UMass Lowell's Bellegarde Boathouse & Kayak Center
UMass Lowell is dedicated to making Lowell the center of water sports activity in the Merrimack Valley. See below for more information about our Kayak Center and Boathouse.
Boathouse Calendar of Events
Kayak Center
The mission of our Summer Kayak Center is to offer educational and recreational kayaking opportunities to the UMass community and greater public. We provide instructional courses for adults and children of all skill levels and offer kayak rentals daily on the Merrimack River. We would love to get you out on the water, feeling confident, and having fun.
We offer a variety of programs and services including:
Custom & Group Programs
We offer custom tours and clinics, available for diverse groups from schools, boy or girl scout troops, to corporate groups. This option allows you to build a program that fits your needs and choose the times and dates that best fit your schedule. To schedule your program today, select the link below and complete a Custom Kayak Program Request Form.
For groups of 10 or more looking to rent kayaks together during our open hours, we recommend making a group reservation at least 24 hours in advance. Group reservations can be made by calling 978-995-2362. Groups reservations of 10 or more will receive a 20% discount off our public rental rate.
Note: You need at least 6 people to create a custom program. We recommend you complete your request at least 2 weeks in advance of you preferred date.
Boat Sales
The kayaks for our rental program are purchased brand new at the beginning of the year, used for rentals and programs throughout the summer, and sold at the end of the season. Below is a list of the kayaks we are selling at the end of this 2013 season.
Kayaks are maintained throughout the summer by kayak center staff and experience normal wear and tear due to rental and summer conditions; some typical wear you may see are: scratches on the hull and discolored deck lines due to sun exposure. Such conditions do not significantly affect the integrity of the equipment. All kayaks are sold as-is.
Advanced Kayak purchase will start on Monday, July 22, 2013. Kayaks are sold on a first-come-first-served basis. They may be purchased over the phone by credit card (call 978.995.2362) or at the kayak center during open hours.
After purchase, Kayaks can be picked up at the close of our rental season, on Saturday, August 31st.You will not be able to pick up kayaks earlier than this. You will receive the original certificate of origin when you pick up your kayak. On the day of pick-up, make sure your vehicle is properly fitted with pads or rack to securely carry a kayak, and make sure you bring enough webbing or rope to secure it to that rack and to secure bow and stern lines.
If you have any questions about a specific kayak, or which kayak may best fit your needs, feel free to ask kayak center staff, we are glad to help you out. We hope that you come rent with us this summer, enjoy a sunset or moonlit paddle with us, and try these boats out for yourself, it’s a great fleet!
Brand
|
Model |
Style |
Color |
Size |
Length |
Cost |
Necky
|
Rip-10
|
Recreational, Sit-Inside
|
Red/Orange
|
Single
|
10ft
|
$385.00
|
Perception
|
Tribe
|
Sit-On-Top (adjustable for 1-3 people) very stable
|
Yellow
|
Tandem
|
13.5ft
|
$475.00
|
Perception
|
Tribute
|
Recreational for kids or small adults, Sit-Inside |
Red/Orange |
Single
|
10ft
|
$400.00
|
| Wilderness systems |
Tsunami
|
Day Touring, Sit-Inside, can fit a spray skirt
|
Orange
|
Single
|
12ft
|
$600.00
|
| Wilderness systems |
Pamlico
|
Recreationa, Sit-Inside (adjustable for 1-3 people)
|
Red
|
Tandem
|
14.5ft
|
740.00
|
These prices are up to 45% off retail!
Kayak Paddles are also available for purchase for $35 each.
Boathouse Information
Other programs and services offered through the Bellegarde Boathouse include the following. The UMass Lowell Boathouse and the Merrimack River Rowing Association have teamed up to offer a boathouse and community rowing memberships. The Merrimack River Rowing Association offers an array of rowing programs over the summer. The UMass Lowell Bellegarde Boathouse and our waterfront are also available for special events. Click the links on the navigation bar on the left to find out more information about these programs and services.