117 Inspirational Kayaking Quotes to Fuel Your Next Paddle (Jokes Included)

Are you a fan of kayaking? Do you love the rush of whitewater rapids, the peace of a calm lake, or just laughing at your own kayaking mistakes?

Whether you’re a pro or just starting, kayaking quotes can capture the spirit of the sport.

Some are funny, others are inspiring, but all will fuel your love for paddling.

So, grab your paddle and check out our collection of the best kayaking quotes! You’ll find something to make you smile, think, and get excited for your next trip on the water.

Let’s dive in!

Funny Kayaking Quotes

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Let’s face it: kayaking isn’t always graceful.

Sometimes, the best part is laughing off the inevitable dunks and wobbly moments.

Here are quotes capturing kayakers’ humorous misadventures today:

• “‘Kayaking is like yoga, except if you fall in, you get really wet.'” – Unknown

• “Kayaking is about getting in touch with nature while escaping from the people in your life who insist you need to get in touch with them.” – Dave Barry

• “The canoe is the simplest, most elegant, and most natural of all boats – and an iron discipline to master.” – Unknown

• “If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.” – Loren Eiseley

• “Work is for people who don’t know how to kayak.” – Gary Paulsen (Author of “Hatchet” and avid outdoorsman)

• “Paddle faster, I hear banjos!” – Line from the movie “Deliverance”

• “Adventure is just bad planning.” – Roald Amundsen

• “My retirement plan: Kayaking to a deserted island and living off coconuts.” – Unknown
• ” Lake it easy” – Unknown
• “When it comes to kayaking, we are all in the same boat.” – Unknown

• “The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea.” – Isak Dinesen

• “You can’t be unhappy in the middle of a big, beautiful river.” – Jim Harrison

• “I learned that the richness of life is found in adventure. It develops self-reliance and independence.” – William O. Douglas

• “The goal is not to sail the boat, but rather to help the boat sail herself.” – John Rousmaniere

• “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” – Jacques Cousteau

• “Water is the driving force of all nature.” – Leonardo da Vinci

• “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” – John Muir

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• “You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy a kayak, and that’s pretty close.” – Anonymous (commonly attributed but known quote)

• “I’d rather be kayaking – it’s a lot less boring than therapy!” – Phil Hartman (comedian and actor)

• “A bad day on the water is better than a good day at work.” – Unknown (often seen in outdoor gear shops, source not verifiable but widely recognized)

• “Sometimes you’ve got to jump off cliffs and build your wings on the way down.” – Ray Bradbury

• “The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea.” – Isak Dinesen (Karen Blixen)

• “The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination, and brings eternal joy to the soul.” – Wyland (marine life artist)

• “I love the sounds and the power of pounding water, whether it is the waves or a waterfall.” – Mike May

• “Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there someday.” – A.A. Milne (from Winnie the Pooh)

• “May your adventures bring you closer together, even as they take you far away from home.” – Trenton Lee Stewart

• “In one drop of water are found all the secrets of all the oceans.” – Kahlil Gibran

• “The river delights to lift us free, if only we dare let go.” – Richard Bach

• “There is no bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.” – Sir Ranulph Fiennes

Inspirational Kayaking Quotes

The rhythm of your paddle strokes and the gentle lapping of water against the hull – kayaking offers a unique escape into nature’s tranquility.

These quotes capture a better feeling and the peace and inspiration found on the water:

• “The earth has music for those who listen.” – William Shakespeare

• “Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing—absolutely nothing—half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.” – Kenneth Grahame

• “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” – Jacques Cousteau

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• “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.” – Sir Ranulph Fiennes

• “To reach a port we must set sail – Sail, not tie at anchor – Sail, not drift.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

• “The river moves from land to water to land, in and out of organisms, reminding us what is connected and what is not.” – Lynn Culbreath Noel

• “A man of wisdom delights in water.” – Confucius

• “The water is your friend. You don’t have to fight with water, just share the same spirit as the water, and it will help you move.” – Aleksandr Popov

• “I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.” – Louisa May Alcott

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• “The sea is as near as we come to another world.” – Anne Stevenson

• “Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there someday.” – A.A. Milne

• “The sound of the river rushing over rocks is a lullaby for a river sleeper.” – John Muir

• “Nature is not a place to visit. It is home.” – Gary Snyder

• “If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.” – Loren Eiseley

• “We must begin thinking like a river if we are to leave a legacy of beauty and life for future generations.” – David Brower

• “In one drop of water are found all the secrets of all the oceans.” – Kahlil Gibran

• “Life is like the ocean, it goes up and down.” – Vanessa Paradis

• “A river cuts through rock not because of its power but because of its persistence.” – Jim Watkins

• “Rivers are places that renew our spirit, connect us with our past, and link us directly with the flow and rhythm of the natural world.” – Leo Tolstoy

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• “Go with the flow.” – Unknown

• “The water doesn’t know how old you are.” – Dara Torres

• “On the river, time disappears.” – Unknown

• “Paddling a canoe is a source of enrichment and inner renewal.” – Pierre Trudeau

• “Kayaking forces you to connect with nature and find your own strength.” – Unknown

• “The journey not the arrival matters.” – T.S. Eliot

• “The goal of a wilderness canoe trip should be to collect enough of the wilderness experience to last the whole year… A full cup is the only way that the winter can be endured.” – Greg Went

• “I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.” – John Burroughs

Canoe Quotes

• “A canoe does not know who is king. When it turns over, everyone gets wet.” – Malagasy Proverb

• “To canoe is to be moved by a canoe.” – Bill Mason

• “The wilderness holds answers to more questions than we have yet learned to ask.” – Nancy Newhall

