5-Star Review for OEX San Diego - A Must-Visit for Any Kayak Angler! Big shoutout to Derrick, the new proud owner of OEX San Diego! I'm pretty sure I might've been his very first customer, and even though the shop was undergoing some serious renovations at the time, the level of customer service and expertise Derrick brought to the table was top-tier. He shared with me his deep background in the kayak and fishing industry--years spent repping major kayak brands and gear--and you can tell he knows his stuff. I originally came in hoping to make my current kayak work, but being a bigger guy, I was pushing its limits. Stability in rough water was an issue, and Derrick didn't hesitate to recommend the Native Titan X 12.5. Let me tell you--it's a game changer. Just took it out for my first trip today and spent 12 hours on the water--comfortable, stable, and a complete upgrade in every way. Not only did I walk out with an amazing kayak, but I was also seriously inspired by how well the kayaks are rigged in the shop. Everything from the setup, to accessories, to the fishing tackle--top quality and well thought out. Whether you're new to kayak fishing or a seasoned pro, I can't recommend OEX San Diego enough. knowledge, and commitment to getting people on the water the right way really sets this shop apart. read more

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Friendly and very knowledgeable on all types of kayaks and sell you what you need to make your kayaking more enjoyable. Definitely stop there they have help me build a sweet fishing kayak for the bay. read more

Good selection of fishing supplies, kayaking accessories. Good service. Thanks Derek.

A+ kayak fishing store. Well deserved stellar reviews. The new owner, Derek, is an advid kayak fisherman and has a wealth of experience about kayaks. He sold me a kayak that I am extremely happy with and feel comfortable on the water with my new kayak. I went to at least 5-6 places to buy a kayak and each place either the representative didn't truly kayak fish or tried to upsell me. OEX gave me perfect and honest information. Plus he had all the bells and whistles installed on the kayak when I picked it up. So happy to have trusted these reviews and went with OEX. read more

It's only open from 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday. You cannot go here if you work a normal job. read more

OEX - San Diego - Hours - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - San Diego, California

Derek and his staff were very knowledgeable, professional and friendly. They helped me identify the best battery, box and charger for my Newport Electric outboard. And then took the time to show me how to hook everything up. I'm new to the electric outboard scene so it was very helpful and appreciated read more

Had my second great experience with OEX today. The handles on my 9 year old Wilderness Systems Tarpon 100 were breaking off due to age and weathering. Rolled up, Kerry helped me get the kayak off my car rack and installed the new handles. I also had bungees that had lost their elasticity over time and were more like saggy ropes. Merry cheerfully changed them out as a last-minute add-on that I requested. A few years back I had a tie-down mishap that caused my kayak to drag down the road at high speed. Wearing a hole in the hull. OEX sealed the hole and the boat is seaworthy. They carry kayaks, including pedal and motorized fishing kayaks which look like so much fun. Thank you Kerry and staff for giving me reason to make OEX my go-to place for kayak maintenance. read more

