Section 10: Associations, Clubs, Manufacturers, Outfitters, Shops

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Associations
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American Canoe Association

The United States governing body of paddlesport, the ACA offers event sanctioning, instructor certification, and liability insurance.

Mailing Address:
7432 Alban Station Blvd. Suite B-226
Springfield, VA 22150

Phone: (703)451-0141

Fax: (703)451-2245

Email: acadirect@aol.com

WWW URL: www.aca-paddler.org

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N.A.W.T.C.- - North American Water Trails Conference

There is some exciting news for paddlers in seeking places to paddle. An outgrowth of the first international conference held in the Fall of 93 on the Hudson River, the concept of a continent wide system of water trails is rapidly moving forward to the reality stage.

The NAWTC is a coalition of private, non-profit, and public benefit organizations and agencies, who share a common desire; to build a truly contiguous North American Water Trail system for the boating public and promoting Ecotourism (a balance of resource protection, recreational access and user responsibility).

NAWTC is truly national in scope as can be seen by its volunteer officers:

1. President: David Getchell,Sr. - Maine Island Trail Association,
2. Vice-President: Franz Gimmler - Chesapeake Water Trail,
3. Secretary: Sandie Nelson - Washington State Water Trails,
4. Treasurer: Craig Poole - Hudson River Waterway Association.

Some of these areas already have detailed printed guides to paddling on their trails such as The Maine Island Trail and the Hudson Waterway's Paddlers Guide, both of which detail launching spots, camping possibilities and advice on local conditions and safety concerns.

To request more information or be added to the NAWTC E-mail list send your request to: cpoole@earth.cnct.com

Official address is:
North American Water Trails Conference, NAWTC
c/o David Getchell, Sr.
RR 1, Box 3355
Appleton, Me. 04862

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Trade Association of Sea Kayaking

An association of outfitters, manufacturers, schools, and shops which promotes sea kayaking interests and sponsers symposia.

Mailing Address:
12455 North Wauwatosa Road
Mequon, WI 53097

Phone: (414)242-5228

Fax: (414)242-4428

Email: nwh@earth.execpc.com

WWW URL: http://www.viewit.com/wtr/TASK.html

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Clubs
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California Kayak Friends

Dues:

$20 per household

Features:

About 500 members, monthly newsletter, day and camping trips, library, videos, other goodies.

Contacts:

Our Fearless Leader:

Len Goodman (818)885-6182
down2thec@aol.com

Mailing Address:

California Kayak Friends
14252 Culver Drive #A199
Irvine, CA 92714

Internet:

WWW URL: http://www.ckf.org/
Mailing list: ckf-request@paddlewise.net

Chicago Area Sea Kayaking Association (CASKA)

Dues:

$15 per household

Features:

Over 150 members, bimonthly newsletter.

Contact:

Chicagoland Canoe Base, (773)777-1489

Florida Sea Kayaking Association

Dues:

$15 individual, $20 family.

Features:

Over 200 members, bimonthly newsletter, day and camping trips. Chapters in many parts of the state. Kayaking clinics (kayaking 101, rescues, rolling, surfing, bracing, Greenland techniques, and others).

Contact:

626 45th Avenue South,
St. Petersburg, FL
33705-4418
(813)864-2651

Great Lakes Sea Kayak Club

Dues:

$8 individual

Features:

Newsletter
May, August, and Gales of November rendezvous
BCU instruction
Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposium

Contact:

Internet: //threecat.com

Jersey Shore Sea Kayak Association

Dues:

$10 per year

Features:

150 members, 8 newsletters a year.

Contact:

Rita Dodd: rdodd4055@aol.com

Prairie Coast Paddlers

Dues:

$15 individual, $15 family.

Features:

Young club, great opportunity to become involved early. Trips to many places in the Great Lakes. Instruction.

Contacts:

President:

Todd Leigh (847)576-9026
leigh@ssd.comm.mot.com

Mailing Address:

Prairie Coast Paddlers, c/o Dan Leigh
3205 St. James St.
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008

Internet:

WWW URL: http://www.datapub.com/gslocum/SeaKayak.HTML
Email to: seakayaker@yahoo.com

San Francisco Bay Area Sea Kayaking Kayakers (BASK)

Dues:

$25

Features:

Monthly meetings, newsletter, trips, clinics.

Contact:

Internet:

Email to: bask@bask.org
WWW URL: http://www.bask.org

Manufacturers
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Current Designs

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Dagger

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Easy Rider

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Eddyline

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Georgian Bay Kayak Ltd.

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Hydra

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Northwest Kayaks

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Old Town

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Perception

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Prijon

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Seda

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Outfitters
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Adventure Challenge

Features:

Instructional school offering: Beginner Courses, One Day Trips, Half Day Trips, Rolling Clinics, Private Lessons, and Tours. ACA Certified Instructors.

Contact:

Adventure Challenge, Richmond VA
phone: (804) 276-7600
fax: (804) 276-9750
WWW URL: http://adventurechallenge.com
Email to: advchal@erols.com

Folding Kayak Adventures

Features:

We rent folding sea kayaks to experienced kayakers originating their trips anywhere in the USA.

