I’ve paddled out at the Isle of Shoals a number of times over the years, most recently on ‘mothership’ excursions on a friend’s 42-foot catamaran. Saw tons of seals up at Duck Island at the top of the shoals. Lots of fun to paddle over to Star Island for an ice cream.
For many years, I worked as a guide for Plum Island Kayak in Newburyport, leading tours up and down the Merrimack River. One of my favorite jobs was working PIK’s trips out to the IOS. All we guides wanted to be picked to work these events. If you want to paddle around the shoals, this tour is the easiest and cheapest way to get out there. I believe they are still doing this trip. Enjoy motoring out to the IOS aboard a charter fishing boat and then get dropped in the water off the shore of Duck Island, then paddle down to Gosport Harbor. BBQ lunch on board the mothership. Easy.
