Tucked into the parking lot next to Crate Marine, Seven Paddles is helping beginners, families and seasoned paddlers discover Belleville from a different vantage point: the water.
Seven Paddles owner Eileen Briggs opened the kayak and canoe rental business in Belleville on July 12, 2026, expanding from the Trenton location.
Briggs was working in healthcare during the COVID pandemic when her husband lost his job.
That’s when they decided to open a side business.
“Kayaking was one of those things that everyone was still allowed to do,” she said.
“We have seven children between us, so we had all these kayaks,” Briggs said.
They decided to call their business Seven Paddles after their seven children.
“We decided to start renting (our kayaks) out, and it just kind of went from there.”
After five years in Trenton, Briggs brought the business to Belleville.
Starting small in Trenton
Briggs started the business in Trenton five years ago with a Dodge Journey and a little tiny flatbed trailer, hauling around kayaks two by two.
“That was our first year. In our second year, we bought the trailer, the truck, and we got a little bit more serious.”
Expanding to Belleville took a little longer, as she took her time looking for a great location.
“We were kind of scrambling, looking for a place, and then Jeff at Crate Marine said, ‘Do you guys want to rent at our spot?’,” Briggs said.
Briggs decided to set up shop right next to Crate Marine, and she loves the location.
How business is going
“It’s getting better, but I’m still getting a lot of, ‘I didn’t know you were even there’,” Briggs said.
It is a little far back from the road, so that’s been “a challenge”, Briggs acknowledged.
“We do have some signage, but we realize we need more. I think our biggest challenge has been being found, and getting Belleville to realize we’re here to stay now.”
Her best day so far
“Our best day was a few weeks ago. It was right after the heat broke, and I had rentals just pinging all day on my phone,” Briggs said.
“It was beautiful, but it was so busy. I had walk-ups, it was just a constant flow.”
The best part, Briggs said, was that the business received some nice reviews, including a five-star Google review.
“It just made it feel like, ‘Okay, I could do this.’ That was probably my best day so far.”
What first-time paddlers can expect
“I want to say to everyone, come try it. A lot of people are scared to get out on the water, thinking they don’t have the skills or the balance,” Briggs said.
“Our kayaks are beginner friendly. They’re wide-based, they’re sturdy, and I’ve never had someone come back with a bad experience,” Briggs said.
Paddlers may head out to the bay, go towards Zwick’s Park, or head up the Moira River and see Belleville’s City Hall up close.
Paddlers may book online through the Seven Paddles website. The rates are $20 for the first hour for kayaks, $10 per additional hour, or $50 for the day.
Seven Paddles also hosts paddle parties, where up to ten people can kayak for 3 hours for a flat rate of $325.
The hours of operation are Wednesdays to Fridays from 1:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends.
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