help!
    A few simple techniques, along with a lot of practice in realistic conditions, will allow you to reliably launch and land in surf.
    Ocean Skills: Surf Launching & Landing covers these techniques and provides for ample practice time under the watchful eye of an expert guide. Most importantly, the bracing skills you learn and practice in the surf zone will improve your stability and decrease your risk of capsize under whatever conditions Mother Nature throws at you.
    In addition to sea kayakers, Ocean Skills: Surf Launching & Landing is a perfect introduction for those who focus on kayak surfing,
    In The Surf
    Once you feel confident in the surf zone, you feel more confident everywhere. The bracing and capsize-prevention skills learned there enhance your stability no matter where you paddle. Our expert guides will help you gain that confidence.
    as we cover surf etiquette and the proper outfitting of a kayak for surf work. Plus, you spend a wonderful day along the Massachusetts coast.
    Ocean Skills: Surf Launching & Landing requires previous ocean paddling instruction (like our Ocean Skills), including knowledge of bracing, assisted-rescue techniques, and handling a kayak in current. The sand spit at the mouth of the North River in Scituate is our primary destination, but if conditions require we may travel to Rhode Island or New Hampshire to find good surf.
    To ensure that each student receives highly personalized attention, this trip is limited to a student-to-instructor ratio of 4:1.
    Ocean Skills: Surf Launching & Landing Full-Day Trip meets at our Newton Boathouse and travels by van to our destination. We plan to return to Newton approximately 9 hours after the trip departs.
    $175 includes full-day trip with expert guiding (maximum 4:1 student:instructor ratio) and complimentary use of a composite or plastic sea kayak (model depends on availability). Sorry, no discounts are available with your own boat.
    Formal Ocean Paddling Instruction Required
    Students must have previous ocean kayaking instruction in waves , such as our Ocean Skills full-day trip, before participating in our Ocean Skills: Surf Launching & Landing. The conditions we expect to encounter during our Ocean Skills: Surf Launching & Landing are very challenging, and students must have strong bracing skills, excellent boat lean, and be very comfortable performing wet exits and assisted rescues.
    If you have had no formal instruction (even if you've been paddling for a while), we strongly recommend that you take our Introduction to Kayaking course or its equivalent. While the name says "Introduction," this course covers many intermediate and advanced skills and will greatly benefit anyone who has never had formal instruction. We guarantee it!
    If you have taken introductory instruction but are not comfortable performing skills like boat lean, braces, assisted rescues, and self-rescues in waves and strong current, you should take our Ocean Skills trip.
    If you have had no formal training and have questions about the pre-requisites for our Ocean Skills: Surf Launching & Landing, please contact us.
    Wet Exit Practice Required
    Students who have not performed a wet exit may sign up for our Ocean Skills: Surf Launching & Landing but must complete the Introduction to Kayaking course, an Introductory Trip, or a private lesson before participating in our Ocean Skills: Surf Launching & Landing (our Quick-Start Your Kayak is not sufficient). If you have questions, please contact us.
    Assisted Rescue Practice Required
    Students who have not performed an assisted rescue may sign up for our Ocean Skills: Surf Launching & Landing but must complete the Introduction to Kayaking course, an Introductory Trip, or a private lesson before participating in our Ocean Skills: Surf Launching & Landing (our Quick-Start Your Kayak is not sufficient). If you have questions, please contact us.
    Be Prepared to Paddle in Challenging Conditions
    Students must be prepared to experience challenging conditions during our Ocean Skills: Surf Launching & Landing. We will hold this trip in conditions of 10- to 15-knot winds and 2- to 3-foot (head-high) waves, if necessary.
    If you are not yet comfortable paddling in significant wind and waves, we recommend building your skills in our Ocean Skills trip. If you have questions, please contact us.
    Paddle 10 Miles in an Outing
    Students participating in our Ocean Skills: Surf Launching & Landing must be able to paddle 10 miles in an outing. For most people, spending more time kayaking will help them increase their endurance so they can fulfill this requirement. For a quick and easy way to spend more time on the water, visit one of our rental locations! If you have questions, please contact us.
    Registration & Cancellation Policies for Classes, Trips, and Tours
  • Full payment is due upon registration for a class, clinic, tour, or trip.
  • For cancellations received 7 days or more before your scheduled activity, we will issue a refund less a 10% registration fee.
  • For cancellations received less than 7 days before your scheduled activity, we are unable to offer any refunds.
  • Participants in all activities will be required to sign a waiver of liability. To save time, you can download this waiver and bring it with you.
