Cape Cod Sea Sports

Holidays 2011

2011-11-25T14:48:00.013-05:00

Here at Sea Sports we spend a lot of time reaching out to our customers and our public, but we seem to let this blog slip through the cracks while focusing on other social media. If we may set an early New Year's resolution, we would like to try to make this blog another priority in our communication with you, our faithful customers.

Now let's get down to the good stuff! So much is new since the spring, and when it is combined with the spirit of the season you get some pretty exciting news.

First of all, for all you kayakers out there, we've got several wicked awesome promotions occurring right now! Old Town, Necky, and Ocean kayaks are all offering $50 Visa gift cards for the purchase of their Heron, Rip, and Tetra kayaks, respectively. That is a lot of dough at Christmas time!

In terms of Sea Sports specific kayak promotions, we've got the Old Town Heron 9XT at just $399, which coupled with the Visa gift card offer, means you will be paying just $350 for a $430 kayak. Wow! We also have the old town otter kayak at only $249 for an unbelievable door buster. In addition we also have lots of boats left on our closeout list, many are going fast we still have a super selection.

Our annual $99 Down Kayak sale is now going on. Put a $99 deposit down on any in stock kayak, and receive a model miniature ornament to give as a representational gift or to hang on your tree and we will store the boat till spring! Just pay off the kayak and pick up by April 1, 2012!

We are also offering a gift certificate promotion running now through December 11. Purchase any gift certificate at 10% off. Take advantage of this early bird special!

Join us! For Our Happy Holidays Party on Saturday December 3, 2011 from 10:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. Free Holiday Goodies, Warm Beverages, Gift Wrapping on small items, & Gift with purchase!

Let's not forget to mention some of the new gear we are carrying this year. 2012 boats, bikes, and stand up paddle boards are in! Come check them out. We also have plenty of used and older model clearance items to choose from.

Our bicycle department has just been remodeled to make more room for new and exciting product. We have more room for accessories upstairs and expanded our basement showroom. It looks great and we welcome all to come and check it out!

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

Spring!

2011-05-16T16:37:00.004-04:00

Welcome to our Spring news update here at Sea Sports. It seems that Facebook and our shop newsletter are easier ways to keep updated on happenings around here but we will try to keep the bloggers up to speed as well.

We are now OPEN on Sundays from 11-5. Our Sundays hours will continue through September.

We are having a kayak Demo this weekend May 22nd from 11:00-3:00 at Hathaway's pond in Hyannis. We will be offering mini clinics on the beach throughout the day. Come test paddle that new boat you always wanted or try out an upgraded model. The event is free and open to the public.

We have been busy training new divers this spring and despite the cold wet weather thus far the lobsters are starting to show up. Our Thursday evening beach dives start June 16th and are open to all certified divers. The dives run every Thursday throughout the summer at a cost of $20 per person.

I can't remember a time in the last 19 years in business when we have had as much new gear arriving at the shop, just boxes and boxes of bikes, kayaks, scuba gear, and accessories. New equipment and brands include Lazer bicycle helmets, Bic and Hobie Standup boards, Teva, , Stohlquist pfd's, Shimano cycling shoes, and Oakley sunglasses among many others.

We are excited for another great season here on the Cape! Hope to see everyone soon!

General news and updates

2010-11-13T11:56:00.006-05:00

We had a great summer here at Sea Sports, weather was perfect, and business was great! While winding down the 2010' season we have been putting a lot of work into getting prepared for 2011'. We are installing new carpet in the showroom, and have done lots of improvements in the basement getting it ready for all the new 2011' product that is starting to come in.

Speaking of new product, we just got word that the new Atomic Cobalt diving computer has shipped. This thing is sure to be a game changer. We also received the new CAAD 10 bicycles from Cannondale along with a fresh stock of their other 2011' bicycles. Our 2011' preseason shipment from Native Watercraft is due the first week in December. On that order is also a re-supply of the ever popular Featherlight kayak.

We are running some Christmas Specials. We will continue to offer the $99 deposit Layaway on any kayak purchased before Christmas. (we provide a model miniature kayak to gift wrap) Old town is offering a nice rebate on their Vapor kayak. We are also offering a $50 savings on any new bicycle purchase valued at $299 or more. These specials run through the Holiday.

