Who is best suited for use of our single kayaks?

• Experienced kayakers who don’t have access to a boat, or are interested in building local knowledge of the San Juan Islands.
• Novice kayakers who have paddled before and are interested in learning more kayaking skills.
• Totally inexperienced people with reasonable athletic abilities, moderate fitness, and a taste for adventure!

Limitations on who should sign up for this option:

• Unless prior arrangements are approved, the use of single kayaks is limited to guests 18 years and older.
• For your comfort and enjoyment of the trip you should be moderately fit, reasonably athletic, and have no physical limitations.
• Paddling a single kayak is a bit more work than when you have a partner in a tandem kayak and keeping the boat tracking straight is not as straightforward in the smaller boats.
• Also, your sense of balance should be fairly well developed as the single kayaks are not as stable. Capsizing is more likely when paddling a single kayak, so you should be prepared for that possibility. We do have wet suits available for people who want to be ready for immersion, and we highly recommend that you use them (some days it may be required by your trip leader).
• Our individual weight limit is 225 pounds, and 6'2" in height. Larger folks may find the boats to be slightly uncomfortable for the duration of the trip.

Please call if you have questions about this, these limits are not “carved in stone” but are guidelines that we have found to be fairly accurate. Our guides are very good at Risk Management and we trust their judgement. If a trip leader feels that any individual may compromise the safety of the trip then they may be asked to join the tour in a tandem kayak (at the lower rate), or receive a full refund if they choose not to go. Thank you for understanding!

If the prevailing weather or tidal currents create conditions that might compromise a guest’s security in a single kayak then we reserve the right to cancel the reservation of that boat. Participants will be offered the use of a tandem boat, at the lower rate, or be offered a full refund if they choose not to join the trip. Again, thank you for understanding, your safety and comfort is our primary concern!

Caveat: We have a limited supply of single kayaks, so reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis. We may not be able to facilitate all requests. Environmental conditions (weather, etc) may preclude the use of singles on a trip, this decision is at the discretion of AKT management and AKT trip leaders. In the event that we feel that we cannot use single kayaks on a trip participants will be invited to use our more stable tandem boats, at the lower rate, or be given a full refund if they choose not to go out.

Please know your limits! If AKT management, or AKT trip leaders, determine that an individual will compromise the safety of the tour then the participant may be asked to switch into a tandem kayak. Be aware that this may occur at any point during the tour. In these cases the participant will be reimbursed for the cost of the single kayak and be charged for the use of a tandem instead.