Moab Watersports and Gear Rentals

06/10/2024

We say it every day, every rental. Your PFD is not optional!

Saving lives sometimes comes down to being in the right place at the right time. Last Thursday, two Moab men were in the right place at the right time on the Colorado River and saved a family of 3 from drowning.

A 40-year-old man was in an inflatable kayak with his 2 sons, 8 and 10 years old, when they flipped in whitewater upstream from a popular beach near Mile Marker 6 on Highway 128. Gaar Lausman, a Moab resident and former associate of Grand County Sheriff's Search and Rescue, witnessed the accident from the beach and immediately jumped on his paddleboard to intercept the 2 struggling boys. The 10 year-old was reportedly wearing a belt-pack PFD that inflated with a C02 cartridge. That PFD had flipped the boy over so he was face down in the water. The 8 year-old was wearing a PFD that was too big and failed to keep his head above water. Lausman was able to get the 2 boys onto his paddleboard but was unable to go after the father.

At that moment, life-long Moab resident Daniel Wright just happened to be traveling upstream on his jet ski. Lausman was able to get his attention and pointed to the father who was still being swept down the river. Wright had actually passed within a few feet of the man, who was almost completely submerged at the time and virtually unnoticeable because of the substantial amount of high-water debris. Wright spun his jet ski around and reached for the man just as he went underwater again while raising his hand in desperation. Moab resident Eric Odenthal snapped the accompanying photo at that moment. The man had lost his PFD, which was in his lap when the boat flipped.

All 3 were safely transported to shore. They declined offers to have an ambulance respond.

Grand County’s Emergency Services sincerely thanks Gaar Lausman and Daniel Wright for their life-saving efforts. Because of you, that family gets to go home.

GCSAR would like to take this opportunity to encourage everyone to wear adequate, properly-fitted, and properly-worn PFDs everywhere on the Colorado River. The river’s surface can appear deceptively calm, while violent currents just a few inches underwater can pull a swimmer down or sweep a person farther from shore. Please read more river safety tips in the comments below.

Do you have any "close call" stories about wearing a PFD to share?

04/05/2024

Reminder for this year please don't buy your kiddos blue swimsuits! 🚫💙

09/07/2023

Algal Bloom possible at Ken's Lake in San Juan County. Please use caution while recreating. To view the full press release visit https://bit.ly/3qZVWXd.

07/20/2023

Summer is here and we're definitely feeling the heat! ☀️

Cool down by hitting the river for a quick run or head out to the lake and jump on our water trampoline!💧

We offer local and service member discounts!

Feel free to text us @ (435) 260-8447 or call the office @ (435) 355-0343.

05/15/2023

Public announcement from Grand County Sheriff Department Serch and Rescue:

Rivers and streams in Grand County and across Utah are on the rise. Water flows in the Colorado River and some tributaries have already surpassed the peak flows of the past several years and are expected to rise even more in the next few weeks.

In the past week, Grand County Sheriff's Search and Rescue responded to three incidents on the Colorado River. On Friday, May 5, a person in an inflatable kayak was caught in an eddy near New Rapid and lost his boat. He was in the water for about 20 minutes before being rescued by passing boaters. A few members of GCSAR were on a scheduled river training and retrieved the man’s kayak about a mile downstream and then helped reunite the man with the rest of his party. The next evening, GCSAR rescued a group who floated down the river in innertubes and missed their takeout at the Moab Boat Ramp due to fast flowing water. They ended up clinging to trees a few hundred feet downstream until they could be rescued. They were treated for mild hypothermia by Grand County EMS.

A rafter flipped in Westwater Canyon’s Skull Rapid and lost his boat Saturday, May 13. He was last seen by his companions around 2 p.m. They recovered the raft and floated to the Cisco Boat Ramp, looking for the missing person. The 911 call was delayed due to lack of cell service in the canyon. Boats and crew from the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation and GCSAR responded. The subject was located by Classic Air Medical but the helicopter was unable to land at his location. He was evacuated by boat at about 11 p.m. Employees from the Bureau of Land Management - Utah, Grand County EMS, and Grand County Sheriff's Office also responded. A helicopter from Utah Department of Public Safety was en route, but was turned around once the subject was secured.

