Tip-A-Canoe

08/09/2026

This is only directed at the morons. If you aren't one, no reason to take it personally. PS.....sorry for the 1 curse word in this video. Content warning for kiddos i guess.

08/08/2026

I'm David Spear. And this is my personal message. Not my family's or my business'. Mine.
Hopefully eventually enough people will understand. @

08/07/2026

Simple Math.
Even if there were no fees at all....the law requiring us and and and to get a permit (CUA) from TDEC (State Parks) costs all of us more money than the fees cost us. A lot more. WAY MORE. The requirements of the CUA (even without fees) costs us more money than my business has profited any year since those regulations went into effect. Our insurance companies make more money than our company, thanks the the fine state of TN. A bunch of fine upstanding conservatives and whatever 🙄 . Probably will all go vote for Marsha and agree with our Socialist President extorting Intel.....etc. I mean duh oil companies made money after Donald promised they would if they just donated $1Billion to his campaign. But.....Anyway.... If the law does not get changed I will never rent a paddlecraft again ever. Because there's no alternative Math. Math is what it is. FACTS. My insurance makes more money than my business from my business ONLY BECAUSE OF the Tennessee State Legislature. We have zero debt. Don't need advice on running a rental. Thanks though. Obviously know how to make money when the State Government gets out of the damn way. Could have been closed for years in 2020. Cheaper to not do any business now. Make more money doing literally anything else. I'd make more working for Tip-A-Canoe, but the TN State Legislature cost us those jobs. And the jobs at

07/04/2026

250th Independence Day

We've been here 50 years. We've been in Kingston Springs for 50 years. 1/5th of our great nation.

I love this guy in the picture. Guys like him put their lives on the line for our rights. That's probably more than I will ever do. I hope it is. I would hope to never need to put my life on the line.

My livelihood and my father's legacy have always been on the line. And that means a great deal to me. But less than what is right and just.

It is illegal to restrict your public access to the river in any way unless it is for a safety reason. It is not your burden to bear as my customer. And this amazing guy who I most certainly would confidently send my son to follow, I didn't pay him enough. And I refuse to pay my staff that I love, less money. Why should they bear the burden? How about my mother? She pays tax on her percentage but she receives nothing financially. Maybe she should bear the burden. I made $16k last year from my 90% so I guess I am selfish and greedy and should bear the burden. Pass the buck to my customers. Like I didn't already raise my prices and see the above things I mentioned. That money should go to someone like this young father who is a better man than we have been a nation. Be about it. Stand for your rights. They want to make you pay too. They are trying to figure out how to require paddling licenses. We have had ZERO Fatalities for an example of our safety record. Haters gonna hate like I used to hate Taylor Swift, but eventually stopped being a moron. So stop being a moron. From now on, I David Spear, am happy to call the morons that to thier face if need be. Because following the rules just got us all ignored. So no I will never rent any type of Paddlecraft ever under current law. I can't make enough money. What my business makes is what I make. That's how it works. Don't be a moron. Do the simple math. Costs X to exist. Cheaper to do nothing. But trust I will be doing things and being as mischievous as possible. As my Daddy taught me.

Anyway.....my business doesn't matter. I can do something else with my property and make money. What matters is if you all may let a bunch of SELFISH MORONS force a senior to sell her home. What matters is if people like Koz miss any time with their child over some bu****it. So think about that when you toss your rights to navigate the river. People literally die for that. All I am doing is nothing. That's what it took for people to listen to me. Do nothing but be myself.

David Spear
Son of Danny Spear, the founder.
Family Owned and Operated Since 1972

Be about it 🏴‍☠️

Multiple employees asked me to pay them less so I could open. I explained to one of them and then he understood. Eventually you all will understand. My starting pay is $13,14, or 15 dollars. Well it was. Those jobs are gone. My friends son works for one of my competitors now.

You're welcome
Thanks to my staff. They're the best.

