What should I bring?

Always bring sunscreen and a water bottle with drinking water. For trips and classes lasting longer than two hours you should also bring a snack or lunch. Waterproof cameras and binoculars are always handy! Don’t bring anything you can’t afford to lose or get wet. Electronic ignition keys, pagers, cell phones, and other electronic devices must be kept in a dry bag or waterproof container. Sadly—a zip-lock bag is not waterproof. We can provide dry bags for small objects on trips and classes. Be aware that even dry bags will get moisture condensation (especially if left in the sun) and it is always possible for them to tear. You should also have a change of clothing to wear after your kayak trip.

What should I wear?

Always dress for the water and not for the weather. Our coastal waterways tend to be around 55° Fahrenheit or colder. Our coastal summer weather rarely gets as high as 70°. You should wear synthetic layers. The first layer wicks moisture away from your body. The next layer should keep you warm. The top layer should protect you from wind. A windbreaker jacket is fine. You want to wear synthetic water-wicking fabrics. Polyester is best. Cotton is never a good idea on our coastal waters. Cotton stays wet and cold and gets very heavy when wet. For any Kayak Zak’s service you should wear your bathing suit, and a light-weight, close-fitting polyester or polypropylene undershirt such as a rash guard or wicking underwear you would wear for skiing. Bring a warmer layer such as polyester fleece. For most guided trips and classes we will provide farmer John wetsuits, booties and splash jackets. For rentals and other events we can rent these items to you. If you are providing your own clothing and you don’t have a wet suit or a dry suit you can wear polypropylene long johns and fleece tops and pants with a light nylon jacket to block wind. Wear shoes you can swim in and that you are willing to get wet. Warm synthetic socks are nice even with neoprene booties. Whatever you wear remember that it is okay to be too warm because luckily in water sports we can always cool off!

What is meant by “Adaptive” Paddling?

Adaptive Paddling means we can adapt kayaks, paddles, gear, and techniques for persons with disabilities, sports injuries, preexisting conditions, and joint pain. Our mission says it all “…to persons of all abilities…” What that really means is that we have the skills, training, and experience to take almost anyone kayaking pretty much anywhere there is water.

Will the kayak be tippy?

Some kayaks are tippier than others. You can lean forward or back but If you lean over to the side in any canoe or kayak then you will most likely tip over. We use fairly stable, less tippy kayaks and we will give you some guidelines to prevent capsize.

If I capsize can I get back in?

There is always the possibility of a capsize. It is more likely to happen in breaking surf than a guided trip but it is always possible on any type of water. There are many methods to get back into a kayak. The kayaks we rent out are sit-on-tops with open cockpits. They are very stable and in the event of capsize it is possible to climb back up onto the top of the kayak and continue paddling. In the closed cockpit “hard-shell” kayaks there are numerous reentry methods. Our guides and instructors all have extensive training and experience in getting people back into kayaks. We even teach entire classes in capsize recovery and reentry!

What is a PFD??

A “Personal Flotation Device” is also called a “Life Jacket!"

Do I need to know how to swim?

Certain kayak activities require strong swimming ability. Other activities merely require that you (1) be able to seal your airway (hold your breath with no gag reflex) in the event of an initial capsize and (2) turn yourself face-side-up while floating on water in a properly fitted PFD (life jacket). Please call or email if you have any concerns.

Don’t I need strong arms to paddle?

Yes and no. Begining paddlers tend to “bicycle” with their arms. Good paddling technique uses the major muscles such as your quadriceps and gluteus maximus muscles. Using your legs for leverage and exercising good torso rotation allows for efficient paddle strokes and less stress on the arms and shoulders.

Are there sharks?

Truthfully, there might be sharks in our coastal waters but not on the rivers and lagoons. While it is possible for a shark to attack a kayak, luckily for us we don't look like food and they tend to prefer sea lions and surfers to kayakers.

How safe is it?

Kayaking is a water sport and like all outdoor activities there are a variety of factors influencing safety. If initial environmental conditions are deemed to be unsafe for the skill level of the participants we will cancel the activity or move to another location rather than “go for the summit.” Whitewater and open coastal kayaking inherently have more risks than closed flatwater paddling activities (such as our lagoons). Be aware that even the lagoons can get waves due to fetch from wind. Our best insurance is safety equipment, training, skills, and experience. Always wear a properly fitted Personal Flotation Device (PFD). Never boat alone. Follow US Coast Guard www.uscgboating.org and American Canoe Association (ACA) www.acanet.org safe boating practices. Check weather and water conditions before you go kayaking http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/eka/ or http://cdec.water.ca.gov/river/rivcond.html and when you get to your launch site look at the conditions before you launch.

What kinds of wildlife might I see?

