I purchased a paddleboard at The Kayak Centre 4 years ago. My experience then (and a few other times 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! read more

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

The Kayak Centre - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Wickford, Rhode Island

Was looking for a particular kayak, and Kayak Centre had the boat. I purchased it over the phone, and was told to call 24 hours before I wanted to pick it up because it was "still in storage, not yet unwrapped by the store", and they would need to retrieve it. When I found the same boat much closer to me I called them to cancel my order and they charged me a "restocking fee" for a boat that had not yet been brought into the shop, or unwrapped. The fee I had to pay, over $260, is the charge when someone buys a boat, takes it home, and then returns it. I can understand a small penalty for "making" them write up a sales slip, but this was excessive. read more

This is a review of The Kayak Centre's RENTAL service. Our recent experience was delightful. [We rented Hobie Mirage Eclipse Pedalboards -- that's a stand up paddleboard driven by a pedal mechanism, rather than an oar. Steering is via a rudder, controlled by grips on the handlebars. The motion is similar to an elliptical trainer or StairMaster. We found them to be easy to mount, stable, responsive, maneuverable, and -- compared to a traditional SUP -- fast ! ] The dockside personnel were friendly, patient, and informative, giving us the quick lesson needed to use the Hobies, and pointing out things to see in Wickford Harbor. We spent two pleasant hours on the water. A nice workout. Would rent from The Kayak Centre again. read more

The Kayak Centre - All smiles at the end of our 2-hour rental. - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Wickford, Rhode Island

Great people, awesome selection of kayaks, accessories, and related products, fair prices.

The staff at The Kayak Centre are among the best in the industry. Very knowledgeable and courteous providing timely information for the beginner through advanced customers regarding kayaks and paddle boards. From accessories to clothing there is something for everyone. Stop in and check them out. read more

The Kayak Centre - The Kayak Centre - Wickford, RI - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Wickford, Rhode Island

Update: With help from Wilderness person I was able to order the back band directly, and it will be here next week. Thanks for nothing Kayak Centre. A recent interaction broke my heart. This was my third kayak purchase from these folks, and like other times, they were helpful all the way. Then after they had over $2K of my money, things changed. I had to order qa retrofit back band for my Wilderness boat to facilitate easier spray skirt attachment. This isn't a problem in and of itself. It has to do with the execution of the order. They had promised to follow up with Wilderness for a lead time in a few days, and when I didn't hear back, I called again. The person who took my call said a manager would check, and it seemed that it was a "whenever" response to when I may have gotten a call back, so I asked if I could be put on hold and ask Wilderness while I wait. She put me on hold, and that's when all hell broke loose. The owner of the Kayak Centre is a guy named Jeff. He launched into me and I learned some fun facts He's been waiting for Audi parts for Months Hobie parts are 9 months on B/O Wilderness doesn't let him know when things will be shipped. I was welcome to call Wilderness if i wanted to. He was rude, and downright angry. I just hung up. I was gobsmacked. I called Wilderness directly and spoke to a customer service rep named Rob. He told me the parts were in stock and gave me a link for a quick order. He also offered another shop for me to check out because of how I was treated, and escalated the situation to the regional manager.Meanwhile, I will ave my back band kit next week, with an offer from Wilderness to call if I have any issues. We are all being bit by supply chain issues, and when legitimate, I am sympathetic to lead times. That's all I was asking for. Just a lead time. I was NOT demanding a delivery date. Just an ETA. I was polite, and even toned on the initial call. I did call back and ask to speak to Jeff about the encounter, and communicate how upset I was on how he launched into me. He refused and the employee, based on how she didn't comment, seemed intimidated on sharing his response. Kayak Centre is dead to me. Life is too short to deal with arrogant owners who feel they are doing you a favor by rendering service. I am only sad to say I will never get an update on the Audi parts. :) read more

First experience purchasing a kayak! All the folks were helpful and patient. They helped me load the kayak onto my car! Super nice! I'll be back and will recommend friends there for their kayaking needs read more

I had the best experience buying two paddle boards this Christmas. I went to the store multiple times to look at different boards and to ask questions, and to get comfortable with my purchase. The staff never pressured me to buy anything and were nothing but polite. Matt was the person who helped me with my final purchase. I ended up with two matching boards and was very pleased with the knowing that I was getting the right boards for my wife and I. Matt even offered to deliver the boards to my house. I will be back for other gear and and would highly recommend the team at the Kayak Centre to anyone looking to buy a board, kayak or outdoor gear. read more

The Kayak Centre - Merry Xmas - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Wickford, Rhode Island

No tax on boats in RI??? What a deal! Bought a native slayer from these guys last year, 2600 boat normally, got it for 2000 bucks because it was last years model. Honest, knowledgeable and a great selection. read more

A great kayak store located right in the center of Wickford. A good selection and yaks and accessories but more importantly a great staff that will always take the time to answer stupid questions and offer realistic advice. The Kayak Center also offers different trips and instruction for the beginner to the advanced. A great place for someone looking for their first yak because of the low pressure sales approach of the staff. read more