Contact:

phone: (206) 522-8249
Email to: kayakadv@eskimo.com

Great Canadian Ecoventures

Features:

Our little company offers a rather unique service in the Canadian Northwest Territories - the provision of canoe rentals & logistical support in extreme remote areas for independent experienced canoeists. We will also have kayaks available in select areas by 1998 Contact:

Phone:

(800)667-9453

Fax:

(250)752-0969

Internet:

WWW URL: http://www.bcsupernet.com/users/gce/noescort.htm
Email to: gce@qb.island.net

Monterey Bay Kayaks

Features:

Natural History Tours of both Monterey Bay and Elkhorn Slough;
Rentals of open and closed deck kayaks;
Classes including: Open Deck Classes, Basic Skills (in closed deck boats), Navigation, Eskimo Rolling, Surf Skills, Stroke Clinic, and Advanced Rescue. Our instructors are ACA certified and private lessons are available.

Contact:

Mailing Address:

Monterey Bay Kayaks
693 Del Monte Avenue
Monterey, CA 93940

Phone:

(408)373-KELP (5357)
(800)649-5357

Fax:

(408)373-0119

Internet:

WWW URL: http://montereykayaks.com,
Email to: jcs@montereykayaks.com

Naturally Superior Adventures

Features:

We operate an outfitting/guiding company located on Lake Superior between Pukaskwa national and Lake Superior Provincial Parks.

Contact:

Mailing Address:

Naturally Superior Adventures
RR #1, Lake Superior, Wawa,
Ontario, P0S 1K0
Canada

Phone/Fax:

(705)856-2939

Internet:

WWW URL: http://www.naturallysuperior.com
Email to: rock@naturallysuperior.com

The Northwest Passage

Features:

Basic to Intermediate paddling instruction certification on the Great Lakes and in Chicagoland. Free introductory sea kayak clinic, wilderness first aid certification courses, and multi-day trips to the Greek Islands, Canadian Arctic, Belize, Apostle Islands, and Door County, Wisconsin.

Contacts:

Phone:

1-800-RECREATE (732-7328)

FAX:

(847)256-4476

Mailing Address:

The Nortwest Passage
1130 Greenleaf Ave.
Wilmette, IL 60091

Internet:

Email to: nwp@ix.netcom.com

Sea Kayak Italia - Elba Island

Features:

Offering 11-day sea kayaking adventures on Elba Island, Tuscany, Italy. The Elba Sea Kayak Center offers these trips in the Mediterranean in the spring and fall. Each trip is limited to 8 people.

Contacts:

Internet:

WWW URL: http://www.seakayakitaly.com,
Email to: bkossy@igc.apc.org

Shops
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Great River Outfitters

Features:

We import and distribute high quality British boats and gear.
Our retail store in Michigan carries a very extensive inventory of sea and whitewater kayaks and accessories. We carry the widest selection of specialized sea kayaking products in the U.S. Mail orders welcome.
We offer BCU sanctioned sea kayak courses in our capacity as a Nordkapp Trust Sea Kayak Center.

Contact:

Mailing Address:

Great River Outfitters, Inc.
4180 Elizabeth Lake Rd.
Waterford, MI 48328

Phone:

(248)683-4770

Fax:

(248)644-4960

Internet:

WWW URL: http://www.erols.com/rapids/GRO
Email to: GROkayak@ix.netcom.com

Mariner Kayaks

Contact:

2134 Westlake Ave. North
Seattle, WA 98109
Phone: (206)284-8404

The Northwest Outdoor Center

Features:

Kayaks, paddling gear, classes, rentals, and tours.
Over 100 kayaks available to rent & demo right from their docks on Lake Union.

Contact:

Mailing Address:

2100 Westlake Ave. North
Seattle, WA 98109

Phone:

(206)281-9694
Toll Free in the US: (800)683-0637

Fax:

(206)282-0690

Internet:

WWW URL: http://www.nwoc.com/default.htm
Email to: kayaknwoc@nwoc.com

Ocean River Sports

Features:

Kayaks, paddling gear, classes, rentals, and tours.

Contact:

Mailing Address:

1437 Store St.
Victoria, BC
Canada V8W 3J6

Phone:

(250)381-4233
Toll Free: (800)909-4233

Fax:

(250)361-3536

Internet:

WWW URL: http://www.oceanriver.com
Email to: info@oceanriver.com

Pacific Water Sports

Contact:

16055 Pacific Hwy. South
Seattle, WA 98188
Phone: (206)246-9385

The Small Boat Shop

Features:

A large selection of canoes, kayaks, rowing shells, dinghies, whitewater kayaks, and sea kayaks.
ACA Certified kayaking courses in indoor pool.
On site demos.
Beginner tours at certain times.

Contact:

The SmallBoat Shop
144 Water St., Norwalk CT 06854
Phone: (203) 854-5223

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