Clarke Outdoors

2009-12-24T23:59:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T06:55:00.000-08:00

Are you ready for the Fall?

2007-09-14T19:31:00.000-07:00

Fall Creek. New Boston. Moose. and once the leave start to change color, just a small amount of rain will bring up the creeks in the Westfields, Catskills, and some of those seldom run spots right here in the northwest corner.

Clarke Outdoors Tshirts

2007-06-18T22:02:00.000-07:00

guess who is sporting a C.O. tshirt?

yup. Corran Addison, hard(ly) at work at his store in Montreal.

play boats are in

2007-06-06T13:55:00.001-07:00

enjoy this latest rainfall that has brought up the play waves with warm water

LiquidLogic Ronin, WaveSport Project, DragoRossi Stinger, Jackson Star, DragoRossi Squashtail, DragoRossi Fish, Dagger Agent

and of course, we have many demo boats for you to try, making it easier to decide which is the right boat for you.

The store has every model of DragoRossi kayak available for you when you want to demo them, as well as some WaveSport, Jackson, Dagger, Pyranha.

Creek boats are in

2007-06-06T13:45:00.000-07:00

While many people lamented the dry weather for the past three weeks, a select few individuals were outfitting their new creek boats. When it rained two days ago, they were ready for action!

Why wait any longer? When the water drops, it's the perfet time to get a new boat and dial in the outfitting, trim, and take some time to get used to the boat on the riverhouse gates or down at swifts. Then, when the water comes up, you will be good to go in your new ride.

DragoRossi Critical Mass, Jackson Rocker, WaveSport Habitat, DragoRossi Mafia, DragoRossi Gangster

Clarke Outdoors is an exclusive DragoRossi dealer.

Monday Night Paddle Club

2007-05-21T11:24:00.000-07:00

meet at the store at 5pm closing time and figure out where to go

this time it was Swift's Bridge

easy eddy access

good for beginners and advance boaters alike

helpful advice from friendly locals

total surfing fun

fast, inexpensive kayak outfitting

2007-05-17T17:53:00.001-07:00

a $40 piece of minicel can outfit 2 kayaks

First, get a pretty new boat. (the one you really want)

Next, get a piece of 3" wide minicell that measures 12" x 48"

Remove the pillars, and remember to take out any set screws or other hardware that is holding them in first.

Insert the block of new foam so that it tucks under the stern deck a few inches, and mark off where the back of the seat is.

also mark off where your stern pillar will insert into your new foam block performance race seat backband

make some crossing marks (you'll see what these are for later)

cut out a slot so that the foam block can fit around the stern pillar

insert the block and follow the contour of the seat to draw a line for cutting.

cut the foam along that curved line so it will fit the shape of your back much better and be comfortable.

trim away any harsh edges so you can have a rounded surface area to help support you and be able to lean back when you need to do so

here's where those other lines come in handy. If you've cut too much of a slot for the backband, then you can easily cut several wedges from the scrap that will allow you to adjust the tightness of the backband.

Sweet! Home-made performance race seat.

Now how about those foot blocks?

It's easy. Just place the block under the bow of the boat and trace the template.

shave off a bit in the front so it will nest all the way down in the bow. Also be sure to cut a nice rounded shape for your feet to rest on.

Hand the rest of the foam to your friend so that he can outfit his brand new boat too!

Whitewater Kayak inventory

2007-05-16T14:33:00.000-07:00

May 16, 2007
a quick glance at what we have downstairs for whitewater kayaks (we have more upstairs, be sure to take a look)

DragoRossi Squashtail $844 with performance backband
Jackson Rocker $999
DragoRossi Gangster $899 with performance backband, bulkhead, drainplug
Jackson Star $999
DragoRossi Mafia $899 with performance backband, bulkhead, drainplug
DragoRossi Stinger $844 with performance backband
WaveSport Project $999
LiquidLogic Ronin $1049
Dagger Agent $925
Jackson 4fun $999
Pyranha Recoil $1099
Pyranha Stretch $999
Pyranha Ammo $1099
DragoRossi PintailXL $844 with performance backband
WaveSport Habitat $1000
DragoRossi Critical Mass $899 with performance backband, bulkhead, drainplug
DragoRossi Fish $844 with performance backband
DragoRossi Thruster $844 with performance backband

Come in and get them before someone else does, and they are gone!

Spring has arrived!

