What People Are Saying....

Great and straight-forward rental place where we were on the water in no time! Will definitely do it again!
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Great Place! Friendly.
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Been going for years! Authentic (Mike, Gaby and Kevin & MOM) people! Acomodating to the fullest extent. Much love. Just goooo! Scenic views on the water.
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Great experience! Owners were thorough and so kind and welcoming. Our family had a great time and we can’t wait to come back again!
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Wow such a great spot! This business makes it so easy to get out on the water and enjoy nature. I can’t wait to come back!
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Went with a group of friends to EK for the first time this past Sunday. Had a great time! The owner was very patient explaining everything. Forgot that rentals were cash only but we went to an ATM afterwards, no problem. The prices are great! Everyone was very helpful and friendly. Definitely going back.
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I highly recommend spending an afternoon kayaking or paddleboarding at Empire Kayaks. You can even pedal on a kayak if you prefer! Had a great time over the July 4 weekend there. The staff is so friendly and accommodating making sure we had everything needed for a wonderful time. Looking forward to going back again!
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Didn’t know they existed. Had such a good time.
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Had an amazing day on the water exploring the marshes of the south shore. The weather was perfect. The owners ( Mike & Gaby) went above & beyond to make sure we had proper instructions for safe paddling. Location is great. Easy parking. The equipment was great. Highly recommend this local gem.
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What a fantastic weekend exploring the beautiful South Shore of Long Island, all thanks to Empire Kayaks! I’ve been a repeat customer for years, and every experience is top-notch. Gaby and Mike are incredibly helpful, welcoming, and knowledgeable—they truly go above and beyond. Their rental prices are very reasonable, and it’s clear they’ve built a loyal following for a reason. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned paddler, you can count on Empire Kayaks for a smooth, enjoyable adventure every time.
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Thank you Mike and Kevin for your help to get our kayak in the water today. You guys are amazing.
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Love this place affordable rentals and great customer service
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Great place for paddle boards and kayaks. Easy and friendly to get out on the water.
I purchased a kayak from Empire kayaks twenty years ago. It was time for a new one. I called and spoke to Gabby - she offered me the same kayak in different color (I only go out a few times a season, so instead of having me spend more $ for a newer model -she offered me the same kayak brand new at a great price.
Mike delivered it SAME day
They are great
What wonderful experience. It's worth packing a lunch and doing the whole day. Excellent customer service
The couple & the mom who run it, always so welcoming. Great vibe. Love it there, not to mention kayaking
Amazing service,very nice people, highly recommended
Had a great experience renting standup paddleboards from Empire Kayaks. Friendly and helpful. I highly recommend
I needed some accessories for my kayak , so I went to empire kayaks and I’m glad I did, the staff is so kind and helpful I will be going here for all my kayak needs and down the road my next kayak purchase!!
Family run business, friendly, professional, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!
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This is a fabulous place, super supportive and friendly owners, great places to paddle from here, been coming here for many years and will continue to do so. Love it!
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Always a great time here. Staff is friendly. Its a wonderful way to spend an hour on a Sunday morning. So peaceful and beautiful to kayak in and around the marsh. It has also become quite the birthday tradition. We love empire Kayaks!
Super fun experience! They were super friendly and made the experience a 'breeze'. We did the single and double kayak, it was I think $20 for single and $35 for double and they provide the life vests. Would definitely come here again in the future!
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Fantastic experience. Reasonable prices. Friendly customer service. Beautiful views on the water. Couldn’t have had a better time. Highly recommend.
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The kayaks were solid, looked pretty new and well maintained. The staff/crew were friendly. The three of us got individual kayaks, and we spent 1.5 hours on the water. There is a vast space to explore, with the occasional birds perched, drying their body, or otherwise flying and diving for food. Boats pass by and provide some nice waves to ride, just be mindful of the different zones with varying speed limits. Bring a ziplock bag if you need to bring any valuables (e.g. car key, phone).
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It been a pleasure doing business with Gabrielle and Mike today! I called up 10am making sure their open and schedule to meet up same day. Upon I arrive they already prepared a demo kayak that i want to see in person. Mike was so informative about the Hobie Lynx, showed me how everything works and taking everything apart if I have to car top my kayak, after the demo I spoke with Gabrielle about the cost and break down of the kayak. Honestly I wasn’t prepared to make the purchase today so I didn’t call up places to check price but their just so transparent with the price I felt like it my lost not taking the deal today. Surely I made the purchase with no hesitation and I glad I did! If anyone is looking for purchase a Hobie look no further!
Nice people. Great service
If you want to spend time in water activities and not so much 💰 Empire Kayaks is the right place for you
Nice place to rent a single or double kayak
The best !! Friendly. Organized and so much fun. A great value too. Highly recommend it!!!
