How To Tie Down A Kayak On Your Car’s Roof Rack

Skills

By

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May 31, 2025

Man tying kayak to roof of car. — Whether you use cam straps or rope, it's important for safety and the sake of your boat to secure it to your vehicle properly. | Image: Boyd Ruppelt

I could feel the rumble of rocks under the truck as I worked my way back up the dirt road in the dark. My headlights swayed into the trees with every bounce. Then, my eye caught a reflection. It was a helmet. I stopped and picked it up.

Soon, I found a paddle, and then a boat, and another paddle. As I continued, I found more boats and gear scattered along a mile of remote forest road. The truck ahead of me, just out of sight, was full of seasoned professional kayakers I had spent the day with on the river, and even with their collective experience, a bad tie-down job had led to a yard sale. While losing a boat or gear along a road once or twice is a sort of rite of passage in paddlesports, it raised the question, if a group of the best whitewater kayakers in the world couldn’t tie down a kayak right, what hope is there for the rest of us?

It’s not just inconvenient or expensive to have kayak gear come off the roof of a car; it can also be dangerous. Two years ago, a kayak flew off a car on a highway in Wisconsin, killing a man driving a truck. The year before, a motorcyclist was struck and killed by a kayak falling off a trailer in Tennessee. The good news is, there are some very simple ways to safely secure your kayak and avoid losing a boat or putting others at risk.

Know The Local Hazards

Check navigation charts before you launch.
Check with those who have local knowledge of man-made and natural hazards, e.g. low-head dams; sweepers, strainers and undercuts; tides and currents; and rocks and shoals.

How to tie down a kayak on your car’s roof rack

What you’ll need

A solid roof rack. A rigid-bar roof rack system works best. Soft racks can be an affordable or convenient alternative, especially for travel and rental cars.
Two tie-downs. I recommend using cam straps or rope. Ratchet straps may seem like a good idea, but they tend to get too tight, potentially damaging your kayak or causing more problems down the road. Always replace them when they start to look worn.
Additionally, every paddler should learn at least two simple knots: the trucker’s hitch and the half hitch. While most paddlers use cam straps, you may not always have them, and a rope will work just fine if you know a couple knots. The trucker’s hitch is a fixed loop created to cinch and tie off a load with a rope. I always recommend using three twists before creating your loop though, instead of the one or two generally recommended. This keeps your knot from locking up after a long trip or bumpy road, and makes it easier to untie later. The half hitch is used to secure the trucker’s hitch or to use up the spare webbing from a cam strap.

Man adjusting cam strap. — Place the kayak on the bars, and run a pair of straps or rope around each bar and over the kayak. It’s often preferred to have the kayak upside down (pictured here) but either side will work depending on the boat’s size and shape. | Image: Boyd Ruppelt

Step 1

Position your kayak parallel to the car and centered on your roof rack.

It’s typically better for it to be positioned upside down to protect the hull on the bottom of your kayak from denting, also called oil-canning. It also prevents your kayak from filling with water if you drive through rain. That said, I often transport my kayaks upright anyway because it can be easier to secure a strap through the security loops if the kayak is upright. And, modern whitewater kayaks often have a deck shape that doesn’t sit well on a roof rack upside down. It doesn’t matter if the kayak is bow first or stern first, but I always position it as aerodynamically as possible based on the kayak type or shape.

Also, if you store your gear inside the kayak, make sure it is secured to prevent it from falling out of the cockpit.

Step 2

Loop each strap (or rope) around the bars and between the towers (where the bars connect to the car) to prevent the tie down from slipping off the ends of the rack.

If you are using cam straps, shorten the end with the buckle and drape both ends over your kayak. If you’re using a rope, use a loop, I prefer a Figure Eight on a Bight, on one end and pass the rest of the rope through the loop to secure your rope to the bar.

Step 3

Always run a side of each strap or rope through a security loop or handle near the cockpit when possible. This keeps the kayak from slipping forward or backward while also keeping it on your car if one of the straps breaks.

If the boat is upside down, this may mean only running one strap over and the other side of the cam strap under and through the security loop, but going through a security loop or handle is always better if you can.

Tightening strap or rope on roof rack. — Whether you are using a rope (foreground) or cam strap (background), it’s important to cinch them down until the kayak is secure. | Image: Boyd Ruppelt

Step 4

Run the strap back around the bar, between the towers again, and cinch it down until the kayak is secure but not flexing.

If you’re using a rope, this is where the trucker’s hitch comes in. Twist a portion of the rope three times and pull a small loop through above the bars. Run the rope around the bar and back up through the loop, and pull it down to tighten. Cinch it down until the kayak is just tight enough not to move, but no more. Then finish the hitch off with a few half hitches at the base of the loop. Be sure the half hitches are slipped up against the loop so the rope can’t loosen while you’re driving.

The trucker's hitch is a useful knot to tie down kayaks. — Every paddler should learn to tie a trucker’s hitch for those days when all you have is rope.

Step 5

Secure any extra rope or strap.

I like to tie off the extra with a half hitch and then run it back around the rack and through a security loop or handle again before adding more half hitches. It’s a great way to use up a lot of rope or strap, but it also acts as a fail-safe if one, or even both, of the straps break. You can do the same thing with spare rope.

Step 6

Always have a backup.

If a strap snaps or part of your rack fails, you don’t want anything becoming a projectile. If you were able to secure each of two straps through the security loops of your kayak, then you’re all set for a standard trip. But, if your kayak doesn’t have security loops or handles near the cockpit, is longer than 10 or 11 feet, or if you’re transporting kayaks over a long distance, it’s good practice to use separate bow and stern lines. There are a variety of hood loops and trunk anchors to choose from, but each should be secured to your frame and to the ends of your kayak.