Long story short. I purchased a native slayer 10 max. Took it out on the water mid spring for the first time. Instantly felt that there was something wrong with the pedal drive. No smooth at all. A lot of resistance while peddling. Reported the issue right away. After some time of taking it out about the 5th time, I started thinking to myself. There has to be something wrong with this drive. Keep in mind that I did message the owner at OEX SD the first trip I took it out. Sick and tired of it so I scheduled to drop off the drive 2 hours away to OEX. Waited about almost a week and I called OEX to get a status update. Brent or Kerry picked up and stated that he's actually working on it right now and see no issues. Had it apart and found no problem. Brent I believe is the owner and Kerry is the "technician" said they disassembled it and found no issues. I was like, how did he even manage to remove the llate because I tried and it was not budging. I have to say, once this dude Brent has your money in full, customer service and communication goes out the door. When he has your deposit, communication is golden. Nice and courteous all the way but once you pay for your yak and drive off, it's good riddance. That is the feel that I have received from this guy. Lies and lack of follow up. No customer satisfaction whatsoever. This dude when you purchase a yak from this guy, he will bend over backwards telling you that he can meet you on a Saturday because he lives close by so come on by because I know you live far. But as soon as the yak is in your possession and you have an issue with the yak or pedal drive, he doesn't have the time. Anyways, I take my pedal drive over there and after 3 weeks or so I go and pick it up. So the reason it took me so long to go get it was because I called and had asked Brent can he meet me on Saturday so I can pick up my drive and he said he would call me back. He never did. So I had to call of work and I go there unannounced. As soon as I get there, he says, "Ey, I called and left you a voicemail, you didn't get it?" I'm like no! You never called! Fucken lies! Lies and deceit from this guy. So they have a pedal drive right there. I compare the two and mine has way more resistance then before and it seems a little bit more noisy. I'm comparing this right in front of him and he says he doesn't see a difference. I am just shock! He gives me the run around and tells me if I still have an issue with it then send it on back to him and they will call Big Adventures and have the drive shipped out. Thinking to myself, "there ain't no way I am driving 2 hrs just to give you this drive so that you can ship it out!" I'll do it myself! So wasting 4 hrs in total with this knucklehead because he swears that his "technician" is just as good as the techs at Big Adventures. Another thing too was that I asked if they took my drive out on the water and he said, "no, I don't have time for that!" POS i'll tell you. So I call Big Adventure and left a voicemail. Call muktiple times and no answer. This is regular business hours and no one is answering. Emailed and received a message shortly. They don't do calls. Just emails. Smh. Ended up shipping my pedal drive out and 3 weeks later, I receive my new drive. I have to tell you guys this story becausenI want to give everyone an awareness of the shitty service I've received from OEX SD. If you feel like something is wrong with your expensive kayak, I urge you to speak up! Don't let it slt and bring up your concerns. OEX SD is full of lies and they don't know what they're doing. My kayak still has shavings within the hull. The quality control they have is negligence and shitty. At least vacuum out the shavings inside the hull. Why send pass inspection if it's going to be like that? Some people have experience in QC so please do a better job. Something this expensive should be immaculate. Live up to the hype and not bring it down with shotty work and negligence. Do better and satisfy the customer's concern. Please see the picture I posted. The findings were, The exception of the drive cap bearing which has slightly dislodged. That I can tell you was the main issue as to why the pedal drive was not smooth. I received the pedal drive back and assembled the pedals and I can say it is smooth like butter. Stay away from OEX SD! read more

OEX - San Diego - Findings straight from the manufacturer that I knew there was definitely something wrong with my pedal drive. - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - San Diego, California

Jake at this location is the BEST! When we went in to inquire about the Old Town Sportsman 106 powered by Minn Kota, he knew all the specs, recommended specific things, was super helpful. We purchased the kayak that day and he was so nice to offer to hold it for us until we got the racks put on our SUV. He told us what we needed to to do register it and sent us on our way =) Fast forward a week later, we got our racks, and parked right in front of their store (the rack store was right around the corner), and I went in to let Jake know we were there installing the racks and pick up the kayak. He immediately offered to help us! With out him we would have been there A LOT longer! He was super helpful. He knew exactly which screw went where, how to install the racks perfectly and how to tie it down as we were traveling on the freeway to store it. He ties downed both the front and back so it wouldn't bounce. THANK YOU! He isn't only knowledgeable of the kayaks, but fishing in general! We were talking a lot while he was helping install the racks and found out that he competes! He gave us some good info where to go, what to use etc, which fishing fresh water! I hope Jake gets some recognition as he was super helpful on both of our visits to the store! Thanks Jake! read more

OEX - San Diego - Installing racks - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - San Diego, California

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This place is amazing! Everything is there for your kayak needs along with great customer service and a very knowledgeable staff. I can't thank Kerry enough for the upgrades he did to my PA12. His attention to detail and work on all the wiring, mounting and everything else involved in replacing and upgrading all my electronics was meticulous. He hit a total home-run and I could not be happier. Only wish I could put 10 Stars on this review. Thank you again Kerry and thank you OEX! read more

