I am heading to Anaheim, CA this week arriving 6th August from Germany and wonder if there is anywhere I can hire/borrow a sea kayak … or pay to go on an organised day tour. Looking at the internet I see a few places who hire out sit-on tops but I would prefer a conventional sea-kayak. Does anyone have any recommendations ? … Alternatively maybe there is a club that has a day trip planned in the neighborhood in the next 7 days that would allow a proficient kayaker to attend ? …or simply a fellow kayaker with a spare kayak willing to buddy up for a few hours sometime this week ? Look forward to hearing from you … Thx !
Unfortunately, southern California is more sit on top and paddleboard territory.
UCLA does have an aquatic center open to the public, and they do have sea kayaks. But you will need to get cleared to use sea kayaks, and not sure how that would work.
https://recreation.ucla.edu/rec-programs/marina-aquatic-center
Down in San Diego there is a show that does offer sea kayak lessons, so perhaps would be willing to rent sea kayaks. Bit of a drive from Anaheim, though.
One thing to be aware of is that usually a place will only rent sea kayaks to someone who they feel comfortable will be able to rescue themselves. They often look for someone to have done paddlefloat rescues, which my understanding is not as common in Europe. If you have a reliable roll, let them know and that may work.
Sending you a DM with the name of someone you may want to contact directly for thoughts.
Of course, you could always do the more California thing of renting a paddle board.
Look up Newport Aquatics Center in Newport Beach
Thx very much for inputs… I had a fun time with the hire at Newport Aquatic. Weather was beautiful !! Hope to return on another occasion. Only small downsize was paddles were not feathered which took a short while to adapt to.