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The staff is very knowledgeable and patient with all the clients, whether they are working with equipment rental, potential purchases, or committed buyers. Ive seen them working with kids on paddleboards, couples in kayaks (which usually includes a little counseling if they are in a double), women on paddleboards, and all with ease and patience. Not easy with the huge variety of clientele that come through all summer long. Their location is a great launching point for an hour in Wickford harbor or a longer adventure beyond the breakwall. Looking for something fun to do in Wickford instead of the usual shopping? Start here! read more

This is the best place to try kayaking. Ok so for 25 dollars you can have 2 hours of completely indpendent Kayaking throughout Wickford Bay. The instructing staff is very young- (teenage boys) but they are really just prepping you to be able to implement whatever core strength and athletic instinct you have. They give you a quick run thru of how to paddle, fit you in a life preserver and launch you off. If you ask, they give you a laminated copy of a map of the bay. This proved to be very helpful. What I didnt like about the company was the little amount of time they took to explain the rules of the ocean. I grew up boating on oceans and lakes and my dad drilled the rules of the water into me..."pass on the right, never get in the middle of an oncoming boat's path... you know the basics." The lack of attention to this does truly demonstrate the fact it is one of those touristy places that they put people in the water and take them out in a systematic and highly profitable way. My advice, learn the rules of the water, take a look at your own map and plan your course before going out. On the plus side, kayaking is one of the best experiences I have ever had. It is peaceful, serene, you get a great upper body workout, you are outside and if you can find some coves where you will have limited boats and jet skis, you can absolutely enjoy our beautiful rhode island water ways. read more

I would have given 5 stars except for as another reviewer noted, there was no instruction on the "rules of the ocean". We had only kayaked in a lake before and are not boaters so we felt like an annoyance to the boats because we weren't sure what etiquette was. Also, mentioning that if you chose to cut through the piles on your way to the harbor might result in getting stuck in the muck would have been helpful and saved my flip flop that is now lost to the sea. Oh well. Other than that, the staff was great! We used a discount voucher and never got the feeling like we were less of a customer because of it. From the guy who helped us with our waivers to the boat staff who offered to give me a flip flop someone else had left behind earlier, everyone was nice, and friendly. We've been looking to get more into paddling and will definitely come back for future rentals and hopefully a purchase. I hear they have an annual used boat sale in the fall which may just be the ticket to get us to buy our own. read more

They have a new store. I like the layout much more in that you can see everything because the store is open. There are not a bunch of separate rooms like there were in the old location. The selection is superior for kayaks, paddle boards and life vests. The kayak selection includes kayaks for fishing and hunting, sport, recreation and wave surfing. Everything! I found the staff knowledgeable and not pushy. I highly recommend this store if you are looking for a kayak or paddle board. I posted a bunch of photos so you can get an idea of the selection. read more

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Loved the Kayak Center. They were extremely helpful and knowledgeable. Thank you for all of your help with our new kayak and gear purchase!! read more

We arrived at 1230 pm and all kayaks were out. We were told to come back in about 1 hour since there should be a bunch back then. They did not have a waiting list. It was just first come first serve. So we did as instructed, and when we returned, the place was even more crowded and people were not able to go out because now they had no paddles. What a waste! They should take names and then go by the list, just like a restaurant. Probably won't return. read more

Two friends and I rented kayaks at their Wickford location this Thursday...all three of us were first timers & nervous, but wanted to try something new on our vacation! The staff was great! The guy at the front desk was cracking jokes with us while we were signing our waivers. The two instructors outside were very informative and patient with us. :) The scenery was beyond beautiful! We didn't want our two hours to end lol. I left Rhode Island yesterday and this was in my top two favorite things I did while vacationing here. (it's tied with taking a evening boat cruise) read more

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Great business with endless patience for new paddlers and the endless questions they ask! Every employee is friendly and makes you feel like a regular. Cannot say enough good things. I rented for two months before buying- never had trouble getting on a board immediately and the employees who put the equipment together were always friendly and helpful. When it came time to buy, I took forever making a decision- and they were great. Their inventory far exceeds that of other shops and big retailers, and you're dealing with experts who meet you where you are both in terms of budget and knowledge. Beautiful gem in Rhode Island. read more

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I have purchased two kayaks here. Great customer service from people that actually use their products. They give spot on advice for whatever your use will be. Not that I need another kayak but if I did, I would buy it here. read more

Not the friendliest...... Biggest joke is you have to pay to test the kayaks..... Its a $1k kayak... not a $30k auto.... Imagine paying to test drive a car??? read more

Loved my first experience at the Kayak Centre! I actually came to Kayak Centre through my yoga studio, Sundance, who held a special paddleboard yoga class at the Kayak Centre. It was a great experience! The staff was very helpful and we had an amazing time on a beautiful night in Wickford! read more

