About Dogpatch paddle
Our Origin Story
Dogpatch Paddle began as a community club when Crane Cove Park opened in September 2020. In those early months, we started a Facebook group where neighbors gathered to share safety tips, route intel, technique, and gear—building a welcoming crew on SF’s sun-splashed waterfront. Today that club is 1,300+ local members strong, with a steady calendar of free community paddles and a clear voice for our shoreline.
By April 2021, members asked for more—rentals, lessons, youth programs, and storage—so we opened the Dogpatch Paddle Shop and added retail in a temporary location on 18th Street. Since then we’ve helped hundreds of kids discover the Bay through camps and taught locals and visitors the technique, safety, and joy of paddle sports.
In February of 2025, in partnership with the YMCA of San Francisco, we realized a long-held vision at Building 49, 701 Illinois Street—opening our doors inside Crane Cove Park. Come see why this waterfront has become the city’s favorite launch.
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A community-built waterfront outfitter at Crane Cove, helping people get on the Bay—safely, simply, and often.
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Rentals — premium SUPs and kayaks, quick launch, route suggestions
Lessons & Tours — expert instruction that gets you Bay-ready fast
Youth Camps — skill-building weeks on the water each summer
Private Events — team builders and celebrations by the cove
Storage — keep your craft by the water, paddle more, haul less
Memberships — make paddling a habit with simple monthly access
Sauna Cycles — post-paddle heat/cold reset on the waterfront
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Focus on safety — conditions-led decisions, clear briefings, right-sized routes
Friendly, expert guidance — practical coaching that sticks
Community first — open, welcoming vibe and regular free meetups
Respect for the Bay — launch clean, give wildlife space, leave no trace
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Crane Cove Park HQ — Building 49, 701 Illinois Street (right on the water)
Mission Creek Annex — 401 Berry Street, by appointment only additional launch for mellow urban cruises and private groups
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Sept 2020 — Dogpatch Paddle Club forms as Crane Cove opens
Apr 2021 — Dogpatch Paddle Shop opens temporary facility (rentals, lessons, youth, storage, retail)
Feb 2025 — Building 49 opens with the YMCA of San Francisco at 701 Illinois
Our Founder, Adam Zolot
Adam Zolot, “Chairman of the Boards.”
Adam spent twelve years as founder, CEO, and occasional guide at Latitudes, an adventure-travel company running kayaking, scuba, mountain biking, and trekking trips across Southeast Asia, South Asia, and the Pacific. An early pioneer in the region, Latitudes built one of the first online marketplaces for experiential travel.
After 9/11 reshaped the travel industry, Adam shifted to tech and found his niche in hospitality marketplaces. As COO of Feastly, he helped scale communal dining experiences around the world.
Today, Adam is a passionate paddler, community leader, and inveterate traveler. You’ll find him launching from Crane Cove or exploring far-flung coastlines. Founding Dogpatch Paddle brought him back to his adventure roots—and he loves sharing that stoke with the community.