2007-05-11T20:01:00.000-07:00

no other way to say it than with these two stickers

big page of DragoRossi specs and links

2007-04-05T09:04:00.000-07:00

http://www.100waves.com/links.html

a big list of specs, reviews, photos of all 8 DragoRossi kayak models

new kayaks are rolling in

2007-03-19T22:32:00.000-07:00

I"ve noticed that the shop floor is filling up fast with new toys. I saw WaveSport, Jackson, and DragoRossi boats in the pile. It will be an exciting opening day at the end of March.

give that little boater and early start

2007-02-05T15:20:00.000-08:00

http://www.infantswim.com/home.html

riverhouse kayakers go snowboarding

2006-12-14T02:10:00.000-08:00

Farmill River

2006-11-27T16:47:00.000-08:00

Shelton is just about an hour away from the store here in Cornwall and lots of C.O. locals are getting a great introduction to creek boating by hitting up the Farmill River (then they're better prepared for the hair up here..)

Enjoy this point of view (helmet cam) footage of the first two drops and the boogie rapids on the top half of this fun run.
Water was low, but the fun was big!

DragoRossi Movies

2006-11-13T23:16:00.000-08:00

STINGER_freestyle

STINGER_creeking

MAFIA_creeking

THRUSTER_sufring

SQUASHTIAL_norway

FISH_rodeo

PINTAIL_surfing

Bulls Bridge at high water

2006-11-13T21:44:00.000-08:00

DragoRossi Creek Boat features

2006-10-25T11:15:00.000-07:00

just some of the features that make these boats different....

We'll start with the most exciting, and most obvious, the stern bulkhead system. This creates a super strong kayak, and eliminates the need for airbags, since the stern of the boat is sealed off.

access is provided by removing the tight neoprene skirt in the stern hatch

the skirt is, in turn, protected by an outer plastic cover, as thick as the boat's hull. this prevents the skirt from imploding or being scuffed up, ensuring a long-lasting, brand-new skirt seal

the grabloops are another point of interest. Notice the three attachement points on each grabloop
the metal "D" rings are super strong and make clipping in very easy. If one of these happens to break (It would take an incredible pin and many people on a Z drag to do it) then the other one is still attached, and you can try again. You have THREE chances with EACH grabloop, not just one
discussion
info
important
perspective

The Last Monday Night of the year

2006-10-25T11:07:00.000-07:00

The levels were great at both Georges and Swift's for the final meeting of the Monday Night Paddle Club.

Here is Devin braving the elements and ripping up the wave in a Squashtail.

The one and only EDGE windmilling to get onto that wave at Swifts in his Inferno. The level was good, and surfing was great once you dropped into the wave.

Just because Monday Night Club is over for they does not mean that everyone will be inside. the levels will come up again,and surely someone will be out there surfing. AND we can look forward to a good winter on the slopes with the knowledge tthat Monday Night will start up again in April.

See you all there!

kenny

adam

Official DragoRossi Demo Center

2006-10-08T18:15:00.000-07:00

Drago Rossi Fish Squashtail Mafia Stinger Pintail Thruster Critical Mass Gangster
this was the first weekend of Clarke Outdoors as an official DragoRossi Demo Center

Here you see the Squashtail and Fish. Both are excellent surfing and cartwheeling boats. The SQUASHTAILl is an absolute surfing dream; the only boat of it's kind in the whitewater world. If surfing is your thing, then it is absolutely a boat you might want to consider.
The FISH just gets better and better the bigger the water gets. Both boats are for skilled paddlers who weigh between 125 - 180 lbs.

http://totalwhitewaterfun.blogspot.com/2006/04/real-evolution.html

The PINTAILl is one of those boats for when you are feeling the need for speed. It's low deck make it easy to roll, and it's long, smooth rocker, make it a super fast boat that is very predictable and stable in all water conditions. Perfect for a beginner. Excellent for the expert. It babies you in big water and catches waves on the fly on your first try.
Great for paddlers from 100lbs to 200 lbs.
http://totalwhitewaterfun.blogspot.com/2006_07_01_totalwhitewaterfun_archive.html

The STINGER is an all around spud boat that picks up where the Disco left off. More foot room than many spuds. Fogiving enough to allow the medium sized paddlers to use it both as a light creeker and a hard-core freestyle boat. Move over scud, the real spud is back,and designed by the people who brought the Disco revolution to the kayaking world.
The THRUSTER is a pure playboat for the larger paddlers who are saying, "finally, a boat designed just for me" No more lazily "scaled up" little guy boats. The Thruster was designed, from the start, with bigger paddlers in mind. Different sized people means different design challenges and revelations.

http://www.dragorossi.net/drboard/viewtopic.php?t=120

What can I say about the creekers? The MAFIA is a meticulously designed boat that has been seen thousands of hours in the Italian Alps. It really likes the steeps.
The CRITICAL MASS is both the boat for the big paddlers as well as one of the best expedition designs ever made.
The GANGSTER/IDRA is an entry level, less expensive DragoRossi boat that has a creeking heritage, but surfs rather well. It makes an exceptionally stable beginner boat that you will can grow in; from your first roll to your first class V.

http://totalwhitewaterfun.blogspot.com/2006/06/creek-practice.html
http://totalwhitewaterfun.blogspot.com/2006/10/largemediumracetestarossa-seats.html

DragoRossi

Swap and Sale used boats

2006-10-08T17:54:00.000-07:00

Wow! What a weekend so far! Many people brought boats for the swap and sale, and many more people went home smiling with new (or new to them) gear. All of the new whitewater boats were 20% off, and the used boats were super cheap. Here is a list of what is still available for Monday...

