Buoy-ain’t this fun?

Float away with Oregon Coast Kayak Connection

By Gretchen Ammerman

Oregon Coast TODAY

His big white box truck goes by the name Betty White. His dog is named Pet Peeve. If he didn’t already have a job, we would try to hire him as a punster at TODAY Towers. But he does have a job, and it’s a good one.

Scotty Richardson owns and operates Oregon Coast Kayak Connection, which includes stand-up paddle board rentals. He transports the equipment to the location of the client’s desire, including Beaver Creek, Olalla Lake and the Yaquina Bay, and provides tour guide duties if requested for a fair additional fee based on the type of excursion requested.

“Connecting people to this is a great joy for me,” he said. “Recreating on the water has always been a part of my life and brings me a lot of peace and tranquility.”

If a tour guide is requested, he might tool comfortably along with his clients in a boat with a whisper-quiet electric motor, ensuring he can assist or tow kids or adults who need a break from paddling. The stability of the boat enables him to capture photos or videos to share with the client and to use a fishing pole to catch the occasional fish. But most importantly, a special basket is rigged up in the front of his boat so that Pet Peeve can always come along. Clearly a dog lover, Scotty welcomes dogs that can handle being on the water for a few hours.

Scotty, who has a degree in Integrated Natural Resources Technology, has been sailing, boating and kayaking for three decades, but his previous jobs, including at Englund Marine Supply and Columbia Marine Exchange, were mostly on the public service side.

“I got tired of working retail and my friends said, ‘Why don’t you start your own business?’” he said. “I already owned more than a dozen kayaks and had a ton of experience and an enormous passion for paddling so it was a perfect fit. It took a tremendous amount of planning, work, preparation and expense to have the business become a reality, and safety is my number one priority next to having FUN. One of my main goals is to offer a custom and tailored experience that sets me apart from the local surf shops.”

On a recent morning, local artist Rebecca Hooper, aka: the Gypsy Weaver, booked a tour for visiting family. Hooper’s studio, where she sells her stunning creations made from old maritime ropes and other retired fishing gear, is just feet from the Oregon Coast Kayak Connection headquarters in Newport’s Aquarium Village.

The group, a perfect tour size of three adults and three kids, included a boy who was kayaking alone for his first time in one of the kid-sized boats. He had previously only been out in a tandem kayak, which is something that can also be rented from Oregon Coast Kayak Connection.

We explored Beaver Creek, first heading west to where the river opens into the wide expanse of Ona Beach, then took a U-turn and headed up river, low branches and kingfishers crossing overhead. It being a warm day and my dog being in the car because she’s no Pet Peeve, I left the group early, but asked if they were enjoying the trip before I did.

“I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time and I’m glad we’re finally doing it,” said Hooper, followed by a chorus of “This is great!” from the collection of kids.

Though places like the Yaquina Bay are tide-dependent (for safety reasons, these excursions require prior arrangement), Scotty promotes his service as year-round and rain or shine, so if you are the type that prefers the shoulder season when the weather is less pleasant but the crowds are less prevalent, tours can still be booked.

And finances also might not be a barrier.

“I have a Pay-it-Forward program,” Scotty said. “I won’t turn anyone away due to financial needs. All people need to do is reach out to me and we can talk about options.”

Scotty can accommodate groups from a solo paddler to an entire elementary school class.

He will also provide a special experience for people with mobility challenges by taking them out on a tandem boat and do most, or all, of the paddling.

With the most diverse fleet of kayaks and stand-up paddle boards available on the Central Oregon Coast, including kayak styles of sit in and sit on, singles, tandems, kids and leg-powered pedal drive, there are options for fun, fishing or photography.

You might even rent an electric powered kayak like the one Scotty uses, but Pet Peeve, she’s not part of the package.

Rental prices begin at $69 per person for groups of two to three, $59 for groups of four or more and $39 for kids age 12 and younger. For more information, go to theockc.com or call or text 503-358-8301. Please keep in mind that Oregon Coast Kayak Connection is a one-man operation and the proprietor is often on the water, so your patience is appreciated with response times to tour booking requests.