Have you ever dreamed about owning a sea kayak? Stay tuned ‘cuz I’ve got a deal for you, and depending on your luck, it won’t cost you more than $3. I’ll get to the relevant details in a minute.

Didn’t it rain some wicked last weekend! Could’ve used a kayak to get to the bean “suppah” Saturday night, no?

I went out to clear the driveway around 10 a.m. with light snow falling and by the time I’d almost finished (ran out of gas in the snow blower out near the street, had to haul snow blower way out back to the shed because the gas tank also was empty, in so doing I ran out of gas), I was soaked through by freezing rain.

Stubbornly, I shoveled the final stretch of wet cement to the front stairs and waddled (the way you do when your pants are wet) to the back door and called it quits. It was time to round up some paddling gear for an exhibition I was doing with Karen Francoeur and Kaitlyn Fowle at the Eastern Maine Sportsman’s Show at the University of Maine. Bailing buckets, Hydroskin wetsuit, booties, paddle – all that stuff that got hidden somewhere in the garage last fall.

It was a bit like a scavenger hunt, but it was for a good cause. We were going to demonstrate some canoe and kayak rescues in Wallace Pool and spread the word about the upcoming Seventh Edition of our Paddle Smart Safety Symposium at the Y on Hammond Street in Bangor the evening of April 13.

Little did I realize that getting there would be half the battle! I-95 had one good lane. The passing lane was slush-covered, but that didn’t stop the big rigs from blowing by and covering us peons in the travel lane to the point of blindness.

Once on Route 2 I had the fortune of getting behind a plow truck (more like a tug boat) that pushed aside curb-to-curb water ahead of me. I arrived at the University in time to see the Mahaney Dome laying flat on the ground and campus police arriving to secure the remains. It was raining too hard to be a sidewalk superintendent. I headed into the gym to our Paddle Smart booth.

Old Town Canoe Co. donated to Paddle Smart a 16-foot sea kayak, the Cayuga 160, to help in our fundraising efforts. We’re most appreciative for their support and concern for getting the message of safety out to the paddling community and to those who want to join. There’s a small nucleus of folks who donate their time to this annual event and having a gift such as this to help us in the fundraising effort to offset our costs is a windfall.

In past years we’ve been fortunate to have donations of lifejackets, roof racks, kayak carts, and other paddle-related gear from manufacturers’ representatives. We’ve used these as door prizes and raffle items as well.

But the kayak is by far the most generous gift. And the boat’s a dandy. Valued at about $1,199 retail, this kayak is equipped with fore and aft hatches with bulkheads for dry storage and flotation, a dry day hatch just ahead of the cockpit, the Extrasport XtraComfort seat that is totally adjustable and comfortable, padded thigh braces, deck shock cords for on-deck storage, perimeter safety lines, and retractable carry handles.

The boat is 16 feet long, 24 inches wide at the widest, 14 inches deep, weighs 54 pounds, and can safely carry 370 pounds. The cockpit is 32 inches long and 151/2 inches wide, plenty big for most of us.

You can check it out at Epic Sports in downtown Bangor, and when you do, take your wallet and a few bucks. For $3 you can purchase a raffle ticket to win this beauty. Or you can increase your odds by buying three tickets for $5. And here’s a deal, pay $10 and you’ll have five tickets.

The drawing is going to be done April 13 at Paddle Smart at the Y. Come on down, you may walk away with a new kayak (I may even help you) and be well on your way to some of the best times on the water you’ll ever experience – I know this to be true.

Even if you don’t win the boat, you’ll walk away a winner for having taken in an evening of sincere sharing of experiences and information from the area’s experts. There’ll be four digital picture presentations for those who want the next best thing to an actual adventure.

Marilyn Turtelotte, superintendent of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, will show and tell you about planning and experiencing a canoe trip on this world-class gem. Reinhard Zollitsch of Orono will share his encyclopedic knowledge of expedition touring through pictures and talk.

If bird watching from the water is your favorite (it should be), plan to attend Bob Duchesne’s talk and slide show. He’s been with Audubon for years and will tell you how to safely observe our feathered friends. Come prepared to be entertained.

