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BOOK a Jet Ski, Parasailing, SUP, Sailing Rental or Lesson and more via the Nor'Banks reservation system!

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Nor'Banks Sailing & Watersports' beautiful location and top-of-the-line equipment, together with a friendly and professional staff make it one of the premier water sports centers on the Outer Banks. Nor'Banks' sound front location has a huge grassy lawn, restrooms, showers, a 200 foot pier and plenty of room for you to spend the day.

Since 1979 Nor'Banks has been one of the finest sailing operations on the East Coast offering Flying Scots, Hobie Cats and quality private sailing instruction for all ages. Their custom private lessons are excellent for sailors looking to brush up on their skills, those new to the sport and for families that want to share time on the water together.

Parasailers take to the sky - Nor’Banks Sailing & Watersports

Nor'Banks has continued to expand over the years and now offers one of the most complete water sports centers on the Outer Banks. This is truly one-stop shopping for water sports! Nor'Banks boasts new equipment every year and a strong commitment to your fun and safety.

A couple jet skiing with Nor’Banks Sailing & Watersports

You can rent the latest WaveRunners from Yamaha or explore a giant labyrinth of marsh islands and cruise the secluded shores of Dew's Island in search of wild Spanish mustangs on an epic WaveRunner Tour.

Three riders enjoying their tubing ride with Nor’Banks Sailing & Watersports

Captain James and crew are back aboard Icarus II, Nor'Banks' big yellow parasail boat, and Captains Ken and Sean are guaranteed to put a smile on the faces of participants and spectators alike on their private wake boarding, waterskiing and tubing charters.

Stand Up Paddleboarding with Nor’Banks Sailing & Watersports

Stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) has become one of the most popular and fastest growing water sports in the country and Nor'Banks is a great place to paddle. With shallow, warm water and a sandy bottom, their location is an ideal spot to learn. Nor'Banks offers SUP rentals and clinics, as well as double and single kayaks rentals as well as the new Hobie Mirage Eclipse SUP and Mirage Drive kayaks. New in 2017, Nor'Banks began offering high-end fiberglass and epoxy surfboard rentals.

A pontoon boat from Nor’Banks Sailing & Watersports

For larger groups looking to get out on the water together, Nor'Banks offers pontoon rentals for up to sixteen people, or you can combine a pontoon rental with a tubing charter for their Deluxe Watersports Adventure for up to 20 passengers.

An aerial shot of Nor’Banks Sailing & Watersports

FEATURED PROFILE

A Watersports Business Like No Other

Nor'Banks Sailing opened in 1979 with just a few sailing skiffs. They added Hobie Cats and kayaks in the 1980's, and the 1990's brought Jet Skis and parasailing. Since then, Nor'Banks has continued to add new activities and equipment every season, including tubing, wakeboarding, waterskiing, pontoon boats, catamaran cruises, Jet Ski tours and stand-up paddleboard (SUP) rentals and clinics.

In 2018, a site-wide renovation brought Nor'Banks to new heights. Complete with a 2,000-square foot reservation center, surf shop and a great restaurant onsite, Nor'Banks has truly become a one-stop destination for the best activities, shopping and dining on The Outer Banks. While much has changed through the years, Nor'Banks has maintained its character as well as its dedication to offering great service and quality equipment in a fun and safe environment.

Teaching sailing on the Outer Banks since 1979, their experienced and professional staff of sailing instructors, an excellent fleet of sailboats, warm shallow waters and steady breezes combine to make Nor'Banks a perfect place to sail.

In 2019, Nor'Banks teamed up with East Coast Sailboats to offer luxury catamaran cruises for up to 18 passengers aboard Surfer Girl, a custom Maine Cat 38.
Since opening their doors over 40 years ago, Nor'Banks has become the largest watersports center on the northern Outer Banks.

While Nor'Banks has grown, they still operate like a small business with owner, Dan McIsaac, on-site nearly every day (maybe even captaining your boat or teaching your sailing lesson!) and a fun-loving crew that returns year after year.

