Paddlesports

   - including canoes, kayaks, standup paddleboards and accessories!

Laacke & Joys is your local paddlesport shop! Our large selection of canoes and kayaks include recreational, touring, whitewater and kayak fishing. We also carry many different models of standup paddleboards from Surftech. They come in great designs, are super strong, lightweight and lots of fun!

Paddle On, Milwaukee!

Throughout summer, we will be offering “Monday Night River Cruises” launching from Laacke & Joys Downtown on the Milwaukee River. Cruises are free and open to the public. River Cruise class sizes are limited and registration is required by calling L&J Downtown at (414) 271-7878. River cruise time: 5:30pm-7:30pm (please arrive by 5:15pm). Weather permitting.

Register for our 2010 Kayaking Basics Classes.

This class will focus on the basic strokes and safety skills needed to enjoy paddling a recreational kayak on our many calm inland lakes and rivers. By improving your skills and learning the strengths and limitations of your craft, you will be safer and more comfortable on the water.

For ease of transportation, we invite you to check out Yakima - available at all stores. There are 4 main ways to go... roof racks, strap racks, hitch racks and truck solutions. Stop in to learn more about rack basics and fitting solutions.

Below is a snapshot of some of our most popular boats. Many are available when you shop Laacke & Joys online too!

RECREATIONAL KAYAKS

Current Designs’ Kestrel 120 TCS –The composite hybrid Kestrel 120 is the epitome of recreatational kayak designs. The best paddling rec. boat ever made, it's incredibly maneuverable and rock solid stable. And at a jaw dropping weight of only 32 pounds, anybody can throw it around with ease.
Comfortable enough to use for exercise while providing a reliable platform from which to fish, take photos, observe wildlife or simply enjoy a relaxing jaunt. Short trips are enhanced by its generous cockpit for ease of entry and exit. Gear has a place in the Kestrel's surprisingly large rear hatch. Our Kestrels come fully outfitted with reflective perimeter lines, restrained toggles, recessed paddle parks, rear hatch and bulkhead, and complete fore and aft deck rigging with paddle float rescue capability.

Dagger Zydeco 9.0 - Our easiest-to-paddle, lightest, most approachable kayak design is a true performer. Maximized waterline length combined with a surprisingly zippy hull.

Perception Prodigy 12 - Explore what’s a little further from land - load up the water-tight storage compartment for that all-day trip in a Prodigy 12.0. Maybe just relax and bring your bird watching or fishing gear. Efficient performance and exceptional comfort help you make the most of any day.

Dagger Alchemy 14 S - The stylish Alchemy light touring series hits the water running, packed with performance capabilities for both flat and moving water. Featuring the stability that’s suitable for new paddlers, but with performance edging and turning capabilities ready for advanced skill levels. With enough storage and speed for an extended weekend excursion, it’s time to grab your gear and get moving.

TOURING KAYAKS

Current Designs Squall GTX R Kayak - The Squall is scaled down for the smaller paddler or for someone wanting a slimmer, tighter fitting craft with all of the features and details of the Storm. The Squall carries enough gear for long trips and still performs well as a day tripper. At 22" wide and 16'6" long, this quick little polyethylene kayak is zippy and fun. The Shallow "V" hull gives a lively feel, yet a strong sense of security when leaned over on its side. The 29 1/2" long cockpit allows good contact with the boat and superb control. This fine sistership to the Storm is appropriately named Squall (a small storm). If you want a performance touring kayak with extreme durability the Squall is for you.

CANOES

Native Watercraft Tegris Ultimate 12 – Native’s new Tegris® material provides excellent impact resistance and hull stiffness without sacrificing weight. The Tegris version of the popular Ultimate 12 weighs in at a meager 36lbs. Compare that to its 55lbs. rotomolded variant.

We-no-nah Northfork – Rugged, stable and easy to paddle. The Northfork is built using the Three-Phase Rotomolded (TPR) construction method. This polyethylene construction offers an extremely durable canoe at an excellent price. It's built with a super-tough linear high density plastic with a special foam core throughout the hull. Fishermen and sportsmen will appreciate the Northfork's ruggedness and surprising capacity and families will also feel at home with this canoe that feels exceptionally stable, paddles easily yet still responds quickly to your paddle stroke. This well-behaved canoe feels especially solid when the going gets rough.

We-no-nah Wee Lassie – This brand new solo canoe is extremely fun to paddle and at only 24lbs. it is an absolute dream to carry to and from the water. Coming in at 12’6”, this Kevlar beauty is a must see for anyone who’s ever considered a solo canoe.

