About us
Southern Maine Sea Kayaking Network (SMSKN) is an organization for ocean-going sea kayakers to meet paddling friends, learn about safe paddling, and plan trips together. We are an all-volunteer nonprofit and have been active since 1992. Our trips are mostly in the open ocean along the wild and beautiful coast of Maine. Except for some training sessions, all trips are on tidal waters.
We are an active group with trips, training sessions, and monthly membership meetings where we socialize (mostly on-line at this point) and hear interesting talks about many aspects of ocean paddling. Additional information, including recordings of past meeting presentations, are on our website, **smskn.net**, so check there for additional paddling resources. Sea kayaks with sealed bulkheads and static deck lines are required for our trips, as is the use of spray skirts, PFDs, and appropriate immersion protection and safety gear.
Most of our activity, including joining, event planning, and paying dues, is handled through our Meetup page, so please browse the upcoming and past events to learn more about us and what we do. If you're a long-boat ocean sea kayaker looking for paddling friends and skill-building opportunities within a fun and active year-round paddling community, you're in the right place. Come join us!
To join, please complete two steps:
- Join using your full name, please, on the Meetup profile. (The full name is for safety purposes.) Membership is $20 annually and helps pay for coaches, speakers, pool sessions, and other paddling resources.
- Please sign our online Participant Agreement, https://www.smskn.net/membership/participant-agreement/. Again, for safety purposes, this is required of all members.
Glen Gordon, President
Southern Maine Sea Kayaking Network
Upcoming events
13
Fundamentals for a Lifetime of Sea Kayaking (Fee Required)
Lookout Point, Harpswell, ME, US**Please read the SIGNUP INSTRUCTIONS BELOW**
Coaches:
John Carmody (About)
Tom Allen (British Canoeing Sea Leader and Coach)
Cost: $100
Special price made possible by coach donations and by a 30 percent SMSKN subsidy.
Location: To be determined a few days before the event (in Harpswell, either at Lookout Point or Mitchell Field).A strong foundation of basic skills helps to ensure a lifetime of safe and enjoyable sea kayaking. If you are just starting out on your sea kayaking journey, or feel you would benefit from revisiting skills, this class has been designed for you.
This two day class is intended for those who want to develop strong foundational skills and understandings which will be applicable throughout their paddling careers. Starting with the paddling fundamentals of posture, connectivity, power transfer, and balance, this class will focus on the individual paddler’s needs. Coaches will assess skills through questioning and observation then design tasks to determine the day’s direction.
Bring what you would need for a day on the water: sunscreen, water, lunch, and so forth.
Getting wet is not mandatory but dress for immersion just in case. If you do not have any of the following gear, please let us know and we will arrange to borrow the equipment you need.
Gear:
Sea Kayak with waterproof bulkheads
Paddle
Personal Flotation Device
Spray Skirt
Helmet (recommended but not required)Maximum class size: 8
Schedule:
The course will run from 9am to approximately 4pm. The location for each day will be selected based on conditions and communicated to attendees in advance. Again, most likely in Harpswell at Lookout Point or Mitchell Field.Sign-up Instructions:
This course is open to SMSKN Members only. To sign-up please email Tom Allen (tom@tomallenbooks.com). Payment ($100 per person) will be accepted via check, Venmo or PayPal. Your spot will be reserved when payment is received. Cancellations will be accepted and refunds given if we can refill the spot. Please contact Tom with any questions.8 attendees
Past events
903
Group links
Members
223