Education: Get Some!

Take a paddling safety course from the American Canoe Association (ACA), your local paddling shop or outfitter, or other reputable source.
Take a boating safety course from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Power Squadrons® or your own state’s boating agency.
Take on-the-water skills training.

Preparing to transport a kayak without a roof rack.

How To Transport A Kayak Without A Roof Rack

Additional tie-down tips

Always carry spare straps in your car. Consider locking straps for urban areas. And never leave your kayak on the racks if you aren’t going to and from the river. It can be exciting to always be ready to paddle, but extended time on a car in the heat or sun can warp your kayak. The extended sunlight also adds wear to your rope or straps.

The longer you paddle, the more methods and tricks you’ll learn for tying down boats with minimal ropes and straps. Creativity will often win the day for a shuttle. Just make sure you always go through the security loops or handles and always have a back up in your system.

Feature Image: Boyd Ruppelt

Wenonah’s SuperLite Canoes Are Lighter Than Ever Before (Video)

By

Brenna Kelly, Maddy Marquardt

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May 30, 2025

Based on the banks of the Mississippi River in Winona, Minnesota and the canoe of choice Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and beyond, Wenonah knows what makes a good long trip canoe.

A good canoe for long stints in the wilderness is durable and fast, portage-friendly, with essential features to make the canoe comfortable and adjustable, but with no more bells and whistles than you want to carry on the portage trail. Previously, Wenonah had made their canoes in Ultralight. In 2025, they’re going SuperLite.

Inside look at the Minnesota II in new SuperLite Aramid construction

With the new SuperLite Aramid construction Wenonah revisited their classic canoe construction to shave off as much weight as possible without sacrificing essential features for canoe tripping.

“Every aspect of the canoe has been gone over with a fine-toothed comb. The core has been worked, the fabrics have been rearranged,” Brain Day from Wenonah told Paddling Magazine at Canoecopia 2025. “We’ve ended up with a canoe that comes in roughly 15% lighter than a conventional Ultralight Aramid.

For reference, the Minnesota II model in SuperLite comes in at just 36 and a half pounds while the traditional Ultralight Kevlar Minnesota II weighs 42 pounds.

Canoe manufacturer Wenonah comes from a canoe racing heritage and many of the features in their canoes honor that legacy; the SuperLite aims to keep those legacy features while keeping the boat as light as possible. The canoes feature carbon fiber bucket seats, a foot brace for efficiency paddling, and a sliding seat in the canoe’s bow to allow for adjustment of trim – weight distribution and how that impacts the handling of the canoe – on the fly.

When it comes to lightweight boats one question tends to come front of mind for consumers: does cutting all that weight make the canoe less durable?

“There are hundreds of these canoes up in the Boundary Waters that get horribly abused every single year in a rental situation and they hold up fantastic,” shared Day. “The way most people would use a canoe, they’re not going to damage it.”

In short: even the SuperLite canoes are still extremely durable, but try not to throw it off the roof of your car on the way to the put-in.

The Near Future Of Fishing

Paddling Business

By

Ric Burnley

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May 30, 2025

On the first day of Florida’s ICAST 2024 tradeshow, at the annual State of the Industry breakfast, Glenn Hughes, president of the American Sport Fishing Association, addressed hundreds of tackle manufacturers and media representatives, sharing the good and bad news.

three men pedal fishing kayaks toward the camera on a fall lake

All That Glitters: Searching For The Soul Of Kayak Fishing

The good news: According to the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) Special Report, 57.7 million people went fishing in 2023, a six percent increase over 2022. That’s 19 percent of the U.S. population, the highest participation rate in 16 years. The bad: The number of people who quit fishing each year is holding steady at 23 percent.

While young people are more likely to start fishing, aging anglers are leaving the sport. Although more people are fishing overall, the average number of trips is down—31 percent of anglers fish once a month or more, and just six percent of anglers fish once a week or more. We reached out to Hughes and business leaders in the audience for their responses on the opportunities and obstacles the industry faces.

The near future of fishing

Glenn Hughes | President, American Sportfishing Association

Glenn Hughes’ journey to president of the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) started at a family cottage on a lake filled with fish. When it was time to choose a career, Hughes entered the sportfishing industry, eventually leading some of the largest boating and fishing magazines. In 2018, Hughes became president of ASA, bringing his knowledge of the sport to advocate for its success.

“Business reaction to the current environment varies from manufacturer to retailer. Manufacturer sales are generally soft as retailers are lowering the levels of inventory they are carrying. We have seen slightly smaller investments in R&D and technology overall, as well as belt-tightening on travel, sponsorship, discounted products and more. In general, independent retailers are placing more but smaller orders to minimize the inventory and debt they are carrying. There is more competition from international websites that discount products and avoid excise taxes with direct sales into the U.S.

Fishing participation last year was up from 2022, with 57.7 million Americans spending time on the water. However, this growth is not from avid anglers; it’s from entry-level anglers and a growing group of women and Hispanic anglers. Manufacturers and retailers need to acknowledge these trends and support a more diverse audience who feel welcome and comfortable in this space. I would recommend outreach via social media or other online platforms to offer free lessons on knot tying, casting and introductory fishing techniques.

Responding to a drop in sales has resulted in tight margins. We’ve seen lower employment, less investment and more focus on core business. Cash flow is important, so there is more effort to collect what’s due and fewer term extensions for future business.