We-no-nah Southfork - Rugged, stable and easy to paddle. New for 2010, the Wenonah Southfork is a smaller version of the polyethylene Northfork, constructed in Wenonah's super durable Three-Phase Rotomold polyethylene layup. A smaller size and a little less weight makes this boat more manageable for normal everyday use. With it's ample rocker and sleek lines, the Southfork is a great paddling Rotomolded canoe. It's a proven favorite for down river outfitters and rental operations because of its smooth paddling and toughness. This canoe is also popular amongst recreational users looking for a great value in an entry level canoe.

We-no-nah Heron - A compact canoe with classic lines, great for exploring quiet waters. Based on the We-no-nah Spirit II, the Heron is a short utility canoe that is excellent for casual activities on calm, local waters. This type of canoe is often preferred by people who aren't paddling enthusiasts, but who use a canoe occasionally for a variety of purposes. The Heron's blend of stability, efficiency, and capacity makes it truly useful in a broad range of situations. Stable enough for less experienced paddlers to use comfortably, the Heron's performance makes traveling longer distances practical, including one or two day trips. The Heron tracks better and is more efficient than our Fisherman. Yet at 15' it is still short enough for tight, twisting streams and occasional, intricate rapids.

SIT-ON-TOP KAYAKS

For those of you who wouldn’t mind skipping spring to head straight for summer, we now offer Ocean Kayaks line of sit-on-top kayaks. The all-around versatile Scrambler, the women’s specific Venus, and the Peekaboo which has a viewing window in the hull are all on display.

Perception Tribe - (coming soon to Laacke & Joys online store) An affordable, easy to paddle, and great looking sit-on-top, the most surprising thing about the Tribe 9.5 is just how great it paddles. It performs terrific in surf and rough ocean conditions, but is also speedy and maneuverable on flat water and lazy rivers. With side handles built-in plus additional bow and stern handles, carrying and car topping is a breeze.

FISHING KAYAKS

Wilderness Commander - This kayak/canoe hybrid combines the agility and superb paddling experience of a kayak, with the stability, capacity and comfort of a canoe. The Commander 120 is loaded with design features to enhance any angler's day on the water.

Wilderness Systems Tarpon - The wildly popular Tarpon series offers exceptional paddling performance through enhanced the bow lift for gliding through the surf and copious tankwell storage space. Raised floors offer an even drier ride in the seating area. The real headliner, though, is the customization capability of the total experience made possible by a series of outfitting and deck innovations.

WHITEWATER KAYAKS

We are very proud to have added Liquid Logic’s extraordinary boats to our lineup. We currently have both the Remix and Crossriver family on display. In addition, we also have the Jefe and Jefe Grande available from our rental fleet for those who are interested to test the new outfitting system. For those of you who have not yet had the chance to test drive Liquid Logic’s new system, come on in and test it out for yourselves.

STAND UP PADDLEBOARDS

Experience standup paddling this summer! Our line of standup paddleboards (SUPs) includes models from Surftech - a leader in the stand up industry. We invite you to come in and check out our different styles including the Laird Hamilton Series.

About Laird Hamilton:

Laird Hamilton is one of the most famous extreme athletes on earth. Raised in Hawaii, Laird made a name for himself by taking on the largest waves the Pacific Ocean could produce. To keep fit in the off season, Laird resurrected the sport of stand up paddling more than ten years ago and now offers a full line of SUPs starting with the original models he designed with shaper Ron House. These boards are the top selling SUPs in history for their stability and performance.

Laird Tuflite 11'6" & 12'1" Paddleboard

Designed specifically for standup paddling, the Laird stand up paddleboard has a wide and thick template with a flat bottom for stability. Low rocker for speed and pulled in tail for maneuverability.

Laird Wood 11'6" Paddleboard

Designed specifically for stand up paddling, the Laird stand up paddleboard has a wide and thick template with a flat bottom for stability. Low rocker for speed and pulled in tail for maneuverability.

Softops French 10'6" Paddleboard

With the full rail and flatter bottom, the 10'6" Softop SUP is the most stable stand up paddleboard for its size on the water. Subtle entry rocker and added tail rocker make this board paddle fast and maneuver easily from the tail. The ideal board for larger paddlers or those trying stand up paddling for the first time.

Softops French 11'6" Paddleboard

Created by master craftsman Randy French, the 11'6" Softop SUP was designed for stability and glide. The added volume and full rail make this board the most stable stand up paddleboard on the market! Great for larger paddlers or those trying stand up paddling for the first time. The 11'6" Softop SUP is a recipe for success! Featuring a completely built in soft EVA deck pad for superior traction and grip along with an ergonomic carry handle.

SHOP LAACKE & JOYS ONLINE!
Visit our online store where you can purchase select products in our paddlesports department.

Below are pictures from our 2010 paddling workshops and seminars.Thanks for coming out and we look forward to seeing you on the water this summer!