Polite staff. Helpful and well informed. The view out on the water was beautiful Plenty of kayak rentals to choose from in the area but I'm glad we chose PaddleDockers read more

PaddleDockers - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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Dear Puddledockers, IF We call you to ask if you rent kayak paddles separately from kayaks... AND If we ask how much the rentals are... AND You tell us that they're $20 per day and have to be returned by the end of the day... AND We tell you that we'll be over in about twenty minutes... THEN You should have told us on the phone that you'll refuse to rent us kayak paddles separately from your kayaks because all of your kayaks (and the paddles associated with them) have all been otherwise reserved and you have no spare paddles for us to rent. Your apathetic and unapologetic staff at least had the courtesy of suggesting Eastern Mountain Sports might have paddles for us to rent, instead. And they -did- look up the phone number of the nearest outlet for us. That was appreciated. On behalf of all your future patrons, please have a care. And please get your shit in order. Sincerely, -Kevin read more

PaddleDockers - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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Very nice people, super accommodating and the pedal assisted SUP was very interesting! 5 star experience!

Decided to give kayaking a try. We booked an appointment 2 hours before for a group of 5. Came through the front of the store to sign forms and paid. From there he lead us to a shack where they have paddleboards and kayaks. All of us were first timers in kayaking. They tried showing us the correct form of kayaking, which we appreciated but its easier to see than do. Overall i had a great time. The water trail leads to the main lakes which is a beautiful sight to see. Definitely would reccommend this place. read more

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This place is great. The guys are super chill, they give you nice Fiberglass board, good paddle, comfortable life vest, and a waterproof bag. These guys show you have to use these boards. You can feel safe in their equipment. Go have a good time. Paddle safe. read more

FYI: DO NOT GET THIS PLACE CONFUSED WITH PADDLE-N-MORE! (I almost made the mistake of confusing them as the same business) Super easy/smooth process, with great friendly service. I booked my reservation online for 12:30PM for a 2-person/tandem kayak. My friend and I signed the waivers online ahead of time to save paper and time. On the day of my reservation, we were running a bit late and called a few hours before to ask if they could push our reservation to 1:00PM--they said no problem. When we got there, we went into the main office and found out that they have canoes, so we asked if we could change it and it turned out to be the same price as the tandem kayak so they switched it with no problem. The process from check-in to getting on the water was about 10 minutes (there was no one else there docking at the moment). The staff was very friendly and nice, knew what they were doing and clear in their explanations. If you want to paddle to Cayuga Lake, I recommend doing 4-hours so you don't have to haul ass back and forth in 2 hours, which is what we booked. We hit Cayuga Lake in about 35 minutes (non-stop paddling) and had some time to explore along Stewart Park, but that's all we ended up having time for before having to head back to the paddle dock. read more

Great experience! PaddleDockers really made renting a canoe easy and helped my dog enjoy the experience with extra water, a bowl, and treats. Thanks! read more

Great kayaking experience. Staff is super friendly and helpful. Kayaks are new and clean. Loved every minute

Fantastic new set-up -- they made it easy to rent my kayak, put me into the water, and I spent the next two hours touring Cayuga Lake. This location is even more convenient and well-positioned for Ithaca. When I showed up a little late (the inlet here is longer than you think, and the winds were against me!), they were friendly and forgiving. read more

The staff were really accomodating and friendly! The overall experience was lovely and got a bit lost, so be sure to grab a map.

Excellent service for renting kayaks and paddling around cayuga inlet. The staff were great it was a great location to set sail from

Great place. Great people. Great customer service. As a beginner to kayaking, I was so impressed with, and appreciative of, their helpfulness, patience and encouragement! read more

The service was fantastic; timely and so easy!! and the kayaks and life jackets and paddles worked perfectly for our needs! Thanks for being so accommodating! read more

This was a first for my 10 year old grandson. He loved it. I was very pleased with the whole experience and will do this again for sure.

