Moss Bay

Highlights:
— Friendly employees
— High-​quality kayaks
— Affordable
— Easy check-​in /​check-​out; lines weren’t too long

Just wanted to add my voice to those approving this business. We came on a late Friday morning. It was slightly overcast and perhaps a little cool for the area (still warm for us Wisconsinites), so it wasn’t busy at all. The staff at Moss Bay are friendly and very helpful. The staff person we first met (sorry we forgot his name) carefully showed us the places to visit on a map, and the approximate time it would take to complete our tour. We appreciated the rent-​for-​two-​hours-​get-​a-​third-​hour-​free deal that they gave us as well, since we went overtime. Lake Union is a great place to kayak. There’s a LOT to see on this little lake. Our thanks to Moss Bay for making this a fun day for us.

This is a super place to go for rentals. They have lots available (of kayaks anyway, that’s what I rented), and helpful but non-​intrusive staff to get you out on the water. I am told that some of the Lake Union rental businesses have all kinds of rules about where you can take the kayaks, but I got none of those kinds of restrictions from Moss Bay. They told me it was fine if I went through the locks, and I imagine I could have taken the thing to the Kenai Peninsula for all they cared, so long as I paid. The kayak was in fine shape, and the location on the Lake is great. It’s right near the seaplane airport, but the pilots are very polite and careful about boaters so it wasn’t a problem. I had a great time paddling to the Ballard Bridge, which is a nice couple hours from Moss Bay’s dock.

It’s pretty nice and in a decent area. Employees were friendly. Equipment was good.

cheaper than most places. nice workers there, good service, good time, good view, nothing more you can really ask for. Just sucks that sometimes you gotta wait but it’s always a fun time here!
I even trust my stuff at their storage area!

A group if us rented single kayaks from here last Saturday. The day was beautiful, the water was calm with a nice little breeze, and we came in the morning before it got too hot. The staff here are friendly, knowledgeable, helpful, and organized. The rental came with nice 14 to 17 foot Necky kayaks, paddle, life jacket, and dry bag (to keep your gear and phone/​camera dry.). The dry bag was an unexpected bonus and greatly appreciated. It was a fantastic mellow paddle around the bay. A great way to see the downtown area of Seattle without all the traffic! Great way to see Gasworks Park as you can paddle up to the shore and take a break here if you want. You can also get an up-​close view of the many beautiful houseboats scattered along the shore, and the view of the space needle in the background is like icing on the cake. The price was very reasonable too. If you want a nice kayak trip, I highly recommend Moss Bay kayaking. They are top-​notch! Five stars!

Came here with a groupon on a Friday afternoon. It was kind of busy because there was a big group of kids on a field trip, but the staff was very accommodating and we only had to wait a little bit before we were helped. If you bring your phone/​electronics/​wallet, they have a dry bag that you can put your stuff in, so make sure you ask for one!
The day we went kayaking was kind of windy, so rowing was a little challenging — make sure you check the wind speeds before you go. Maybe call ahead and ask for their recommendation? Overall I really liked this place and would definitely come again.

Lake union is such a gorgeous lake and Moss Bay is the perfect place for all of your water sport needs. We used paddle boards. For my first time, they did a great little intro. Incredibly friendly staff, giving us recommendations for more things to do in Seattle. Great place for lake activities in Seattle

4-​stars for paddle-​boarding:
Boyfriend and I went on July 4^th around 1pm. We wore bathing suits and took towels, a bottle of water (or can buy for $ 1), and personal belongings. The wait was ~30 minutes on a sunny day (not too shabby). Kayaks were more readily available than paddle-​boards.
With the backdrop of the Space Needle glistening in the background, you flap around the oddly cool and lukewarm Lake Union. It was my first time and I had fun dipping into the waters and rowing between motor boats. The two of us paddled for 2 hours ~$ 60. You store your belongings on open shelves in the shade (shady — pun intended) but nothing was stolen (fabulous)!
–1-​star for parking:
We asked one of the employees about the parking situation BEFORE we signed the papers. She had clearly mentioned the slanted public parking has to be paid for and the straight parking lot right by the bay was private and free; that private lot gave us a ticket for $ 43. Womp womp– preventable waste.

The best place to go kayaking/​paddle boarding. I was in Seattle for 4 of July and the setting and weather couldn’t have been more perfect for this activity. No reservations. First come first serve. The wait never takes more then two hours and it can go fast! The staff was more then helpful and easy going. The price was very reasonable too.

Reasonable rates, friendly staff and great equipment. Had a very nice July 4^th on the water. I recommend this place to anyone, local or visiting.

Fun place to rent a kayak for a while, and ride it on the lake! They get busy on sunny days, though so keep that in mind!

Went paddle boarding here on a weekday. I have paddle boarded before and I can tell you that they had the best boards I have ever used. The staff, especially Kate were really friendly. She helped us through the paperwork and setup super fast. The lake was very peaceful, not many motorists. And for $ 15/​hour, this place is a steal. Way better than other options i have tried in Seattle especially the Udistrict one.

Moss Bay is a great place to learn how to sail. The staff are friendly and courteous. Scott was an awesome instructor. You can tell he really loves to sail and wants his students to succeed in learning. I high recommend Moss Bay!

