Spring paddling season is on the horizon, and this week we’ve got a mix of stories, gear and learning opportunities to get you ready for the water.

The U.S. Coast Guard is asking paddlers to take part in the National Recreational Boating Safety Survey—an important chance for kayakers, canoeists and paddleboarders to make sure our time on the water is counted.

We’re also sharing a heartfelt story about the unexpected conversations that start when a canoe rides on your roof, a look at how kayak hull shapes affect the way your boat performs, and a free webinar on planning a kayak trip to Portugal.

Dive in and get inspired for the season ahead.

— Paddling Magazine Newsletter Editors

Once every five years, the National Recreational Boating Safety Survey (NRBSS), sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard, makes the rounds—collecting data on how many people go boating, the types of boats they use and how often they’re on the water.

Since state boat registrations typically target motorized vessels, they leave human-powered kayaks, canoes and paddleboards unrecorded. The NRBSS may be one of the best ways for paddlers to ensure their interests are represented and participation in boating recreation is properly recorded.

Based on 2018 survey results, it is estimated that there are 84.5 million recreational boaters in the United States operating more than 25.5 million boats on over 25,00 miles of navigable waterways. Now, in 2026, the survey returns for the first time since 2018, making this year’s survey the first time since the industry experienced a dramatic rise in boating as an outdoor activity that started in 2020.

The Coast Guard is asking for your help. Volunteer to participate by completing a brief sign-up and sharing your boating habits and contact information. Later in the year, a large range of boaters will be invited to participate in the larger NRBSS survey.

The Nomad line is a sharp departure from our existing offering. We leaned into more traditional European designs with sharper, elongated chines and rocker for improved edging and carving. This boat is both playful and stable in the surf and an excellent full-featured expedition kayak. Recognizing paddler needs in this segment, the seat position is more central in the cockpit for comfortable back-deck rolling. The embedded compass mount, three bulkheads, stern-deck day hatch, stern-deck paddle recess for remounting and contoured spare paddle storage, will hit many buttons for the avid coastal sea kayaker. We’ve reinforced the decks and hulls for tougher usage as well as for rock gardening. This skeg driven boat uses the innovative Kajak-Sport #4 skeg, with an optional over-stern rudder plumbing too. Learn More

You’d be amazed what people will tell you in a ferry line. I’m leaning against my car on a scorching July day, trying to catch a faint breeze while waiting for the ferry to load. A man in the lane next to me is doing the same. He gestures to the canoe on my roof and delivers a classic opener:

“Nice canoe you got there.”

It’s the kind of throwaway comment you say to pass the time. I tell him I’m on the way home from a trip and that I work for a paddling magazine.

That’s all it takes.

“I haven’t paddled in years, but—”

And he’s off. The time he was on a weeklong Boundary Waters trip with his brothers. They dumped a canoe, lost a shoe and soaked their sleeping bags. His dad was still alive then. His brothers still talk about that trip.

I ask him if he has a canoe of his own, and instead he tells me about his daughter. He got a canoe for their first trip together. She was seven. A thunderstorm came out of nowhere and it poured rain for three days straight. A slog at the time but magic in memory. She’s 21 now, and he’s real proud, though he doesn’t see as much of her as he’d like…

Curious about international kayak travel? Check out this free webinar on how to plan a kayaking trip in Portugal. Hosted by Paddling Magazine’s Brenna Kelly, this session features two of Portugal’s most experienced expedition guides from Douro Kayak Expeditions. Together, they bring more than 60 years of experience planning, guiding and paddling sea kayak journeys across Portugal.

Learn the common hull types you'll find on different types of kayaks—and how they influence the way your boat paddles.