• “A true Canadian is one who can make love in a canoe without tipping.” – Pierre Berton

• “Anyone who says they like portaging is either a liar or crazy.” – Bill Mason

• “The movement of a canoe is like a reed in the wind.” – Sigurd Olson

• “It is better to paddle against the current than to float with it.” – Anonymous

• “In a canoe, you can’t go backward. You can only go forward.” – Louis L’Amour

• “Sometimes, you find yourself in the middle of nowhere, and sometimes, in the middle of nowhere, you find yourself.” – Anonymous

• “Canoeing is a simple joy, unencumbered by time or worry.” – Mark Neuzil

• “Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there someday.” – A.A. Milne

• “The way of a canoe is the way of the wilderness, and of a freedom almost forgotten.” – Sigurd Olson

• “You can’t be unhappy in the middle of a big, beautiful river.” – Unkown

• “The canoe is a vessel that carries us to the very heart of nature.” – Bill Mason

• “If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.” – Loren Eiseley

• “A bad day in a canoe is better than a good day at work.” – Unknown

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• “The best journeys answer questions that in the beginning you didn’t even think to ask.” – Jeff Johnson

• “Life is a journey that must be traveled no matter how bad the roads and accommodations.” – Oliver Goldsmith

• “The river moves from land to water to land, in and out of organisms, reminding us what is connected and what is not.” – Lynn Culbreath Noel

• “Canoeing is the joy of adventure, the serenity of solitude, and the thrill of discovery.” – John Ruskey

• “In the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take, the relationships we were afraid to have, and the decisions we waited too long to make.” – Lewis Carroll

• “The canoe is the simplest, most elegant, and most natural of all boats – and an iron discipline to master.” – William Etherington

• “It is not down in any map; true places never are.” – Herman Melville

• “The wilderness is healing, a therapy for the soul.” – Nicholas Kristof

• “Canoeing is the discipline of the water, the freedom of the wind, and the spirit of the wilderness.” – Paul Mason

Kayaking Quotes for Different Types of Paddlers

Not all paddles are created equal! For some kayakers, the thrill lies in pushing limits and navigating challenging waters.

Here are some quotes that resonate with the adventurous spirit:

Ocean Kayaking:

• “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.'” – Mary Anne Radmacher (Captures the perseverance needed for ocean journeys)

• “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” – Jacques Cousteau (Highlights the mesmerizing power of the ocean)

• “The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God.” – Anne Frank (Emphasizes the solitude and connection with nature found on the open ocean)

Whitewater Kayaking:

• “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller (Speaks to the adventurous spirit of whitewater paddlers)

• “The river teaches us that there is no hurry. Rivers know this: there is no hurry.” – Hermann Hesse (Reminds paddlers to enjoy the thrill of the rapids, not just conquer them)

• “The storms come and go, the waves crash overhead, the big fish eat the little fish, and I keep on paddling.” – Ernest Hemingway (Captures the Resilience and determination needed in whitewater)

Leisure Kayaking:

• “Life is better on the river (or lake!).” – Unknown (Simple and relatable for casual paddlers)

• “Let the water wash away your stress. Find peace on the paddle.” – Unknown (Highlights the relaxation and stress-relief benefits of kayaking)

• “Not all those who wander are lost.” – J.R.R. Tolkien (Perfect for paddlers who enjoy exploring hidden coves and new waterways)

Kayaking jokes

Okay, let’s finish with some jokes, shall we?

• Why did the kayak bring a suitcase?
  Because it was going on a trip!

• How do kayakers stay calm?
  They just go with the flow.

• What did one kayak say to the other kayak?
  Nothing, they just waved.

• Why don’t kayakers get lost?
  Because they always follow the current.

• What’s a kayaker’s favorite type of music?
  Rock and row!

• Why did the kayaker refuse to race?
  He couldn’t handle the pressure!

• What do you call a kayak with a hole in it?
  A sinker.

• Why did the kayaker bring string to the river?
  To tie up loose ends.

• How do kayakers greet each other?
  They wave!

• What’s a kayaker’s favorite game?
  Row-shambo (rock-paper-scissors).

• Why did the kayaker break up with his girlfriend?
  She was too shallow.

• What’s a kayaker’s favorite type of story?
  A river tale.

• Why don’t kayakers ever get stressed?
  They just paddle away their problems.

• How did the kayaker propose to his girlfriend?
  He got down on one knee… in the kayak!

• What do you get when you cross a river and a joke?
  A current laugh!

• Why do kayakers make great detectives?
  They’re always following leads.

• How do kayakers stay fit?
  They paddle it out.

• Why did the scarecrow become a kayaker?
  Because he was outstanding in his field, but wanted to be outstanding on the water.

• What did the kayaker say after his successful race?
  “Canoe believe it?”

• Why do kayakers always make friends easily?
  Because they never rock the boat.

• How do kayakers send secret messages?
  By river mail!

• Why did the kayak blush?
  Because it saw the riverbank.

• What do kayakers do at parties?
  They break out the paddles and have a splash.

• Why was the kayak always calm?
  It was well-oared.

• What do you call a happy kayaker?
  A buoy-ant.

Conclusion: Paddling Your Way to Inspiration

Like a well-timed paddle stroke, quotes can propel us forward on our kayaking journeys.

Whether you seek laughter at your wobbly moments or rough day, inspiration for your next adventure, or a reminder of the peace found on the water, there’s a quote here to resonate with every kayaker.

So, grab your paddle, channel the spirit of these quotes, and get out there! Explore new waterways, reconnect with nature, take time kayaking, make good friends, and create memories that will last a lifetime.