Don't forget we are also on Facebook so if your a member you can use that to stay up to date on shop news as well!

2010-07-02T17:22:00.004-04:00

Wow, July 4th weekend is here! We wish everyone a safe and happy Holiday. The perfect weather we have been having has been great for just about any outdoor activity.

This year we are delighted to be introducing a whole new range of kayaking tours and courses, including Full Moon Tours, Dawn and Sunset Paddles, Seal-Watching Trips, Snorkeling Kayak Trips, Kayak Surfing Classes, Kayak-Camping Trips, Paddling for Fitness, Rolling Clinics and a special Fireworks Paddle for July 4th. Check out our calendar on our website www.capecodseasports.com for a full schedule of lessons, or just give us a ring.

From the diving front, last night's beach dive was a great success, with everyone having a great time. Beach dives will continue to go ahead on Thursday evenings for the rest of the summer, come join us! Congrats to the students of Chris Ranney, who just finished up their open water diver course last Tuesday!

Shop News!

2010-06-07T21:01:00.008-04:00

Well the season is off to a great start and we have been very busy around the shop. Here are some updates and general shop news.

The shop is now open Mon-Sat 10:00-6:00 and Sunday 11:00-5:00. We will expand hours further by the end of June.

Kayak News: Our Big Demo is June 19th from 10:00-3:00pm at Hathaway's Pond in Hyannis. Manufacturer's reps will be on hand, and we will have over 60 different boats on the water. We will also have a kayak fishing clinic Friday June 18th @ 5:00pm. Please call ahead on the fishing clinic. Kayak lessons are in full swing! If you are interested just give us a call. Taking a lesson can be a great jump start into the sport. A lesson can also provide the knowledge to safely paddle in more diverse environments. We can provide a flexible schedule so if you don't see the class you want on the day you want just ask, we may be able to accommodate. As a bonus all lesson participants get a coupon for $45 off the purchase of a boat. So if you're in the market anyway, it really makes since. We have LOTS of new kayak models in stock...glass sea kayaks, sailing kayaks, electric kayaks, pedal kayaks, standup kayaks and boards, and even entry level boats starting @ $269. Come check it out!

Snorkeling/Diving News: Don't forget we are holding weekly beach dives starting June 17th. The dives will run every Thursday @ 5:30pm throughout the season. Please call ahead if you plan on coming. The dives are casual, and all certified divers are welcome. Learn to dive classes are currently being held. Please call for info or to sign up. In addition to stocking the premier product lines in diving from Atomic, SCUBAPRO, and Mares, we are adding SubGear to the mix. We are excited about it and think our customers will be too.

Cycling News: No news is good news... everything has been running great! Look for a shop group ride one day per week starting mid season. Great way to enjoy the camaraderie of others or get coached on basic cycling and group riding techniques.

Staff: We welcomed back Kelly Denham and Brendan Russo to the shop a few weeks ago. Brendan was on the fishing team at Virginia Tech and we welcome his knowledge in the kayak fishing area. Kelly has been working on her kayak guide rating and has been cycling to cross train for competitive running. Elaine Toomey is over from Ireland for the summer. She is a level 2 ICU Sea kayak Instructor and will be leading kayak tours and teaching lessons as well as spending time in the shop. Larry Bessinger our main kayak guide is spending lots of time on his Fuji Newest road bike, when he is not in his Current Designs Willow kayak that is. Matt Lounsbury is an avid scuba diver and will be seen around the shop more as the summer progresses. Jeffrey Gilman is getting ready for the Wilderness 101 hundred mile mountain bike race next month. Crazy! The list goes on...Bob Torrey, Chris Olsen, Chris Ranney, Mike Reardon... we have been fortunate to have a great team here at Sea Sports. Come by and say hello!

Thank you to our customers from the Sea Sports Crew.

Spring Kayak Sale

2010-05-13T20:38:00.005-04:00

We are having a Spring Kayak SALE this Saturday May 15th only. All in stock boats will be on sale 5-30% off. We are also having a kayak Demo on Saturday from 10:00-2:00pm @ Hathaway pond in Hyannis. If you're looking to try a specific model, please call and we will make sure we have it at the pond.

The shakedown dive is this Sunday, May 16th. This is a great chance to get in the water if it's been awhile or if you're a new diver. The dive is instructor lead and the cost is $30.