Wow! Depending on the waterway and the season it is possible to see every kind of wildlife in our area! River otters, great blue herons, egrets, osprey, belted kingfisher, and bald eagles enjoy all of our coast, lagoons, and rivers. On coastal waters we see all the local and migratory shore birds and marine mammals including oyster catchers, pigeon guillemots, murres, marbled murrelets, brown pelicans, grey whales, harbor porpoises, harbor seals, California sea lions, and stellar sea lions. At lower tides we can view sea stars, sea anemone, and a host of mollusks and crustaceans. We may even see land mammals such as black bear, and Roosevelt elk. From the lagoons we may see both marsh and coastal birds—including many raptors, land mammals, and of course salamanders, frogs, toads, and all the area’s land mammals. From our rivers it is always fun to watch the water oozel (“dipper) walk under water then fly away. Rivers also give us secret views of beaver dams, bobcat, bear, deer, elk, and many tracks and scat signs along the waters’ edges from wildlife visiting in the night.

Tell me about Big Lagoon.

The Kayak Zak's rental trailer will be at Big Lagoon County Park weather permitting, every day (except June 7 and August 8) from Memorial weekend through Labor Day weekend.  Come on down and rent a kayak!  Rental price includes sit-on-top kayak, life jacket, paddle, sales tax, and mini-lesson.  Your butt and feet will be wet.  Although this is Humboldt County’s warmest body of water, it is still quite cool.  Wear water-wicking (synthetic) clothing and a windbreaker, and bring a change of clothes.  Do not bring any electronics unless they are waterproof!  Drinking water, waterproof binoculars, and disposable waterproof cameras are recommended.  Big Lagoon is an enclosed body of water.  It shares a 3-½ mile sand spit with the ocean and is over 9 miles to circumnavigate.  Shore birds and river otters are abundant. You can also paddle up Maple Creek from Big Lagoon and often see Roosevelt Elk from your kayak! This trip is appropriate for all ages.  We have life jackets size infant to Adult XXL.  Adverse water or weather conditions will cancel. The ocean surf on the other side of the sand spit is steep and dangerous.  Do not swim or kayak in the ocean here.  Kayak rentals are limited to the lagoon waters only.  It is a great spot to picnic, whale watch, and look for beach agates.  Families enjoy swimming the relatively warm waters of Big Lagoon and playing in the sand. Learn More!

How do we get to Big Lagoon?

Big Lagoon County Park is just north of Patrick's Point State Park in Trinidad and south of Orick.  At mile marker 108.3 on Hwy 101 you take Big Lagoon County Park Road. From the south (Trinidad) this is a weird left turn from the fast lane of the highway.  From the north (Orick) it is an easy right turn.  Follow signs to the day-use area.  There is a $2 day use fee at the park.  It is a great spot to picnic, whale watch, and look for beach agates.  Families enjoy swimming the relatively warm waters of Big Lagoon and playing in the sand.

Tell me about Trinidad Cove.

Explore the rock gardens and view shorebirds, and marine mammals from the water at Trinidad Cove using single and tandem sit-on-top kayaks. This trip is appropriate for beginners and will include a brief kayaking lesson.  Wetsuits, helmets (yes, helmets!), lifejackets, windbreakers, booties, kayaks, and paddles will be provided by Kayak Zak’s.  Participants should wear a bathing suit, a rash guard (capelene, polypropelene, or other synthetic long-sleeved shirt) to wear under the farmer-John wetsuit, and a heavy fleece or wool shirt or jacket for warmth.  Do not bring any electronics unless they are waterproof!  Drinking water, waterproof binoculars, and disposable waterproof cameras are recommended. By reservation only.  We will need to know your height, weight, gender,and shoe size.   This trip is not appropriate for small children.  Adverse water or weather conditions will cancel the trip.  Trips launch early to avoid potential strong afternoon winds.

How do we get to Trinidad Cove?

Trinidad is a half hour to 45 minutes south of Orick and north of Eureka.  To get to Trinidad Cove drive north on Hwy 101 from Eureka/Arcata/Mckinleyville or south from Oregon/Crescent City/Klamath/Orick.   Take the Trinidad exit at Hwy 101  (mile marker 101 and freeway exit # 728).  If you are driving from the north you will turn right when you get off the freeway (or turn left from the southern exit).  Go through the town of Trinidad, turn right past the lighthouse and go down the hill.  At the bottom of the hill take a sharp left turn and park in the Seascape parking lot in one of the day use spaces.  Do not park in a trailer space unless you have a trailer (it gives all kayakers a bad name).  We will meet on the beach at the far south end of the parking lot to the left of the boat launch.

So, Who is “Kayak Zak?”

Kayak Zak is the salamander in the logo! He’s sort of a cross between a salamander and a chameleon as you may notice that sometimes his colors change. He also sports flames because he likes to play with fire as well as water and in several stories from around the globe it is the salamander who brings fire to the humans. Zak loves living on the redwood coast because he is a water creature and we have all kinds of water to play in. Kayak Zak’s motto is “More Fun is More Good!” Salamanders have little comprehension of English grammar.