On 19-Mar-2005, "Cracked Pumpkinhead" wrote:

However, I'm thinking of
going on weekend intro courses for both S.K and W.W.

If you're serious about giving WW a try, sign up with Madawaska
Kanu Centre (MKC). http://www.owl-mkc.ca/mkc/. You won't find a
better place for instruction without a two day trip.

There's a one-day sea kayak symposium in mid-May at White Squall.
http://www.whitesquall.com/symposium.php. If you're going to
be paddling in Georgian Bay, you'll want to know about White
Squall - they are the main outfitter in the area.

GLSKA also has a weekend symposium/Rendezvous in June. Details
at the GLSKA web site. http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Gorge/4657/
The basic info is on the Trip Listings page for June. On the News
page, you'll also find listings of other symposia in the Great Lakes
area. BTW, the GLSKA Rendezvous is for members only - hint, hint...

For sea kayaking, I think you'll be better off starting with symposia
and renting different kayaks than buying one and taking lessons from
an outfitter you don't know. No one provides sea kayak instruction
locally with a reputation that matches MKC in WW.

Mike