My husband and I decided to try paddle boarding after work on a sunny Seattle day. The price was very decent ($ 15/​hr) and there was also a groupon deal going on.
The equipment (boards, paddle, life jackets & dry bag) were all in great shape. The staff was helpful, made it easy and we loved that there weren’t too many restrictions other than be safe and responsible on the water. They even allow children as long as parents are comfortable and also allow expecting moms (I’m 29 weeks pregnant).
I would suggest going during off-​peak hours. Lake Union tends to get busy with boat and seaplane traffic. The water is a little merky but not too bad given its a lake. SLU park is a great place to paddle to and make a pit stop to sun bath or swim. For a longer trek, Gasworks Park is a doable paddle. Just simply paddling around the lake and taking in the scenery was relaxing and enjoyable! We will definitely be back on the next sunny day!

The guys that run this place are always super friendly and helpful. I’ve been here several times now and have referred all my friends to this rental spot. There is plenty of parking off of Fairview and the side street adjacent to the dock where Moss Bay is and they have plenty of kayaks and SUPs to satisfy your paddling needs.
My friend and I took out some kayaks two hours before closing and traversed back and forth across Lake Union looking at boathouses. then we decided on a last minute push to the Mountlake Cut in the second hour and we were on a major time crunch to get back. I got back first just past closing to apologize to the guy working there and to wait for my friend to paddle her kayak in — he was super understanding and didn’t make us feel bad about being late. Will definitely come back again — next time we will head to the cut first!

My sister (maid of honor) and bridesmaids surprised me by taking us here on our last stop at my bachelorette party! We had the best time on the paddle boards! Couldn’t have asked for a more magical way to end my special day!
The staff here are friendly and go above and beyond to meet your needs. They let me use their extra stable paddle board since I was worried about falling in. With their superb customer service, you can really tell they love their job.
The location is perfect! Easy to get to, plenty of parking, and beautiful views! Right on the lake. The whole atmosphere at Moss Bay was serene. I felt like I was on a tropical vacation!
Paddle boarding is so relaxing and fun. We had a blast and will definitely come back!
Thank you!

Me and my PIC are the cover photo for Moss Bay? YAY! It could be you next, but knowing this today means it is time to give these cool peeps some stars!
The skinny:
Super kind staff. Fantastic views of Lake Union and Gas Works Park.
The water wasn’t too choppy for the SUP or the kayak, which made the blissful day even better.
You can paddle over to the houseboats and continue on to Gas Works if you dare. Like I have to tell you, but the views of the Seattle skyline are breathtaking from the water, if nothing else.
Location, location, location is what makes Moss Bay a destination.
The courteous staff is what makes me what to come back.
Midway through our SUP sesh, we were like, «hmm… maybe we should head back and get in a kayak». It was a slow day and we were celebrating my birthday and they were totally cool with that! A business that puts priority on the client’s experience is one that I will give my patronage to, time and time again. Excellent job, Moss Bay!

Beautiful day in the PNW so kayaking seemed like a great day time activity to try out.
The staff is really nice and friendly. They make sure to answer any questions you have and explain the basics of kayaking and they give you some tips too. Pricing isn’t too bad either. Less than $ 20 an hour. not sure if that’s expensive as this was our first time.
Kayaking itself is fun, but the struggle was definitely real. My sister and I did a two person kayak and while it was fun, it was hard syncing our paddles together. Perfect arm workout too. I’m pretty sure I’ll feel the burn tomorrow morning.
FYI; kayak in a swimsuit. Unfortunately, my sister and I came unprepared and lets just say. I was sitting in a pool of water in the kayak and my jean shorts were SOAKED. Oh and I highly recommend sunscreen. I’m currently two different shades of brown. Thanks Seattle. I’m not going to complain, I’ll take all the sunny days I can get =)

Kinda hard to rate non food places for me because I don’t know what constitutes a 4 or 5 star. Lets just say 4 star is a thing I’d do again, but not regularly. 5 star is something that I’d want to do a lot. But I’m not sure what that 5 star item would be…
I went paddleboarding for the first time here right before summer started and it was probably around 75 degrees that day at 4pm. Turned out to be warm enough! I thought it would be chillier since it’s water activities, but granted I didn’t fall into the water, it was fine! When I see people doing this, it looks super easy, but then I think about it, I’m like that’s hard! It turned out to be something in between. You get a life jacket from this place, safety! I got used to standing/​balance on the board pretty easily, but paddling was a lot of work from a standing position. When you get tired, you can sit down, and it’s like kayaking haha. Lake Union is also a great spot for this. It’s generally pretty calm waters, except when you come across fancy boats going by. I went for just shy of 2 hours, which was good enough for me.
I bought a groupon so I think it was $ 15 for the two hours. Regularly $ 15/​hour. They were able to accommodate a group of roughly 10 just fine. Parking around SLU is a bit tricky. There’s street parking, but I bet it’s probably for only up to 2 hours ($ 1.50-$ 2/​hr I’m guessing). There’s a parking lot right outside of this place, but it’s probably more expensive per hour. SOOooo… come on a Sunday when there are no street parking restrictions.

Good, efficient, friendly staff. Well maintained, almost new looking equipment. My husband and I plan to become regulars there!