Rentals
Our selection of kayaks and paddleboards will help you get the most out of your day.
Read our rental policies below, and when you’re ready
The Basics: How Does it Work?
Make a Reservation
We are typically sold out on the weekends (and often on weekdays too) , and can’t promise we’ll have boats or boards available unless you have a reservation. We’re happy to take walk-ups on weekdays (if we have space), but if you have a large group, you really should make a reservation in advance. Click the button at the top of the page to get started!
Arrive on Time
Please arrive at least 15-20 minutes prior to your booking time to review our safety guidelines, complete rental paperwork, and get fitted for lifejackets and kayaks. If your group is large, come even earlier! Because other customers may have reservations after you, we may not be able to extend your time on the water if you arrive late.
Return on Time
We encourage paddlers to book for the maximum time you think you will spend on the water. A 1.5 hour rental will give you time to get out to the lake, spend about half an hour there, and return on time.
We can’t allow paddlers to extend their rental time indefinitely once on the water. Not only do we need to know when to expect you back to keep you safe, we also often have back to back reservations that we’ll need your kayak or SUP for.
A late craft will be charged a late return fee on the following scale:
- 5-30 minutes late: $5 per craft
- 30-60 minutes late: $20 per craft
Ready to go?
Rental FAQs
All reservation fees are refundable for cancellations made more than 90 minutes before your scheduled launch time. In the event of inclement weather, we are happy to reschedule your rental or cancel your booking at no charge. Call or text us at 1-866-529-2541 to cancel or reschedule your reservation.
Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult and have a signed waiver.
The minimum age to paddle a single kayak is 14. Children of any age can paddle a tandem kayak with an adult.
The minimum age to paddle a SUP is 16.
All participants must be able to enter and exit a boat, maintain balance in a boat or on an SUP without assistance, and must wear a properly fitted PFD at all times (i.e., on, zipped, and buckled). If your body type doesn’t enable you to fit in one of our PFDs, you must bring your own.
The following general weight limits are in effect for kayaks and SUPs.
- Single touring kayak – min 95 – max 240lbs
- Single sit-on-top kayak – min 95 – max 275lbs
- Tandem kayak – combined weight max of 475 lbs, with no individual under 35 lbs or exceeding 245 lbs
- SUPs – min 95 – max 215 lbs.
No. Paddlers may not bring alcohol on board any rental craft.
Only small, soft sided coolers are permitted. Please note that we do inspect cooler contents.
Each kayak rental comes with a properly fitted PFD (personal floatation device), paddle, spray skirt (if requested) and bilge pump.
All kayakers are required to participate in a safety briefing and review and agree to the 41° North safety guidelines in order to rent a kayak or SUP. These include the nautical “Rules of the Road” for interacting with other vessels, as well as an agreement to wear your PFD at all times. Failure to abide by these policies may result in a citation by maritime authorities and/or loss of rental privileges.
The Rocky River is a Class I river and is always calm. If conditions on Lake Erie exceed winds of 10 knots from the west, northwest, north, northeast, or east, waves greater than 2ft, or offshore winds (south) exceeding 15 knots, paddling will be limited to the Rocky River.
From our location, you can paddle on the Rocky River. An hour rental will easily allow you to paddle to Lake Erie and back.
As long as waves are under 2′ and winds are under 10 knots, you are free to paddle on Lake Erie within 1/2 mile of shore.
We do not permit paddling in the following areas:
- The Rocky River upstream of Cleveland Metroparks Drive
- The Cleveland Yachting Club west channel
- Clifton Lagoon
Four-legged paddlers ARE permitted in a tandem sit-on-top kayak. Dogs must wear a properly sized canine life jacket, which you are responsible for providing.
Unfortunately, dogs are NOT permitted on standup paddleboards, due to the damage caused to the deck pads by claws.
Most renters reserve for 1.5 to 2 hrs. It takes about 20-30 minutes by kayak or SUP to reach Lake Erie from our location on the Rocky River, so a 90 minute paddle will give you time to get to the Lake, venture out to see a bit of the coast, and leave plenty of time to return to our dock.
You can also paddle a 3 mile loop entirely on the Rocky River, which takes just about 1 hr.
At this time we do not offer seasonal boat storage. The Emerald Necklace Marina does have an annual lottery for space in the kayak storage lockers. You can contact them at 216.226.3030 x 1.
We do not offer shuttle service. All of our rentals start and end at our dock.
Our section of the Rocky River has almost no current, so getting back to our location is never an issue!
After heavy rains, the River may pick up. We don’t permit rentals when the river current exceeds 1000 cubic feet per second (cfs).