The biggest challenge has been the economy. Inflation is hitting hard. People are hesitant to spend more money on fishing tackle when food prices have gone up more than 20 percent and gas prices have gone up 37 percent over the last four years. This scenario has consumers looking for deals. If they can save $10, they are going to do it.

The biggest growth is in the Southeast markets as people continue to move to these states, and the weather allows for 12 months of fishing. Take advantage of entry-level anglers and start them down the path of becoming avid anglers. Offer incentives to participate and stay engaged. Use research posted on Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation and ASA websites to get an overview of today’s anglers and develop a plan to focus on future anglers.”

James McBeath | Marketing Director, Hobie Kayaks

James McBeath spent years as the product director at Jackson Kayak. During the COVID pandemic, McBeath and others at Jackson were let go. After a year working at a media company, McBeath landed on his feet as the new marketing director at Hobie. During the pandemic, Hobie suffered blows to production and service. We asked McBeath about his plan to rebuild the future of fishing kayaks.

“When I came to Hobie, I had a holy shit moment. COVID hit this company at a key moment in its evolution and it was challenged through the pandemic. Now we’re humming again. Factories are back up and we are playing catch up, but we have an eye on the future.

Our focus is helping dealers sell boats. Across the industry, at the end of 2021 to 2022, dealers were ordering and manufacturers were producing a lot of products that filled the market. Manufacturers and dealers are now working hard to move products. I see discounted boats and gear, direct-to-consumer plays from companies and other creative ways to move products.

In response, Hobie is returning to innovation. We need new products to get consumers stoked about the next big thing in fishing, sailing and kayaking. During COVID, many companies couldn’t afford innovation. Hobie, like other manufacturers, didn’t take advantage of its research and development strengths. Now, we’re working on a five-year product development plan. We’ve lit a fire under a couple of projects to get our product development moving.

The other key for us is less dependence on overseas manufacturing and materials. We’ve moved parts manufacturing to North America and eliminated our dependence on third-party suppliers. We built a boat factory in Mexico to accommodate capacity issues and bring the technology we need to respond to growing demand. Streamlining the manufacturing process puts more boats in stores.

During the COVID boom, people bought gateway kayaks to test the waters. Now, they are ready to move up to a better kayak for a better experience. These people are on the cliff of becoming die-hard anglers. Manufacturers need high-quality boats with great customer service experiences to ensure hesitant anglers become enthusiasts.”

Dave Martin | CEO, YakAttack

Before becoming chief executive officer (CEO) of YakAttack in 2023, Dave Martin spent his career in the tackle industry. As a kid, Martin used PENN tackle to fish his local waters. Eventually, he worked his way to become the CEO of PENN. When PENN was sold, Martin moved to vice president of engineering and manufacturing at Zebco Brands and then president of Big Rock Sports’ Camp, Marine Division.

“The statistics on participation reveal the demographics and segments of consumers entering and exiting the sport are crucial. We’re seeing an influx of new recreational participants with lower spending, while the boomer generation, known for higher spending, is exiting. Therefore, it’s not just about the number of participants but their level of engagement in the sport.

The increasing participation numbers present a real opportunity for our industry. Our task is to keep these new participants engaged and help them grow in the sport. As they do, their investment in equipment and products will increase, and their influence will attract new participants.

man stands and fishes from a kayak near grass flats in golden afternoon light — More days on the water leads to more money in the cash register. | Photo: Matt Vahle

Our industry must work collectively to transition new anglers into avid enthusiasts. In today’s environment, it’s not enough to simply create products; we must educate our consumers on how to use them and understand their needs.

It is vital to enhance our digital presence and community engagement through social media, online forums and virtual events. Our goal is to foster a sense of community among participants, encouraging them to share experiences and knowledge, which drives loyalty and repeat business.

There are several elements to engaging these new participants. We need a robust retail base to engage with all levels of consumers. Additionally, we need to focus on the details driving the demand curve. Similar to fishing, paddlesports has seen an increase in participation as people seek outdoor activities. Consumers prefer experiences over high-priced equipment, with lower price points and used equipment becoming popular.

I believe our industry needs to break down some of the silos that exist today and find more effective ways to collaborate and cooperate. By focusing on engagement, education and community-building, our industry can turn new participants into dedicated enthusiasts, ensuring growth and sustainability.”

Houman Nikmanesh | President, Bixpy

Houman Nikmanesh was pedaling his kayak through strong currents and winds when he cooked up the idea for a small, powerful and indestructible kayak motor. The result is Bixpy, an impeller-driven motor and lithium battery system that fits on any kayak, canoe or paddleboard. Nikamesh had no engineering experience, so he hired talented people to help him realize his vision. While other businesses have seen a slump in sales, Bixpy continues to ride the wave of motorized paddlecraft.

“It is interesting to make sense of a growing industry that is churning along despite a drop in sales for most vendors. I suppose this is the lingering side effect of COVID.

We are not strictly selling to the fishing crowd. We’re able to hit paddleboarders, photographers and recreational kayakers. From the very early days, we have tried to cast the widest net to ensure we’re not tied to one demographic. That said, kayak fishermen are our bread and butter.

