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How to Enjoy Captiva Island Kayak Rentals

Captiva Island kayak rentals are a great way to get out on the water and enjoy your Florida vacation. Make a kayak reservation today at Jensen’s Marina™!

By Brand Ambassador | April 22, 2021

Spending as much time in the water as possible is a sign of a great Florida vacation. Gliding through the water while listening to nothing but the ripple of the water underneath your hull and watching and listening to the sights and sounds of nature all around you is even better. Captiva Island kayak rentals allow you to have this experience while you’re on vacation. 

When you are looking for Captiva Island kayak rentals, you need to find a marina that offers kayak rentals on an hourly basis, 1-person and 2-person kayak rental options and nearby kayaking opportunities such as guided kayak tours and paddling in kayak trails and to nearby barrier islands. 

Are you a first time kayaker or need tips on kayaking near Captiva Island and Sanibel Island? We have kayak tips that will make your kayaking experience a memorable one in Southwest Florida. 

Should I Rent a Kayak on Vacation?

should I rent a kayak on vacation

A Captiva kayak rental experience is a must when you come to Southwest Florida. There’s just something about stepping into a boat without a motor and paddling through a mangrove trail and becoming one with nature. 

We recommend renting a kayak at Jensen’s Twin Palm Marina and Cottages™ to get the complete kayak experience. There’s so many different areas to explore, even paddling to nearby barrier islands for new experiences. 

How Do You Get Into a Kayak Without Getting Wet? 

To avoid getting wet while kayaking, we offer the following tips: 

  • Wear waterproof clothes and a life vest
  • Stay properly balanced
  • Paddle smoothly to avoid bringing water in the kayak

What Should a Beginner Wear Kayaking?

what should a beginner wear kayaking

Kayaking is a great way to introduce yourself to boating and help you build confidence. Here’s some things beginner kayakers should wear to have a great time: 

  • Wear a life vest, also known as a personal flotation device (PFD)
  • Wear a swimsuit
  • Wear sandals or water shoes
  • Bring a hat to protect you from the sun
  • Use polarized sunglasses
  • Bring a foldable lightweight rain jacket

What to Know Before Kayaking

There are a few things you should know about before your first kayaking experience. Remember to: 

  • Always hold the paddle correctly (we will get to this part later)
  • Choose a one passenger or two passenger kayak 
  • Bring a dry storage bag to hold and protect electronics and valuables
  • Bring a paddle in case you drop your paddle
  • Paddle with your body and not your arms (more on this later as well)

Do Kayaks Tip Over Easily?

do kayaks tip over easily

Despite what many people worry about, kayaks are not as easy to tip over as you might see in the movies or on television for a good laugh. In general, kayaks are safe to use and hardly tip over at all. 

Even better, it’s really hard to tip over a kayak while paddling on calm bodies of water like the Gulf of Mexico and the Intracoastal Waterway.

To avoid tipping over you should:

  • Step into the kayak slowly
  • Don’t make sudden movements in either direction inside
  • Only kayak during good weather conditions and when the wind is calm 
  • Distribute all of your kayak belongings and equipment evenly in the kayak
  • When you are sitting straight up, the kayak should be balanced in the water

Beginner Kayak Tips

There’s more to beginner kayaking than just what to wear. We also have the following beginner kayak tips: 

Kayaking Equipment You Need to Have

  • Bring a kayak paddle that is lightweight
  • Wear sunscreen and reapply
  • Bring paddling gloves to avoid hand blisters
  • Bring a reusable water bottle
  • Snacks are a good idea
  • Bring a camera, preferably a GoPro or another waterproof option
  • Bring a kayak paddle that is lightweight

Paddle a Kayak Tips

paddle a kayak tips

Paddling a kayak isn’t as simple as you thought but it’s easy to learn how to do it properly. Holding your paddle properly is the key to success. To hold the paddle the right way you need to: 

  • Relax your hands on the paddle shaft. A relaxed grip prevents everything else from getting tired. 
  • Make sure you grip the paddle in the right spot. Rest the paddle shaft’s center point on your head and then readjust your grip so your elbows are at a 90-degree angle. 
  • Use the paddle blade to dig into the water and propel you. You want the concave side of each blade facing you.