Our bicycle department has had a great start. Service is going smooth, and we have had quite a few happy owners of new bicycles already. Our shop is stocking a wide range of bicycles from $300 bike path bikes to a Focus carbon bike complete with Lightweight Wheels at $11,900 and everything in between.

The start of the season has been great. What that tells me is there are more people getting out and having fun. Thank you to our customers! We look forward to serving you! Come experience the service that has made us successful.

On another note, Jeff and his wife, Annie, have added a new daughter to their family. Caitlin Elaine Craddock was born May 6th at 3:55pm! We expect she will be every bit the outdoor enthusiast that her parents are.

First Day of Spring! Drysuit course...and Bicycles??!

2010-03-19T11:31:00.004-04:00

Spring has sprung! We have been gearing up for a great season. We are offering a Drysuit course March 27th & 28th for anyone interested in getting an early start on the diving season, or maybe just staying a little warmer. It's a great class, and a good way to get some dives in early.

We are adding a new department to the shop for 2010'. We will be offering bicycle sales, service, and rentals. Grand opening of the dept is April 1st. More info on the department to follow. Rest assured we will still be your #1 source for kayaks, snorkeling, and scuba gear on Cape Cod

New gear from our vendors is arriving daily with lots of new products for 2010'. We hope your excited as we are for the warmer weather. Hope to see everyone soon. come on in!

Post Holiday Paddle/ Closed Jan 1st and 2nd

2009-12-30T16:06:00.006-05:00

We hope everyone is enjoying the Holidays as much as we are! Thank you for making the 09' season a great one for us here as Sea Sports. A few of us did manage to sneak out for a paddle on 12/26. It can be really fun this time of year if you dress correctly. If your interested in cold water paddling or diving stop by the shop and talk to us, we can help you get out there. The shop will be closed Jan 1st and 2nd. We look forward to seeing everyone in 2010'!

Catching Tuna and Hanging On for the Ride

2009-11-23T17:17:00.005-05:00

Here is a story about a
customer that ran today in the New York times.

YARMOUTH, Mass. — Dave Lamoureux’s kayak, named Fortitude, must be the only one in Massachusetts registered as a motor vessel. That’s because a powerboat registration is required to get a permit to fish for tuna here.

Captain Andrew Poce via Dave Lamoureux
Dave Lamoureux with the 157-pound bluefin, a record tuna for an unassisted kayak fisherman.
Apparently, it never occurred to the authorities that someone might be crazy enough to want to catch a bluefin while sitting in what amounts to a floating plastic chair and enjoying what Melville called a “Nantucket sleigh ride.”

Since the end of July, Lamoureux has caught three bluefins this way, paddling a couple of miles off Race Point, at the tip of Provincetown, hooking a tuna and holding on, the rod clipped to a harness on his chest, while being towed at speeds up to 15 miles an hour before the fish exhausts itself.

His most recent catch, on Nov. 5, was a 157-pound bluefin, a record tuna for an unassisted kayak fisherman, and a near record over all, topped only by a 183-pound halibut caught by Howard McKim, an Alaskan, in 2004. Reeling in a halibut, though, has been likened to hauling in a load of plywood, and some of Lamoureux’s admirers consider landing a bluefin, known for its power and ferocity, the greater feat.

Check out the full story at from the NY times

Sandy Neck paddle 11/3

2009-11-03T21:42:00.006-05:00

We had a nice paddle today out to Sandy Neck. We went around the corner, surfed in some fun little 1'ers and got a good workout fighting the tide back. Perfect fall day, glad I was able to slip out of the shop and enjoy it! Larry "the guide" Bessinger and Jim Kaiser of Current Design kayaks joined me.

Customer comments

2009-10-31T10:29:00.007-04:00

We had a customer from New York drop into the shop the other day. He wrote about his experience at Sea Sports on his blog. Check it out.

http://summittoshore.blogspot.com/2009/10/awesome-kayak-shop.html

Hope everyone is having a great Halloween. Nice warm weather for our Spooky paddle this morning!

Spooky Halloween Tour...

2009-10-24T10:55:00.003-04:00

Join us!

