I've rented SUP boards from here several times and always had a good experience. Trudie is helpful…read moreand friendly, making sure I get the right kind of board and advising me on the conditions. I would just say I haven't tried the lessons or kayak rentals from SUP Shack so I can't comment on those.

I have a few pieces of advice for people who are considering renting a paddle board and going to…read morethe Santa Cruz Harbor. The yelp page says "The Santa Cruz Harbor location is the best place to get on the water to learn stand up paddle board." I have paddle boarded a few times, and I know the basics. However, my experience with the harbor is that it is not friendly for beginners, or even somewhat experienced paddlers, let alone complete novices. I've paddle boarded a few times. When I went here, I have complimentary access, and a person was assigned to go with me on another board. That was a good idea. However, I did not have prior knowledge of the Santa Cruz harbor where we were going, and so went into the session unaware of many big pieces of information that I felt were important. I was not given any knowledge of what to expect with paddle boarding in the harbor - how to deal with various obstacles, what route I would be taking, and so was taking live direction from the owner along with my companion for about 5 minutes, and later was following the companion. I was given some small amount of instruction about the basics of paddle boarding - I had paddle boarded before, but did not know many skills, and then was sent on my way in a narrow harbor with docks and boats on each side, and boats coming and going through the harbor. I believe the harbor itself requires at least an intermediate level of paddle boarding skills - muscle power, techniques, stamina, and knowledge of best practices with encountering boats, at minimum. I learned this in real time, and it was very challenging. Also, staying straight in the harbor requires constant paddling - it is relatively narrow, with boats on each side, and incoming and outgoing boats. At least the time that we went, we could not even take a break from paddling when going against the tide to return back. If we took a few seconds break, we risked drifting to the side and hitting a docked boat and falling off. At one point my companion took off, and I was struggling to do a mandatory U-turn to head back. I hit the harbor wall and fell off. Falling off happens, I understand, but it was a big challenge to get back on, I had to crawl on the bit of outcrop to do it. Later, I hit a docked boat and was knocked off. I was in the water, unable to get back onto my board - it requires an incredible amount of core muscle power (I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that it's nearly impossible). So I held onto the dock to try to crawl up. I felt a shock, twice - it turns out the dock's renter had put electrical wire on it to prevent sea lions from jumping into their boats. I was barely able to then muscle up and get back onto my board. Then, I found my companion and we were nearing the original spot, when a big boat was coming towards us. When you're on a paddle board, boats do not move for you, at least from what I saw. Our instinct was to go to the big dock, then the boat driver yelled out they were docking, at the spot we were trying to go to. So after some stressful, fast, strong, paddling we were able to get out of the way. I share this because I want to show the reality of paddle boarding in this area. It can be incredibly strenuous, and at times stressful. If you decide to use this rental business, at the very least ask the owner what exactly you can expect (because it wasn't disclosed). You need to be an intermediate or higher paddleboarding. I am a decent, sufficient paddle boarder, but this area is quite high level and should be strictly only open to higher levels. In conclusion, I don't recommend paddle boarding as a beginner or learning to paddle board in the Santa Cruz Harbor. This area appears to require a lot of experience.

Nice little spot at the end of the warf. Recently reopened after reconstruction from earlier…read morestorms. Limited bait and tackle. Nice boats and kayaks for rent. Decent selection of beers and snacks to enjoy at a nearby picnic table.

One of the best experiences of a lifetime go out in the boat. The staff is top of the line couldn't…read moreask for better people. I will be back.

visiting the Santa Cruz area I decided to swing by the harbor. My son and daughter-in-law live in…read moreSanta Cruz, but I don't know if I've ever visited the harbor before. The parking was interesting. I could get in, I just couldn't figure out how to get out. If you're here under an hour there is no charge, however, good luck getting out. It took me forever to get out which of course cost me. Sigh. Would I come back? Probably not to this parking lot!

I love this place! The staff are friendly and the harbor itself is top notch and my new favorite…read morepiece of Heaven on earth for my sweet little boat. I feel safe, happy & free by the sea!

We planned to kayak in the Harbor today, and we were planning to go to the Sup Shack, where we had…read morerented kayaks last summer. Sup Shack was unexpectedly closed (hours and webpage said they were open, the number listed didn't connect, and there was no note). The Hostess at Crow's Nest recommended Kayak Connection! It turned out to be a phenomenal experience! Milan (sp?) talked us through everything, made sure we all had well-fitted life vests, and the office recognized my step-daughter's 16th birthday with a free Santa Cruz sticker. It's true that the construction impedes the experience to an extent- Milan had to call the foreman to have us escorted through, but they did so promptly ensuring minimal disruption of our experience. We got assistance boarding, and we were especially impressed with Milan's patience with my step-daughter, who has Down Syndrome and needed some extra help. He was super patient and kind! We really appreciated that, unlike with Sup Shack, we were given "free rein" during our hour outing, except for needing to follow common sense safety rules. As soon as we were done, we called the number on the kayak paddles, and Milan was down in a jiffy to assist us back. We saw a seal, quite a few crab, many birds, and friendly boaters. We felt the price of $65 for an hour per double kayak (including life vests, paddles, the kayak, and assistance) was a very fair value. Highly recommend this exceptional and reliable business for your next outing!

