I'm new to kayaking (but love it so far), and live in the SF Bay Area. I figure that it's a good idea to build a relationship with a great local shop for equipment, classes, tours, and general advice.

I've done a little research, and it seems like we're a bit spoiled here in the Bay Area, with a bunch of allegedly awesome shops to choose from:

Aquan Sports - San Carlos
California Canoe & Kayak - Oakland
Kayak Connection - Santa Cruz & Moss Landing
Monterey Kayak - Monterey & Moss Landing
Blue Waters - Inverness & Marshall (Tomales Bay)
Eskape - Santa Cruz (classes, tours & rentals only, I think)
Sea Trek - Sausalito (also classes/tours/rentals only, I think)

And, of course, we also have about ten local REIs that sell kayaks ... but I've been kinda unimpressed with both their in-store kayak selection and staff knowledge of kayaks. Bummer. =\

Any Bay Area folks around here? What do you think of the shops listed above? Not just for retail, but also for classes and tours too. And are there any utterly fantastic, full-service shops that I didn't list?

Any and all information, direct experience, and blatant opinion welcomed.

I'm on the East Coast, so what do I know? For what it's worth, I hear great things about California Canoe & Kayak; not just sales, but also instruction. Also in your area for instruction: wayne Hodorowitz - University of Sea Kayaking.

Wow. These forums are pretty dead compared to paddling.net's.

Different crowd in this forum, I think. Good advice here, though!

Different crowd indeed! Here, you'll find the Few, the Proud, the Mariners. Let's hope it stays that way.

Hmm... 100+ views for the thread thus far, but only 3 respondees, only 1 of which had anything to say on the thread subject matter?

Perhaps forum name should be changed to Sea Kayaking Lurkers forum?

Anyways, don't sweat it guys, maybe there's just not a lot of California kayakers on this site.
Did get some decent help over at the Boats forum here, that's much appreciated.

Holy carp... a month and a half later and 350 views, and no one has anything to say on the subject, 'cept ShiverMeTimbers.

SK Lurkers, it is.

Well I looked after I saw a new post - but since I have no information about the Bay Area it was pointless to post

I've had classes from CCK and from Eskape, and was pleased with both.

Before buying our own boats, we rented from CCK, Sea Trek, Aquan, and Monterey. No complaints.

You missed Outback Adventures in your list. No opinion on their instruction or rentals. When I was there, they had a nicer store in Larkspur and a smaller one in San Jose. Now it looks like they moved the San Jose location to Fremont.

Thanks Ben... I'll put Outback on my list.