As an after-market add-on for most buyers, we’re enjoying all the extra kayaks on the market that now need a motor. In a sense, we’re still riding the remains of the COVID spike in sales for outdoor equipment.

man in bucket hat and PFD takes photo with three kayak anglers posing on boats in the background

Kayak Fishing Instruction Takes Off

To stay relevant in the changing landscape, we listen to how people use our products. We look for ways to improve our existing products and stay up to date on the industry. For example, when we realized the popularity of our rudder adapters, we went on a mission to make the best rudder on the market. We didn’t limit ourselves to designing a rudder just for our motor system; we set out to create the best rudder for any kayak.

I don’t know how long the wave will last, and we’re diversifying our demographic to ensure we continue to grow and keep our sales steady. Three years ago, paddleboarders were a single-digit portion of our client base. We worked hard to get the message out about our paddleboard motors; now, a large portion of our business is paddleboarders.”

This article was first published in the 2024 issue of Paddling Business. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.

Catch anglers as they transition from newbies to enthusiasts. | Feature photo: Doyle Smith

Woman Arrested After Kayaker Dies In Jet Ski Hit-And-Run (Video)

By

Maddy Marquardt

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May 29, 2025

Two arrests have been made in connection with the hit-and-run that killed 18-year-old kayaker Ava Renee Moore on May 25, 2025. Moore was kayaking on Grapevine Lake in Texas over the holiday weekend when she was struck by two women on a personal watercraft (PWC).

Two arrests made in relation to hit-and-run resulting in kayaker death

The PWC passenger stayed at the scene while the driver fled in a car with a man, striking another vehicle while fleeing. Photos taken by an eyewitness of the suspected PWC driver were released by the Grapevine County Police and the woman was identified as Daikerlyn Alejandra Gonzalez Gonzalez. The male suspect arrested was identified as Maikel Coello Perozo.

Fox4 News reported Gonzales is being charged with second-degree felony manslaughter with a bond set to $500,000. The PWC passenger who stayed on scene and talked with investigators has not been taken into custody.

Arrests made in Texas Jet Ski hit and run that resulted in kayaker death. — Daikerlyn Alejandra Gonzalez Gonzalez upon arrest. Featured Image: FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth | YouTube

It is presently unknown if alcohol was involved or if the PWC was rented.

Fox4 News also reported that the arrest affidavit indicates the PWC was traveling at high speeds near swimmers when it struck Moore from behind. Moore was pulled from the water by bystanders and treated for severe head trauma by first responders before being transported to a local hospital; ultimately she did not survive.

Ava Renee Moore was a talented basketball player and was joining the U.S. Air Force Academy class of 2029.

“My heart breaks for Ava’s family and friends, and my prayers are with them as they face this tragedy,” said Texas Attorney General in a press release. “My office will continue to work with local, state, and national law enforcement partners to secure justice for Ava.”

How common are boat collisions with kayakers?

Boater strikes on kayakers are uncommon, but often result in serious injuries when they occur.

In August 2016, a group of 10 paddlers were on the Hudson River when struck by the NY Waterway ferry Jersey City injuring three people and highlighting the potential hazards of paddling busy waterways. A Coast Guard investigation found causes of the collision to be a lack of communication between the kayaks and ferry, and glare from the sun. Due to the glare the ferry captain relied on radar to ensure the path was clear; kayaks do not appear on radar. The guide shouted and waved his paddle while the ferry beared down on the group at speeds of 22 knots, but they were not seen. All survived the incident and a lawsuit was settled outside of court.

In August 2024, a father and son were run over by a motorboat while kayaking in southern Puget Sound. The pair shouted and waved their bright yellow paddles when they noticed the motorboat on course to hit them. The boat did not change course and the pair made the decision to dive into the water and under the kayak.

The kayak was pushed into the father’s back as the motor boat went over it, nearly completely severing the kayak into two pieces. Both father and son survived with no injuries. The driver of the motor boat did not stop, but was later arrested.

While it is undoubtedly the responsibility of the drivers of motorized boats to be aware of and avoid hazards in the water, including kayakers, there are steps paddlers can take to make themselves more visible to motorized boat traffic or signal to boaters if they find themselves facing impending collision.

A VHF radio can be used to alert commercial traffic of your presence and call for help in an emergency, an air horn can be used to signal all boaters. Additionally, brightly colored equipment and displaying proper lighting if paddling at night can make paddlers more visible to motorized boaters.

However, even when paddlers take all the right precautions, it only works if everyone else is doing their part too. The best safety precautions can’t overcome the most reckless of boaters.

Reviving A Forgotten Style Of Travel At Spring Breakup

By

Virginia Marshall

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May 29, 2025

Late March isn’t typical timing for a Canadian canoe expedition, but for Lure of the North co-founders Kielyn and Dave Marrone, it was a challenge worth embracing to make the most of the winter that wasn’t.

Lure of the North guides winter expeditions using traditional gear—think snowshoes, toboggans, and canvas tents heated by woodstove. From their off-grid base near the North Channel of Lake Huron, the Marrones have trekked and pulled sleds across much of Ontario, embracing the coldest season and encouraging others to do the same.

With the winter of 2024 bringing record mild temperatures, snowfall shortages, and unreliable ice conditions, the pair made an unconventional choice. At a time of year when they typically lead a two-week transit of the Temagami region by snowshoe and toboggan, Kielyn and Dave instead pivoted to a little-known form of backcountry travel: canoe sledding.

Reviving a forgotten style of travel at spring breakup

“Canoe hauling and transitional season travel has a rich history in Canada, from a time when the First Nations of this land lived and traveled on these waterways all year round,” Kielyn explains. “Trade needed to continue between communities even during seasonal transitions; they didn’t have the luxury of sitting and waiting for spring break-up.”

