Appomattox River Company

Inner peace. Inner peace. Inner peace.

Day 3 ICAST Recap :
"One of the craziest things I saw at ICAST; the Bajio sunglasses booth had a barbers chair and a tattoo chair in the booth. Told my wife I was next in line, and she called me three times immediately after."

ICAST 2024 - Day 3 in Orlando Florida Recap Day 3 of ICAST presented me with the opportunity to cruise the show largely unencumbered of meetings. I swung by the showcase and eyed up the Skanu again. It is a poling canoe co-designed with legend Flip Pallot. It is comprised of high-tech carbon laminate and it weighs 50lbs with a retail price of...

Here’s one of our favorite spots. Where is it? Guess right and you could win a shirt!

Day 2 ICAST Recap:
“Tonight, the Tactical Pro 128 won Best in Category and will be up for Best in Show tomorrow night. That comes with some trepidation. Bonafide didn't enter the race on purpose. Winning Best in Show at ICAST has been a bit of a paddlesports curse.”

ICAST 2024 Day 2 in Orlando Florida Recap Today I made my way to the Bonafide / Native Watercraft booth to get a good look at the new Bonafide XTR130 kayak. It has a 730lb capacity, is 40.5

A large rubber duck, Bill Dance shades, inflatable skiffs and a waterproof drone: here are the things that caught my eye on Day 1 of ICAST.

ICAST on the Water in Orlando, Florida 2024 Last year I missed ICAST for the first time in 10 years after a large oak tree crushed my truck. It did not buff out. So, it felt good to get wrapped in a warm sweaty hug from the Florida humidity today in Orlando. ICAST began with the On the Water demo and I had the chance to see a few options for....

It’s ICAST time!! What do you want to see? I’ll be roaming the show for the next few days, seeing the latest and greatest in the fishing world.
- BV

We do test drives! Maybe you’re thinking about a new kayak. At Appomattox River company, you can try before you buy. Call us at (434) 392-6645 to set up an appointment. We’ll let you take it out for a spin.

It’s prime fishing weather. But what should you fish with: kayak or canoe? Stop by and ask us. This may surprise you, but we have opinions.

“Kayaking is the answer. Who cares what the question is?” – Author unknown

Nothing makes us appreciate our country like a day on one of its waterways. Join us outside on the 4th!

Happy July! There’s a long weekend coming up. Who’s paddling, and where?

💥 There will be a wonderful downtown community celebration in Farmville on July 3rd staring at 6pm - Fireworks After Dark. So we’ll close early at 3pm on the 3rd, and then we will be Closed on July 4th to luxuriate in our freedom.
📸PC: The Farmville Herald

It’s National Canoe Day 🛶! Do you canoe?
If not, stop by the shop, we have you covered. As the largest independent canoe dealer in the country we’ll get you ready for outdoor adventure.

Is your pup a water lover? Bring him along for the ride! Here’s how to make sure it’s a safe and enjoyable experience for both of you:

1. Gear up: Invest in a dog PFD with sturdy clips and a handle. Get your dog comfortable by clipping it on regularly during walks before hitting the water.

2. Land Training: Practice boarding and disembarking on land first. Teach your dog where to sit — and don’t forget the treats!

3. Choose the right rig: Sit-on-top kayaks or paddleboards give dogs space to lie down. Enhance stability with non-slip material (or a good, old-fashioned yoga mat secured with marine tape).

What other advice do you have for taking your dog paddling? Drop tips in the comments.

Shoutout to another of our awesome independent Reps - Megan Kieninger of NRS who stopped by this spring to showcase the Approach 120 Fishing raft. Now that the weather has warmed up it seemed like a good time to highlight this lightweight, easy to load rig. No trailer needed!

https://paddleva.com/collections/new-products/products/nrs-approach-120-2-person-fishing-raft

Our awesome Pyranha Kayaks Rep Chuck Morris dropped in and brought us a pile of the new Medium and Large size ReactR kayaks!
Shop here:
https://paddleva.com/collections/whitewater-kayaks/brand_pyranha?sort_by=created-descending

It’s officially summer, and the water is calling. Grab your paddle and your PFD and launch that boat!

