A Westerly Gem -- We Had the Time of Our Lives! My friend…read moreand I rented a tandem kayak for the day from Watch Hill Outfitters, and we genuinely had the time of our lives! Harrison and Mike were wonderful from beginning to end. Harrison was patient and took his time making sure we had everything we needed, understood the kayak and launch, and had a general idea of the kind of experience we wanted. The launch itself was incredibly easy--much easier than several other kayak launches I've used--and before long, we were off with six glorious hours ahead of us. The tandem kayak was perfect for two friends looking for a little adventure, a little workout, and a LOT of conversation and catching up! It felt stable and comfortable and would be a great choice for beginner-to-intermediate paddlers. And what a beautiful route! We paddled through downtown Westerly and beyond, then eventually turned around and made our way past the Westerly Yacht Club, taking some time to meander through the estuary. Listening to the birds, exploring the little waterways, and enjoying the quiet and serenity was absolutely lovely. Six hours gave us enough time that we never felt rushed--we could simply explore and enjoy the day. When we returned, Mike greeted us with a huge smile and cheerful conversation while we returned the kayak to Harrison. And, of course, we had to spend some time with Ruby, the beautiful and lovable black Lab who appears to be the true overseer of operations at Watch Hill Outfitters. This is a friendly, local place with real personality--not just kayak rentals. They also have an enormous assortment of fishing equipment and accessories. Harrison and Mike made the whole experience easy, welcoming, and fun. Watch Hill Outfitters is a definite Westerly gem and absolutely worth the trip. We will be back!

Great place to get your fishing tackle. Knowledgeable staff and very helpful. We use them all the…read moretime and wouldn't go anywhere else.

The owners here are absolutely beautiful inside and out. Great service. They have free parking at…read morethe side of the houseoffice. Make sure to make a reservation ahead of time. They do accept groupons for two hour kayak service here which me and my bf did and we had a blast. They have kayaks for tall and short people. Equipment was in great condition. Easy check in and check out. I highly recommend. I will definitely be back.

Veteran owned and operated and dedicated to keeping customers happy. Support local small business!read more

Had a great time with the wife on a beautiful memorial day weekend trip. Decided to go last minute…read morekayaking and couldn't be happier! Small family run business, friendly staff! The owner and the daughter showed us the ropes and explained everything in detail, gave us directions and pointers on where to go, and even supplied us with water bottles in case we got thirsty. 5 star service for an affordable price!highly recommend ! *highly recommend the kayak that sits you on top rather rather than the traditional kayak that sits u inside especially if your planning on staying long, as this kayak type allows you to sprawl out and lay down, tan, or even take a little power nap in the sun! The wife was very envious of my kayak being that she could not lay down comfortably

The people there are fantastic! The kayaks and paddle boards were brand new! I went with my new…read moreboys and they had a blast. Also it's very reasonable priced. I'll go back again for sure.

Our second experience with Paddle Surf, we booked a semi-private lesson for our 9 year old grandson…read moreand his friend, first timers. We arrived early but our instructor (Carter) took us immediately. The waves were challenging for beginners but Carter had the boys in the water quickly and both said they had a fantastic time. Memory-making experience for all!

This is our second experience with Paddle Surf RI and it did not disappoint! Brian worked great…read morewith our 8 and 6 year olds in the water. Great experience all around, highly recommend.

I purchased a paddleboard at The Kayak Centre 4 years ago. My experience then (and a few other…read moretimes since then for smaller purchases), was so great that even though I've moved to Cape Cod (1.5 hour drive away), when I was in the market for a kayak, I came back to The Kayak Centre. I called ahead and got excellent information and recommendations, and as I requested, they had the boats I wanted to try available when I came to check them out a couple of days later. I checked the boats out in the store and then did the in-water demo to try one of them out. You do have to pay for this, but I guess it makes sense as a bit of insurance in case you scratch or damage the boat and then don't end up buying it. And if you do buy the boat, they apply it to your total, so if you're serious about making a purchase, it's low-risk. I then looked at several accessories (new paddle, PFD, paddle float, skirt, roof rack, etc) and got a lot of great advice and information. They installed the roof rack I purchased and taught me tips on how to load and unload the boat on my own. Before this trip, I did shop around for a kayak and the attention and service I received at The Kayak Centre - from owner to seasoned employee to new employee to the waterfront staff to the installation guy, the service was amazing. They don't work on commission and are actual paddlers themselves, so you get real information and they customize the tips based on you personally. There were a few accessories that I was unsure about that they actually talked me out of buying. I could not be happier with my purchase and the service I received! I went into the store on a Friday afternoon in June and there was a steady flow of other customers, but I never felt like the staff was too busy or were rushing me. If you have as many questions as I did, I'd recommend avoiding the weekends, especially in the summer, because I'd bet they are really busy!

Lovely spot to kayak! Super friendly staff and brand new equipment! The area can be a little busy…read morewith boat traffic but still so fun!

In the summer months, we took a kayak from Providence Kayak and enjoyed an hour on the river. The…read morerates are very reasonable, usually starting at around $20 for 60 or 90 minutes. This is a seasonal business, so please check their website for open times in 2023, either late Spring or early Summer. You can discover urban Providence at your own pace, paddling throughout the historic bridges, cobblestone walkways and green riverbanks of the Providence and Woonasquatucket Rivers, Riverwalk and Waterplace Park! If you're seeking a more rural setting outside of the city, visit their second location at Olney Pond inside Lincoln Woods State Park. That way you can enjoy fresh water paddling surrounded by one of Blackstone Valley's greatest treasures.

Very accommodating staff. Beautiful and peaceful experience. Lincoln woods is great for a nature…read morereset especially on the water

What an amazing first experience! For years I've been wanting to try this place out and we finally…read moredid. We rented paddle boards for a great fee. They gave great information upon booking the reservation on the phone. Parking was very easy but depending what time you go I'd go sooner for parking! The women who checked us in was very sweet. She explained everything to us. She told us where to go and how to stay safe. The man who got us on the boards was equally as nice. He gave us a quick course on how to use the boards. The boards were much easy than I thought. I felt secure and got the hang of it pretty quickly. We paddled to an amazing area with a waterfall and past some beautiful houses and shoreline. I loved that you could kneel , lay , stand and just float in the water. It was definitely a fun day and I can't wait to do it again.

This has become a summer tradition; have been both kayaking and SUP. Went out on the water again…read moretoday and truly enjoyed taking in the beautiful scenery and just being out on the water on a blistering hot day. They've got an informative video if you're unfamiliar with the area and they're always happy to give you pointers. Sign up is easy. Equipment is clean and in good condition. The other folks out on the water are always so nice as well helping one another out with pictures...it's a great clientele. Do yourself a favor and go out and enjoy all that is summertime!