I wanted to give it 4-stars but I just didn't have it in me, I will definitely be trying this place again and hopefully my next visit is a little better. I called and made a reservation because it's much better to do it that way to ensure we were going to have a kayak when we arrived. The weekend is a busy time and with how nice the weekends have been, do yourself a favor and call ahead of time. When I called, I had to call a bunch of times because it kept giving me a busy signal, but be persistent it's worth it. We walked in about 5 minutes after our reservation, the signage to get to this place is not easy. From one way you can see a sign for it but the way we were driving up, you could not and it's not a street, it's more like an alleyway. We could tell it was busy, there was about 15 high school kids sitting outside and we groaned with disappointment, hoping they wouldn't be near us. There was only one guy working the check-in area and he said we would have to wait because we came in a big crowd, totally understandable, he was very nice about it. BUTTTTT we didn't know it would take THAT long. There was only about 3 people working, all showing these kids individually how to use a kayak, I couldn't imagine why they didn't just show them in groups. We waited and waited... 45, FORTY-FIVE minutes later we finally got to sign the forms and talk to someone. It was a mess. Everyone was nice but during the weekend in the summer, I think they need more staff. We got there with no one else around and by the time we checked in there was about 10 other people waiting. We still got our 2 hours in and we really enjoyed the time out, it's not expensive either. I want to give it 4-stars, I think next time if my experience is better I will but the long wait even with a reservation was a little bit too much. read more

PaddleDockers - costs of rentals - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Best time ever! Great people, great boats, great price. The water way is gorgeous, the tide and winds are range in the inlet. I can't wait to go back read more

This was a great adventure! 12 minutes away from Firelight Campsite. We were a party of 8 and each group had a person near us during the Kayaking experience. They took us out and our trip was about 2 1/2 3 hours on the water. The guides were polite and took us to a quaint area to relax and hang with friends. They did not crowd us but made sure we were pleased at all times. read more

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Great equipment and even better service. These guys were so helpful and friendly. We rented the stand-up paddle boards, but we wimped out after about 20 minutes! When we returned to the dock huffing and puffing, they very kindly offered to let us take out a canoe for the rest of our rental instead. Easy parking, great facilities, beautiful scenery. read more

The Ithaca location is great. We missed the entrance (was a little hard to find since they recently relocated to the old Greyhound station), but the staff were friendly and professional, and on top of things (the process is super smooth if you sign your online waivers). The folks who helped us into the tandem kayaks worked hard to make sure we felt comfortable and ensured that we knew how to use thelifejackets/whistles. Once you're in the water, it's just you and Cayuga lake: it's pure bliss. When we came back, the manager even offered to buy us lunch at Coalyard Cafe (whom they've partnered up with). 10/10, would absolutely go again. read more

Having recently reopened post Covid-19, they were a little disorganized due to the new social distance rules and masks but the great service and attention given to you making sure you were comfortable and safe certainly made up for it. read more

Good equipment, friendly staff, and a great location--I'll definitely be back!

I've rented Kayaks all over the east coast, and I have to say that the staff at Puddledockers were the rudest, most unhelpful individuals that I've come across since I started kayaking. First the good: they will rent you a composite kayak if you ask for it, and don't charge an additional fee to do so. Now the bad: The guys running the shop are rude kayak snobs who don't know what they're talking about. I went kayaking with my wife and two friends while visiting Ithaca a few months ago at the end of May. My wife and I wore wet suits and dry tops. This was appropriate given that the water was still around 50-60 degrees, and we were in narrow (ie. easier to tip) kayaks. The guys made sarcastic comments about us having "enough" gear and were generally jerks about letting us change. I am an experienced kayaker, and enjoy practicing my rolls, and playing around to the point that I may tip the boat. A critical piece of safety equipment for doing this is something called a spray skirt which keeps water from entering your kayak even if it is capsized. When I asked for a spray skirt, one of the staff proceeded to lecture me about how it wasn't necessary and to tell me that it was dangerous because I might not be able to pull it off if I needed to wet exit. I told him that I knew how to roll, and that I was familiar with wet exits and a number of rescue techniques. He continued to tell me that it was a bad idea, and that he'd rather I not have it. Upon my insistence, he gave me one. I demonstrated my ability to pull it off and he finally shut up about it, but it was ridiculous to go through that much to get a basic piece of kayaking safety equipment. When my wife expressed discomfort with the particular kayak they had paired her with, they insisted that it would be a good one for her. She is more comfortable with wider, stable boats and they gave her a narrow boat with a very hard chine. Despite not really liking the boat, we went with their recommendation because they were very insistent. When we went out she was in fact very uncomfortable with the kayak, and she definitely should have been in a wider boat. My friends were not experienced kayakers, and somehow the staff let one of them go without a life vest. Luckily we realized only about 20 feet from the dock, but it was still a ridiculous mistake to make. Overall, I thought the staff was unprofessional, discourteous, and frankly dumb. I would not rent here again. read more

