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| - My review is on Desert Adventures, not kayaking the Black Canyon. All my experience with purchasing permits and making reservations with DA was wonderful. However, the equipment and customer service of the drivers was terrible.
A quick note about myself and my friend; we are larger women (230 lbs), however, we kayak all around the US and have never had a problem with rental boats. We've used everything from angler boats, Perception and Wilderness brands to sit on tops without any issue.
A few days before our trip, my friend and I went to the store and rented some camping equipment. While we were there we asked about the boats we would be using for the Hoover Dam to Willow Beach self-guided trip. They said we would be using Old Town Vapors and asked if we wanted to check them out. We did. I noticed that they were a far cry from the sleek beautiful boats on the web, but I assumed those were "advertising" boats and since we weren't offered any other option in a sit-inside, I thought nothing of it.
At the launch under Hoover Dam, our driver started unloading the boats for us and the other four people in bus. The other four boats were the "advertising" boats and I had serious boat envy but didn't think too much of it at the time. We shlepped our boats down the long ramp to the water's edge. Yes, WE carried the boats, the driver did nothing. Then we launched without any help getting into the boats, no checking to make sure our foot pegs were in the right place, or even asking if we had ever kayaked before.
They had warned us about the winds - how it was a common occurrence - and to stay on the sides of the river. It was terribly windy (20 mph) and we struggled. However, all other people on the river were in better boats and glided right by - still working hard, but much more productively due to better equipment. Less than an hour into the paddle I realized that my seat back was broken. The string that you tighten to bring the seat back up worked, but the top half of the seat back had broken from the bottom half where the string pulled. Thus I had little to no back support for the entire trip. Again, bad equipment.
When we arrived at Willow Beach, exhausted after paddling all day we were offered no help pulling our boats up or getting out. We were told to zipper and stack our life jackets neatly and use a sponge to clean off our boats. Zero service level. And they expect kayakers to tip the drivers, in fact they even recommend a percentage.
The following day we complained and were told that we weren't offered any other boats because of weight and fit. I can not fault them for following weight restrictions given by the boat manufacturers, but I can fault them for not having a proper boat for the trips they offer for those who weigh more. As I mentioned, I have used much better boats - in my weight range - in easier conditions. if they are to offer a trip like this, where wind the wind conditions we experienced are not uncommon, they should ensure that their equipment is appropriate for all weights, or they should have a weight limit on their trips.
We are already planning on a Black Canyon kayaking trip for next year, but we will be looking for a different outfitter. I do not recommend Desert Adventures.
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