Bought a Groupon for unlimited Standup Paddle Boarding fitness classes for a month. They included SUP Yoga, yoga on a paddle board! That was cool and a different experience. I was so afraid that i would fall in the water, but the poses they make you do are simple and they won't try to make you do a difficult balancing pose on the board in the middle of the water. You paddle around a bit, do yoga both on the board and on land which was cool to do yoga outside in the elements. They also offer a surfer sculpt class on the paddle board, but it included running on the beach so i skipped those classes. (I'm lazy like that) They recommend you take the beginner SUP basics class before taking any of the classes if you've never been on a paddle board. It really helped to take the class first so you know how to paddle, turn and mostly how to prevent from falling in. Staff was friendly, helpful, and professional. Doing yoga outdoors on the beach and on the water was a new and exciting experience. My only gripe is that classes can get canceled due to weather (rainy, windy or cold forecast) so i didn't get my full unlimited month, cause a few classes were canceled. read more

My friend and I purchased a Groupon for a beginner SUP lesson. Our guide gave out instructions to the entire group then approached each individual multiple times throughout the lesson to make suggestions to improve our form and method, which was very helpful. The 90-minute lesson was also separated into increments of 3 so that we were not overwhelmed with information but were allowed time to apply and master the layers of instruction we were given. The lesson was a blissful reminder as to why I love living in San Diego. We got lucky with a cloudless but slightly breezy day. We also saw a harbor seal while paddle boarding! read more

Awesome, not closed at all! While they no longer rent Stand up Paddle Boards, or Kayaks, they do sell them, and all of the latest accessories! Kerry, Iceman Andy, and all the rest of the OEX staff are extremely knowledgable and helpful! have you any questions whatsoever on any of their products, they can answer, some they even sell in house (KayakFishingSupplies) supplies and accessories tailored specifically for anglers and weekend warriors alike! Plus, what ever accessories you purchase from them they will install on your Yak' or SUP for FREE! ;) Awesome, professional, genuine installation at that.. Stop in sometime for all your Paddle Board and or Kayak needs ;) **Update, So this Mission Bay, OEX Location does not carry Hobie items, per Hobie Sales regulations, Hobie dealers must be within a Certain Distance of one another therefore all HOBIE items are carried in the Point Loma store.. If you Have any questions Brain or Kerry are awesome, and Way Knowledgable and will help you out with whatever your Saltwater Needs may be.. read more

OEX - San Diego - Just picked up my new X-13 - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - San Diego, California

Thanks to a handy Groupon, my friends and I found ourselves the day before our San Diego half marathon enjoying the morning taking paddle boarding lessons. What a great location to take SUP (stand up paddle) board lessons! You set off right in a secluded bay, so there are not too many wakes to trip you when you take your first chance balancing on a paddle board. It didn't take us long for us to becoming accustomed to balancing and learning how to turn, thanks to our helpful instructor, Kara (or was it Kerry?). Apparently, she is also certified in teaching yoga on paddle boards as well, which sounds even more enticing to me! I wish I lived in San Diego so I could take advantage of yoga on paddle boards. She gave me brochures though with the website www.paddleintofitness.com, just in case I am in town and wanted to give a try! She'd definitely be great for that too! Paddle boarding aside, OEX seemed pretty hard core with their kayaking stuff. I'd be interested in trying one of their kayaking tours since they are so heavily outfitted with kayak gear and knowledge of the area. This is definitely a good place to check out and rent gear or even take lessons! read more

So helpful. We rented kayaks from them in Point Loma and had a great time. Unfortunately, we got back quite late from our planned time. Bailey was super about it. Great place to paddle from if you want to see a beautiful view of the city. read more

We had our first SUP lesson here using a Groupon. It was a chilly late afternoon on a weekday, so the bay wasn't too crowded. Our instructor was great and kept a close eye on those who were struggling in the group -- that included me in the beginning, but eventually I got the hang of it. I, proudly, did not fall in. But I was also moving very slowly and carefully. Our group of ~10 varied in age range from tweens to grandparents. Leave everything in your car if you can -- they have a small closet where they keep the paddles for you to lock up your car keys, but not much space for larger items. read more

Love this place! They hooked us up with paddle boards when no one else had any stock. I sent my bro over there who was into kayak fishing and he was super stoked. read more

