Paddling Rules and Regulations
Equipment & Racks
We have kayaks, canoes, paddles, PFD's (personal Flotation devices), and other paddling accessories.
There are a limited number of racks available for our use. If you have a boat that you would like to store on site, contact the Paddling Commissioner.
Keys
Unfortunately it takes a lot of keys to maneuver around the boathouse. Primary members will receive a set of keys that includes:
- light blue key for the boathouse rolling door
- green key for the boathouse back door
- pink key for the downstream compound where our boats are kept
- and a black (or dark blue) key to the shed stall where we keep some of our equipment
All members are responsible for keeping the boathouse and site as safe and secure as possible. KEYS WILL REMAIN THE PROPERTY OF THE CLUB AND MUST BE RETURNED UPON REQUEST.
Paddling Safety Policies
1. ANY member who violates the following policies or who is seen behaving in a way that endangers themselves, others, equipment, or the environment, may be suspended or expelled from the club.
2. All paddlers must be a member to use any equipment that is owned or stored by Sports On The Hill.
3. All paddlers are responsible for taking the boat out only under conditions in which they can paddle safely. Caution must be used particularly when there is fog, mist, strong winds, exceptional high or low tides, large amounts of debris in the water, large amounts of traffic in the water, and an inexperienced crew. If in doubt, don't go out.
4. When lightning is sighted, no paddling is permitted for a minimum of 30 minutes.
5. The use of all boats must be properly recorded in Equipment Log.
6. All paddlers at all times must wear a properly fitted PFD (personal flotation device). In addition, all children must wear life jackets while on the dock.
7. All children must be supervised at all times by an adult.
8. The following safety equipment is STRONGLY recommended: drinking water, hats, sunscreen, whistle or horn, Cell phone, programmed with the Harbor Patrol phone number 202-727-4582.
9. Always respect the dock and the river traffic patterns and be prepared to yield to less maneuverable craft - which is just about every other boat on the river.
10. All paddlers must be at least 14 years old to use a boat on their own and all paddlers under the age of 18 must be under direct adult supervision for the entire time they are on the river and while handling equipment.
11. All novice paddlers are cautioned not to attempt trips beyond their ability. They are advised to go out with a partner and to use the more stable boats until they have accrued some paddling experience.
12. No boats are allowed on the river between sunset and sunrise.
13. If visibility is low, boats must have bow and stern lights as required by DC police and the Anacostia Community Boathouse Association.
14. No boats may be taken below (south of) the South Capitol Street bridge.
We paddle out of the Anacostia Community Boathouse thanks to the support of the Anacostia Community Boathouse Association and the sponsorship of one of its member organizations, the Anacostia Watershed Society.
The boathouse is located at 1115 O Street SE. From Capitol Hill, drive south on 11th Street, turn left onto O Street at the stop sign next to the Navy Yard entrance.
The boathouse compound will be on your right. It is located between the two 11th Street Bridge spans on the western bank of the river.
Enter the site through the driveway gates if they are open or walk towards the water on the sidewalk in front of the second bridge span to enter from the river side.
More information is available at the Anacostia Boathouse website: www.anacostiaboathouse.org and the Anacostia Watershed Society at www.anacostia.org.