Date: Sat. 10/31/09
Cost $45 per person -$30 with your own equipment
Launch site: Jacknife Beach, RT28, Chatham
Time: Leave store at approx 10:00 a.m.
Length: Approx. 3hrs. depended on strength of participants
Tour: Paddle out to Strong Is., paddle along barrier beach up to Little Pleasantbay. Paddle to MoneyHead Is. It is rumoured that Capt. Kidd buried his treasure there. Paddle through the Narrows, back to launch site. Again, tour destinations will be modified to fit the groups capabilities. COMMENTS: Group will have to wade in a few inches of water to launch, so proper foot ware required. Also bring warm gear if needed, costumes optional

Autumn Update

2009-10-10T16:43:00.001-04:00

Here at Sea Sports we are enjoying the beautiful autumn weather. There is still time for some paddling before it gets too cold! We still have lessons going out, while the weather is mild.

Last month we attended the Eastern Outdoor Retailer show in Sturbridge MA. It was a good opportunity for us to see and try out new gear for 2010.

Please check out our new Facebook page. We can be found under Cape Cod Sea Sports on the search. This will provide a

new way for us to connect with our customers and keep you updated on upcoming events.

Also please note that our hours have changed for the fall. We are now open 10:00 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. on Monday through Friday and 10:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m. on Saturday. We will be closed Sundays after Columbus Day weekend.

Snorkeling Tours

2009-08-22T10:45:00.003-04:00

Here is a link to the article the Barnstable Patriot ran on our snorkeling tours. We have brought this program back after a 4 year hiatus. It's a great program and if your new to the underwater world, it's the perfect way to start!

http://www.barnstablepatriot.com/home2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18809&Itemid=68

August update

2009-08-06T14:20:00.002-04:00

No... we are not stocking these! We realize that the diving industry has grown more fashion conscious over the years but we have to draw the line at some point.

Outdoor Retailer was a great show for us. Lots of cool new gear is coming out for 2010'. By going to these trade shows we can ensure we are offering our customers the very best and latest in equipment. Looks like we will be picking up some new lines for next year. We will keep you posted on that!

We had a great dive last night @ Sandwich Town Beach. If you haven't come on a Wednesday evening dive...get on it before the summer is over!!

Summer has come to the Cape!!

2009-07-16T15:26:00.003-04:00

It took awhile, but it's actually felt like summer here on the Cape the last few weeks. We have been busy with Kayak Lessons and diving trips and classes. Make sure to join us on our Wednesday night dives. Next weeks dive 7/22 is going to be @ Town neck beach in Sandwich. We have Quickstart kayak lessons set for tomorrow at 9:00am and next Thursday 7/23 @ 1:00pm. We still have space available to give us a call if you would like to get in. Outdoor Retailer trade show is next week, and our buyers will be attending to test and try out the latest in paddlesports equipment and gear. Look for a post on what is the latest and greatest coming soon!

Check out the new mariner 12.5 from Native watercraft!http://www.nativewatercraft.com/media/videos/mariner12/mariner_intro.cfm

KAYAK DEMO JUNE 13th

2009-06-02T11:02:00.002-04:00

Our huge annual kayak demo day is June 13th from 10:00-4:00 at Hathaway pond in Hyannis. We will have over 80 different models of boats on the water for you to try from leading manufactures. We will have sit in rec boats, touring, fishing, pedal drive boats, electric, tandem... something for everyone!! The shop will be running promotions to go along with the demo all weekend. If your in the market for a boat, this is an event you don't want to miss!

New Website- Open Sundays

2009-05-18T16:29:00.005-04:00

We are now opening 7 days for the Season!! We will be open from 10:00-4:00 Sundays from May 24th-October.

We are also excited about are new website. If you haven't checked it out: http://www.capecodseasports.com/

Tim's First Scuba Dive!

2009-05-01T14:51:00.003-04:00

Well.... not quite. I did have him down at water babies at the YMCA yesterday. I guess he has a few years before we can get a mask and snorkel on him. He does seem to enjoy the water though, almost as much as me! If you haven't seen the new facility and improvements the Y has made, it's worth checking out. We have been using their pool for scuba classes, and I have been a member since it opened and the improvements are great to see.

On another note Rory will be leaving the shop May 11th for the west coast. We will miss him here at Sea Sports and I'm sure many of our customers will as well. On the bright side Kelly Denham, Brendan Russo, and Bob Tory will be back for another season with us here at the shop. Gary has been doing really well too and it's been great to have him back in time to tackle the usualy gear repair workload that comes every spring.