I have never kayaked before and recently rented from Puddledockers. I had a wonderful experience with them. I gave Puddledockers a call a day before just to see if it was easy paddle to Cayuga Lake from their dock...(yes, very easy and accessible). The guys there were so nice and helpful. They asked me what kind of kayak I needed, for how long, and suggested I make a reservation because weekends were their busiest days. We arrived when they opened at 9am. They fitted us with life jackets and into a 2-person kayak. They also saw that we had packed a little picnic and lended us a waterproof sack to place all our food into so it wouldn't get wet during the trip. They showed us where to put our water bottles in the kayak, gave us a waterproof map and suggestions where to picnic! We rented the kayak for 4+hours and it was the most BEAUTIFUL trip around Cayuga Lake. A nice little break for us NYC dwellers! Puddledockers made our first time kayaking experience easy and memorable. We would absolutely pay them another visit next time we are upstate! read more

We rented a canoe from these guys and it was a very easy and pleasant experience. After some basic safety and navigation tips we were equipped with life vests oars and a wet bag and off from their dock. It takes around 30 minutes to paddle up to Lake Cayuga from their dock. Maybe less if you know what you're doing. We were almost deterred by a number of negative reviews which all appear to be a couple of years old or more so figured it was time to correct the record. They couldn't have been friendlier or more helpful. If you're looking for a tranquil lake where you're the only person around, this place just outside Ithaca isn't it, but convenience wise it can't be beat and it's still lovely and peaceful once you're away from shore. read more

Easy, fun and friendly experience! Came on the weekend wanting to kayak on Cayuga lake and staff was very accommodating and offered a canoe without having a reservation. Staff was very nice and friendly explaining how everything works and told us a little about the area! Definitely make a reservation ahead of time! Wonderful experience read more

Puddle dockers is an awesome place to go kayaking. It is such a beautiful experience and I've loved it every time I rented boats from puddle dockers. They are great for groups - just make sure to call ahead to reserve the amount of boats you need. $28 for a 2-person kayak for 2 hours. read more

PaddleDockers - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Ithaca, New York

We walked in on a weekday in June and asked for a 2-hour canoe rental. They were able to accommodate us immediately, supplied us with a dry bag, map, and a few instructions and sent us on our way. We enjoyed exploring the inlets of Cayuga Lake. When we got back, there were two employees waiting to pull us in and unload us. I had (stupidly) clipped my camera strap onto my life jacket, and when I unsnapped the vest, the camera fell, bounced on the dock, and fell right into the water. One of the employees bravely dove in after it (that water wasn't pretty) and luckily, he found it on the first try! Puddledockers gets a great review from me because that was above and beyond what I would have expected of any of the employees. Happily, the camera still works (after a week drying out in rice). Thanks for the great service! read more

Very easy to rent tandem kayaks, friendly assistance getting boats in and out of the water.

We loved our time with Paddledockers! We were able to take our dog, Sam, in the canoe with us and he had a great time. The entire experience was easy and the staff were very helpful. I also noticed their cleaning protocol between paddlers on equipment etc and was impressed by that. In addition, the gentleman that ran the operation by the water spoke to his staff in such a supportive and kind manner, like a good teacher. We will be back next time we are in Ithaca! read more

Great service. Had them delivered to the rental house. Great condition of the kayaks and SUP. Definitely would use them again!

We planned our trip in advance to ensure that we would be able to kayak, as we live over an hour away. We were running late so I called them to let them know we were still coming. The young lady that answered the phone was very pleasant, and reassured me that we were ok and not to rush. When we got there the process was fast and easy. There were people ahead of us heading out and each one of the kids that were working at the dock apologized for our wait (we were fine with it). I was very impressed with the kids work ethic and just overall manners and the way they handled themselves over all. We had a great day on the water. We will be back, for sure!!! read more

Stellar experience from start to end. Everyone at the shop was extremely courteous and accomodating. My wife and I actually came in for lessons. It was very important to me that she has a good time her first time in a canoe, and our instructor Bruce went well beyond our expectations. She was canoeing like a pro in no time, thanks to his clear and concise instructions. We felt very safe and welcomed. Definitely going back next weekend, and probably every weekend after! Thank you Bruce, and the rest of the staff. read more

So well organized. Reservations super easy. singles or tandems. Dry land loading and unloading. Have never seen that before, stay dry. Drybags and lockers free for use. Maps for exploration, great location. You can stay in the canals or go to the lake. Free water. Kayak sizing for comfort. Snacks and clothes for sale. Canals great for beginners because it's shallow. If you're in Ithaca, this is the place to go. read more