Great experiences with OEX. I got a sweet deal on my Tarpon 130T and went back again for a few accessories and they had the longer Thule carriage bolts for my Glide and Set needed for the new Xsporter with the larger aero bar. Go there for your kayak and SUP needs! read more

OEX - San Diego - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - San Diego, California

Very fun and educational 90 minute kayak tour. Our guides were entertaining and interesting. It was cool to learn about the various wildlife living in the La Jolla Marine Reserve. The kayak tour includes one trip through a cave. That was the best part of the trip. My wife and I saw two sleeping sea lions while we paddled through the cave. Potential downsides: finding parking before your scheduled tour. Follow their advice on getting there up to 45 minutes before your scheduled tour. Potential upsides: you might see a leopard shark or get really close to some of La Jolla's resident sea lions. read more

Any outrigger paddlers out there know that there aren't too many stores here in San Diego to get our gear, surprisingly. The only other places I've been to are Bob's Mission Surf and a small store in Oceanside. All three were great and had very helpful staff, but... OEX beats everyone when it comes to price. I've had some bad luck with paddling gloves and have already gone through 3 pairs this season because I keep losing them. I bought my latest pair here at OEX, and they're the best quality pair and the cheapest. Can't beat that! I only give it 4 stars because I really wish they sold wooden paddles and not just hybrids, as well as more brands other than Quickblade and Kialoa. But the guy who was helping me said that they could do special orders for clubs and give us a good price, so I'll definitely look at that if need be. read more

Used Travelzoo special and got $25 deal for the 90 min La Jolla Seven Sea Cave Tour for each person. I called on a Thursday because I wanted to make sure there were openings the following Tuesday for 5 of us and asked if I may buy 5 coupons to use all at once. The guy on the phone said there was only one opening @ 10am that day that had enough spaces to accommodate us. He said if I buy the coupon and call him back before they close @ 5pm, he'll book us. It all went as planned. No problem at all checking on the Tuesday we arrived. Parking is a problem, however. They don't have their own parking even though there's a parking lot right next to the store. You'll have to give yourself time to find street parking. This was the only downside to our trip but thankfully my husband found a spot just down the street. Our main guide was Molly and the backup was Ryan. They were both super friendly, easy-going and very knowledgeable about the La Jolla eco-system and had lots of anecdotal stories about the houses on the cliffs. They made the trip worthwhile! Kayaking in the ocean was a little scary. Going out against the waves then coming back in with the waves were probably the scariest part for me but there was someone from the company with us the whole time to see us through the waves. I was in the back of the kayak with my 12 yr son and since he wasn't paddling as hard as I was, my arms were in so much pain afterwards but it was worth it! Fair warning: you will have to paddle though it's not non-stop, there are frequent breaks. For someone so out of shape, it wasn't easy but even I was able to do it. You will get wet on this adventure. wear swim suit, rash guard and slippers. They let you go in the water toward the end if you choose to. I chose not to. ;) -don't bring anything valuable with you; you'll get wet. -the store will hold your keys for you. -there are cubbies to leave your stuff in -remember to leave a generous tip in the tip jar! -they sell underwater cameras for $15+tax. bring one with you if you can buy it cheaper somewhere else. -if you're prone to motion sickness, take non-drowsy dramamine. i took a dose about one hr before going out and i still got a little queasy. remember you're in the ocean! read more

Great shop! Went in there yesterday for some kayak questions relating to fishing the area. Kerry was more than helpful. No strong sales angle. Took the time to go over every question I had..This is the "one stop kayak shop" to get it all done. Fantastic selection. I'm new to sea kayaking. This is where you want to go first when upgrading, accessorizing or purchasing a new ride. Thanks again! read more

Although a Groupon deal, or was not a "cheapened" short or "less than" tour. Jenna and Katie were awesome! Friendly, safe and conscientious! The day was perfect so Jenna swam us into the caves, we saw tons of sea lion, garialdi fish, and learned about the 4 micro ecosystems, the houses on the cliffs and more! I am out of shape and over 50, and was worried about my first kayak trip, it was great! My daughter rowed hard, but I was able to enjoy the 90min tour without discomfort. I think there are four important FYIs. 1) it is all tandem rowing so if you're an "odd numbered" group know you will be rowing w a stranger. 2) the rigor of the trip, and the ability to get in the caves is wind/surf dependent, not guaranteed. 3)it is a heavily visited tourist area, so there are tons of snorkels, swimmers, and kayak to kayak other visitors. It did not at all impact the pleasure of my trip, but be aware:) 4) parking is a pain but not impossible. So plan on being in the shop 45 min early you need that to park and register and walk to beach. Great day, great staff, great tour! Thank you OEX! read more

