Frequently Asked Questions

A: So you’d like to go out on the water? Great! We are located at the south boat launch of Monksville Reservoir. We are open Friday-Monday. To book your reservation for the weekend, click the “book now” button at the bottom of your screen. At that point you’ll need to know a few details: when you’d like to come visit us (date and time), how many people will be in your party, whether you’re looking for kayaks/double kayaks/paddle boards, and how long you’d like to stay out. You will need to arrive about 30 minutes before your reservation time to get a parking space and get yourself ready so we can get you on the water starting at the time you’ve reserved. For example, if you reserve for 2 p.m. on a Friday, please complete your waiver ahead of time and arrive at 1:30, so you can park, put on your sunblock, etc. and we can have you on the water starting at 2 p.m.

Please note: all booking must be made online this year, we do not take reservations over the phone.

A: Reservations are required if you plan to visit us, and they must be completed online. This simply ensures that we will have enough equipment to accommodate you.

A: We only accept credit cards through online booking. If you’d like to purchase something on site, we can add it to your booking and charge the card you have on file. We can not take cash or credit in person this year due to COVID.

A:  Please do all you can to be on time for your reservation. We tend to sell out on beautiful summer days, and if our schedule is full, we will not be able to adjust your reservation time. This means being late (or not having completed your waiver ahead of time) may cut into the time you have reserved/ paid for. You are responsible for arriving on time as well as returning from the water on time.

If you are stuck in traffic, running late, lost, etc. please call us! We will do the best we can to reschedule your appointment to a slightly later time. Sometimes this is possible, and sometimes it is not possible. If you call and we do not answer, leave a message so we know you called and can call you back.

We want you to have a good time on the water and will do whatever we can to make it work for you. Just let us know what your situation is, and we’ll do the best we can!

A: Unfortunately, no. You will need to choose an amount of time that you think will be enough for you: this allows us to efficiently schedule reservations, as well as ensure the safety of our customers. Payment must be rendered before you go out on the water. We will let you know at the desk what time you are expected to return, based on your reservation time. Yes, you do need to come back at the time we agree on! You are responsible for keeping track of time, so please wear a watch or bring a phone. If you are late, you may be charged additional fees.

A: Cancellations made more than 2 hours in advanced can be cancelled for a full refund for any reason. Cancellations made more than 30 minutes but less than 2 hours are eligible for a 75% refund. Cancelations 30 minutes before to 30 minutes after the start time are eligible for a 50% refund. Cancellations made more than 30 minutes after the start time of a reservation are not eligible for any refund.

A: Cancellations are available for a 100% refund up until 48 hours prior to the event. Cancellations between 24-48 hours prior to the event will be refunded at 50%. Cancellations less than 24 hours before the event will NOT be entitled to a refund. If the weather isn’t looking good, we will cancel or reschedule class as early as possible. In case of bad weather, participants will be able to reschedule to take a different yoga class.

A: Sorry, but reservations can only be made online.

A: YES – We do not rent to anyone who cannot swim. We DO NOT make exceptions to this rule. We are not coming out on the water with you. The life jacket you will be wearing will help you stay afloat, but is no substitute for knowing how to swim.

A:  If you want to learn proper technique and get the most effective exercise while paddle boarding, we highly recommend a lesson. A lesson will teach you different ways to turn and maneuver so that you feel comfortable and in control of the board. Our instructor will help you achieve the proper stance and efficient paddle stroke. Taking a lesson is a great way to start or improve on your skill level, as well as to get a good workout. Learning these techniques also helps to reduce muscle injury such as back and/or shoulder pain.

That said, you do not need a lesson to try paddle boarding. With every rental, we provide you with a life jacket and paddle, explain how to stay safe on the reservoir, and make sure you are comfortable on the board. To simply have fun, you do not need a lesson.

A: Lessons are scheduled based on availability. Usually, we do lessons on Fridays, or weekends at 9 a.m., 3:45 or 5:30 p.m. This is when there is the least amount of traffic on the reservoir, and also (usually) the least amount of wind. If you’d like to book a lesson, you can do so by clicking here.

We do not offer kayak lessons at this time. We recommend you contact Lee Reiser of the ACA, who is an expert kayaker and a great instructor. He can be reached via email: [email protected]

A: This is a personal preference. You are welcome to leave your shoes on shore (there is an area along our fence the customers tend to leave their shoes) or you can bring them with you. We use a dock system to get you in the water this year, so you no longer have to step into the water at our launch.