S:8 235 $500 ; seven0 m-l $450 ; S:6 200 $275 ; 4Twenty m-l $600

xxx $225 ; Pirouette $200 ; Cruise Control $100 ; Kinetic $250

Attak $250 ; Blade $400 ; Rip $300 ; Transition $150

Air55 $225 ; GForce 6.3 $200 ; Project52 $650 ; Stinger $500

some great deal some paddles ranging from $100 to $150

some of the used boats that are not photographed:
EZ $500
Animas $250
RX 6.9 $650
Burn L $700

future paddlers

2006-10-08T17:46:00.000-07:00

here are a couple of photos of little ones who are almost destined to become paddlers in a few years

Jorey just loved sitting in all the boats. Looks like she is already feeling comfortable in a kayak.

River Bear was jumping all over the pile of tubes. I suspect that he'll be a top-notch freestyle boater one day. He is already getting lots of air without a boat.

Darryl brought Holly up for a visit too so that dad could admire the DragoRossi Thruster and she could sit in the Jackson Fun1

DragoRossi boats have arrived!

2006-10-06T19:59:00.000-07:00

this was the scene at the shop on Thursday as a container full of boats pulled in shortly before 10am.
What excitement!
It was like opening the ultimate present.

then we got down to sorting them out by color and model; pouring over the purchase orders, and making sure that each boat had a proper home

3 boats left immediately
8 boats were unwrapped to help us fullfill our duties as an official DragoRossi demo center
about 6 boats are left for stock while the rest are already sold and ready to ship to customers

take a good look at the entire line of DragoRossi boats.
These are our demo boats, available for you when you feel the urge to get one of these for yourself.
When you think that a DragoRossi boat would be a fun thing for you to try, then you'll want to give us a call to arrange a demo.
860 672 6365

don't forget the t-shirts

2006-10-06T19:51:00.000-07:00

this weekend is the big sale

someone found this brand new shirt.
Who wants it?

leftover DragoRossi logo t shirts (ladies cut and sizes) are hanging on the wall for sale
right next to the ever popular Clarke Outdoors shirts

http://www.cafepress.com/clarkeoutdoors

Kayak and Canoe Sale and Swap

2006-09-28T20:53:00.000-07:00

Columbus Day Sale and Swap at Clarke Outdoors
call for more info about how to get your used gear into the swap
860 872 6365

Lots of used gear that people brought in for sale. Call now and get in on the action.

Recreational kayaks for you, today.
And you thought these boats were cheap already....

Piles of gear is on sale.
Fall is officially here and you just might want to see if your warm and fuzzies pass the "smell test" or if you really think that you need to find a new fuzzy top for paddling this Fall.
Rumor has it that several boaters even where these under their ski and snowboard gear in the winter!

You never know what you'll find. Used paddles, New paddles.
Just look at this Seven2 paddle that was only used a few times for only $100!

Here are some of the demo whitewater boats that are on sale from Drago Rossi Liquid Logic, Dagger, Wave Sport, Pyranha,
I have special, insider information that has let me know the DragoRossi Stinger demo here is only $500.

Columbus Day Weekend Sale and Swap

2006-09-25T11:44:00.000-07:00

BIG canoe kayak accessory sale on Columbus Day weekend.
That's less than two weeks away!

Turn your old gear into new gear.....
It's also a swap meet. So, if you have some gear that you are looking to sell, give us a call, or stop by the shop to drop it off by Friday.

Clarke Outdoors

2006-08-26T10:39:00.000-07:00

Clarke Outdoors

Our canoes are ready and waiting! Isn't this a cool pic? It was taken by Will one day when he was picking up canoes after the flatwater trip.

2006-08-19T11:01:00.000-07:00

Even when the water level is low there is plenty to do at Clarke Outdoors. This is Mark messing around with some of our Inner Tubes we put on the river. Our tubes are ten dollars each and can be rented by the day. We do not offer a shuttle service for the tubes as we do for the boats though, so you either need to bring 2 cars or be prepared to walk :)

Aren't I just so cute?