Rather than simply hauling their canoes directly across the ice, Indigenous peoples built wooden sleds to ease travel and protect the skin or birchbark hulls of their craft. “Sleds reduce the surface friction so the canoe isn’t torn apart,” notes Kielyn.

Kielyn and Dave quickly planned a new route—specifically chosen to ensure a variety of ice and open water conditions. Tracing the ancient mountains of Killarney Provincial Park, they navigated ice-locked inland lakes, flowing rivers, and snowy portage trails to the open waters and granite island campsites of the North Channel. No strangers to fashioning their own equipment, the Marrones adapted traditional canoe sled designs to meet their needs.

The wooden sleds had to be lightweight to pull with a two-person tumpline, yet sturdy enough to hold a canoe loaded with a fortnight of expedition supplies. They also had to take-down and reassemble easily on the trail. When the group wasn’t paddling or hauling their canoes on the sleds, they were bobsledding and scootering the boats across thin ice or using a custom-built pickaroon—a long-handled tool with a curved metal pick on the end—to carefully pull and plow through ice too brittle to bear their weight.

This image captures the crew on one of the toughest mornings, when fresh snow concealed deep slush that froze instantly on the sleds’ runners, turning them into concrete blocks.

“We had to keep stopping, unloading, and scraping down the sled runners,” remembers Kielyn.

Will Steger pulls a laden kayak across the Arctic ice sheet

Meet The 77-Year-Old Solo Canoeist Crushing 1,000-Mile Arctic Journeys

In many ways, the challenges of an ice-out trip mirror the challenges of running a seasonal outdoor business. “You can’t predict what Mother Nature will throw at you,” says Kielyn. “I’d like to think last winter was an outlier, but any business needs to be adaptable and stay on its toes.”

While transitional season travel may seem dangerous, Kielyn says their use of drysuits and PFDs makes it comparable to any other spring paddling trip. She sums it up, “The combination of traditional skills and modern equipment offers the best of both worlds as far as safety and adventure.”

Ultimately, the icebreaker canoe trip was so successful, Lure of the North offered it again in 2025. “We came to realize this style of travel is incredible in its own right, and not just as a backup plan,” Kielyn says.

This article was first published in Issue 73 of Paddling Magazine. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.

Breaking ice and reviving tradition. “Canoe sledding is a unique way to experience the backcountry at a time of year when you don’t normally get to enjoy it,” says Lure of the North’s Kielyn Marrone. | Feature photo: Kielyn Marrone

5 Of The Best Places In The World To Go Bioluminescent Kayaking

By

Kiley Whittal

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May 28, 2025

Bioluminescence is a unique wonder that thrills almost everyone. Whether it’s created by a land-based creature like a firefly, or marine life like jellyfish or algae, we all gaze in wonder at the natural light shows they create.

Best places to kayak with Bioluminescence

Florida

Summers in Florida are the prime season for seeing the “milky sea” phenomenon at night, and there are a few places that boast the best bioluminescent kayaking. About an hour drive from Orlando, you’ll find two popular coastal towns: Cocoa Beach and Titusville. Both of these are popular launch spots for bioluminescent kayaking tours in Florida.

If your tour company offers it and it’s within your budget, an amazing option to keep in mind is bioluminescent kayaking with a clear kayak. Being surrounded by the dinoflagellates’ gentle blue-green glow as you move through the ocean will only add to the otherworldliness of your adventure! Many tour companies offer this as an upgrade to their bioluminescent kayaking tours and some only offer clear kayak tours.

On the gulf side, the Tampa area offers beautiful bioluminescent kayaking experiences. This area is not only rich in glowing seas during the summer months, it’s also home to a huge array of marine biodiversity like dolphins, rays, and manatees among many other interesting creatures.

BK Adventures
Regular kayak: $60 per person
Clear kayak: $79 per person

See Through Adventures
$89 per person, clear kayaks only

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is a bioluminescent paradise! Because dinoflagellates are so tiny, there needs to be a very dense concentration of them for you to be able to see their glow. There are only five locations in the world with enough dinoflagellates to be considered bioluminescent bays, or “bio bays.” Puerto Rico is home to three of them: Mosquito Bay, Laguna Grande (commonly referred to as Bio Bay), and La Parguera. Discover Puerto Rico is a great resource for more information on the bioluminescent ecosystem in Puerto Rico. Better yet, Puerto Ricos’ waters are aglow with dinoflagellates year-round.

Moonlight is an element to keep in mind when you’re bioluminescent kayaking. While you can still see the glow of dinoflagellates when the moon is more full, the darker the night, the more you’ll see. Bio Bay Fajardo has a good page that goes over how to plan for moonlight on your kayak tour.

Puerto Rico Bio Bay Tours
$65 per person

Yokahú Kayak
$55 per person

Eco Adventures
$58 per person

Tomales Bay

Tomales Bay is a secluded spot in Northern California that’s home to famously good oysters, vacation-worthy inns, hotels and B&B’s, and a wonderful array of marine life, including bioluminescent dinoflagellates. This is a small area and there are only a couple official tour operators that allow online booking; however, some hotels in the area have kayaks for guests.

Much of Tomales Bay is protected ecological land, so camping permits are scarce, but the local tour companies offer group camping trips that include your permits. Both single-day and overnight trips are available, so choose your timeline and take in the glow while you’re bioluminescent kayaking in Tomales Bay!