And the fourth picture presentation is by a trio of young folks I told you about last fall. Jason Walsh, Darian Higgins, and Rachel Knoblock struck out from Bangor headed for the headwaters of the Mississippi River with a tandem and single kayak and for just under two months paddled their way to New Orleans. Even Huck Finn would be jealous of this trio’s adventures.

We’ll also offer three pool sessions to watch. Castine Kayak Adventures’ owner, Francoeur, has two of the blocks set aside for demonstrating kayak rescue techniques for all levels from beginner to expert. The third pool demonstration will feature Kyle Duckworth of Penobscot Paddle and Chowder Society, who will show canoe rescue techniques.

In addition to the pool demonstrations and the picture shows, there will be talks on: Beginner Recreational Kayaking by Shelly Johnson, author of “Women’s Guide to Kayaking” and “Sea Kayakers Handbook;” Paddling Canoes and Kayaks in Moving Water and Water Classification by the Penobscot Paddle and Chowder Society; Minimizing the Risks and Emergency Communication on the Water by Paul Travis, Master Maine Sea Kayak Guide and the U.S. Coast Guard; The Transition from Lakes to Sea Kayaking – Understanding tides, currents, and charts by yours truly. That’s right, I’m on the hook again for another scintillating presentation.

In the gym throughout the evening there will be display tables where you’ll be able to gather information on places to paddle, you’ll have an opportunity to try on gear, size yourself up to boats, and learn about the latest designs in paddling gear and clothing, talk with experienced paddlers about lifejackets that they prefer to wear, or about clubs to paddle with and where to get paddling instruction.

Come on down and talk with folks who want to share with you their love of paddling. Here are some of the new friends you’ll meet in the gym:

. Shelley Johnson, who’ll be signing her books from 5-5:30 p.m. and 7-8 p.m.;

. U.S. Coast Guard representatives who will share cold water information and more;

. Epic Sports: Choosing paddles, try on lifejackets, check out proper clothing, and more;

. Castine Kayak Adventures: Trip schedule and upcoming kayak instructional opportunities;

. Hands-on Games Station: Throw bag rescue, Greenland Balance stool, match the boat to location, what to take along;

. Loco Locals: Trip Planning and Local Knowledge;

. Maine Island Trail Association: Learn about our coastal islands and how to preserve them. Opportunity to join;

. Penobscot Valley Chapter of Maine Audubon: Birding;

. Inland Fish and Wildlife: Learn what IF&W really does;

. Maine Association of Sea Kayak Guides and Instructors: Find out what professional outfitters are doing for the paddling community;

. Penobscot Paddle and Chowder Society: Check out upcoming trips and workshops;

. Penobscot River Keepers: Providing environmental education on the river;

. Lyme Disease: How to recognize and avoid lyme ticks;

. MDI Paddlers Club: Find out how to get involved;

. Maine Canoe Symposium: Navigation and knot tying activities;

. Penobscot River Restoration: Find out about their project and boat launch sites;

. Marine Patrol: These are the support crew on salt water!

Hang around until 9 p.m. and you could walk away with a door prize. In the past we’ve given away lifejackets, roof racks, paddle carts, a paddle and other nice items. All this and the evening’s events are free. Of course, if you’re feeling flush, you could pony up a five-spot or so at the door to help us defray the cost of putting on all this fun. We’d be grateful and you won’t feel guilty when you walk out the door with one of these nice door prizes!

If you’ve never paddled but are curious, if you’ve been paddling for a short time, or even if you’ve been paddling for years, there’s sure to be something for you.

Sponsors of the seminar include the Bangor YMCA, Castine Kayak Adventures, Epic Sports, the U.S. Coast Guard as well as the National Safe Boating Council and the Maine Association of Sea Kayak Guides and Instructors.

The Paddle Smart Committee includes Francoeur; Brad Ryder, Epic Sports; Paul Travis, logistics coordinator; Anne Goff, interactive stations coordinator; Al Johnson, U.S. Coast Guard, Boston; Ben Crowell, U.S. Coast Guard, Southwest Harbor; and me, scribe.

For more information about Paddle Smart and this year’s event contact Francoeur, Castine Kayak Adventures at 866-3506 or e-mail: info@castinekayak.com, or Brad Ryder, Epic Sports, 941-5670.

Jeff Strout’s column on outdoor recreation is published each Saturday. He can be reached at 990-8202 or by e-mail at jstrout@bangordailynews.net.