2006-08-06T12:24:00.000-07:00

There's fun for all sizes here at Clarke Outdoors. This is Amelia. She is a "Clarke" (Jenifer and Mark's great neice) and as we all can see is getting an early start on boating. The earlier you introduce children to boats, the more comfortable they will be, so bring them on down to the retail shop and let them sit in a few!

(Amelia is sitting in the Jackson fun1 kids Kayak for white water)

Quick Paddlers!

2006-08-06T09:08:00.000-07:00

Here are two of our quickest paddlers this summer. They completed the 10 mile trip in less than 2 1/2 hours and stopped for lunch in West Cornwall ! Congrats to both of them. Come on down and see if you can beat their time :)

before you head towards the covered bridge in Cornwall, CT....

2006-07-06T22:10:00.000-07:00

before you go off an have all that fun that you know that you're going to have when you float down the Housatonic River in a raft, there are a couple of things that you should know.

listen carefully to one of the drivers, who will give you some recommendations for your trip. These safety guidelines will make your experience much more enjoyable.

Two pieces of equipment are very important.
You need a paddle (of course)
AND, you must wear a life vest. It is a safe thing to do and will let you focus on paddling and having fun.

This is Chris. He is one of our many drivers. The drivers perform many tasks other than simply driving the vans. They haul around all of the gear, maintain the shop, clean and repair the boats, and give a brief safety talk to each trip that they put out. Listen up and learn the names of many of the sections of the lovely Housatonic River.

off on a scenic float towards the historic covered bridge in Cornwall, CT

unique t shirts available on line

2006-06-29T19:07:00.000-07:00

http://www.cafepress.com/clarkeoutdoors

cool whitewater canoe tshirts to celebrate your kayak, raft, canoe trip on the Housatonic River

available in a few different colored logos

men's and women's styled shirts!

whitewater electricity on Monday Night

2006-06-20T17:58:00.000-07:00

Monday night and everyone was excited for some rippin action at Swift's Bridge
many of the usual suspects were there to shred the wave, have fun and look cool

Top-dog shuttle driver extrordinaire Jason Foggyglasses dials in the wave in a once broken, now repaired EZG 50

Dean invents a new sport: sit-on-top decked boat surfing (that just CANT be comfortable...)
Chris really enjoying the Stinger. (it matches his eyes)

Lightning rolled in about 30 minutes into the surf session so everyone decided to get out of the water. Chris, being the last person out, nearly got struck. No injuries, but his face and thumbs were stuck this way for about an hour.....

Thruster and Critical Mass are coming (DragoRossi)

2006-06-15T13:11:00.000-07:00

DragoRossi Thruster and Critical Mass will arrive in August!!!

Clarke Outdoors will carry these boats. As a matter of fact. Clarke Outdoors will be the first dealer in the USA to get their hands on these hot new boats!

go to the addresses below to see some technical specs as well as some cool shots of these boats in action!

http://www.2imagine.net/blogger2006/cm2.html

http://www.2imagine.net/blogger2006/cm.html

http://www.2imagine.net/blogger2006/thruster2.html

http://www.2imagine.net/blogger2006/thruster3.html

surfing fun

2006-06-13T18:29:00.000-07:00

a little evening surf with friends in whitewater boats. what else could you ask for on a Monday night?

DragoRossi, Pyranha, WaveSport, LiquidLogic, Dagger...... all friends on the wave

Whitewater Demo Kayaks

2006-06-13T17:41:00.000-07:00

Wave Sport, Liquid Logic, Drago Rossi, Pyranha, Dagger, Jackson

all of us employees are supposed to put the demo boats back on the racks when we are done playing with them. But, we don't, and Jennifer reminds us how irresponsible we are. Can you blame us? We just get carried away having fun.
I'd like to invite you to come have fun with us. Call ahead and let us know which boats you like to try (so we can make sure that Chris or Devin doesn't "borrow" it)

Boat repair available

2006-06-13T17:37:00.000-07:00

Canoe and Raft repair....

Everything wears out (especially if you are having lots of fun with your boat) and needs an occasional repair.
We not only sell Old Town and Mad River Canoes, but Mark is a wiz at fixing them.
(he also has been known to repair a raft or two...)

For every worn out boat there is at least one good story.
Call us and tell us about your story.

Tube Rental

2006-06-13T17:34:00.000-07:00

HTubeO

When the water gets low (and warm), we rent tubes.
Have all the fun you want (but bring them back by closing time please)
Be careful out there!

Community Bulletin Board

2006-06-13T17:31:00.000-07:00

Dagger, WaveSport, Liquid Logic, Perception, Riot, DragoRossi, Pyranha, Prijon, Jackson, Mad River, Old Town are just some of the brands that have sold right here on our bulletin board.

Post your message. Sell your boat and make money to get new gear.