Whether you're looking for the best pontoon boat rentals on the Currituck Sound, an epic Jet Ski tour or an incredible parasailing experience, be sure to check out Nor'Banks Sailing and Watersports for all your favorite rentals and activities!

By Arielle Patterson

Use the Nor'Banks online reservations systems to book any activity. Book a sailing lesson, SUP, WaveRunner, parasailing and more quickly and easily online at www.norbanks.com.

Duck
252-261-2900
Hours
*Off-season hours may vary*
Call 252-261-2900 for current hours.
  • Monday9:00am-6:00pm
  • Tuesday9:00am-6:00pm
  • Wednesday9:00am-6:00pm
  • Thursday9:00am-6:00pm
  • Friday9:00am-6:00pm
  • Saturday9:00am-6:00pm
  • Sunday9:00am-6:00pm
Categories
Activities Shopping
Sailing the Outer Banks

Sailing the Outer Banks

Vacationers will notice a handful of sailboats at every local Outer Banks port, either saddled up to the docks or breezing across the harbor, en route to the nearest sound for a cruise, or to the continent-spanning Intracoastal Waterway to continue a long coastal voyage. Some vacationers are even in it for the long haul, docking for a summer or a winter season at a number of local marinas that offer all the comforts of home. Clearly, sailing lovers of all varieties have plenty of options, but even newcomers to the sport can experiment with life on the water with a local sailing lesson, rental, or waterfront cruise.

Brew Thru

Brew Thru

No trip to the Outer Banks is complete without cruising through Brew Thru, the Outer Banks’ original drive thru convenience store. Whether you’re looking for a refreshing cold beverage of Coke, Pepsi and other soft drinks on the go, stocking up your cooler with refreshments to enjoy at the beach or piling up on beer and wine for a party, Brew Thru is a fun and unique experience all vacationers need to see for themselves.

Drive-Through Beer & Gear

Brew Thru is Your One-Stop Shop at the Beach

The year was 1977, and Dana and Becky Lawrentz were chatting with friends over brews in their hometown of Akron, Ohio. They got to talking about a gas station convenience store in the area that had built a makeshift drive-through. Everyone agreed it would be pretty great if you could actually drive through a convenience store and pick up everything you needed without getting out of the car. But what would you call a place like that?

Well, you’d call it a Brew Thru.

It was an idea they couldn’t shake, so the Lawrentzes moved to the Outer Banks and built the first Brew Thru with the help of a partner. The idea was that people could come buy everything they would need for their trip to the beach—beer, wine, soft drinks, snacks, ice—without getting out of the car. That same year, a t-shirt salesman visiting the store and talked them into adding t-shirts to their product line—and 44 years later there are now more than five million Brew Thru t-shirts out in the wild.

The Lawrentzes’ daughter Brandy and her husband Philip Foreman purchased the business from them in 2002, and they now operate five locations across the Outer Banks.“We love being the one-stop shop for folks on the way to their beach house,” Foreman says. “Our car tenders are the friendliest people at the beach. We’re here to greet you, get you everything you need for your trip, load it up in the trunk for you, and have you leaving with a smile on your face.”

The store is quite expansive, featuring more than 100 brands of beer, dozens of wines and even a vast selection of cigars—not to mention all the snacks, t-shirts and other gear. To make ordering a little easier, customers in line get a menu—fondly known as the Summer-y—that outlines everything available at the store. These Summer-ies are also available in many of the beach rentals, which allows vacationers to decide what they want before driving through.

For customers who would like to get out and stretch their legs, there’s the Brew Thru Shop in Kill Devil Hills, where you can find their world famous t-shirts and other gifts. New t-shirt designs are created each year, making a yearly Brew Thru t-shirt a favorite of locals and annual visitors to the Outer Banks.

The Foremans both grew up in the Outer Banks, and they love that Brandy’s parents’ vision for a friendly and convenient place for people to grab their brews and other beach stay essentials is continuing to flourish.

“Our family has been welcoming people to the Outer Banks since 1977,” Foreman says. “We love this beautiful place, and we want everybody to get to enjoy it.”

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