Good vibes and Great times are found and had here!…read more This was Amazing! what a fun, rad trip we had!! Every person we encountered related to this business was friendly, kind, and professional. We were pulled in by Marcy and her bubbly positive energy on the telephone and followed up with the pleasure of having Suzy as our guide. Suzy was fantastic! Super warm personality and full of knowledge relating to kayaking, local sea-life, birding, and history! Our experience couldn't have been better; literally a ! ...(there is even legend a leopard shark was spotted near the bridge toward the end of our journey). Facts: we saw well over 100 sea otters and about as many harbor seals! ...and Bird-Nerds (no judgement here - I'm in the club) will not be disappointed!! We will return with our son and his gf. **Highly recommended**

Family takes an annual trip to the area and I find myself fishing here an am half day each time…read more Been in these boats about 8-10 times over the last decade. Always a reliable and fun trip. As an experienced angler, this is day off fishing for me. Shallow water rockfish maybe a lingcod. Always tangles and novice tourists but the crew is fast to aid and always comes thru. This boat is great for new folks, families, anyone in the area that wants an easy day of fishing. I hang out on the bow and find a slice of ocean and always pull up something. I try to come early in my trip and get fish for the family. Huge bonus points for the fish market in the parking lot. If you are bringing your own fishing gear, leave the braided line at home and pack light. You really only need shrimp flies and a sinker. Maybe a bag of gulp if you don't want frozen squid they may or may not have. For sure no braid line at all. Hard line policy of the boat. I understand and no longer fight them. I bring a light spinning rod and have a blast catching small rockfish on vacation. Love this operation and will be back annually in May. Parking lot patrol are total and absolute pricks. Pad your parking as I've gotten a ticket literally thirty seconds after my time was up, as I walked to the car. Love the boat. Love the crew. Huge fan of their trips.

The service was good, and the guys helping the people were very nice and helpful. It was in my…read moreopinion to long the time to get to the fishing sports and that took time from fishing, I preferred bigger boats that have benches for the customers to sit until you get to the fishing spots. The price was good $101 per adults + license+ reel rental and tackle

Love it. Gone 3 times now and all were great…read more Looks like they no longer have the brunch sail which is too bad because that was my favorite, but both of the afternoon sails I've gone on too have been great. Staff are super nice. It's just gorgeous out there. Bring warm clothes! It's windy and sometimes you get wet!

Such an amazing experience! Came with a group of 8 people on a Sunday for a 1 pm tour. We all…read moreenjoyed it a lot: the weather was beautiful and the vessel looked very well kept. The crew itself was very knowledgeable and nice and the customer service was top notch: check in was easy and fast, we were given a lot of explanations about what the capital was doing and what is safe, the wine and beer was generously poured, and we were even given blankets as it was windy. separate thanks to the capital for letting a few of us hold the wheel. also saw an otter on the water and a seal chilling on the docks. we made amazing memories and will reccomend this place to others. will try to be back!

Very high-quality detailing, waxing and buffing! Work is top-notch! If you have a boat in the…read moreMonterey Bay area, these are the people you need to reach out to

Outstanding company and service. From scheduling to follow up on appt. time and date to actual work…read moreperformed as PROMISED. So rare these days, but very much appreciated. I hired this company near the end of a 2 year mechanical/electrical refit of my 1995 Scarrab/Wellcraft fishing boat that has spent it's entire life on and around salt water. And I am so glad I left this job to the professionals at Bay Boat Detailing. The boat now looks better than most new boats on the market today. I can read the newspaper off either side of the hull it's that polished! Super fair pricing with great attitudes. We will be using them again in few months. Call Lisa today to get scheduled, they book up fast every month, now you know why!

Absolutely phenomenal ASA 101 experience with Pacific Sail!…read more I had the pleasure of learning from Dylan and Darrel, and I couldn't have asked for a better team. Both instructors took the time to thoroughly cover the material--balancing hands-on learning with classroom-style instruction (Darrel even led lessons right in the hull of the boat!). We practiced tacking, jibing, tied a variety of useful knots, and learned all the parts of the boat in a way that was both fun and deeply informative. Even during wild weather (30+ knot gusts that caused racers to retire their boats!) and a brief engine hiccup, the experience was safe, empowering, and invaluable. I learned not just the textbook approach to handling situations like a man overboard, but also real-world knowledge--like how to troubleshoot engine issues (thanks, Dylan!) and who to call in a marine emergency (thanks, Darrel!). Dylan's patience and steady encouragement made sailing feel approachable, even when conditions were intense. Darrel brought humor, depth, and thoughtfulness to every moment--together, they're a truly outstanding teaching duo. I also had the chance to meet Kate, another instructor, who was all smiles and incredibly helpful, waving while passing up on her tow boat and then cracking jokes to Darrel when she prepared for her Chardonnay crew to take off. On land, Natalie and Ethan from the front desk were warm and welcoming. Natalie and Ethan even walked me over to the boat with my coffee in hand to make sure I didn't get lost. I left this course genuinely feeling like I have a solid foundation in sailing--both in skill and confidence. I highly recommend Pacific Sail to anyone looking to start their sailing journey. This team is the real deal!

Just finished my asa 103 lessons. Dylan is a really great captain! He's very encouraging and…read morepatient for my tons of weird questions. There is nothing he doesn't know he even knows the best fresh restaurant in Santa Cruz! You should all try his lessons and start to love sailing in the blue ocean with beautiful creatures!