Used boats

2006-06-06T20:39:00.000-07:00

looking to sell that boat you don't want anymore?

Clarke Outdoors doesn't sell old boats.

But you are welcome to tell us about the boat you are trying to get rid of.

perhaps we know of someone who might buy it

you can even make a small flyer to hang outside, on our bulletin board

There are some boats up there right now.

As a matter of fact, one of the boats that was advertised on the wall sold this week!

One year old. Three years old. Super super old. It does not matter. There is potentially a customer for your boat.

Dust off the camera. Take some photos. Make a flyer and post it on our wall.

everybody loves t shirts

2006-06-06T20:25:00.000-07:00

of course the shop staff all have at least one of these shirts,but many people are fooled into thinking that we have the biggest staff in the world. Imagine this. NO special staff shirts. NO "ha ha, we're better than you" attitude. Staff tshirts are shop tshirts are customer tshirts are local people tshirts. All the same coolness. All the people love them.

We've spotted Clarke Outdoors tshirts behind the counters of Baird's and West Cornwall Market.
C.O. shirts have been seen at Housatonic Vallley High School.
I spotted the moose shirt on the Kennebec, Deerfield, West, Potomac, Gauley and even the Upper Yough!

Monday night RAFT mission at Bullls Bridge

2006-06-06T20:15:00.000-07:00

Absolutely THE perfect level for rafting. Bulls Bridge was just under 3' on the Flintstone gauge. The water is warm.

The usual suspects gathered at 5pm to figure out where to paddle. When they found out that Bulls was running, everyone got really excited! April had cheated us out of water (which is when most rafting missions happen) but lo and behold, warm weather, high water, and an available self-bailing raft with 7 able bodies. Hmmmmmm What ever shall we do?

RAFT MISSION!!!!!!!!

In the pure excitement and joy, nobody remembered the camera. But, I'll give you a couple of quick ideas of what happened.

Pete guided the raft over the flume for a perfect hit. BAM! Face full of water and everyone laughing.

S-Turn, Pencil Sharpener? Piece of cake.

Great surfing down at George's hole. A few quick surfs without any swims. This crew was just too good for it's own good.

So, half took a break on the rocks, and four adventurous rafters went for a high performance surf. Much hard work, determination, and strong paddling landed them right in the middle of the meat. (only one of them stayed in the boat)

Afterwards, everyone met back at the store for an impromtu cookout, some music, and light hearted discussion (read: making fun of each other for falling out of the raft)

Oh, what new adventure will next Monday Night bring?

Hot Dogs for river hot shots!!!

2006-06-06T20:09:00.000-07:00

I bet you didn't know that the shop has a Hot Dog cart in addition to the snacks and drinks that are sold inside....

But, I'm sure that you did know that hotdogs are yummy!

so are Tootsie Pops.

I like mine with just a bit of mustard on top

(the hotdog, not the lollipop....)

Plastic boat repair (welding)

2006-06-06T19:57:00.000-07:00

All makes, all models, all brands of boats can and will be broken. We've seen all sorts of warranty issues from all the boat makers.

The good news is that, even after the warranty is expired, a boat can usually be repaired and have it's life extended (so you can start saving for a shiny new boat......)

the trick is to first make a good structural repair. It will be ugly, but at least it can get you out on the water.

After the initial repair cools, then the time to pile on the extra plastic begins. Keep piling it on, layer after layer, melting melting melting. Make an oversized glob of plastic.

The giant mess can now be carved down with a shurform shaver. you can recreate the chines and edges of your boat to make it look new again.

this EZG used to look absolutely horrible! Now it looks like it will last through most of the summer so that someone can have a little more time to earn money for a new boat (with a warranty)

great creeking practice

2006-06-02T17:27:00.000-07:00

Bulls Bridge at 3/4' makes for some good creeking practice. You can boof the flume, deal with a sub mission at little niagra, and scrape lots of plastic off your boat on pencil sharpener

kayak prices

2006-06-01T08:35:00.000-07:00

Pyranha Stretch $999
Pyranha Seven-0 $1099
Pyranha 4Twenty $999
Pyranha G:3 275 $800

WaveSport Project $999
WaveSport EZG $999
WaveSport Z $599

LiquidLogic CR $999
LiquidLogic Vision $800
LiquidLogic BigWheel $750

Dagger RX $999

DragoRossi Pintail $899
DragoRossi Fish $899

*all prices subject to change

Monday night whitewater fun

2006-05-31T16:45:00.000-07:00

Beginners and experts alike
gather every Monday night
at Clarke Outdoors after work
to do that move with the quirky jerk
Shake it up, oh oh

All old Cars song references aside, you should really consider meeting us on Monday nights at the store.
The most common place we go is Swift's bridge for some casual surfing. People are either learning to do the eskimo roll, get their first surf,and some adventurous folks work on flatwater freestyle stuff. All ages. All abilities. All fun. All the time.

