Kayak Rentals Checklist
Multiday Rentals Checklist
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I understand the steps I have to take in order to rent from Terracentric
Read & review our Reserve a kayak page
Have each member of the group download & fill out Kayak Rental Inquiry Form. Completed forms can be sent to fun@terracentricadventures.com
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I understand what experience me and my group need to have as well as the rental policies.
See Rental Criteria & Policies page
I understand that if my group does not meet these requirements at the time of check-in, we will be denied the rental with no refund.
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I have successfully booked my kayak.
If you are at this point, you ought to have received a confirmation email from us with a booking number and we will have received your payment for your rentals. If not, see our Reserve a Kayak Page
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I have reserved my ferries transport aboard BC Ferries.
From May to September, our ferries get busy! We recommend that you reserve the routes that you can (not all are reservable) and plan to have snacks and water and a good book for waiting in terminals. Always check service notices prior to sailing and ensure adequate time to arrive at the terminal(s) at least 1 hour ahead of sailing time even if you have a reservation.
Schedules from Vancouver:
Schedules from Vancouver Island:
- Little River to Westview: link
Reservations Link:
Driving time from Saltery Bay to Lund is typically a 1 hour 15 minutes’ drive. Traffic and road construction may add to this time significantly, so please plan accordingly especially if you are needing to pick up supplies or grab some lunch prior to arrival.
If you arrive later than your scheduled time and another group is on site, you may need to wait for our launch site team to be ready to attend to you; please let us know if you are going to be late.
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My gear is all packed up into dry bags.
- What do I need to bring? See our Multi-day Sea Kayak Suggested Gear List.
- When you arrive at our launch site, we ask that you are packed and ready to go in order to keep things moving at our launch area. Having a duffle or IKEA blue bags is a great way to move your smaller bags up and down the beaches where you will camp. At our site we have wheelbarrows for your use!
- Boat packing tips: Having several, smaller, 5 – 20 litre dry bags, is better than fewer larger dry bags, as all of your gear has to go in and out of the smaller hatches and it can be a bit of a puzzle. Lighter gear goes into the ends of kayaks and heavier items are towards the centre. No gear, other than required safety equipment and a water bottle, should be on top of your kayak. Small soft sided coolers can fit in the centre hatch of the doubles. Only water bladders should go into your cockpit with you if you need to, along with a small dry bag of essentials such as sunscreen, snack, lip balm, camera, sunglasses. Small soft sided coolers can fit in the centre hatch of the doubles.
- Waterproofing Tips: All of your clothing should be in dry bags. Dry food goods ought to be in dry bags or sturdy stuff sacs lined with garbage bags on the inside. Sleeping bags & pads can also be waterproofed by using the same garbage bag liner on the INSIDE of the stuff sac method. Tents can be made smaller by separating fly, tent, poles.
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I have all my water storage containers filled & ready.
- It is a good idea to plan on carrying most of the water you will need for your trip, unless your route includes reliable water sources. Given our past dry summers, most water sources are not reliable. Plan on 3 litres per person, per day for your trip. And plan on bringing a method of water filtration and purification.
- Please try to fill your water storage prior to your arrival at our site. We can, if required, have renters fill at our launch site, however, note that the Lund community water system while completely potable is not the tastiest and you may wish to bring along flavour crystals to ensure you drink that water.
- Terracentric also can rent you 10 litre dromedary bags, which need to be booked in advance.
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I have my route planned & have my float plan printed out.
- Making a trip plan.
Having a trip plan or a float plan is something we ask our renters to leave with us and is on rental agreement forms. We want to know where you are headed, where you are planning to camp and that you have an idea of what you will do if you need assistance during your trip. And we want to know who to call if you don’t return.
Making a plan also allows you and your group to discuss what your objectives for the trip are and make sure that you are all aligned with your goals. This can prevent poor decision making in the field. You can access free online trip planning resources here.