Blue Waters Kayaking
Peak season (weekdays): $182 per person
Peak season (weekends): $207per person
Overnight tours also available

Tomales Bay Expeditions
$138 per person

Seattle

If you’re in the Seattle area and up for a bit of a drive, the northern coast of Washington on the Salish Sea is home to a host of bioluminescent life. Just over two hours north of Seattle, almost to the Canadian border, is Bellingham, WA. Beyond being a popular spot to find Canadians stocking up on their favorite Trader Joe’s items, Bellingham is beautifully set in the San Juan Islands.

Bioluminescent kayaking is especially striking in this spot because of the lively underwater scene. Keep your eyes open for otters, salmon, seals and all kinds of schools of fish that will light up your night as they play among the glowing dinoflagellates while you glide over the surface.

Discovery Sea Kayaks
$145 per person weekdays
$165 per person weekend
Overnight tours also available

Moondance Kayak
$105 per person
Overnight tours also available

Costa Rica

If Costa Rica isn’t already on your travel bucket list (or go-back-to list!), bioluminescent kayaking will convince you that this beautiful country is a must-see.

Bioluminescent kayaking is a popular, year-round activity on Costa Rica’s west coast. The Gulf of Nicoya in Paquera boasts some truly spectacular bioluminescence. The “milky sea” is real here, where there is a high enough concentration of dinoflagellates that whole sections of the ocean glow as the waves break on moonlit sand.

The laid-back Costa Rican culture provides an amazing and welcoming experience, but doesn’t always make it as easy to locate tour operators on the web. There are many local tour guides that are safe and reputable, and have great online reviews, but don’t run websites. Paquera is a popular place for bioluminescent kayaking tours. $35 per person is average in the area. If you decide to wait until you’re there in person to book a tour, keep that price point in mind, and enjoy your experience with a local Paquera company!

Bahia Rica
$36 per person

Eddy’s Bioluminescence
$35 per person

What to wear bioluminescent kayaking

This article has covered a wide range of locales where you can go bioluminescent kayaking; what to wear should be largely dictated by the climate you’ll be in. Dress for the weather in the location you’re visiting, with a few kayaking-friendly considerations.

Footwear is a top priority whether you’re in a cooler region like Washington or Tomales Bay where keeping warm is a priority, or a warmer spot like Costa Rica where concerns are more focused on keeping your feet safe from scrapes from rocks, or potential stings from ocean dwellers. Make sure your footwear won’t slip off your feet, and that they have a sturdy hard-shell toe.

Athletic clothing that’s suitable for the climate you’re visiting will do great on a bioluminescent kayaking tour— just don’t wear anything that glows in the dark! The less light, the better for you to see the dinoflagellate light show. Try to don synthetic fabrics as they dry more quickly than natural fibres and will keep you more comfortable. A bathing suit under your kayaking clothes is a good option if you’re in a warmer spot, but you can probably skip that in areas like Washington!

Dress for the weather, wear closed-toed shoes, and you’ll be comfortable and safe as you take in the otherworldly, sparkling seas on your bioluminescent kayaking adventure.

How bioluminescence works

Marine-based micro-organisms that create their own light are particularly magical, setting ocean waters aglow at night. These organisms are known as dinoflagellates—don’t worry, they don’t carry toxins and won’t harm you. These tiny, glowing plankton live in water columns in oceans across the globe, thriving in the invisible vertical ribbons that run from the seabed to the surface of the ocean.

When disturbed by motion around them, dinoflagellates emit a blue-green glow. This is why kayaking is one of the best ways to witness this wonder—when you dip your paddle into the sea, or the hull of your kayak glides forward through the water, these dinoflagellates sense the motion and fill the surrounding water with an ethereal glow.

Bioluminescence isn’t something scientists entirely understand, which makes it all the more intriguing. We do know that the chemistry behind the glow of bioluminescent organisms is very similar to that of an ordinary glowstick, which means it fades over time. While a traditional lightbulb produces incandescent light, which is warm, bioluminescent organisms produce luminescent light, which does not emit heat.

One reason for our lack of knowledge is that scientists have limited windows to study these animals because they do not produce a constant source of light. As well, in some cases, disturbing the organism enough to contain it for study can damage it. If you’re looking for more information on these unique creatures, Stuff You Should Know podcast has a thoroughly informative episode from a few years ago on the topic of bioluminescence.

From a paddler’s perspective, bioluminescent kayaking is an unforgettable experience that will leave even the most well-traveled among us grinning with wonder.

The Newest Astral Brewer May Be The Best One Yet

By

Joe Potoczak

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May 28, 2025

Way back in 2012, kayak shoes were largely sandals or booties. And, regardless of the labeling as water shoe, few truly provided the confidence you were after in steep, slick river environments unless it had a felt sole or came from a climbing shoe brand. Then, the life jacket brand Astral showed up on the footwear scene with something new and refreshing.

Early iterations of the Astral Brewer

The Brewer was closed-toed, with a light, quick-drying Cordura upper construction, and a sneaker look—reminiscent of something from Vans that meshed with the counterculture lifestyle of whitewater. And, best of all, this new river sneaker had unparalleled grip thanks to a partnership with 5.10.

Paddling Magazine editor-in-chief Kaydi Pyette holds a canoe paddle while wearing and surrounded by a selection of her picks for best life jackets

Best Life Jackets For 2025

The lifestyle look and best-in-class grip are impossible to separate when looking back at the industry shift born from the original Astral Brewer, and just reaches the surface of the intricate details built into what appeared outwardly as a minimalist shoe. As a vagabond kayaker of the 2010s, I do not exaggerate when I say I lived in those original Brewers.

