There is nothing like a day out on the water with nature at your fingertips as you glide by. Kayaks and canoes make for a peaceful float on the Skagit River and Float Skagit has everything you need. This locally-owned business takes care of everything, from the watercraft rentals to even driving you to the put-ins, so you can just enjoy the day. Convenient online booking makes it easy to plan your day on the water!
The Skagit River is the perfect place if river floating is your aim. It has several miles of quiet waters that are fine for beginners and youth, as long as you know the current conditions, water levels and areas to go. That’s where Skagit Float comes in. Owners Kirk and Lisa Knudsen know this river like the back of their hand and can help you pick the perfect river outing in Skagit County for yourself or your group. “I guess the biggest tip for kayaking the Skagit that I can think of is to know the river conditions before you go,” shares Kirk. “Kayaking the river from October through May can be very dangerous at times. Also, the higher in elevation you go, the faster the water moves, which raises the risk level.”
From Navy Boats to Kayaks: Skagit Kayak Rental Company a Couple’s Dream Come True
Kirk grew up in South Bend, Indiana. He chose the Navy as his career and was transferred to the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in 2000. He moved to Mount Vernon in 2010 when he met lisa, who is now his wife. Lisa is from Lake Stevens originally. “We both love to be on the water and have sailed the San Juans for years before living on the river,” shares Kirks. He says their watercraft of choice these days is a kayak, due to the comfort and ease of navigating through moving water.
After he retired from the Navy, they looked into income opportunities. “We have been paddling the Skagit for years because we love the surrounding scenery, the wildlife and how quiet it is compared to other area bodies of water,” he shares. “It also has so much history. If you really pay attention, you can see it all along the river banks.” As they discussed, they realized that boat rentals and river transportation was lacking for the area, and would help visitors and residents alike share in the beauty of the Skagit River and surrounding bodies of water.
So, Kirk and Lisa opened Float Skagit on June 1, 2021, with rentals and river transportation.
Kayak Rentals and More at Float Skagit
“As the years progressed, we began to understand that there was a need for recreational boats throughout the area as well as in the Cascade Range lakes,” he adds. So, they now offer kayak and canoe rentals where you can take them to surrounding bodies of water, not just the Skagit River. No roof rack? No problem! They rent out roof racks as well as trailers to get you on the way to the water with ease! They also do deliveries.
Something you may not have seen before is their hybrid kayak/stand-up paddleboard rental! This unique watercraft can act as both a SUP or a sit-on-top kayak, explains. Kirk. Even the paddle can be converted “on the fly” so you can switch back and forth on your journey should you wish.
They have daily scheduled shuttles that drop off people at specific put-in spots, such as Edgewater Park or the Skagit River Fork, depending on the length of float you are looking for. However, they also take requests for individual service for those looking for longer journeys further up river, including multi-day trips.
While they do not do guided tours, each group is tracked via GPS for safety reasons. Before heading out, renters will be briefed with instructions, river conditions and tips on popular places to visit. They do provide basic boating lessons if requested.
For more information, visit the Skagit Float website.