Another part of planning your trip is what you are going to eat! Please note that there is a year-round campfire ban at most of the campsites in the Desolation Sound & Copeland Islands Marine Parks. The exceptions are Tenedos Bay and Roscoe Bay, and only if there is no summer fire ban. And keep in mind how you are going to take care of your food in terms of animals. Some sites are on the mainland and there can be bear activity. Even on the islands there can be racoons & mice. You can access free online meal planning here.
- Charts & Maps for Planning and Navigation
Terracentric provides each rental group with a small laminated overview map of the area. It is not a chart, it is an overview of the Desolation & Copeland Marine Parks. Terracentric is a chart dealer and the chart for the immediate Desolation Sound area is #3538. We can set one aside for you if you like to pick up upon your arrival.
Recreation maps. Wild Coast produces great recreational maps of popular kayak destinations and the maps include distances, location of campsites, stores, hiking trails, anchorages, water fill locations. Terracentric sells these as well and can send to you ahead of time for planning purposes.
The BC Parks website also has great information about the Desolation Sound Marine Parks (they lump the Copelands in with Desolation) & maps of each campsite.
- Marine Weather & Tides
To gather your information on tides and marine weather, follow these links. Either have them saved on your phone, or print them out for the period of your rental and bring them with you.
If when you access the above information about tides & marine weather, you are unsure what that information means to you as a paddler, then you need to take a lesson focused on these things, unless someone in your group has the knowledge to use that information correctly.
- Should I start or end my trip in Lund?
Some people don’t mind paddling in / out of the same port. Others like to start or end at a different location. Terracentric does offer transfer of kayaks from one side of the Malaspina Peninsula to another for a fee, but note we are not insured to carry passengers, so leaving vehicles on either side would be required.
See our Kayak Transportation page for more information.
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I have my BC Parks Backcountry Camping Permit.
When travelling in our area, you will most often be inside of a marine park – either the Copeland Islands or Desolation Sound Marine Parks. If you are camping within those parks you will be using the designated camp sites and camping on platforms in order to mitigate your impact on the environment. You must have a back country camping permit, which you can book online. It is a nominal per person fee but helps support the work of the parks rangers and staff in our area. Note that on the BC Parks website, Desolation Sound Marine Park includes the Copeland Islands. Having a permit does not mean you can reserve specific spots within the Sound at this point in time.
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I know where I am picking up my kayak in Lund & where I’m parking.
- Review your confirmation for directions and for your scheduled time of arrival. If you arrive later than your scheduled time and another group is on site, you may need to wait for our launch site team to be ready to attend to you; please let us know if you are going to be late.
- Parking:
If you have already booked a spot with us, you are all set to go! Note that we do ask for you to leave your vehicle keys with us in a lock box in case we need to move your car on our premises.
If you wish to or need to park elsewhere, we strongly urge you to utilize the services of other local businesses who have dedicated parking locations. Parking rates in Lund are very reasonable especially compared to city rates. Please refrain from parking along the highway or along residential side streets as you are likely to be towed. There have been cases as well of vehicles being vandalized when they are parked where they are NOT supposed to. Please help our community and residents continue to support having visitors to our area by being respectful of this.
You can book your spot here:
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I understand Leave No Trace Principles and how to be a responsible visitor!
As there are more people enjoying the great outdoors it is more important than ever to be mindful of our impacts on the natural world as we get outdoors! Following the 7 Leave no Trace principles is an easy way to ensure that these shared backcountry sites will be in good shape for the next guests. If you need information about how to put some of these principles into practice in our area / in a marine environment ask our team!
- Plan ahead and prepare.
- Camp and travel on durable surfaces.
- Dispose of waste properly.
- Leave what you find.
- Minimize campfire impacts.
- Respect wildlife.
- Be considerate of other visitors.
When you return from your trip, please note that we do not have recycling or garbage facilities at our launch site for you to leave with us.
Now offering Palli Palli Powell River Paddle Boards in Lund!
