Brian, Southwind does rent boats, both from the rental dock and from the store. Renting at the dock is of course very convenient, the store requires a deposit and you have to have means to carry the boat on your car. But the rental dock in not open midweek year round, so it's best to call ahead. Also, the rental dock has a nice selection of boats, but typically doesn't have skirts or pumps for open ocean paddling. The boats are supposed to stay within the harbor Anyway, if you have the means to carry it, and plan on doing ocean exploring, it's best to rent from the store. Particularly midweek as it's unlikely the rental dock will be open. Either way, I'm sure you'll have a good time. The stretch down towards Crystal cove used to be a favorite paddle of mine. My (now) wife and I had our second date ever there, in kayaks, doing exactly the paddle you're probably envisioning. As the sun set, we had a small pod of dolphins come right past us - you can't pay for that stuff! The surf at crystal cove can be dumpy, so be very careful if you try and land. Further south, in Laguna, there are some more protected landing spots, but it's a much longer paddle. >From the rental docks, don't discount paddling in the Upper Newport Harbor. It's a very pretty nature preserve, and at that time of the year will be teeming with migrating birds. Give Doug and Joanne a call. They'll be able to give you specific recommendations and let you know what's available on the date's you're thinking of. Geoff P.S. In the interest of full disclosure, I was a Southwind employee for several years. ____________________________________ Geoff Jennings MBA Candidate, 2007 Graduate School of Management University of California, Davis (530) 852-4754 - geoff_at_texaskilonewton.com http://www.texaskilonewton.com/ >From paddlewise: > I have to be in the Newport Beach area Oct 31st & Nov 1st so I > thought I'd come out a few days early and get in some kayaking. I > see that Southwind Kayak Center rents boats at their Newport Harbor > location --- anyone else renting in the area, or is Southwind a good > choice for a skegged closed cockpit kayak? Also, what about local > places to paddle in the Newport Harbor area? --- the coast south of > Newport harbor that includes Crystal Cove State Park looks > interesting (viewed using Google Earth). *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Mon Oct 09 2006 - 12:40:39 PDT
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