Staff was super friendly and patient, as this was our first time kayaking as a family. Was a wonderful family outing- reasonably priced!wear sunscreen when on the water!!!!! And you will get wet!!!!! Highly recommended!
Gabrielle and Mike are friendly, professional and informative for a fun kayaking experience.
I love my Eddyline kayak. It's light enough for me to handle myself and glides so much better in the water than the old kayak. The staff is always helpful setting us up and launching. Thanks for your help in the shop Marion. Kayaking w Empire is a wonderful whole new world. Happy paddling!
Fantastic place! Very friendly people! Myself, my family and friends have been coming here for years enjoying kayaking and paddboarding. Mike and Gabby are amazing people. Highly recommend!
Me and my daughter really enjoyed Kayaking around the 4 Empire Blvd, Island Park where the Kayak rental place is. It was a perfect day and the water was calm. Is reasonably priced for an hour to rent a Kayak-you can rent it longer if you want and there are 1 or 2 person Kayak's.
Super friendly, good rates. They are excelent .
I came here last week with a friend who has been using this place for years. Such friendly staff and a seamless experience. There's tons of parking, it's literally just a few feet to the water, there was no wait time on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, and they hold on to your stuff (car keys etc) in labeled Ziplocs so you don't have to worry about losing things or paying for lockers. The water is calm and both the kayaks and oars are very lightweight so you don't get tired out rowing. Highly recommend for adults and kids!
Very kind and informative family owned business. Can't go wrong buying or renting from here.....
Want to thank you and Mike for all the help over the last 16 years. Every one of the five kayaks I bought from Empire was exactly what I needed at the time. I never hesitate to recommend You to anyone who asks. You would never get that kind of service any other place. Thanks again;” Phil
“Thank you both for being so wonderful to deal with!” Ed
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“First and foremost thanks so much to your team for helping me become a Hobie owner! Your knowledge and passion for the subject is clear and we really love the entire operation you have in Island Park.” Andrew 6/6/20
“First off, THANK YOU! I'm sure I've told you this before and you hear it from others, but THANK YOU for turning me on to kayaking and teach me the basics. I don't do it as often as I used to, but the love for it is still there and the joys I experience I feel comes from learning the right way and getting the right gear.” Andrew
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“Thank you so much for everything. I love my new Outback and can’t wait to get out there every weekend. You guys were nothing but awesome and made my purchasing experience so worry-free and easy”. Billy
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“Wonderful and friendly kayak and paddleboard outfitter in Island Park. Rentals were easy and equipment was very good.”
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“Picked up a new sup today. Great place. Great service. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff.”
“Great selection, kayak, canoes, power choices. Fair prices and helpful staff for amateurs.”
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“Excellent People, Great Knowledge, Extremely Friendly, Engaging, and Knowledgable ---- Highly Recommend for Learning, Renting & Buying”
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“Everyone is friendly and helpful. It was a fun experience!”
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“Very helpful and knowledgeable staff, I travel from staten island to purchase equipment here”
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“They were so nice and friendly.”
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“Friendly and knowledgeable staff. A great time for all ages. And plenty of beautiful nature to soak in”
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“Great customer service. We had a wonderful time”
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“We've been coming to this place for years. We've rented kayaks and gone on a few trips and had a great time. When we finally purchased our own boats, we came here. Gabrielle and Mike went above and beyond in all aspects of our purchases. They are very knowledgeable and expert. I recommend them highly. If I could give more than five stars I would.”
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“Really wonderful. beautiful area and really nice people”
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“Mike, Gabby, and the whole empire crew were great, everyone we dealt with had a smile and were very helpful.”
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“Definitely one of the best kayaking places I've ever been to. The owners were extremely nice, knowledgeable and friendly!”
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“Every experience that I've had at Empire Kayaks has been above expectations.”
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“Empire Kayak provides the best kayaking experience on Long Island.”
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“Love Empire Kayaks! Such friendly, helpful staff!”
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“such nice people, amazing service, always willing to help. Bought a Hobie Outback from these guys”
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“What a terrific find!! I literally can't explain how happy I am to have found this place. Covid has left most kayak rental/purchase places with bare cupboards, but not Empire.”
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“Just phenomenal customer service across the board.”
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“Great Experience buying from Mike and Gabrielle! I purchased my very first kayak, the Hobie 12' Mirage passport.”
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“We absolutely loved it. The people working know how to do business.”
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“Simple way to put it..awesome place!”
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“Love this place! Gabby and Mike aim to please, which makes customers feel welcome and important. Their knowledge of kayaking and paddleboardng is amazing.”
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“From the moment I walked into the store to the moment I drove away with a new Kayak, Mike and Gabrielle were completely awesome and I plan on making more purchases from them in the future.”