  • Classes, clinics, and trips always run unless the weather is extreme.
  • A minimum number of registrants is required for any event to run. If we cancel a trip due to low enrollment, we will provide a full refund.
    • Pre-Requisites & Requirements. Before signing up, you must have:
  • Formal paddling instruction on the ocean, like our Ocean Skills.
  • Previous practice of a wet exit, where you flipped a kayak, removed the sprayskirt, and exited the kayak while underwater.
  • Previous practice of an assisted rescue, where you wet-exited the kayak in deep water and were rescued by another kayaker.
  • Skills to paddle in challenging conditions of 10-15 knot winds and 2-3 foot waves.
  • Ability to paddle 10 miles in an outing.
    • Ocean Skills: Playing in Surf
    Once you've experienced the joy of paddling in surf, why not dive in headfirst? Ocean Skills: Playing in Surf
    There's nothing like the feeling of surfing a kayak! Ocean Skills: Playing in Surf will introduce you to this exciting sport.
    is a full-day trip for the sole purpose of surfing in whitewater/surf kayaks. While the primary goal of Ocean Skills: Surf Launching & Landing is controlled launchings and landings, Ocean Skills: Playing in Surf is for those who want to ride waves for fun.
    Ocean Skills: Playing in Surf introduces paddlers to surf kayak technique with an emphasis on fun. Your instructor will expose you to the essentials of surf kayaking, including strokes, surf etiquette, surf zone safety, self/assisted rescues, and ocean safety considerations. Experience the inherent enjoyment and reward of paddling in the surf zone!
    Ocean Skills: Playing in Surf requires previous surf paddling instruction (like our Ocean Skills: Surf Launching & Landing) and skills, including command of bracing, assisted-rescue techniques, and basic handling of a kayak in surf. A reliable roll, while not required, is recommended.
    To ensure that each student receives highly personalized attention, this trip is limited to a student-to-instructor ratio of 4:1.
    Ocean Skills: Playing in Surf Full-Day Trip meets at our Newton Boathouse and travels by van to our destination. We plan to return to Newton approximately 9 hours after the trip departs.
    $175 includes full-day trip with expert guiding (maximum 4:1 student:instructor ratio) and complimentary use of a composite or plastic sea kayak (model depends on availability). Sorry, no discounts are available with your own boat.
    Formal Surf Paddling Instruction Required
    Students must have previous kayaking instruction in surf, such as our Ocean Skills: Surf Launching & Landing full-day trip, before participating in our Ocean Skills: Playing in Surf. The conditions we expect to encounter during our Ocean Skills: Playing in Surf are very challenging, and students must have strong bracing skills, excellent boat lean, and be very comfortable performing wet exits and assisted rescues.

    If you have taken introductory instruction but are not comfortable performing skills like boat lean, braces, assisted rescues, and self-rescues in waves, you should take our Ocean Skills trip.

    If you have questions, please contact us.
    Wet Exit Practice Required
    Students who have not performed a wet exit may sign up for our Ocean Skills: Playing in Surf but must complete the Introduction to Kayaking course, an Introductory Trip, or a private lesson before participating in our Ocean Skills: Playing in Surf (our Quick-Start Your Kayak is not sufficient). If you have questions, please contact us.
    Assisted Rescue Practice Required
    Students who have not performed an assisted rescue may sign up for our Ocean Skills: Playing in Surf but must complete the Introduction to Kayaking course, an Introductory Trip, or a private lesson before participating in our Ocean Skills: Playing in Surf (our Quick-Start Your Kayak is not sufficient). If you have questions, please contact us.
    Registration & Cancellation Policies for Classes, Trips, and Tours
  • Full payment is due upon registration for a class, clinic, tour, or trip.
  • For cancellations received 7 days or more before your scheduled activity, we will issue a refund less a 10% registration fee.
  • For cancellations received less than 7 days before your scheduled activity, we are unable to offer any refunds.
  • Participants in all activities will be required to sign a waiver of liability. To save time, you can download this waiver and bring it with you.
  • Classes, clinics, and trips always run unless the weather is extreme.
  • A minimum number of registrants is required for any event to run. If we cancel a trip due to low enrollment, we will provide a full refund.
    • Pre-Requisites & Requirements. Before signing up, you must have:
  • Formal paddling instruction in surf, like our Ocean Skills: Surf Launching & Landing.
  • Previous practice of a wet exit, where you flipped a kayak, removed the sprayskirt, and exited the kayak while underwater.
  • Previous practice of an assisted rescue, where you wet-exited the kayak in deep water and were rescued by another kayaker.
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