Lest you forget, we’re on an island, surrounded by water, and these seven organizations make it insanely easy to see Brooklyn* by boat — oil slicks, egrets, and all. Some will even let you paddle for free, so there’s no excuse for landlubbers.

Gowanus Dredgers, waterfrontmuseum.org/dredgers
The Deal: Free canoes, life vests, and maps to explore the canal on select weeknights and weekends, like this Saturday, May 17. Tours limited to 15-minute to hour-long sessions, and those under 16 need adults accompanying them. What You’ll See: Heaps of scrap metal, colorful graffiti, tugs, and the poorly named, “Vintage Food Corp.”

Red Hook Boaters, redhookboaters.org
The Deal: Very similar to the Dredgers’ program, except paddlers get to kayak the protected cove of Louis Valentino Jr. Pier Park. What You’ll See: Those year-round Red Hook fishermen, Miss Liberty, container ship and ferry traffic in the Buttermilk Channel.

Sebago Canoe Club, sebagocanoeclub.org
The Deal: Donate $10 (to cover insurance) for free sea kayaks and a guided, hour-long tour from Paerdegat Basin in Canarsie to Jamaica Bay, Wednesday eves and Saturdays beginning May 28. Arrive early to secure a spot. What You’ll See: Horses along the beach, herons, the sludge barge (carrying slightly processed you-know-what).

Brooklyn Center for the Urban Environment, bcue.org
The Deal: Expertly guided tours of historic, local waterways, like the immensely popular “Newton Creek Cruise” (July 13) and “The Other Islands of New York” (August 10), for $50-$40. What You’ll See: The site of a 17 million gallon oil spill or Randall’s Island, Roosevelt Island, Ward’s Island, and Brother Islands.

American Littoral Society, alsnyc.org, under “Field Trips”
The Deal: Three-hour, narrated sunset cruises of Jamaica Bay on the Golden Sunshine, including wine, cheese, fruit and crackers, for $45 on June 1 and June 14. What You’ll See: Backwater marshes of Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, planes taking off from Kennedy, and real shorebirds.

Prospect Park Alliance, prospectpark.org
The Deal: Electric or pedal boat tours of the park’s 60-acre lake, from $6-$15 an hour (less for kids). On Thursdays in the summer, wine and cheese is served before boarding the Independence on its $25 Twilight Tours. What You’ll See: Swans, mallards, bass fishers.

New York Water Taxi, nywatertaxi.com
The Deal: Cruise Lower Manhattan to Breezy Point for $6 on the brand-new Rockaway Commuter Ferry (then catch the Q22 bus and A train back). This July through October, take the $20 hop-on service at Fulton Ferry Landing to the South St. Seaport, where water taxis depart on $25 hour-long tours of Olafur Eliason’s New York City Waterfalls. What You’ll See: Depending on the trip, Gateway National Recreation Area, Manhattan’s skyline, and a large-scale art installation.

*and Queens!