Charles River Canoe & Kayak : Paddling Store

So I hit the water in my “new to me” used loon kayak and I simply cannot be more satisfied with the value for the money. But more than that is how happy I am with the service, advice, and attention to my customer needs and “emerging paddling enthusiast” questions. Ben took the time to walk me through kayak options and answered questions thoroughly and engaged with thoughtful conversation that helped us move to the best kayak brand and size for me and then he looked through the inventory to find the best possible showing me exactly what I was getting in a used kayak— which is pretty much a yak with a few scuffs but at about half the price of a new one! I wanted a paddle and once again I felt I was to find not only what I should get but why it was the best for me. I really appreciate how comfortable the sales experience was, the obvious enthusiasm for the sport, and the honest feedback (both pros and the cons) that helped me make an informed purchase! Bonus was good training on how to load my boat on my roof and properly tie it down… a small detail maybe but the extra time to make sure I was safe speaks volumes to how valued I felt.

While they didn't have what I was looking for (replacement gunwales for an old Mad River Canoe), Marc very promptly answered all my questions, gave me a bunch of good advice and redirected me to other shops in the area that might have what I needed. This was over several emails where it would have been very easy for him to just ignore me. Once I get this canoe repaired, I'll be happily shopping here for any accessories that I need.

The seat back in my 'obsolete' Perception kayak broke. Went to this place. Mark was exceptional! He came up with several solutions, and he did not try to sway me into any particular repair. In the end, a new seat was selected. The repair was quick and very reasonably priced - labor and replacement part. I highly recommend using this place!

Very helpful staff, huge selection and 5% discount on accessories when buying a kayak. Turns out I also got a 5% off on my kayak! I would definitely recommend this place to everyone!

Stopped by the paddle shop to get my own life jacket as I've picked up kayaking this summer. One of the staff members spent ~1 hours helping my partner and myself pick the best life jacket for us. He was very knowledgeable and patient. I cannot give them higher praise! We'll definitely be back 🙂