We’d like to remind everyone to be extremely cautious around the river this year, whether boating or just swimming near the shore. While most of the river incidents to which we respond involve boaters, the majority of drownings in the past few decades have involved recreational swimmers. Here are several tips and reminders to help keep you safe:
- Be very careful if swimming from any rivers' beaches. Keep a close eye on children and make sure they are wearing Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) when near the water. There is a phenomenon along some of the riverbanks called helical flow. This spiral water flow may not be apparent from the deceptively calm surface. It can sweep a person off their feet, push them into the main current, and make swimming back to shore difficult.
- PFDs are required by law on certain river sections, including the Moab Daily. PFDs should be Coast Guard approved TYPE I, III, or V.
- Attempting to swim across the river is not recommended. People have died trying to swim across even calm stretches of the Colorado River near Moab. GCSAR has been called several times to rescue someone who swam across the river and was unable to make it back.
- High water levels cause water to flow through trees and plants along the shore. This can create dangerous entanglements and strainers.
- Stay alert to changing conditions. At current water levels, rapids, eddies, and other hydraulics are vastly different than they have been during the low flows of the past few years.
- Faster flows can make it more difficult to catch eddies and boat ramps, and can also make it more difficult to exit from an eddy. Know where you’re going, and make your moves early. GCSAR has been called in the past to rescue people who became trapped in some of the very strong eddies that develop at high water along the Moab Daily. Know how to exit an eddy before you get trapped in one.
- Make sure everyone in your group knows how to self-rescue in case a boat flips.
- Rising water means more debris and driftwood. It’s not unusual to see entire trees coming down the river. Debris can be sharp. Pool floats and innertubes are not advised.
- Don’t underestimate the power of the water anywhere along the Green or Colorado Rivers, even in seemingly calm sections.
- If you are planning a Cataract or Westwater Canyon trip, be realistic. Does every member of your trip have the right gear, training, experience and stamina for potentially long and rough swims in cold water?
- The water is cold! Expect swims to be long and dress for the swim. Wear splash gear, a dry suit, or a wetsuit. Pack warm, dry gear, even when the air is warm, to help you recover after a swim.
- Trails near the river may become impassable as low-lying areas flood. If camping near the river, be aware that water levels can change overnight.
- Your best chance for a quick rescue comes from others in your party or passing boaters.

05/14/2023

This is your yearly reminder to get your doggies shoes.

04/02/2023

We've been terrible at posting 😅 but...

☀️The season is here! ☀️

Our water sports gear is ready to get out on the water and do what they do best -
✨️ make ADVENTURE possible! ✨️

The Moab Valley and surrounding land is all one giant playground waiting for you to come play! 😁

We have a fleet of 16 stand up paddle boards (SUP), 2 tandem kayaks, 2 single kayaks, and 2 pack rafts.
*all inflatable for easy transportation in almost every vehicle* 🚙

Check out our website for more information on how to supply your next adventure! 🤩

05/10/2022

Our SUP boards and kayaks are dying to get out on the water again! 💧🚣🏽‍♀️🛶🏄🏽‍♂️
Our locals get 20% off YEAR ROUND on all rental gear*😍
Message us here, call the office 435.355.0343, or text 435.260.8447 to set up delivery!*

* excluding the water trampoline
*our physical location is closed and we offer free in town delivery now 😀

05/03/2020

Due to Corona we've had to close our doors but dont worry! We're still here, we've just gone mobile!

We now offer free delivery and pickup in town. Lake and river delivery are also available for a small fee. Since our service is basically on demand now we also can offer more flexable hours so your fun doesn't have to stop at 5pm. (Subject to availability - of course) Stay safe and play outside. 😎