Big Muddy Adventures offers a selection of canoes for rental. All rentals include: one paddle and life preserver (PFD) for each person in the canoe, a rescue throw bag, stern rope, bow rope, bailer and sponge. Renters are responsible for return of all equipment and canoes in good condition. Additional equipment including camping is available.

During the 2009 paddling season, March - November, BMA will be offering canoe rentals by. appointment. Contact us and we will meet you at the river, the pond or the creek and deliver your canoe rental package. BMA will also be scheduling canoe rental and instruction at selected events during the year. Announcements about dates when we will be at these locations will be made on the Calendar, Home Page, the Dispatch, and in our Newsletters. If you are interested in rentals or in large group rentals, contact us. We can make a plan to be available.

General:

Paddler must be able to self-rescue, using included sponges & bailers
Paddlers responsible for any damages or loss of canoes. Required damage deposit (see below)
Each paddler must sign a liability release and statement of responsibility before taking a boat. A parent must sign for anyone under 18.
While Big Muddy Adventures is not responsible for evaluating a paddler's skill or ability, or determining their route and destination, we reserve the right to refuse rentals to those individuals whose skills do not seem suitable for their intended outing.

You might buck around in some of the big waves, but if you are a competent paddler you'll have no problem. Can you self-rescue? If not, we do offer Self-Rescue workshops. This is our only requirement, whether you are in a canoe or kayak.

The biggest obstacles for paddlers are tugboats, buoys, dredges, wing dams, piers & industrial docking. As with all rivers, any stationary object creates bad eddies, possible whirlpools, and should be avoided. Please leave a wide margin between you & any stationary object, and be prepared for unexpected changes of current direction and/or large violent boils. You’ll want to give tugboats plenty of maneuvering room as well. Paddle defensively around tugboats! Even though they are slow monsters (5-15mph), and you’ll see them from a long way off, but they often won’t see you, or if they do, they won’t have any choice in their navigation. They are slow to stop and slow to move. But beware of winds and/or water currents blowing you into their fronts or sides. The most dangerous place is in front of a tugboat, the safest place is behind it, or far from its sides.

Also be prepared for erratic & chaotic waves that sometimes erupt along powerful eddies on a windy day, or following the passage of one of the big tugboats pushing 42 barges. We commonly see 4-6 foot waves behind the bigger tows, sometimes 8 footers. Usually these are nice rounded waves (which you can actually paddle into and surf) but be ever vigilant for crashing waves, haystacks, and other rapidly changing conditions. Lastly, tie up canoes after making any landings. Fluctuations in river levels and waves will steal your canoe & gear otherwise!

Canoe Damage/Loss Deposits

For Kevlar canoes (retail value of $2500-$4500) a deposit of $1200.00 (cash or check) payable to Big Muddy Adventures is due at time of rental.

For Aluminum canoes (retail value of $1200) a deposit of $500.00 (cash or check) payable to Big Muddy Adventures is due at time of rental.

Please note: It is our goal to return 100% of your damage deposit. If you return our equipment in good condition your deposit check will be promptly returned.