Isle Royale Forums

Greetings!

I'm headed to Isle Royale for the first time at the end of August. I'm hoping to kayak just within Tobin Harbor assuming the weather conditions are favorable. Does anyone know what type of kayaks they rent - sit-in or sit-on-top? All I can find online is single or tandem but no pictures. Also curious as to length. I've rented a kayak in Michigan last month and it was shorter than my other rentals and handled like a bath tub.

Thank you!

Looks like I did manage to answer my question. This website (https://quirkytravelguy.com/isle-royale ... e-camping/) showed a picture of the actual kayaks. They are very similar to the ones used in the self-rescue training I took earlier this year.

If those are the rental kayaks now, they've upgraded their fleet.

To expand on the previous: This is the kayak I rented at the Rock Harbor Marina in 2021. This was before I had much idea about kayaks other than they are used on the water. There were no bulkheads, or foot pegs, or a spray skirt, or proof that I could perform a self-rescue with anything other than my wits and swimming skills. It was also a day on Tobin Harbor with little wind, and those are the kind of conditions in which the marina will rent kayaks and canoes.

If it's important to you, you may want to call the lodge (not the visitor center) to see if they can provide definitive information. Those boats strike me as being for a tour group that is not just going to paddle around Tobin Harbor and probably provided by an off-island outfitter.

I will call the lodge to confirm. I was wondering if they really were part of the rental fleet since several of them appeared to have bilge pumps and float bags.

Contacting the lodge didn't provide any information but they gave me a different number for the marina 906-337-4993. Had to leave voicemail due to high call volumes. If I learn anything useful, I will share it in case others have the same questions.