Many of the employees are trying out the latest demo boats from the good folks at DragoRossi, WaveSport, LiquidLogic, Pyranha, Jackson.

Just look at Chris and Dave show off their awesome whitewater kayaking skilz!!!

Beginner, Intermediate, and Experts alike at
"MONDAY NIGHT PADDLE CLUB"

Jackson kayaks.
Liquid Logic kayaks
Dagger kayaks
Wave Sport kayaks
Drago Rossi kayaks
lots of whitewater kayaks.

power company mistake makes for whitewater fun

2006-05-31T14:57:00.000-07:00

Who was confused by the odd internet gauge reading at Bulls Bridge this weekend?

Who was suprised that Bulls was running 2' all weekend on the painted gauge?

Who was lucky enough to be hanging around, and got to do Bulls Bridge at a fantastic level, with wonderful weather, and enjoyed surfing George's at it's best "wave" level!

The inside scoop, direct from the folks at the powerplant is that they had a minor malfunction with a turbine, and had to do a partial shut-down to fix it. So, what would normally be bypassed, taken from the river, and run through the canal, was allowed to spill into the natural riverbed, thus making Bulls Bridge run all of Memorial Day weekend.

Sorry that the engineers had to work all weekend.

Happy that we got to enjoy the water AFTER work all weekend. (insert happy smile here)

learning a bit of whitewater, together

2006-05-28T20:44:00.000-07:00

Parent, child, siblings, friends, husbands, wives, boyfriends, girlfriends. People who care about each other in some way. That's what we see the most, learning to paddle various boats on the Housatonic River and it's tributaries.

Everyone enjoys the victories through hard work and mutual support, the rewards of which allow each person to simultaneously be with other people, and be by themselves in an often spectacularly beautiful natural environment, exploring places that most people do not have the great opportunity to see.

Every Memorial Day weekend, the LeClair's pull up to Webatuck Craft Village on the Ten Mile River, in their mothership, and host a slalom clinic and race for advanced-beginner whitewater boaters. It is a tremendous opportunity for novice paddlers to gain more experience with handling their boats. Historically, slalom boaters have gone on to become some of the world's best "extreme" whitewater athletes, pushing the boundaries of both freestyle and river running. While most people do not take the sport this far,and are quite happy with enjoying the river on the weekends, slalom is the fastest way to hone precise whitewater technique.

One of the Clarke Outdoors whitewater instructors reported that this year's clinic was a wonderful success. His positive review was complimented by some clinic attendees who were shopping in our store this weekend.

Mark it on your calendar for next year. You won't want to miss out!

Happy Memorial Day

2006-05-28T20:38:00.000-07:00

No big sales. No annoying hype. Just good ol' American FUN this weekend. Working hard at playing hard for all three days, letting people get a break from the daily grind and remember all of the wonderful things that we are able to experience in this country thanks to many dedicated individuals.

Mark regales his audience with story after story of exciting whitewater adventures, no matter what the conditions. He always does it with a smile on his face (and sometimes with a bandana on his head)

Come on in and ask Pete your self, "what's an anti S.I.B. device?" He'll be happy to tell you. (it's quite an important accessory on the Grand Canyon)

it's like a whitewater coffee house...

2006-05-27T14:23:00.000-07:00

sugary snacks for waaaaay better prices than expensive coffee houses, and lots of water related books and magazines for sale.

Come in, sit down, recharge, and plan your next exciting mission!!!!!!!
Just imagine the feeling you get when you bit into a wonderfully delicious almond biscotti as you happily survey the bookshelves for the next issue of your favorite boating magazine, or even when you find that perfect guide book or instructional video.

Although the boss might say otherwise, it seems that Clarke Outdoors definitely encourages loitering.

wavesport Z for sale (new)

2006-05-27T14:21:00.000-07:00

wavesport "Z" a good river cruizer that has some great surfing ability. This boat is brand new and available for a terrific price of only $599

Whitewater Scrubs

2006-05-27T14:17:00.000-07:00

Jaime McEwan's book "Whitewater Scrubs" is a story for children 8 years old (and up) about the trials and triumphs of children learning the skills of whitewater boating.

come to the store and check it out!

Memorial Day Weekend will be loads of fun!!!

2006-05-26T17:22:00.000-07:00

Call now to reserve a spot for canoe, kayak, raft on the river this weekend at Clarke Outdoors. (860) 672-6365

The Housatonic River is running at a perfect level for rafts and canoes. We had an little afternoon rain today, so the level should hold through the weekend.
Sunday is totally booked,but there are still some spots available for Monday and Saturday.

whitewater play boats for demo

2006-05-24T16:31:00.000-07:00

demo demo demo boats available special, for you, today....