What’s your favorite summer paddling spot?

Join us in wishing a Happy Birthday to ARC founder and owner, Bob Taylor! Thanks for laying down the foundation of adventure and family fun that has been the hallmark of Appomattox River Company since 1977. That’s a heck of a legacy!

According to Bob this photo was taken on the 1st Grand Canyon trip he and wife Martha went on in 1981 just 4 years after founding ARC.

Today we’re celebrating Juneteenth at .

We’re proud to be headquartered in Farmville, VA, home of countless , including Barbara Rose Johns. When she was just 16, Johns led a student strike protesting unequal conditions in public education.

Next time you visit us, stop by the Robert Russa Moton Museum just up the road to learn more about Johns and her legacy.

Last month our GM Vince had the opportunity to attend the first ever executive forum on outdoor recreation in DC. There he met Dr. Wallace “J” Nichols, best selling author of ‘Blue Mind’, who handed out these blue marbles to everyone. They are a reminder of the beauty of this earth, the importance of water, and the vast benefits we gain as a people by interacting and enjoying the outdoors. The science behind the therapeutic benefits of water recreation are not lost on us paddlers. We recently learned of Dr. Nichols passing at the age of 56. His mission lives on in all of us who had the chance to hear his passion and to share in his inspirational vision. Thank you for the blue marble J, we will pass it on.

Need your next paddling challenge?

Embark on the Wandering Waters Paddle Quest to get out on the water at 31 Virginia state parks, including Powhatan State Park, James River State Park and Kiptopeke State Park.

Learn more and sign up:
https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/paddle-quest

Wandering Waters Paddle Quest – Get on the water at a Virginia State Park and explore. The wandering waters of Virginia connect communities and people across landscapes and through time. From mountain streams and lakes to tidal rivers and bays, the waters of Virginia provide an endless source of adventure and fun. Beginners can get into paddle sports at one of our tranquil lakes or go...

At , we believe that paddling is for everyone — especially young girls looking to find their stride. It’s a powerhouse sport for boosting confidence and has been proven to lower stress levels.

Have you hit the waters with any of the young adventurers in your life recently?

A new boat is a big decision. But after a lot of online research (maybe too much?), it might just be time to visit us in store. Not only do we have the knowledge and experience to fit you with the right boat today, we also schedule demos by appointment. Just give us a ring, and we’ll be glad to let you test drive before buying.

What to expect when you’re expecting…a boat.

Wondering how your boat gets to your door in perfect condition? Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of our shipping process so that you know exactly what to expect: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pENiUJuM6c

What To Expect When You're Expecting – Receiving Your Boat From ARC You’ve ordered your canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddle board from us. Now what? Charlotte and Vince provide a comprehensive overview of everything to expect wh...

We’ve seen a lot of transportation options for canoes, but this is one of the coolest and biggest!

: Paddling Magazine recently published a buyer’s guide for 2024’s best women’s kayaks, and four out of 10 were Hobies.

We’ve got a slew of Hobie boats in stock in our warehouse. Better yet? Our staff is ready to help you find the perfect fit. Stop by the store to try them out!

Read more: https://paddlingmag.com/boats/kayaks/womens-kayaks/

PaddleVa Family Adventure: A Balcony Falls run with inflatables, and our eldest daughter's second solo run on Virginia's flagship beginner / intermediate paddle.

Balcony Falls Paddle with Inflatables Last Sunday we met some friends, currently from Roanoke, that we knew back in our WV days and hit the river. The Balcony Falls run was chosen for the meet up and paddle. This was our first river trip of the summer as a family. Our friends were bringing whitewater boats, so I decided to take some inf...

Father’s Day is June 16. Need gift ideas for your paddlin’ dad? We’ve got boats, gear, apparel, accessories and more.

Shop in-stock inventory: https://paddleva.com/

What will you give dad for ?

Hotter weather will be here soon.

Our summer PSA: Wear sunscreen and a hat (or a helmet on whitewater)!