Provincetown

Bay Lady II Excursion Schooner (MacMillan Wharf, Downtown Center. 508/487-9308. www.sailcapecod.com), a beautiful 73-foot sailing vessel, heads out for two-hour cruises three times daily. You're welcome to bring your own spirits and snacks for this scenic and peaceful sail.

Flyer's Boat Rental (131A Commercial St., West End. 508/487-0898. www.flyersboats.com) has kayaks, surfbikes, Sunfish, Hobies, Force 5s, Lightnings, powerboats, and rowboats. Flyer's will also shuttle you to Long Point.

Venture Athletics Kayak Shop (237 Commercial St., Unit 13A, Downtown Center. 508/487-9442. www.ventureathletics.com) rents kayaks and equipment and offers guided kayak tours. The company also operates the nearby Venture Athletics Outdoor Shop (220 Commercial St. 508/487-2395), which sells all kinds of sporting gear and clothing.

Wellfleet

Jack's Boat Rental (Gull Pond, south of U.S. 6. 508/349-7553.) has canoes, kayaks, Sunfish, pedal boats, surfboards, Boogie boards, and sailboards. Guided kayak tours are also available.

Wellfleet Marine Corp. (Wellfleet Town Pier, Wellfleet Harbor. 508/349-2233) rents sailboats and motorboats in various sizes by the hour or the day.

Orleans

Arey's Pond Boat Yard (43 Arey's La., off Rte. 28, South Orleans. 508/255-0994) has a sailing school with individual and group lessons.

What kid doesn't want to put on an eye-patch and sail the seven seas? Make your little buccaneer's fantasy a reality on a trip with Pirate Adventures (Behind Goose Hummock, off Rte. 6A, Orleans. 508/255-8811) on the Sea Gypsy. You'll fire cannons, get your face painted, hear tall tales, and, of course, find buried treasure. Six trips depart daily and ply the waters of Town Cove from mid-June through Labor Day.

Chatham

Monomoy Sail & Cycle (275 Orleans Rd., North Chatham. 508/945-0811) rents sailboards and Sunfish.

Nauti Jane's (Off Rte. 28 at Wequassett Inn, Ridgevale Rd., Chatham. 508/430-6893 or 508/432-4339) has Day Sailers, power boats, or peaceful kayaks for rent. The seasonal shop has two locations: one on the grounds of the Wequassett Inn and the other at Ridgevale Beach.

Rip Ryder (508/945-5450) boat tours offers naturalist-led trips that leave from the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge area to view birds and seals and explore the rich and ever-changing habitat of the North and South Monomoy Island areas.

Harwich

Whether you're in the mood to sail under the moonlight, hire a private charter, or learn to navigate yourself, Cape Sail (337 Saquatucket Harbor, off Rte. 28, Harwich Port. 508/896-2730) can accommodate any whim.

Cape Water Sports (Rte. 28, Harwich Port. 508/432-5996) rents Sunfish and other small sailboats by the week only.

Brewster

Cape Cod Sea Camps (Box 1880, Brewster, 02631. 508/896-3451) teaches team sports, archery, art, drama, sailing, and water sports to kids ages 4-17.

Jack's Boat Rentals (Flax Pond, Nickerson State Park, Rte. 6A, East Brewster. 508/896-8556) rents canoes, kayaks, Seacycles, Sunfish, pedal boats, and sailboards; guide-led kayak tours are also offered.

Dennis

Cape Cod Waterways (16 Rte. 28, Dennisport. 508/398-0080) rents canoes, kayaks, and electric paddleboats for leisurely travel on the Swan River.

Yarmouth

Great Marsh Kayak Tours (Rte. 28, West Yarmouth. next to ZooQuarium. 508/775-6447 or 866/395-2925.) offers a range of great excursions along the water, from fly-fishing trips to sunset jaunts—you can also customize your own itinerary.

Barnstable

Eastern Mountain Sports (1513 Rte. 132, Hyannis. 508/362-8690) rents kayaks, a variety of bicycles, and camping gear.

The catboat Eventide (Ocean St. Dock, Hyannis. 508/775-0222 or 800/308-1837. www.catboat.com) sails in Hyannis Harbor and out into Nantucket Sound on several one- and two-hour cruises; options include a nature tour and a sunset cruise.

Hy-Line (Ocean St. Dock, Hyannis. 508/790-0696. www.hy-linecruises.com) offers cruises on reproductions of old-time Maine coastal steamers. The one-hour tours of Hyannis Harbor and Lewis Bay include a view of the Kennedy compound and other points of interest.