What we’re about
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 (4+)
See all- Bethel Point to Malaga IslandBethel Point, Harpwell, ME
Come out and celebrate Juneteenth with a trip to Malaga Island!
We can sneak through the shallows of Yarmouth island on the way out. Lunch stop on Malaga Island with time to walk around and ponder the history. We should have plenty of time to explore Ridley Cove on the way back. I’m open to adding a few nearby islands to the route if the group is interested.
Butts in Boats at 9:00 AM, expected return by 2:00 PM
Distance is 11 nautical miles if we include a few nearby islands but could be as short as 9 depending on what the group decides.
Bring a fully equipped 14+ foot kayak with plenty of flotation, PFD, safety gear and dress for immersion, ocean temp is still below 60.
Low Tide at 11:46 AM. The weather currently says 79 degrees and partly cloudy with 5-10 kt winds, but it’s too early to know so keep an eye out for changes as the date approaches.
Weather
https://marine.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-69.897&lat=43.768Malaga Island Information
https://www.mcht.org/preserve/malaga-island/
