Kayaking in Massachusetts
I love kayaking. Living in central Massachusetts, I am always looking for places to kayak throughout Massachusetts. Here are notes of places I have been kayaking, along with kayak accessory reviews.
First, my kayak. I am the quite contented owner of an Ocean Kayak brand kayak. The model is called "Venus 11". The Venus 11 is designed for women, with a wider seat position than a typical man's kayak. We women tend to have hips :). I adore my Venus 11.
Locations to Kayak
Blackstone River - Sutton
Buffumville Lake - Charlton
East Waushacum Pond - Sterling
Hopedale Pond - Hopedale
Indian Lake - Worcester
Lake Singletary - Sutton
Manchaug Pond - Sutton
Lake Maspenock - Hopkinton
Pratt Pond - Upton
Lake Quinsigamond - Worcester
Stump Pond - Westboro
Lake Wangumbaug - Coventry CT
Webster Lake - Webster
Whitehall Reservoir - Hopkinton
Whitins Pond - Whitinsville
Kayak Locations - Non-Massachusetts
Mystic River - Mystic CT
Kayak and Accessory Reviews
Ocean Kayak Venus 11 Review
Werner Skagit Paddle Review
Stohlquist Cruiser Kayaking Lifejacket Review
Kodak Easy Share Sport Underwater Camera Review
Kodak Floating Camera Wrist Strap Review
Teva Sandal Review
North Face HyVent Hiker Hat Review
Kayak Rentals in Central Massachusetts
Fin and Feather Sports, Upton MA
2012 prices: $26 for 3 hours / $32 for full day
Kayaks: old town, walden experience, emotion series, others
We have rented from Fin and Feather, no problems.
New England Backpacker, Worcester, MA
2012 prices: $30 / 24 hour period (can wrap two days)
Kayaks: they rent everything they sell, both sit-in and sit-on kayaks
We have rented from New England Backpacker, no problems.
Worcester Kayak Rental, Worcester MA
Website is down - did they go out of business?
Central Mass Paddlesports
Website is down, may be out of business?
Kayak Purchase Notes
I purchased my Venus 11 Ocean Kayak on September 6, 2011 from the Kittery Trading Post in Maine. They were running a fall sale. I was able to get my brand new kayak, Werner paddle, Stohlquist life jacket, plus a paddle for Bob, all for $833. Subtracting out Bob's paddle, that means my setup cost $733.
I have now taken 39 kayak trips with my kayak. That means each trip cost me just under $19. With the average rental cost being $30/day, this means I have crossed the break-even point compared with renting. Of course owning your own kayak is far easier than renting, in that you don't have to worry about waiting in line, filling out paperwork, and getting the kayak back to them on time.
Bob points out that since I could sell the kayak and paddle (as if I ever would) that my actual "price to own" is even lower, since I have an asset here that could be sold if necessary. Not that I ever would :).
0 - Sep 6 2011 - purchase
1 - Sep 10 2011 - Carpenter - first ride ever, alone
2 - Sep 11 2011 - Westville Lake Sturbridge w/ Tammy (Bob in Cassion's kayak)
3 - Sep 13 2011 - Westville Lake Sturbridge wo/ Tammy (Bob in Cassion's kayak)
4 - Sep 16 2011 - Manchaug Pond (Bob first time in his Prowler 15 Kermie kayak)
5 - Sep 21 2011 - Singletary Lake
6 - Sep 24 2011 - Ramshorn Pond
7 - Oct 7 2011 - Carpenter - lucky trip #7
8 - Oct 9 2011 - Manchaug Pond
9 - Oct 10 2011 - Stevens Pond
10 - Oct 11 2011 - Carpenter
11 - Oct 20 2011 - Buffumville
12 - Apr 20 2012 - Manchaug - first trip of year
13 - Apr 21 2012 - Carpenter
14 - ? - Singetary in wind storm - no photos, couldn't get past mouth
15 - Jul 25 2012 - Singletary
16 - Jul 30 2012 - Singletary - climb-in-kayak test
17 - Aug 13 2012 - Whitehall Reservoir - Bob in rental #1
18 - Aug 15 2012 - Indian Lake - Bob in rental #2
19 - Aug 16 2012 - Stump Pond - Bob in rental #2
20 - Sep 2 2012 - Whitins Pond - Bob first time in Hobie Revolution
21 - Sep 9 2012 - Manchaug - Bob pedal test
22 - Sep 13 2012 - Singletary - circumnavigation
23 - Sep 16 2012 - Whitins Pond
24 - Oct 5 2012 - Singletary - circumnavigate, go under the bridge
25 - Oct 18 2012 - Singletary - go clockwise
26 - Oct 27 2012 - Manchaug Pond - the rainbow halo around the sun
27 - Jun 19, 2013 - Singletary - Bob first time in Hobie Quest 13
28 - ?? - Manchaug, clockwise
29 - ?? - Manchaug, counter-clockwise
30 - Jul 14 2013 - Stump Pond, Westborough MA
31 - Aug 3, 2013 - Manchaug - Bob's first ride on his new Predator 13
32 - Aug 4, 2013 - Whitehall Reservoir
33 - Aug 5, 2013 - Singletary Lake
... (need to fill in)
34 - August 25, 2013 - Mystic River, Mystic CT - first time kayaking out of Massachusetts
35 - August 28, 2013 - Stump Pond, Westboro MA - giant flock of swans
36 - Sept 9, 2013 - Webster Lake, Webster MA - saw a swimming turtle underwater
37 - Sept 15, 2013 - Hopedale Pond - lovely sundogs near sun
38 - Sep 23, 2013 - Flint Pond, Worcester
39 - Sept 25, 2013 - Lake Quinsigamond, Worcester - loop around Oak Island, first time with fish food
40 - May 21, 2014 - Manchaug Pond - day we found the wren nest in the kayak
41 - May 29, 2014 - Stump Pond, Westboro - a quick trip along the right side, and a turtle
I stopped tracking every trip at this point. Needless to say we enjoy our kayaks!
Staying Fit in Sutton MA - main page
