Beginner Kayak Rentals in Friday Harbor - Safe and Stable Tandem Kayaks for Rent!

Name: Sea Quest Kayak Tours
Price range: $

Beginner Kayaking Rentals on San Juan Island

Beginner kayakers can now rent kayaks in Friday Harbor with no experience necessary.

Our tandem rental kayaks are very stable and a safe choice for those concerned about kayaking safety. This stability makes the kayaks very easy to get in and out of.

Beginner rentals are an excellent choice for groups of friends or family. Two cockpits offer flexibility – especially when paddling with children!

Beginner rentals offer more flexibility in timing and a more private experience without the high price tag of a custom guided tour!

Kayak Rental Overview

Our kayak rentals are exclusive to Griffin bay the most protected and placid location off of San Juan Island. Griffin bay is home to many interesting marine birds, harbor seals and sometimes even whales! You can also paddle to and hike in American Camp, the national historic park located on the south end of San Juan Island.

San Juan Island Beginner Kayak rentals are for either 3hrs or 6hrs and start at 12pm. If you wish to rent for longer or for a pickup or drop off that start at a different time please give our office a call and we can assist you with a customized experience.

Sea Quest only rents kayaks that are top quality – our kayaks offer better performance than standard recreational or sit-on-tops but are just as easy to use! Tandem Esperantos are high-performance sea kayaks designed for open ocean and rough seas. These quality rental kayaks are equipped with special outfitting that accommodate all body sizes and shapes while providing excellent control and comfort. They intuitive steering system allows you to control the direction the boat moves with very minimal effort!

Those looking to paddle outside of Griffin bay into more exposed waters should read our eligibility requirements for advanced kayak rentals in the San Juan Islands from Friday Harbor to see if you qualify. Feel free to call us if you have questions about your skill levels for renting a kayak outside of Griffin bay.

If you are interested in paddling with one of our guides, view our list of guided kayak trips and make your reservation now!

Reviews

Jon M.
9/25/2023 - Google

				Had a great time! Super fun guide, well maintained equipment, and excellent instruction made this a fun, safe, and memorable day trip. Will definitely be going ... read moreHad a great time! Super fun guide, well maintained equipment, and excellent instruction made this a fun, safe, and memorable day trip. Will definitely be going back! read less			
Banu R.
9/24/2023 - Google

				- great weather and trip to view the bioluminescence - excursion went great and is recommended even for novices -the guide was knowledgeable and provided good i... read more- great weather and trip to view the bioluminescence - excursion went great and is recommended even for novices -the guide was knowledgeable and provided good information and advice - tour is highly recommended and definitely worth it read less			
Melanie S.
9/19/2023 - Google

				Sea Quest Kayak Tours is excellent. Our guide Martine was awesome. It was everything we had hoped for and more. A wonderful memory for our family!			
joshua d.
9/18/2023 - Google

				Fantastic overnight tour with Cody! From the great food, to organized schedule, friendly folks and multiple picturesque stops - Would definitely recommend!!			
Stacy M.
9/18/2023 - Google

				Had a wonderful time night kayaking to see the bioluminescents. The guides Ben and Will were great and kind and helpful. The bioluminescents were so beautiful a... read moreHad a wonderful time night kayaking to see the bioluminescents. The guides Ben and Will were great and kind and helpful. The bioluminescents were so beautiful and I am glad I had this experience with Sea Quest Kayak Tours. read less			
Josh B.
9/18/2023 - Google

				Great trip with Martine as our guide. We were in for a family wedding with limited time and she absolutely helped us make the most of it. We saw plenty of harbo... read moreGreat trip with Martine as our guide. We were in for a family wedding with limited time and she absolutely helped us make the most of it. We saw plenty of harbor seals, some bald eagles and lots of other wildlife. As a side from reading other reviews: kayaks are not exceptionally heavy and we all carried it down the 40 feet or so as a group. Two men and 2 women, zero trouble. I’m not certain why anyone would book a tour which requires you to be physically active and then be upset when you have to actually be active. Great operator and would absolutely use again. read less			
ing w.
9/17/2023 - Google

				our paddle under the stars with Julia was amazing! She was terrific and seeing the bioluminescent water was magical			
dentonphillips
9/16/2023 - Google

				This was a spectacular experience to see the bioluminescence in the water while kayaking. Our guides JJ and Nathan took great care of us and lead an amazing tou... read moreThis was a spectacular experience to see the bioluminescence in the water while kayaking. Our guides JJ and Nathan took great care of us and lead an amazing tour. We all had a fantastic time. read less			
Kenyacktie H.
9/12/2023 - Google

				I recent went on the Quest Kayak Tour along with a friend. It was my first time in a kayak. Quest made the tour safe, engaging and informative. I had a great ti... read moreI recent went on the Quest Kayak Tour along with a friend. It was my first time in a kayak. Quest made the tour safe, engaging and informative. I had a great time and gained a new experience. read less			
Ian L.
9/11/2023 - TripAdvisor

				Had a great time! Sea Quest had our rental right in time. Delivered it to the ferry dock and had us on our way. The equipment worked great, no break downs, no p... read moreHad a great time! Sea Quest had our rental right in time. Delivered it to the ferry dock and had us on our way. The equipment worked great, no break downs, no problems. Had only good times paddling thru amazing scenery. They made the drop off go so smoothly, just took out our gear and the picked the boat up. Couldn’t have had a better time! read less			

Beginner Kayak Rental Prices

3hr rental – $89 / person
6hr rental – $109 / person
Extra fees apply for shuttles

Let Us Do The Moving!

We make your experience convenient by providing transportation to and from the beach. If you have your own car we can meet you at the beach with your kayaks. If you would like to pick the kayaks up from our base of operations, you may do so provided you have kayak racks or cross bars on your vehicle.

Shuttle Fees (Round Trip)	Self Haul	Up to 4 people w/ kayaks	Up to 8 people w/ kayaks	Up to 12 people w/ kayaks	Up to 16 people w/ kayaks	Up to 20 people w/ kayaks
Cost	$0	$49	$99	$149	$199	$249

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you rent a kayak in the San Juan Islands without experience?

Yes! You can absolutely rent a kayak in the San Juan Islands without experience. Our rentals are super safe and only go out in protected areas.

What happens if I capsize?

Despite the risk of capsizing being extremely low, capsizing does occasionally occur with use of our rental sea kayaks. Fortunately our routes are never far from shore so you can swim for land or flip the kayak back over and re-enter with the use of your paddle float.

Gear List

We provide the following:

Chart – map of safe paddling zones.
GPS unit which alerts you if you are too far from land.
Rescue Float.
Emergency signal streamer.
Bilge pump.

What you need to bring:

Beach clothing, beach foot wear, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and lunch. Bring a hat, warm sweater and rain jacket if cool, cloudy, windy or rainy.

No prior experience is required. Our beginner rental routes are set so that the paddling environment is safe and enjoyable.