What we’re about
With Canoe and Kayak Paddlers strangers are welcomed as friends and friends become like family. We are the only FIVE STAR rated paddling Group in the SF Bay Area. Our group is good for recreational canoe and kayak paddlers. We feature paddling with friendly folks once you know the basics. However, we are not a guide service and do not offer lessons, therefore you must already have basic paddling skills. We charge an annual $15 fee.
Our trips are intended to be friendly and social for people who have paddling experience. Trips vary from easy, appropriate for almost anyone, to trips which require a moderate level of physical fitness and Intermediate boating skill. We seldom do "advanced" level trips. However, all paddlers must expect and be prepared for sudden changes in weather and currents which are common in the SF Bay Area.
Most trips are appropriate for canoes and kayaks. Canoes of 15 to 17 feet are common and touring kayaks not less than 12 feet, our trips do not allow folding boats, inflatable boats or SUP's. Our trips are four to six hours long and between six and twelve miles in length, and include a lunch stop along the shore. We paddle reservoirs, lakes, rivers, SF Bay, creeks, sloughs, and estuaries.
To join us you need basic skills including getting in and out of your boat, paddling in a straight line and being able to steer and control your boat in windy conditions. You should be in normal physical condition, able to paddle at an easy pace for an hour or two at a stretch without a real break. You need to be able to climb unassisted in and out of your boat in a variety of places, including steep banks, high docks, etc., and you must be able to keep pace with other paddlers.
Canoe and Kayak Paddlers is totally non-commercial. We are not a guide service. All activities are simply opportunities for boaters with appropriate skills to paddle together. The trip coordinators are not required to have training in boating or outdoor safety or carry emergency equipment. We are not experts.
All water sports are potentially dangerous. Participants must assess the appropriateness of their own physical condition, skills, and equipment for any activity, and make their own decisions about safety. If you are not sure if your skills and equipment are appropriate for a trip discuss it with the trip coordinator before starting on a trip. We recommend that all paddlers take lessons in boat handling, safety, and rescue. A life jacket must be worn while on the water.
Our goals:
· Share paddling as a safe, enjoyable, and congenial experience
· Introduce members to new places to paddle
· Create opportunities for members to increase their paddling proficiency
· Offer a central communication hub through our website
· Provide social, informational, and recreational gatherings associated with the sport of paddling
Upcoming events (2)
See all- Black Point to The Cabins- Petaluma Marsh, 16 miles. Trip rated: L2 +Black Point, Novato , CA
Your 2025 Liability Waiver required to get on the “going” list. Meetup message Ken N for waiver information.
Meetup: 9:00 am, on the water 9:30 AM sharp to catch the tide.
Nearest address: 165 Harbor Dr., Novato 94945
No inflatables, folding boats or SUP’s. Minimum boat length 13 feet.
Limited to 12 paddlers.
We will launch from Black Point boat ramp, and paddle NW into the marsh to find very old, deserted cabins. This paddle will be done with a high tide of 8 feet, which is perfect for going into the cabins. Due to a strong outgoing tide and pod safety so if you join the trip, you agree to stay together.We will stop for lunch near the cabins, but pack snacks where you can reach them while in your boat. There are few places to stop along the way, so plan to be in your boat about 2 1/2 hours each way. This paddle is 16 miles long, may have fierce winds and waves on the return to the dock, so consider your stamina and ability to complete the paddle as planned. Turning around by yourself is NOT an option. It is a maze and you do not want to get lost in the marsh.
Must dress for immersion, chilly water and air temperature. Free parking and bathroom at Black Point. No facilities at the cabins. Wheels are handy but you can unload at the ramp and then park your vehicle.
PLEASE READ THIS: The organizers of this trip are not experts, not professional paddlers and do not necessarily have safety training or carry any safety equipment. Each paddler must have the training, experience and equipment required to complete this paddle safely, and must assume all personal risks. A Coast Guard approved life jacket or Personal Flotation Device must be worn by everyone while on the water.
Rain or fierce winds may cancel. Check your email on Friday for updates and information regarding this trip.
This trip is sponsored by MARIN CANOE AND KAYAK CLUB
Trip Rating L2+ explained
This trip is good for Advanced Beginners, on water with waves to 1 1/2 ft, wind near 15 mph. Steering and forward progress requires good boat-handling skills, balancing and bracing skills. We will stay within 3/4 miles of a shore line, where currents will be about 2.3 mph. Total distance 8 to 12 miles (so consider your stamina) with a short break for snacks or lunch. Recommended skills are sweep, forward, reverse, draw, and bracing strokes. Paddlers can perform deepwater rescue as swimmer or rescuer (in waves to 1 ½ ft), maintain a 3 mph pace for up to 1 1/2 hours, and understand basic trip planning.Level L2+ paddlers plan longer journeys and paddling up to 3/4 miles from shore or the nearest landing beach. You are comfortable padding in windy conditions with choppy water and pushing the boundary towards L3.
Interesting newspaper article about the cabins:
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/decades-after-remote-cluster-of-cabins-was-built-effort-is-afoot-to-restor/