A: We suggest you wear a waterproof watch. We will also be happy to sell you a waterproof bag for your phone ($10). Please note: being unsure of what time it is is not considered a valid excuse for coming back late 🙂

A: We have two locations: Monksville Reservoir in Ringwood NJ and Lake Absegami in Bass River State Forest, Tuckerton NJ.

1081 Greenwood Lake Turnpike, Ringwood NJ 07456 will get you to the entrance of Monksville Reservoir, south boat launch. You should see our sign at the road. Use the access road and you’ll find us at the far side of the parking lot.

762 Stage Road, Tuckerton NJ 08087 will get you to the entrance to Bass River State Forest. Drive straight and follow the signs for the beach at Lake Absegami. We are at the far end of the beach.

A: We are right on the water. Our staff will do all the work of moving the equipment. You just need to book online and complete your waivers ahead of time. Please read your confirmation email for more information. We do our best to make things as easy as possible for you!

A: Our last rental goes out one hour before we close each day. Online booking will only offer you available time slots, so you don’t have to worry. We don’t stay open past closing time, so please don’t be late!

A: Our Bass River State Forest location is open through Labor Day.

Monksville Reservoir stays open weekends through the end of September. If the weather is nice, we have been known to extend into October for leaf peeping by kayak!

A: Yes, both parks we are located in have public launch areas. It’s best to call the park to learn their specific rules if you plan to bring your own equipment.

A: We need a parent or legal guardian to sign on behalf of anyone under the age of 18. Even if your child is 17.5, we still need you to sign for them. We don’t let anyone under 15 years old out unless their parent is on the water with them. All of our participants must be able to swim, must be able to paddle well enough to control the board/kayak, and must wear life jackets in accordance with the law.

A: We know it may be frustrating, but we cannot let anyone under the age of 18 out on the water without a signature from a parent or legal guardian. We feel your pain, and we really don’t like turning anyone away, but we simply cannot allow 17-year-olds out without the appropriate signature. Your 18-year-old friend CANNOT sign for you, sorry!

A: We are a family-friendly business, and we think it’s great for kids to get a chance to experience the water! If you are the parent or legal guardian of the child, you are able to sign on their behalf and bring them along. All children MUST wear life jackets at all times. We have life jackets for under 30lbs, 30-50lbs and 50-90lbs, but please know that if a number of families are out on the water, it is possible (though unlikely) that we may run short. (If your child is over 90 lbs, they will wear an “adult universal” life jacket – we have plenty). If you have your own life jacket for your child, feel free to bring it along. All parties must be wearing appropriate life jackets to be allowed out on the water.

A: We love dogs, especially ones that like to paddleboard! Our major concern is the soft deck pad of our boards, which the majority of dogs do not damage – however we have had a couple of incidents. If you do not have a card on file, we take a $100 cash deposit before you leave, which will be returned in full assuming the deck pad has not been torn or excessively scratched up. This is often a problem when a large dog is not wearing a life jacket (which we do not provide). If your dog jumps off the board (and most of them do at some point!), they will try to get back up in the best way they know how. This usually means digging their nails into the deck pad to pull themselves out of the water, which can cause deep scratches that may result in us needing to replace the deck pad, or the value of the board significantly decreasing.

For this reason, we recommend bringing an old towel or yoga mat to cover the deck pad of your rental board. We also recommend doggie life jackets be worn by all dogs on the water. The handles on the back of the jacket make it significantly easier to pull the dog up out of the water and back on board.

Some dogs love paddle boarding, while other dogs love the water and won’t stay on the board at all! And there are a few dogs who don’t like either. You know your dog best, so please plan accordingly. We recommend starting with an hour rental if your dog doesn’t have experience on a paddle board.

A: Absolutely! Kayaks are a lot less fragile than paddle boards, so there is no deposit required. We still highly recommend a life jacket for your dog – if the dog jumps out of the kayak, the handles on the back of the jacket will help you bring them back on board. Please note that it can be difficult to get a large dog back into a kayak without tipping it! We recommend that you and your dog have prior boating experience before choosing to rent for longer than an hour.