Kayaking

    I began kayaking purely as a hobby. It started out innocently enough; renting a kayak from an outfitter and doing one-way trips in the slow moving rivers of upstate New York. Then I discovered kayaking in and around New York City and my true passion for the sport was unleashed. Kayaking in New York City has proven to be a challenging and rewarding experience. Through my infatuation with kayaking I have been able to connect with local boathouses. My involvement with these boathouses has afforded me the opportunity to connect NYC residents to their beautiful waterways while increasing awareness of the environmental challenges that face the city every day.

    In this section you'll find blog entries related to kayaking and some maps for possible kayak trips. All of the information in these sections was current at the time of posting however launch site accessibility and paddling conditions may vary. If you find information contained on this site inaccurate, would like to suggest a trip, or you would like to suggest a subject for a blog post feel free to contact me.


    Recent Kayaking Articles
    • Sandy Keeps Rearing Her Ugly Face — Hallets Cove Is Closed!
      On my drive into work today I passed by Hallets Cove in Astoria, Queens. As I approached the public access beach area I noticed a couple of parks department officials closing off the beach entrance. Since this is a popular
    • Sandy Turned Out To Be A Huge B!tch
      I had a feeling Frankenstorm was being over-hyped. Open mouth, insert foot. Hurricane Sandy turned out to be the real deal. I woke up this morning and headed out for a short walk to survey the damage. I didn’t have
    • Summer Is Shaping Up, But Something’s Different This Year
      It’s only May and the calendar is filling up with important events and vacations. In just two weeks Cathy and I are attending a wedding for one of my childhood friends. After sending the happy couple off with a post
    • Holes in Kayak Hatch Rim: Manufacturing Defect or Normal?
      A few years ago I purchased a Wilderness Systems Tempest 170. Since then I’ve paddled the boat up and down the East River and around Jamaica Bay hundreds of times. Each October I give the boat a good once over
    • New York City From 10,000 Feet
      As those of you who know me personally are aware, I’m not the biggest fan of flying. I used to fly the leg between New York City and Rochester regularly however following 9/11 I came to the realization that I
    Kayaking Links of Interest
    • Bonnie’s kayak blog
       A fellow kayaker and blogger in the NYC area.
    • Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse
       The Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse is one of the newest boathouses in NYC.
    • Brooklyn Kayak
       Dedicated to sea kayak expedition and backpacking related items.
    • Downtown Boathouse
       The pioneer of free public paddling in contemporary NYC! No group in NYC puts more people in kayaks for 20 minute paddles and three-hour tours to the Statue of Liberty and USS Intrepid.
    • Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club
       This welcoming group of paddlers is on the front lines of ecological recovery in one of NYC’s most challenged waterways.
    • Hoboken Cove Boathouse
       On the far side of the Hudson River, in a place ridiculed as often as Queens, folks bootstrapped themselves up to a boating program with help from the Downtown Boathouse.
    • Hudson River Water Trail Association
       The Hudson River Watertrail Association is a coalition of small boaters, primarily human and wind powered, who are actively interested in the Hudson River as a treasure of natural and human history. The HRWA was formed in 1992 as an all-volunteer, non-pro
    • Inwood Canoe Club
       The Harlem River is the home of a charming and friendly paddling group, the Inwood Canoe Club.
    • Jamaica Kayak
       Member of Sebago Canoe Club Operate out of Jamaica Bay, Part of Gateway National Park (Largest Urban National Park area) I am a Kayaker, certified Star I and II with 7 years kayaking experience. This will be my Official Sea Log.
    • Kayak Staten Island
       Kayak Staten Island is an all-volunteer organization. We provide free kayaking for the public at the shoreline on South Beach in Staten Island.
    • LIC Boathouse
       The LIC Boathouse offers free kayaking on the east river.
    • Manhattan Kayak Company
       For tours, lessons, and other exciting paddling opportunities, please check out Manhattan Kayak Company.
    • Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance
       One-stop shopping to know what’s up in NY-NJ Harbor.
    • New York City Water Trail
       New York City is rich in water. If you’re looking for a few hours of tranquil paddling or a full-day expedition, you’ll find it here. The New York City Water Trail connects 160 square miles of rivers, bays, creeks, inlets and ocean in the five boroughs su
    • Newtown Creek Alliance
       The newtown creek alliance has been fighting for the clean-up, access, and responsible re-development of the creek and it’s surrounding area.
    • Newtown Creek Photo Gallery
       Following the declaration of the Newtown Creek as a Superfund site I decided to document it’s pre-cleanup state.
    • NY Kayak Company
       Randy Henriksen, the owner of NY Kayak Company, sells kayaks, books, lessons, and any gear you could need.
    • NY Kayak Polo
       This club is devoted to developing and promoting the sport of Kayak Polo.
    • Paddle and Knit
       KAYAKING & KNITTING & BIKING, TOO
    • Red Hook Boaters
       A boathouse located in Red Hook Brooklyn which offers free public paddling programs.
    • Sebago Canoe Club
       Our members include kayakers, canoeists, sailors, rowers, and flatwater racers.
    • Summit to Shore
       Theologically and philosophically informed ruminations on everything between summit to shore, especially kayaking, sailing, backpacking, climbing, religion, spirituality, philosophy, theology, politics, culture, travel, and the NYC borough of Queens.
    • The Newtown Pentacle
       Lot’s of pics and information on Newtown Creek and the surrounding areas.
    • TheSafeHarbor.us
       This 28 minute documentary-style safety video is the culmination of two years of filming. The content was collected by five individual boating sub chapters. We want to tell the first hand story of how we operate safely and how we work together as one trib
    • Tugster
       The “sixth boro” is my invented term for the waters in and around the port. Part of my motivation is that mainstream media are “terracentric,” overlooking sixth boro news to a large degree. I strive to be the opposite: maricentric.
    • Village Community Boathouse
       Free community rowing sessions, April to November.