Just a 5 minute phone call helped us decide not to go here. We called to check if they were open and if we could stop by without a reservation. Guy on the phone said "reservations are preferable" to which my husband responded "we don't have one but could we walk in, do you have kayaks available right now?" To which he said "then why did you call? " and hung up. And this on a random Wednesday, not a weekend or a busy summer day, great business model for a place that didn't seem very busy! read more

I am, by no means, an excellent kayaker. However, I do have quite a bit of experience kayaking along the east coast and have taken lessons with Potomac Paddlesports (Potomac Paddlesports is terrific!). That being said, this is the worst place my husband and I have rented kayaks from. The staff was snotty, rude, and were either not knowledgeable about kayaking or too lazy to do a decent job renting us kayaks. First, they did a poor job matching person to kayak. They gave me a long, narrow, unstable kayak because I was the "taller of the two girls", instead of asking what type of kayak I preferred. Second, they gave my husband (who is an experienced kayaker - rolling, advanced strokes, etc.) a hard-time about renting a spray skirt. They claimed that since they didn't know his experience level it was too dangerous, yet they let one of our friends out without giving her a life-jacket. Really, how concerned with safety could they be??? The only redeeming factor for puddledockers is that they did not charge an extra fee for composite kayaks. However, I would rather spend a little more money to rent a kayak from someone who is friendly and is knowledgeable about kayaking. read more

We were looking for a place to easily rent a canoe for a few hours. These guys are great and set us up in no time. Nice people, great service. Definitely recommend. read more

Wonderful experience! My friends and I booked the sunset kayak tour and, even though the sky was rather cloudy, we were not disappointed. The staff was friendly and took their time to make everyone feel comfortable -- our group included both beginning and more experienced kayakers. They sanitized the kayaks and followed proper PPE regulations, so I felt that I could be as safe as possible partaking in this activity. Their ramp to enter and exit the water made getting in and out of the kayak super easy -- no need to worry about keeping your balance as you got in or out of the kayak and water. They even said that if I came with a friend (who owned her own kayak and I was renting one from them) that we could both enter the inlet from their dock. I will definitely be back -- the convenient location, ease of registration (a simple phone call), and friendly staff made this experience both seamless and enjoyable. read more

I approached Puddledockers with extreme caution after seeing negative reviews on Yelp, which led me to be concerned about unhelpful staff. However, after two hours of Kayaking, I am pleasantly surprised that everything went so smoothly. I should note that I'm an absolute beginner and simply requested a basic Kayak to get out into Cayuga lake a bit. (I also went at a relatively quiet time.) The staff were courteous and efficient and I had no problems at all. The most convenient thing about Puddledockers is that they are located right by the water so that it's painless and easy start kayaking right away (after signing waivers, paying, life-vests, etc.). We were happy not to have to bother with transporting the Kayak to and from the lake ourselves. Going out towards Cayuga lake is more scenic, but I also explored the areas near Wegmans (the water is dirtier, but I think area has a charm to it in the summer time). Overall I had a very good experience and would be happy to go back. Other people's negative feedback on Yelp seem to focus on busy times or Kayakers who already have some experience. Perhaps these people would have been better served by renting from Cornell Outdoor Education or East Mountain Sports. However, as a beginner who was able to fit in time at a non-peak hour (late afternoon on Sunday), I had a really great experience with Puddledockers. read more

I have rented kayaks a number of times from Puddledockers over several years. I now have my own kayak, but I still go to Puddledockers now to rent for family. outings. It is by far the place to go if you are in or visiting Ithaca and do not want to lug a kayak on your car. From the shop, they help you get into your kayak in the inlet, which is a very pleasant place to kayak. It does take quite awhile (e.g. 35 mintues) to get from Puddledockers down the inlet into the Cayuga lake. They do have high quality (composite) kayaks, which are responsive and more fun than the plastic kayaks you can rent from Places like EMS. Puddledockers also have more stable plastic kayaks. There are some other reviews that complain about the staff. When I have been there, the owner was there, and he is very knowledgeable and competent . I have had no trouble. I strongly recommend Puddledocks since you can rent (relatively inexpensively) high quailty kayaks located in a beautiful place for kayaking without going to the effort (and possible expense for a roof rack) involvied in going to a rental shop away from the lake, and then lugging the kayayk off and on your car twice. read more

Beginners who rented a kayak from here. Fair price, great staff, good equipment and had a great time.