The first iteration of the Brewer wasn’t without its flaws. The main issue with the early Brewers was the tendency for the stitching to blow out at the seam around the toes, leading to flapping soles and field repairs of various means. But with each iteration, the Brewer has improved. With the Brewer 2.0, Astral adopted a new seam where outsole and upper meet, and they further developed their proprietary G-Rubber following 5.10’s sale to Adidas. With other shoe designs added to the brand’s lineup, the Brewer has continued to remain the now classic that sets the bar for what a paddling shoe can be.

The Brewer 3.0

Now for 2025, Astral has released the third generation of the Brewer and continues to improve upon it with what may turn out to be the best Brewer yet. Starting at the rubber, Astral has gone from their more durable G.15 compound to their stickiest G.SS compound, the same used on the Rassler in combination with the Granite Grip tread pattern to provide all-around high performance on uneven terrain, trails and wet surfaces.

In my mind the move to the G.SS is a solid decision. If it hasn’t become obvious in this writing yet, I value the sense of sticking to wet surfaces like glue above all else as a foundation in the best water shoes. The complement is the wide, diamond-shaped lugs of the Granite Grip that leave enough space for the treads to dig into some earth when climbing up a bank or along a portage trail.

In the construction of the upper, Astral has also made improvements.

They have increased the width of the toe box, as well as reinforced the toe. They have also created more heel lock, to keep the shoe secure on your foot. While this may mean the backs of the shoes don’t crush down flat as easily to slide into when jumping out of your playboat or shuffling around camp, this heel lock will be a major benefit when it counts—such as to avoid losing a shoe if you take a swim or while hammering freestyle strokes and leg kicks across a rapid to make a rescue.

The upper is constructed of recycled canvas and mesh. Inside, the new interior has a soft sockliner built in to remove seam contact for more comfort when wearing barefoot for those summer days on the river, as many have with the Brewer for well beyond a decade now.

Learn more about the Brewer 3.0 and the rest of the shoe lineup at Astral.

Feature Image: Brenna Kelly

Paddlesports Trade Coalition Colab Moves to Charlotte, NC

By

Paddling Magazine Staff

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May 28, 2025

US National Whitewater Center Aerial — Aerial view of the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Paddlesports Trade Coalition annual industry gathering is heading to Charlotte, North Carolina. The 2025 Colab event will take place October 15-19, in partnership with ACA PaddleFest at the U.S. National Whitewater Center—a world-class venue that will also serve as the site of the American Canoe Association’s 145th anniversary celebration.

The move marks a departure from Oklahoma City, where the Paddlesports Trade Coalition had announced it would host the second annual Colab event this September. Oklahoma City played a central role in hosting the inaugural Colab in 2024, as well as serving as home to the Paddlesports Retailer trade show in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Colab 2025 will host informational sessions, roundtables, product showcases and on-water demos. By aligning with ACA PaddleFest, the event will expand its scope, attracting a broader audience of instructors, retailers and enthusiasts, according to organizers. Attendees can also look forward to national slalom and kayak cross championships, Swiftwater Rescue Conference, instructor updates and the ACA silent auction.

Registration and full program details will be announced on the Paddlesports Trade Coalition website.

This Mapmaker Exposes The Secret Histories Of Rivers

By

Conor Mihell

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May 27, 2025

Cartographers like Dan Coe battle the notion that everything on the planet has already been mapped. “The world is always changing and is full of new data and phenomena that can be visualized most effectively with maps,” insists Coe, a paddler and geographer based in Olympia, Washington. “Maps offer a sense of discovery and exploration. If you know how to interpret them well, the effect is akin to reading a great adventure novel.”

This mapmaker exposes the secret histories of rivers

Coe was inspired to take up mapmaking after working as a sea kayak guide in Alaska and Oregon. He studied geography at Portland State University, where he says his “interests in the outdoors, geography, and art coalesced into a mapmaking career.” As a profession, he develops technical maps for the Oregon and Washington state geological services. But Coe is also drawn to the art of mapping rivers—in part from his own experiences paddling waterways like the Willamette and Columbia in the Pacific Northwest.

Eight years ago, Coe started experimenting with light detecting and ranging (LiDAR) imagery to make river maps. This super precise data is collected by low-flying aircraft, which collect terrain information using radar, ultimately to create detailed three-dimensional models of the Earth’s surface. The technology is widely used to manage natural resources and agriculture. But Coe proves it has an artistic upshot as well.

“You can digitally remove all of the vegetation and buildings on the surface of the model and only view the bare ground,” he explains. “With that bare-earth surface, you can see where rivers have meandered in the past by adjusting colors and shading to visualize subtle changes in elevations. These often show up as ghost channels in a floodplain’s topography, which indicate where a river used to flow.”

Coe applies color gradients in rendering his digital maps, typically with the lightest color marking the river’s surface and progressively darker shades representing higher elevations. “I tend to use bright, saturated colors since I’m only representing one visual variable (elevation),” he says. “I love art that is visually bold and intriguing.”

The results are flashy and distinctive fusions of art and science, which have been compared to networks of veins and arteries, lightning bolts, plumes of smoke and tree roots by viewers. Coe’s maps also help explain how rivers continuously shape the earth’s surface.

“These images are great snapshots of how rivers erode and deposit sediments over time and how these processes create various landforms along a river’s course,” he notes.

17 Most Beautiful Rivers In The World

Of the more than 200 rivers Coe has mapped so far, his favorite is the Dee River estuary on the border of England and Wales. Many sea kayakers have experienced the constant flux of land and water in the deltas and estuaries of coastal areas, as tides and freshwater currents interact to form ever-changing environments. Where the Dee meets Liverpool Bay on the Irish Sea, “the elevation range is all within a few meters,” Coe explains. “But the visual effect of those subtle changes is exquisite.”

