Frequently Asked Questions

Alki Kayak Tours provides all sea kayaking equipment; you provide a sense for adventure. Besides that, please bring closed-toe shoes that you don’t mind getting wet, or sandals with a keeper strap. Be prepared for any weather with synthetic clothing and a water resistant jacket. Bring a water bottle to stay hydrated, as well as a snack or two to keep your energy level up over a few hours of paddling. Sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses are always a good idea for UV protection, even on overcast days.

The general rule of thumb is that you shouldn’t bring anything with you that you don’t want to lose or ruin, as capsizing is always a possibility. We do have free lockers and locks for your time on the water. If you want to bring your phone to take pictures, we sell floating dry bags that allow you to take pictures from your phone while out on the water. These are $17 each.

No experience is necessary! If you are comfortable with a couple of hours of outdoor physical activity, you should be fine. You don’t need to know how to swim. While our trips are not designed to be strenuous, generally good physical condition is needed.

Our sea kayaks provide a stable paddling platform, and capsizes are rare. There are no “wet exits” required, and if you follow the guide’s instructions, you will be able to safely paddle through any conditions.

You must be 18 years or older to be able to use a kayak by yourself. If you are under 18, you must have a parent or guardian sign a waiver for you. If you are between the ages of 16 and 18, a parent does not have to be present, but if you are under the age of 16, a parent must be present in a kayak as well during the activity.

You will be sitting in a confined cockpit for two to five hours at a time. Seats are generally 17 inches wide, and total kayak capacity is about 600 pounds for both paddlers. Come out early if you think you might want to see if you can comfortably sit in the kayak.

Contrary to popular belief, we have pretty darn awesome weather here in the NW if you are geared up correctly. We paddle rain or shine, so bring your breathable rain jacket with a hood. We use spray skirts, and paddling in the NW is a year-round activity. We have a micro-climate rain shadow effect here in West Seattle and are positioned so that southerly low pressure systems break over the peninsula, and we have a “donut hole” of blue over our shop while it may be raining in north/south and east of us. But yes, it does get stormy occasionally, and we will call off trips due to high winds or unsafe conditions.

Stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) is a great way to gain a different perspective and appreciation for our marine environment! While the likelihood of falling in the water is greater on an SUP, our staff will help size you to the correct board for stability and enjoyment. And don’t worry; you wear a leash connected to the board at all times, so you’ll never be without your SUP!

• Need any of the gear we rent? Our retail store, Mountain to Sound Outfitters in West Seattle has kayaks, inline skates, quad skates, stand-up paddle boards (SUPs), and of course vehicle racks to carry it all. Keep it local, and check out a true specialty hard goods shop in the NW.
• Check out the scenic overlook from the Seattle Space Needle live webcam. Scroll over to SSW. That’s Duwamish Head and Harbor Island where we might be out there playing in the water; keep an eye out for our tours!
• Recent marine mammal sightings in the Puget Sound region. We commonly see seals, sea lions, and porpoises; check the map to see if the Resident Orcas (Puget Sound’s Killer Whales) are in the area.
• Current wind conditions on Alki. Thanks to the windsurfers and kite boarders!
• We support People for Puget Sound working to keep Puget Sound a healthy ecosystem.
• We support the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition and offer complementary kayaks on the Duwamish during the Earth Day shoreline restoration events.
• We support the shredders over at the Seattle Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation.
• Want to link to this site? Shoot us an email!