DragoRossi Stinger for sale for demo
WaveSport Project for sale for demo
Pyranha 4Twenty for sale for demo
jackson 4Fun for sale for demo
LiquidLogic Vision for sale for demo

Try one before you buy one, just to make sure that you'll really like one of these boats when you take it home.

Housatonic Down River Race

2006-05-24T16:22:00.000-07:00

Saturday saw high water, lots of anxious racers, a few wipeouts, and lots of fun!

The Housatonic was running higher than usual, making this year's race one of the most exciting in decades!

these brave competetors were out there in their canoes and kayaks, while we were only allowing rafts to run the river (a little bit safer for our customers that way...) Hats off to everyone who had the guts to get in the water that day.

Whitewater Creek Boats

2006-05-24T16:15:00.000-07:00

Creek boats are in, ready to paddle the gnar!!! (he he he. I said "gnar")

Riot Magnum

DragoRossi Mafia

Pyranha Burn

Get them while they last. We've already sold several creekers. (must be the high water we've been having in the northeast....)

DragoRossi Demo Center

2006-05-16T17:02:00.000-07:00

the month of May is a very special month. The hills that surround our shop are blooming with the many colors of spring. The Housatonic is getting warmer. The sun is shining. And, we have many of the latests model kayaks for you to demo and compare, so that you can decide which one will be your special boat for 2006.

We are pleased to announce that, through May, we are a DragoRossi demo center.

Just exactly what does that mean?......

It means that every current DragoRossi model is available for you to demo on the Housatonic River!

STINGER , a great all around playboat and river runner. A modern Disco. A classic in the making (this boat gets the Mark Clarke seal of approval)

PINTAIL. Super fast river running boat. Great squirts. Blazing surfs.
Faster than the CR/RX boats. Very stable. Easy rolling. Super fun.

FISH. A true high performance machine. This boat is for serious whitewater junkies only!!! People who demand the best, go to great lengths to find this boat.

MAFIA. Fast. Dry. Stable. Easy rolling. Quick turning. Everything you want in a creek boat, plus an expedition hatch, and a supplementary breathing tube. Breakaway bulkhead to save your ankles. Twin hull stiffening rods. Stern bulkhead for added strength. Multiple attachment points.

SQUASHTAIL. This is the boat that Corran Addison designed for himself. No compromises at all! Just the very best in performance and drive towards the handling characteristics that will take play to the next level.

all the latest news..... (may 15)

2006-05-15T09:57:00.000-07:00

Monday night paddle club is a raging success! Don't miss out!! Get off work early and meet at Clarke Outdoors just before 5pm to find out where we are going!!!

Almost all of the Riot liquidation boats are gone. WOW!!!
The only one left is the Magnum (orange) for $500 Brand New, Full Warranty.

The Falls Village gauge reads 2900 cfs this morning.
Bulls Bridge is at 4 1/2 on the Flintstone guage.
AND it is RAINING so the water will be rising.
Ten Mile and Shepuag should be good too.

Pyranha Stretch, 4 Twenty, are in stock, and the Burn is on it's way

Dagger FX is here

WaveSport Project in Stock

Liquid Logic CR has arrived

DragoRossi demo boats area available (Mafia, Pintail, Fish, Stinger) and we have one Pintail in the retail store at a special price.

The COVERED BRIDGE slalom race is THIS WEEKEND!!!
practice all day on Saturday, and the exciting, thrilling, breathtaking race will be held on Sunday.

Kayaks on Sale

2006-05-13T16:44:00.000-07:00

a couple of overstocked boats. All in good shape. Recreational/touring kayaks.

Riot Stealth 12' 5" (red) for lighter paddlers
suggested retail is $699
NOW ONLY $500

Dagger Catalyst 12' 8" (blue) with rudder
suggested retail is $975
NOW ONLY $775

and don't forget to check out the "Clearance Corner" upstairs where there are some exceptionally good deals on overstocked or discontinued paddling gear from Riot, Stohlquist, Astral, Rapidstyle, Voyager, IR, Lotus Designs and many more.....

river is rising, sun will be shining

2006-05-13T16:27:00.000-07:00

the rivers are high and there is sun in the forecast so I"m sure that there is alot of whitewater kayaking, canoeing, and rafting that is going on for this week.
have fun out there and stay tuned for reports from the Housatonic River in Connecticut.

mini race car, mini kayak

2006-05-09T19:33:00.000-07:00

Low Priced boats for big and small

2006-05-09T19:24:00.000-07:00

Riot Air 60. Only $600. Last one that we have. Perfect for larger paddlers who want to throw down with the puny "average" dudes.