06/30/2026

Commissioner Hedgepath. As always. Always lying. I haven't had a single rescue in years. Literally. Less than 1 a year. But yeah we should pay for everything. Sure. Makes sense right. He owns 2 accesse by the way. One is at Highway 70 next to the park (i mean TDOT'S) access.

https://www.ksgazette.com/cheatham-county-explores-possible-river-user-fee-to-offset-emergency-response-costs/?fbclid=IwVERDUASw_QxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR5TCxzsfMcoTM4YxlrxVq_Fj2gcUs4vF6S_ndvAMyOnhNG0tAxK1Srq9wOCmw_aem_tIE94rLcIeUEokIf3GTFaA

Your trusted, local news source from the Heart of the Harpeth since 2023.

06/23/2026

This is how stupid this all is. The TDEC (State Park) part.
If we operate how we do, you're not allowed to park in the park and I am regulates by TDEC and required to get. 1 year permit and pay them 3% of my gross sales unless they give me a special deal. HOWEVER if I blindly rent boats and say just bring it back by dark....I am NOT REGULATED, you all can fill up all the park access parking so private boaters and fisherman have no access, and I don't have to pay TDEC a damn penny. Call, email, or write your state reps. Make sure it is State. If you are from out of state please contact Cheatham County reps. The river is entrusted to the state by the Federal government. It belongs to all Americans.

06/22/2026

Happy Father's Day. We will never rent or lease boats again under current TN law. It is illegal and unfair regulation that directly competes with our 50 year old business that existed before the park. They tried to sneak thru regulations by only talking to the outfitter that they had a contract with to rent boats at Montgomery Bell. They got busted on that. We can't make enough money to sustain the business if we open. Because of TN Republicans. Don't get me wrong, democrats weren't much help in TN obviously so whatever everything is Republicans if it is State. Anyway. They increased our auto insurance by 16k and various other things and are too ignorant to understand their regulations cost far more than the $1 a boat I had to negotiate for my competition. My competition that doesn't own access like us. My competition that has done Literally Nothing to protect your rights as citizens. Only us 3 original companies did anything to protect your rights and our ability to serve you and lesson you impact on the park. The rangers didn't even have to monitor the access we used. We did. The head ranger has told me many time he wishes I would carry my gun. Which is ILLEGAL for me to do. That's how it is. I don't owe them. They owe my family. I will not pay them and I want proof they made the companies they allowed to operate ILLEGALLY ever paid the fees. They got away without ridiculous insurance for a year. One of them complained the insurance was gonna put them out of business. I had told him that before when he said $1 boat makes sense. He has no experience. I have done this my entire life. I tried and tried. I went against my father, who was still alive, and tried and tried to explain to MORONS that my business doesn't use the park. You do. We assist you. Walmart and Bass Pro Shop are a worse impact than my business. FAR WORSE. I would like my multiple years of fees returned to my family. I will pay Nothing because I owe nothing to this illegal regulation. I am nit open so I can continue to afford to fight. They will not EVER get our land which they have been after. They own no property at Highway 70. They charge our companies to use TDOT property. They Literally NEVER owned the access at Harris until they built $40k STEPS that are crumbling. They are building a $4Million Visitor Center at Gossett. The project is approved and financed. Literally nothing goes to the river. Nothing. I told everyone. They don't listen. Hopefully you listen now. Call or write or email your state representatives. Happy Father's Day. Love you Popz. RIP. Doing what you taught us.

04/12/2026

We are not open yet as of the 2026 season.
You can't make a reservation online, on purpose.
I'll be back...

09/26/2025

🍁Don't Miss These September Conditions🍂!!! Book Online and bring the 🐕 and the 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦. Invite all your friends! 🛶 Amazing water level for September! !
Online Booking www.tip-a-canoe.com

09/21/2025

🌩Closed Sunday 9/21🌩
If you had a booking for today, you should have already received a text message. If for some reason you did not receive it, please text us at 615-887-3721.
(PS: Water level is 0.75 this morning. Luckily many chances of rain this week🤞.)