Salem Kayak

I am going to join the previous reviewers who said they had a fantastic experience.

My husband and I took the intro to kayaking course with Kevin and there were 7 other people in our class. I was grateful because there were several other beginners like me. I'm fairly coordinated, but I've never done this before and didn't want to look like an idiot.

Before we even got into the water, Kevin talked to us about the boat, sea conditions, and other important safety facts. His instruction was very informative and his funny, sarcastic side made it very enjoyable and entertaining.

The water was pretty wavy and it was fairly windy out, but it was easy to paddle and it was super fun being in the water. Kevin taught us different techniques of kayaking and then at the end a "wet exit" which involved dumping yourself out of the boat and into the water.

It was about a 3 hour adventure and well worth the money. My husband and I feel very confident to rent kayaks on our own or take a more advanced course, and we will definitely call Salem Kayak again. Awesome job!

You may have seen Kevin and Gillian's car around Salem with the awesome Rock, Paddle, Surf graphic. They took over Salem Kayak and gave it a new name and a totally new vibe. They are passionate about kayaking and have taught it and done it for many years. If you are a beginner at kayaking like I am or if you already know how and want to learn some new maneuvers, Kevin and Gillian can teach you. They also have sunset trips and full moon paddles, both of which I someday will have the courage to do. Go down to Salem Willows and talk to both or either of these people and make new friends in the process. Check out their website for upcoming events at www.rockpaddlesurf.com.

Most awesomtastic day ever... Highly recommend. Kevin and Gillian definitely know their stuff on the water. I highly recommend!

Had an amazing day Kayaking out from Gloucester High School with incredible guides Kevin and Gillian. Highly recommend them - extremely knowledgeable, talented, and super friendly! We will definitely be booking another tour with them ASAP - hopefully the Full Moon Paddle!

Cannot speak for the tour but do not bother making reservations. We reserved and paid for a double kayak three days in advance. Got a sitter for the hours we reserved + the time it takes us to get to Winter Island. When we got there we found a family with small kids ready to get in. After telling us "we're not on the list" the lady finally found the reservation. But, lo and behold, there are no double kayaks -- most were with the tour and the last one was going to the family with the little kids. At this point our only option was to take 2 single kayaks...which was better than having no boats on site but not much better. If you reserve a minivan for your family, you probably didn't want a sedan to begin with.

There are plenty of kayak rental places in the area -- next time we'll be reserving elsewhere.

Found out about Salem Kayak from Living Social and did Salem Harbor tour (3 hr). Gilian and Kristi were super friendly, professional yet fun and relaxed. They really show they like what they are doing and want to share their passion. This was a great way to spend the afternoon. The paddling was on the easy side as far as physical efforts + skills are concerned, so it's suitable for people in al ages (10 yrs + I assume).

The Harbor tour stayed close to the coast line. We saw downtown Salem from a distance, then paddled right up to the Friendship. After about 1 hr+, we took a break at a beach which allowed some people to use the WC. On the way back, we weaved between anchored sail boats, kind of like walking in a parking lot full of cars but a bit more interesting. The water was pretty calm on the most part, except when a big boat passed by. For some reason, a few people on the tour went in the water. But our guides were very professional and made it very non-threatening. In fact, they encouraged us to all do a wet-exit at the end (but none of us took up the offer).

I really enjoyed the tour and highly recommend this to anyone who wants a good time!

Such a great experience! I went out with Salem Kayak this past Sunday and was really impressed by all aspects of this company. All of the guides were incredibly patient and helpful as I got my paddling skills down. I got to meet a really nice group of like- minded people, and enjoy the beautiful new England coast. You can tell that all those who run Salem Kayak are truly passionate about what they do!

Fantastic beginner kayak class! Kevin and Gillian are amazing teachers, very patient and enthusiastic. Two hours packed with lots of beginner techniques and time to practice what you've learned. Beautiful spot to kayak, lots of parking, lovely views and easy to find. Highly recommend!

We got a Living Social coupon for this ($25 for 3 hours). It was fantastic! Kevin was a great guide and enthusiastic. The tour was beautiful. I would recommend this for beginners or those who are more advanced and just want some time sea kayaking. Watch out though, it gets pretty rocky!

We also had a Living Social coupon for a 3 hour tour and did the Salem Harbor Tour. Very well run, friendly, and super accomodating. Did all the teaching on the water so we would have the most time in the 'yaks. Definitely bring a snack - we didn't and were considering chewing on each other by the last half hour. Highly recommend!