How to Do a Forward Stroke

The forward stroke is the one you will do the most to move forward in your kayak. Let your torso muscles (muscles in your back and core) do the work. Put your blade on one side of the boat and rotate your torso as the blade moves behind you. When your hand reaches behind your hip, “slice” the blade out of the water. Then repeat on the other side. Keep as upright as possible when doing the forward stroke. 

How to Do a Reverse Stroke

The reverse stroke helps you go backward and most importantly, it’s your braking maneuver as you approach land or a marina dock. It’s the exact opposite of the forward stroke. Just change your direction but still use your torso and fully immerse your blade on the sides of your boat next to your hip. 

Paddle tip: Remember that paddle length matters. A paddle that is too long or too short will cause you to work harder to build up speed and keep the kayak straight. Check out kayak paddle length measurements to make sure you have the right size. 

How to Kayak 2 Person Technique

A two-person kayak, also called a tandem kayak, is wider and usually more stable to handle two occupants. These are great options for those with kids. Your passenger doesn’t even have to paddle. You can even take your dog with you! 

The keys to paddling with a partner include: 

  • Paddling together in unison
  • Have your more powerful paddler in the back to handle speed and turning as needed
  • To turn, have the front paddler make a forward sweep with the paddle on one side, while the back paddler does the same motion in the opposite direction.

Kayak Rental Options

Jensen’s Marina™ offers 1-person and 2-person kayak rentals. It costs two hours for a $25 1-person kayak and two hours for a 2-person kayak costs $35.  You can also make a marina reservation plan for a guided kayak wildlife tour today to see manatees, dolphins and more! 

Enjoy a marked kayak trail at Buck Key just south of Jensen’s Marina™ called Roosevelt Trail. The trail will take you on a wonderful journey through Florida nature and lasts two hours. 

How to Enjoy Captiva Island Kayak Rentals

The best way to rent a kayak is to head to Captiva Island to have a quiet experience on the water. When you rent a kayak at Jensen’s Marina™ on Captiva Island or take a guided kayak tour, you can head out to Pine Island Sound and nearby barrier islands. 

Jensen’s Resort Captiva Amenities

jensen's resort captiva amenities

Here at Jensen’s Marina™ on Captiva Island, we offer the following amenities you need to make you feel right at home while you are here on island time. This includes:

  • Boat rentals
  • Kayak rentals
  • Boat rides
  • 35 wet slips
  • 14 cottages
  • North Captiva water taxi trips
  • Bait
  • Tackle
  • Ice
  • Gas
  • Coolers
  • T-Shirts, hats, sunscreen, postcards and more at the Ship Store 
  • Free WiFi
  • Fishing off our private dock
  • Impromptu live music events in the evenings
  • A quaint museum that shows you the history of fishing on Captiva Island
  • Close to nearby restaurants, galleries and shops

Find Florida Boat Rentals that Work For You 

There are also more than just kayaks here on Captiva Island! If it’s time to rent a boat on Captiva Island, Jensen’s Marina™ has the following Jensen’s boat rental Captiva needs:

Pontoon Fishing Boats

Pontoon boats work for families and friends cruising the Gulf of Mexico or Intracoastal Waterway.  They are a great choice for family fun time and boat parties. A 24-foot pontoon boat with a 115-horsepower motor that can accommodate up to 12 people works well for these types of activities. 

Rent a Center Console Boats

Center console boats work well  for smaller groups for fishing and boating trips. Try an 18-foot center console boat that holds up to five people and holds a decent amount of fishing gear. 

Rent a Boston Whaler Boat

An 18” Boston Whaler with a 150-horsepower Yamaha four-stroke motor holds up to six people and has a 1,000-pound weight capacity for your fishing crew, a cooler and plenty of fishing bait and tackle.

Rent a Kayak Today at Jensen’s Marina™!

You are ready to rent a kayak now on Captiva Island! In fact, you are ready to rent a Captiva kayak at Jensen’s Twin Palm Marina and Cottages today! Contact us today to make your kayak rental excursion trip today. 

Jensen’s Twin Palm
Marina and Cottages™

15107 Captiva Drive
Captiva, FL 33924

(833) 668-7768
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