Bought a voucher for SUP but $15/hr prorated at 15 min increments is still a decent deal. Employees are very chill. Don't expect any instruction...almost self serve. Location is beautiful but parking is a hassle esp late morning and after on the weekend. Lots of ppl there for lots of water sports but still ample water space to paddle. Locker $5/ 2 hr rental w passcode. Note: if it seems too easy to paddle out, u prob should expect a vigorous workout back w the headwind. read more

We did the kayak caves tour and had a great time. Our tour guides were very knowledgeable about and experienced with paddling as well as friendly and safety-minded. I don't remember all of their names - there were four of them - but Lucia was one of them and she was super cool. I liked the guides a lot. The info about the houses and wildlife on the tours was fascinating and they did a great job with it! I couldn't figure out whether to give this three of four stars, and this is why: we had an awesome time but the tour was not what we expected. Pros: We got to see some really cool wildlife really close-up - big jellyfish, leopard sharks, and tons of cute sea lions! - and enjoyed paddling together. The beach and coastline is really beautiful, and the way the waves crash up into the caves makes the scenery all the more majestic. The guides were fun and knew a lot about the surroundings, which made it even cooler to look around and think about what we were seeing. Cons: We did, however, expect a kayak tour THROUGH the caves, and were told that we would get to paddle inside. What we didn't realize is that the weather conditions would have had to be pretty much perfect in order for them to actually let us do that, so we didn't even get to go near them. I can understand why, though, because our group was ginormous and many were first-time paddlers. There's nothing wrong with that, of course, but it was frustrating for those of us who have kayaked before to be corralled into a small space with a large group of people smacking into each other. We could barely hear the guides over the clunk of kayaks hitting one another, which was almost constant because we were confined to small areas while paddling! My suggestions would be to make the groups smaller and to separate groups by experience so that the more experienced paddlers can do some more interesting things...and don't call it a cave tour if all the guides do is point at them as we paddle by at a safe distance! We probably would have just taken kayaks out on our own if we knew it was going to be like that. read more

It was my first time kayaking. Overall it was an awesome experience. The rafts are 2 per person. The company provided you with life jackets and helmets. I should have rented the dive suite for $10 (pretty reasonable). There were two tour guides, Duke and Chris. They really know their stuff. They provide clear direction throughout the tour. They really worked well together. We kayaked through caves, and even above 30 ft water where they allowed us to swim a bit. We saw sea lions and tiger shark (harmless animals). I'm one scary person but this experience was amazing. I will definitely return. read more

Went on the 1.5 hr cave kayak tour with Molly and Katie. They were first rate. Lots of interesting info on the local lore, history, marine life, and conservation. Staff was laid back but attentive. I will happily return for a snorkeling tour on my next trip. read more

Customer Service Here is lacking, I asked about a seat upgrade and I never got a clear answer just a bunch of ramble.. so I continued to walk and around the store.. when i was ready to check out I literally just stood in line while the guy talk to another customer who wasn't interested in buying anything and didn't have anything in hand to buy like i did.. Same yourself the time and energy and go to another location or kayak store. read more

This was a great tour! We had Tristen as a guide and he was fantastic! We actually got to see some dolphins that were playing in the area as well as a sea lion! Highly suggest this kayak rental place! read more

Great time. We had a big group from Utah and enjoyed our tour. It was really fun and relaxing and the tour guide was really informative and told us really neat facts about La Jolla! She made the tour really fun. We highly recommend Missy, she did a great job! read more