-Jeff

Cotuit kayaking

2009-04-25T16:15:00.005-04:00

The crew from the shop spent sometime on the water this morning over at prince cove and north bay in cotuit. Water seems to be warming up nicely.

2009-04-13T13:12:00.002-04:00

Kayak Courses @ Sea Sports
QuickStart Your Kayak $65 Dates: 6/12, 6/27, 7/15, 7/31, 8/12, 8/28, 9/11
QuickStart is a brief, three-hour introduction to paddling a kayak. Students are presented with basic information on dressing to paddle safely, potential hazards and simple rescues. A minimal paddle skill set is presented and practiced, allowing students to safely and comfortably maneuver on still water. While designed as a stand-alone, introductory course, QuickStart students often progress to the Introduction to Kayak course to acquire greater paddling skill through significantly more guided, on-water practice time.
Introduction to Kayaking $120 Dates: 6/17, 7/22
Introduction to Kayaking is a six-hour course focusing on skills needed for any type of kayak including but not limited to sit on tops, recreational, folding and inflatable. Presentations include dressing to paddle safely and potential paddling hazards. Simple rescues are demonstrated by the instructor combined with the paddling skills practiced by students to maneuver safely and comfortably on still water.
Flatwater Kayak Safety and Rescue $95 Dates: 6/28, 8/9, 9/20
Introduces essential flatwater safety practices and rescue techniques that can be performed with a minimum of equipment, in the first few minutes of an emergency.
Essentials of Kayak Touring $145 Dates: 7/19
is an eight-hour course focused on helping the student learn to travel safely and efficiently by kayak of the types designated as sit on top, folding, inflatable and "recreational." There is more emphasis on practicing a simple rescue sequence, understanding the very basics of tides and currents, use of a compass (safety bearing), rules for paddling in channels with and without boat traffic, use of VHF radio and weather radio and other emergency equipment. The graduates should stay within swimming distance of shore in areas with no conditions such as wind, waves, or current.

Kayak Club!

2009-03-25T12:31:00.003-04:00

Join our new kayak club! We will be paddling every Thursday evening all Summer. The first trip is June 11th. It is a great way to meet new paddlers, check out the local spots, try out new boats, and perhaps even pick up some new paddling techniques. Cost to join the club is $55 and includes free entry every Thursday night, and a nice kayaking club tee shirt. Drop in fee is $14.

The club trips are casual and all are welcome to join/come.

If you are looking for more advanced/strenuous paddling trips Jeff is going to be again leading a Friday night Fitness group. Call Jeff to get on the list for those paddles.

Of course we will again be offering our Wednesday night dives as well, which run every Wednesday through out the season. The cost remains the same at $20 for the dive. Get out and Join us!

Spring??

2009-03-05T12:23:00.006-05:00

Day light savings time is this weekend and Spring is just two weeks away...almost there! It's time to think about dusting off your gear, and get ready for another season enjoying the waters of Cape Cod. If any of your gear needs service, now is the time to get it in so you don't miss any water time when the weather is nice.

Jeff is going to be running two evening navigation seminars the first of which is April 1st @ 5:30pm and designed for SCUBA divers covering all topics on underwater Nav. The second seminar is April 3rd @ 5:30 and is designed for kayakers. Cost is $39 each and advanced sign up is required.

Think Spring!

Ice Ice baby....

2009-02-05T14:49:00.005-05:00

We are running an ice diving seminar this weekend. Ice diving is technical diving; it does require special training, skills, equipment, and practices. But with these, it is quite easy and a great way to spend an afternoon. An ice dive can also be truly beautiful and different sort of dive. Interested divers need to be advanced certified. Class is being held Saturday Feb 7th at 3:00pm @ Sea Sports and Sunday morning Feb 8th at 9:00am for the dives. A limited number of drysuit rentals are available. Please call us for details and to sign up.

Welcome to Cape Cod Sea Sports!

2009-01-16T11:33:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the staff and Shop Blog for Cape Cod Sea Sports. We are a full service watersports retail shop located in Hyannis MA. A Family business, we have been serving the needs of snorkelers, kayakers, and SCUBA divers since 1993'. The purpose of this blog is to keep everyone updated with the local SCUBA diving and kayaking news. Check back often for the latest.