Coe isn’t worried about running out of rivers to map. This year, he’s launching a new business called Meander and Flow Design, focusing on river cartography. “My hope is to continue to make these kinds of images for many different purposes, including film, print, digital, museum, and gallery projects,” he says. “New technologies like LiDAR allow us to map living rivers in ways that not only show their current state but also show clues and evidence about how they have moved and changed over time. This appeals to me as a cartographer, as a boater, and as a curious human.”

Find more of Daniel Coe’s work at dancoecarto.com.

This article was first published in Issue 73 of Paddling Magazine. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.

“The fact that many river forms are whimsical and visually intriguing makes them perfect subjects for this kind of creative mapping,” says cartographer Dan Coe. Pictured here are the Porcupine and Draanjik rivers in Alaska. | Feature photo: Dan Coe

3 Ridiculous AI Shark Attack On Kayaker Videos

Videos

By

Maddy Marquardt

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May 27, 2025

An AI-Shark approaches a kayak — An AI-generated shark comes in for a nibble. Featured Image: APEXOCEANSIM | YouTube

There are plenty of very real and very frightening shark and kayaker encounters caught on film, but these recent viral videos aren’t among them. From improbable encounters to paddles that go straight through the rotomolded deck of a kayak, here are the most ridiculous artificial intelligence (AI) generated shark attack on kayaker videos on the internet:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/5qjpypEYYoc

Shark heavy breaths on kayak

In this viral YouTube short, a massive shark emerges from the ocean to heavy breathe on the bow of a recreational kayak – never mind, of course, that sharks do not breathe air. While the video is distinguishable as AI-generated from the unnatural shine on the shark’s back and the grid-like noise in the image that appears in the ripples and splashes, the video is perhaps most obviously a fake based on the behavior of the shark itself.

While many commenters observed that the video is obviously AI-generated, with one commenter noting that the 1975 film JAWS had more realistic shark footage than the viral video, other viewers were not convinced that the footage was fake.

Shark lands on handless kayaker

While this YouTube short is slightly more difficult to discern as AI-generated initially, the warping tangle of shark landing on a kayaker makes it pretty clear something with reality is amiss. The kayaker appears to be surfing a small wave without a paddle when a shark breaches and soars through the air behind him. The shark appears to land on the kayak – that’s when things get a little fuzzy.

The kayaker appears to be at least partially ejected from the kayak and tumbled at least twice before appearing upright in his kayak at the end of the video, making for the most impressive renter and hand roll of all time – that is, if the paddler had hands of course, which he does not. To the video’s credit, the handless kayaker does appear to be wearing a PFD.

AI-image of a shark jumping over a kayaker — A realistic image? Not so much. A shark leaps over a kayaker without a paddle, and noise can be seen in the spray on the left hand side of the image and beneath the shark, all signs that the video is AI-generated. Image: Aloys-Mythical-q6f | YouTube

Beyond the improbability of the shark encounter and extremely unlikely behavior of the kayaker, the video also shows the grid-like noise in the water most apparent when the video is paused, a telltale sign of AI-generated video.

While by the end of the YouTube short the AI qualities of the video may seem obvious, several commenters weren’t so sure, sharing that it took several watches to discern whether or not the video was fake.

Great white shark gently nibbles on kayak

In this utterly ridiculous YouTube short, we see an improbably buoyant shark gnaw on the bow of a sit-on-top kayak before flinging some water at the screen. The video is accompanied by the grunts and gasps of what viewers can only assume is meant to be the AI-generated kayaker, and not the shark.

The movements of the video are far from the fluid movements of footage shot on a camera, and the kayaker’s paddle appears to go clean through the deck of the plastic kayak as the video moves.

While sharks do rarely attack kayaks, this video isn’t a real recording of such an encounter.

How to tell if a video is AI-generated:

The biggest tell for AI-generated footage is often the content itself – all of the videos above depict extremely unlikely shark behavior or, in some cases, unlikely kayaker behavior such as the absence of an actual paddle in the second video. Beyond situation and surface-level visual cues, there are other ways to determine if a video is genuine footage or generated by AI.

If you suspect a video may be AI-generated but aren’t sure, visit the profile of the page that posted the video. Are all of the images and videos on the page incredible kayak encounters with sharks or equally unlikely scenarios? Repeated fantastical videos could be a sign that the page posts AI-generated content.

Another way to pick out AI-generated content is to pause the video and look closely at the details and edges of elements within the image. For example, you might notice a warped kayak deck in a video where shark teeth meet a kayak, or you might notice that a kayaker has no hands in certain frames. Additionally, the grid-like noise in moving water is a telltale sign of AI-generated video.

Overall, trust your instinct. Whether the contrast of the colors is a little too pronounced, or the motion is just not quite true to reality, your gut feeling about a potentially AI-generated video could be telling you something. Not unlike the uncanny valley phenomenon, which refers to the increasing discomfort humans report when viewing faces that are not quite human, the unease you may feel while viewing a video you believe to be AI-generated may be a sign that it isn’t real.

Currently with a little practice it’s fairly easy to distinguish between AI-generated videos and videos shot in the real world on a camera, but as AI technology improves we can expect telling the real from the artificial to become more difficult.

An AI-generated shark comes in for a nibble. Featured Image: APEXOCEANSIM | YouTube