Dagger FX. The super small boat that will loop and cartwheel just about anywhere. only $400

wierdos abound at whitewater oufitting shop

2006-05-09T18:32:00.000-07:00

what can I say other than it is well known (and documented) that river enthusiasts are a very strange bunch.
the gang at here on the Housatonic is no exception
but along with this oddness comes a tremendous capacity for having fun in many situations.

Look at Edge. he must be really excited to go boating as he leaps from the joyously leaps from the van.

Mark and Pete, the two top notch kayak instructors don matching brain powered fleece hats. (they look quite smart...)

Frisbee anyone?

How about a Newt?

T'ville missions

2006-05-08T22:23:00.000-07:00

trips to tville could be happening soon (but not on Mondays)
stay tuned for more information about the after work missions to invade that "other" river in Connecticut...

Monday Night Paddling

2006-05-08T17:11:00.000-07:00

The weather is warm and we have started paddling every Monday night.
Meet at Clarke Outdoors by 5pm to find out where we are going.
It's a casual affair and all are welcome to join in the fun.

we are a DRAGOROSSI demo center

2006-05-07T15:44:00.000-07:00

the month of May is a very special month. The hills that surround our shop are blooming with the many colors of spring. The Housatonic is getting warmer. The sun is shining. And, we have many of the latests model kayaks for you to demo and compare, so that you can decide which one will be your special boat for 2006.

We are pleased to announce that, through May, we are a DragoRossi demo center.

Just exactly what does that mean?......

It means that every current DragoRossi model is available for you to demo on the Housatonic River!

Stinger, a great all around playboat and river runner. A modern Disco. A classic in the making

Pintail. Super fast river running boat. Great squirts. Blazing surfs.

Fish. A true high performance machine. This boat is for serious whitewater junkies only!!! People who demand the best, go to great lengths to find this boat.

Mafia. Fast. Dry. Stable. Easy rolling. Quick turning. Everything you want in a creek boat, plus an expedition hatch, and a supplementary breathing tube. Breakaway bulkhead to save your ankles. Twin hull stiffening rods. Stern bulkhead for added strength. Multiple attachment points.

Squashtail. This is the boat that Corran Addison designed for himself. No compromises at all! Just the very best in performance and drive towards the handling characteristics that will take play to the next level.

Getting all ready for fun on the water

2006-05-07T15:33:00.000-07:00

the latest, and best equipment is arriving now

at our outfitter shop along scenic route 7

summer clothing

lifevests and other safety equipment
everything you need to get started, get you out on the water having more fun

paddles from Werner, AT, Seven2, Aquabound, Mitchell

Boats from LiquidLogic, Pyranha, Perception, Dagger, WaveSport, Dragorossi, Old Town, and more

cold and warm weather gear

repair and customization supplies

now open 7 days each week!!!

River Running Playboats are here!!!

2006-04-30T11:32:00.000-07:00

RX CR Pintail are in stock and ready to fly out the door so that you can enjoy river running and surfing no matter what level the river gives us this spring. We've seen high water and low water. These boats can handle it all!!!

Dagger outfitting in the RX and a pretty blue boat (other colors available). Need a little more speed than your spud? This might be the answer...

Liquid Logic CR series for the boxy boat believers who are looking for just a little more length than the ol' Pop could offer.

DragoRossi Pintail for the old school and new school. Great edge to edge transfer like the old boats, and super fast surfing for the new school. Most speed, and the most stable stern squirter of the group!

The choice is yours how you'll have fun with one of these boats!!!

Get ready to learn something EXCITING!

2006-04-21T00:13:00.000-07:00

Attention beginners. The water is starting to warm up. Are you ready to keep learning so that you can have even more fun than you did last summer?
Be sure to sign up for lessons early before all of the great instructors are reserved!

Pintail for Sale

2006-04-17T20:58:00.000-07:00

$900
This is the Pintail from the Gauley Fest. It was a display model with a scratch on the deck. It is a first-quality boat,with full factory warranty. It has never been in the water. Normally this boat would cost $1400 but we made a deal to get the price lowered to only $900 on this boat only!!!
If you want it now, call us at 860 672 6365 and we would be happy to help you put your deposit down and place it aside for you to pick up when you are ready to come get this boat.

Riot stock liquidation

2006-04-17T20:51:00.000-07:00

We have a few Riot boats left, and are offering super deep discounts. All boats are new, and have been sitting on the showroom floor. Check out the prices below............

Magnum $500
Nitro $600
Inferno $600
Booster 55 $400
Booster 50 $400
Big Gun $400
Turbo 47 $600
Air 60 $400

Having tons of fun. Wahoo wahoo

2006-03-26T21:39:00.000-08:00