Just bough a Jackson Kayak 13.5 Kraken from Kerry. He was very helpful in going through different brands and the features of each. The showroom has a great selection, nobody bothered me as I walked around looking, gave me time to think and come up with questions. I got there 30 min before closing because of traffic, and Kerry stayed over an hour after to make sure I was comfortable with the purchase, familiar with important kayaking tips, and the kayak was securely loaded for the trip home. Would highly recommend this shop, even if you are only exploring. read more

I had never been sea kayaking and was a little nervous about it but I really enjoyed it. Blake, our guide, was friendly and professional making sure he talked to the entire group and answered everyone's questions. He was also extremely knowledgeable about the wildlife and history of the La Jolla cove ecosystem. We saw many type of animals, including leopard sharks, rays, sea lions and numerous birds. I would recommend wetsuits. We ended up tipping the kayak and the water was cold and we would have been uncomfortable with them. read more

Went in today to order a tandem kayak. Unfortunately the guy that works there didn't want my money. I told him what I was looking for and he basically told me he "could probably order what I wanted, but it might take a while and he wasn't sure if the dealer would ever have it in." Then he picked up the phone and argued with someone for another 10 minutes so I had to bail. I literally drove over to West Marine and bought the kayak I wanted and a few other things for a little over 1k. A grand that would have gone to my first choice, OEX, had the guy been interested in selling kayaks. I get being a kayak selling burnout but I really wanted to give that asshole my money. West Marine is a fantastic alternative! Literally a one stop shop, which is what OEX claims to be read more

Helpful staff. Young and informative. The Kayaks are in good condition. Life jackets are a little wore but does its job. I would recommend to go in the morning so you can go through the caves. If the tide is to high or the waves are too crazy you can go through the cave. They talk about the seaweed and the black diving birds that catch fish. The leopard sharks that they advertise are only seen in July and August. Thats when they come to mate on the shores of SD. Great trip on a sunny hot day. Bring SPF and lots! read more

The biggest thing I came away with from this place was that the staff was really friendly. They were helpful and informative. There were only two things that bummed me out: 1) We had a groupon and we didn't see anywhere that there would only be two-seater kayaks available. There were three of us, so one of us had to go with a stranger who did not paddle his fair share, 2) I didn't get to go in the caves! I know that's dependent on proper conditions, but I called ahead of time to ask if there was any time of the day that would be a better experience. They said there wasn't, but I found out later that the time we picked wasn't great because it was a time likely to have conditions that prevent cave entry. I don't completely fault OEX for that though. I could have asked more specifically about the best times for entering the caves, but it honestly didn't occur to me that entering the caves wouldn't be a possibility. Being warned about the double kayaks and the possibility of not entering the caves would have pushed the 4 stars to 5. All in all though, I had a great time. My tour guide was great, we were pushed out past the waves on the way out (A GREAT PLUS, SINCE I SAW OTHER PADDLERS WITH OTHER COMPANIES JUST WIPING OUT OVER AND OVER ON THE WAY OUT TO THE CAVES), and we went at a good pace and stopped to take it all in several times. The tour guide allowed us to jump in the water, and we even got to sea lions! I'd go with OEX again, but hopefully I'll go in the caves in a single kayak! read more

Couldn't ask for better service. Bought a pump for a bait tank for my new kayak and got a great price and all the service has been great. Called and spoke to CJ and he was helpful and knowledgeable. Can't ask for more than that! read more

This was a great time from beginning to end. Our guides, Missy and Jenna, were entertaining, professional, and informative. I'd recommend this as nice addition to any vacation and it's priced reasonably. read more

Cheap kayak rentals. They let me know that it's windy so kayaking will b tough. I did it anyways. Great workout :). They also rent sailboats, paddle boats, speed boats, pontoons, seadoos, and many others. read more

Took a SUP lesson there and it was awesome! The price is great compared to other places in San Diego and they get you on the board and out on the bay quickly. read more

Bought two Groupons but can't remember how much. The tour was 90 minutes, fun and relaxing. I enjoyed it so much that I got a Kayak as a Christmas present so I wouldn't keep renting a kayak. The place where you actually rent the kayak, paddles, and life vest is a bit busy. Be patient they take large groups of people I think they take like 20 people or something arount that so it takes a while to get everyone ready, you will go with another group and the same thing will go for your group. read more