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About

KayakDave Round Sticker

Welcome to KayakDave.com

Kayak Dave’s offers a home base to a conglomerate of free-lance kayaking instructors operating in Eastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod. We strive to offer expert insight and instruction to the public on all aspects of sea kayaking. Browse our pages to find advise on kayaks, gear, trip reports, and other outdoor stories from Kayak Dave and his associates. Also, check out our instruction page to see a list of course offerings, virtual instruction, and guided trips for the 2013 paddling season! We look forward to your comments and feedback and to seeing you on the water.

Happy and safe paddling!

-Kayak Dave

 

The Duct Tape Kayak Project:

KayakDave.com is also home to the Duct Tape Kayak Project. Each year we build a skin-on-frame kayak out of PVC and Duct Tape and race it in local paddling events as a fundraiser for charity.

HOW logo with DTK

This year we have pledged to donate 100% of our fundraising total to the new Massachusetts Chapter of Heroes on the Water, a grassroots organization that takes wounded veterans on guided kayak-fishing excursions as a way to help them along in their recovery and develop a new sense of freedom. Our goal is to raise $2000.00 to help our local chapter get their programming off of the ground. We need your help to reach this lofty goal and to help our brave heroes enjoy the sport that we love.

Click here to make a donation to the Duct Tape Kayak Project and know that you’re supporting a great cause!

Thanks for your support!

-Kayak Dave

 

Meet the KayakDave.com Team:

KayakDaveStaffPhoto2013

Alex, Dave (with Morton), Darren, Brett, and Corey after our annual Day-After-Thanksgiving Paddle

Dave Arruda (aka Kayak Dave) – Principal Author, Co-Founder of the Duct Tape Kayak Project

Alex Russo – Principal Author, Co-Founder of the Duct Tape Kayak Project

Keith Reinemann – Contributing Author

Darren Jaeckel (aka Toes) – Contributing Author

Steve Alexander (aka Boreal Alvik) – Contributing Author

Corey Morris (aka CoRay) – Contributing Author

Nick DelPrete – Contributing Author

Brett Muirhead – Co-Founder of the Duct Tape Kayak Project

Henry Dorfman (aka Capt. Hank) – Contributing Author

 

The KayakDave.com Rating System:

We take our product and service reviews very seriously at KayakDave.com. When reading, please consider the perspective of the instructor who authored the review. Their physical size, paddling experience, paddling style, and sponsorships/affiliations will all have some influence on the review. This information is provided within each instructor biography and any specific conflicts of interest (i.e. pro-deal or sponsorship) are disclosed therein. A Kayak Dave rating will appear at the end of each review and the number of paddles indicates how psyched we are about the product/service. Five paddles indicates that it was the most stellar gear/experience we could have hoped for while one paddle indicates a complete bust. As always, please feel free to comment on any review if you have a unique or alternative perspective.

Instructor Biographies:

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Nick DelPrete

Paddling region: New England

Current kayaks: Valley Anas Acuta, WS Sparrow Hawk, NDK Romany, North Shore Calypso

Past Kayaks: Valley Nordkapp RM, Perception Carolina 12

Height/weight/shoe size: 5’6”/125lbs/size 10

Types of paddling:

  • Sea Kayaking
  • Surf Kayaking
  • Racing
  • Instruction

Experience:   

  • Instructor at Coastal Kayak Educators (2008-present)
  • Owner at Coastal Kayak Educators (2011-present)
  • Writer at KayakDave.com (2012-present)

Other Outdoor Activities: Camping, Hiking, Cycling, photography, skateboarding

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Brett Muirhead (aka “Brett The Jet”)

Paddling Region: New England

Favorite Kayak: Valley Anas Acuta

Height/Weight/Shoe Size: 6-0/240/11W

Types of Paddling:

  • Sea Kayaking

Experience:

  • Sale Associate at Billington Sea Kayak, Plymouth, MA (2011- Present)
  • Contributor at Kayak Dave.com (2012- Present)

Other Outdoor Activities: Traveling, Pickup Sports, Going to the Beach, Spending time with Family and Friends

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Henry Dorfman (aka “Captain Hank”)

Paddling Region: Western Hemisphere but mostly Midwest and Southeast USA

Current Kayaks: Fleet usually runs about a dozen, split between sea kayaks and whitewater

Past Kayaks: Too numerous to mention

Height/Weight/Shoe Size: 5’10”, 190 lbs., 11EE

Types of Paddling: Sea kayaking, whitewater, surf and about anything else wet

Experience:

  • Staff Writer at KayakDave.com (2012-Present)
  • Founded Cincypaddlers.org (over 2,200 members) and co-founded Paddlefest Cincinnati
  • Ran regional Sierra Club paddling school
  • Paddled on all five Great Lakes in a five-day span
  • Favorites include Costa Rica whitewater and sea kayaking Alaska, Sea of Cortez and Glen Canyon

Other Outdoor Activities: Backpacking, cycling, photography

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