This place was great! I went for a sunset paddle group trip with the Lady Scouts on a Saturday night. We had a wide variety of adventurers so it was great to see how the two tour guides, Dave and Jake handled the group. They quickly set us up with our life vests (dry from the start) and our boards and paddles. All the equipment was clean and very well maintained. They did not spend a ton of time with on the shore, but had us in the water standing up within minutes and then gave us instruction as we were heading out on an adventure. They answered all of our questions throughout the tour and gave everyone individual attention to make sure we got what we wanted out of the trip. I will definitely be back with some more friends for another sunset tour. This is definitely something to put on your list of things to do Rhode Islanders!!! read more

I really like renting from their two locations, Wickford & Charleston, RI. These are both great locations from which to start. The kayaks are new every year since they sell their old stock yearly and the staff is relaxed and friendly. I especially like the fact that they have living social coupons which makes it an added bonus. read more

Great service! Alex is the man! Would never go anywhere else! Professional and knowledgeable! You can tell this isn't just a job to these guys! Thanks again! read more

My son did a Kayak camp there this Summer. He had a very negative experience on the first day.(ignored by the counselor, made fun of by the other kids who knew each other etc) When I called to get their side of the history Jake told me he will call back soon.. I expected a partial refund after expending $260 for 1 day of instruction. Second call he is not available. No response to my F/u e-mail. Overall very poor customer service responding to complains. Camps are run by very young adults with no insight handling teens! Expensive lesson but at least my son still likes kayaking and is willing to try somewhere else. read more

Been here a few times and always found them a little humorless and comically uptight for such a ho hum shop. Today they nailed it with me. I walked in 5 mins after the rental cut off time, with my Kevlar paddle in hand, and asked if I could rent, promising to return well before they close. Passive aggressive refusal. Some places just don't get it. Lighten up, guys. It's a kayak shop. read more

I bought a $2000 paddle board from them and a month later it developed a crack. I contacted the manufacturer and they agreed it was a defective and sent a new board to the shop to replace mine. The manager at the kayak centre refused to release the new board to me. He convinced the manufacturer that the board should not be replaced and as far as I know he kept the new one and sold it. BEWARE!!!! read more

Took a standup paddle board class with a small group. Great friendly staff, knowledgable and experienced. Beautiful area, we really enjoyed it! read more

Jake from the Kayak Centre provided outstanding service and the most competitive pricing I found in greater Boston (sorry Rhode Island, don't mean to reduce you to Greater Boston -- you are so much more) on the new Point 65 kayak line, personally delivering the boat at no charge to my house. Not sure that delivery deal would be available for all comers, but regardless, this was a very low-pressure sales experience from a store that clearly knows its kayaks and cares about the match between paddler and boat. Well-done, Jake! Would send all my friends and fellow paddlers here. read more

We rented Kyacks on the Fourth of July and had a great time. Staff was very nice, knowledgeable and helpful. The area is beautiful.

I have been looking to take up kayaking and done some research online and found The Kayak Centre. I booked the kayaking quick start class which was $55. 08.28.16 at 9am. I arrived 15 min early and noticed some people waiting for the instructors and i inquired about my class and he looked clueless. I waited 25min before i asked him what was happening he said he would call his boss. Well 5min later he tells me that the class was dropped. Ask3d why he stated he has no idea. I WAS NOT CONTACTED OR REFUNDED MY $$$. I was very upset because i had planned this for over two weeks and had to take a personal day from work. No mind you personal days are used for last resorts and i totally wasted it on a business that i thought was professional and customers come first. I was told that i can wait till 11am to get my refund and whit that notice i was like %$@/_ you i am leaving. Well today is Wed, August 31 and i still haven't been contacted and refunded my $$. And i was looking to but a Kayak... This business has very little respect for potential new customers and is only looking to put their focus where the best chance to make $$$ is available. I will be contacting them today and i look forward to what bull they will be trying to sell me. I will never do business with The Kayak Centre and will do my best to pass the word around. read more

great store that specializes in kayaks & recently added stand up paddleboards. very knowledgable staff. very broad inventory, from beginner boats to expert. excellent lessons. highly recommend. staff could be slightly friendlier. read more

Had bad experience with Kayak lessons, lost $85 on lessons for my wife and I. Kayak centre changed type of lessons on arriving on scheduled day and time, when we couldn't make changed date for what we signed up for refund was refused. Talking to personnel at Centre did not help, in fact I was hung up on phone. Clerk was arrogant and enjoyed telling me that there was nothing I could do. I frequent Wickford area frequently and get still get upset when I drive by. Know they have good products and many people have used their services, but I was very disappointed in the way I was treated. Clerk was very condescending . Looking back maybe I should have pushed more, but not being used to being treated so unprofessionally I didn't follow up. I was probably being given the business by a clerk and not management. When I look back it was one of the most upsetting episodes in dealing with a retailer . Feel like I was taken advantage of over $85 when the Kayak Centre was wrong not to refund the fee when they changed the date. read more