Which Sea Kayak Manufacturer has the Boat for You?
The sea kayak manufacturers make a bewildering array of sea kayaks to choose from. If you can narrow down which makes to look at based on price, construction, availability you can then proceed to look at what boats are made in each range that meet your needs. We have shown the makers by country of origin, however, many of the brands are sold and distributed world wide so do not be limited by this categorisation. If you find a smaller maker that is based close to where you live however, you may well want to take a look at their products.
In spite of the number of boats available sea kayaking is still a relatively small world and many people will discuss boats by reference to the name of the person who founded the company, owns the company or is still busy designing and involved with the boats. To help you unravel this we have provided any information we are aware of along these lines that might help. Some of these people have been involved in sea kayak design from the early days of the introduction of sea kayaks, if you happen to meet them be sure to get them talking, they have so much knowledge to impart about sea kayak design and performance.
Where a price shows as £x000+ this is the starting price, where the prices shows £x000 to £y000 this is the price range without extras, where the price is shown as £x000/£y000 this is the polyethylene starting price followed by the composite starting price.
All data is to the best of our knowledge. If you know that any of our information is out of date, incorrect or confusing please let us know and we will do our best to make appropriate updates. Equally if we have missed anyone out please let us know so we can include them.
P&H Scorpio
UK Sea Kayak Manufacturers
Manufacturer
Location
Makers of
Constructions
Price
Founder/ Ownership/ Comments
UK Exeter
Primarily Racing Kayaks but also Sea Kayaks and Folding Kayaks
Composite - Basic to Top of the range
£2000 +
Dave Green
Anglesey
Sea Kayak Specialists
Primarily Composite with one RTM Polyethylene model
£2000+
Nigel Dennis
Cumbria
Sea Kayak Specialists
Primarily Composite with one RTM Polyethylene model
Manufactured in Thailand distributed worldwide, founder David Felton, designer Aled Williams
Nottingham
Sea Kayak Specialists
RTM Polyethylene & Composite
£1000/ £2000+
Founded by Frank Goodman 1972 one of the first to make sea kayaks and makers of some "classics"
North West
Sea Kayaks & Touring Kayaks
Polyethylene
£1000
Related to P&H, worldwide distribution
North American Sea Kayak Manufacturers
Manufacturer
Location
Makers of
Constructions
Price
Founder/ Ownership/ Comments
Montreal, Canada
Sea Kayak Specialists
Thermoformed Polyethylene & Composite
Established 1991
Cal-Tek
Massachusetts, USA
Greenland Kayaks
Composite
$2500
Contact Cal-Tek at 781-585-5666 - no website
Seattle, USA
Recreation, Touring Kayaks and Sea Kayaks
Eddyline exclusive thermoplastic Carbonlite 2000
$2500+
Tom Derrer - Family Company
USA
Sea Kayak Specialists also make open Canadians
Composite
$2500+
Current owners brothers Marc and Ron Bourgoin
Washington, USA
Sea Kayak Specialists
Composite
Claim to make very light boats, shipping world wide, sold only factory direct.
Maine, USA
Sea Kayaks, Touring Kayaks & Sit On Tops
Mostly Polyethylene but some composite
Part of Water sports group Johnson Outdoor Watercraft
South Carolina, USA
More Touring Orientated
Polyethylene
$1000
Founded by Bill Masters in the 1970s, now owned by Confluence Holdings
British Columbia, Canada
Sea Kayak Specialists
Mainly Composite plus first thermoformed kayak
$CAN4000
Steve Ree family business includes some Nigel Foster designs, dealers across North America plus Australia, Korea and Norway
Winona, Massachusetts, USA
Sea Kayak Specialists
Composite
$3000
John Winters designs now run by Wenonah
Wilderness
USA
Sea Kayaks, Tourers Sit on Tops & Fishing Kayaks
Polyethylene & Composite
$1700/ $2900
Established 1985 now part of Confluence Holdings
European Sea Kayak Manufacturers (Excluding UK)
Manufacturers
Locations
Makers of
Construction
Price
Founder/ Ownership/ Comments
Exo
Italy
Sea Kayaks, White Water Kayaks & Sit on Tops
Polyethylene
Ronnskar, Sweden
Sea Kayak Specialist also Surf Skis, Sit on Tops, SUPs & Modular Kayaks
Composite & Polyethylene
$1600/ $2500
Founders Tomas & Richard Ohman - Designers Nigel Foster & Magnus de Brito
Rainbow
France
Riot
France
Sea Kayaks, Tourers, Sit on Tops, White water, surf Boats etc.
Polyethylene some Thermoformed
Tahe Marine
Estonia & France
Sea Kayaks, Touring Kayaks & Sit On Tops
Polyethylene & Composite
Sea Kayak Manufacturers Rest of the World
Manufacturers
Locations
Makers of
Construction
Price
Founder/ Ownership/ Comments
Epic
China
Sea Kayaks plus competitive Sprint/Marathon Kayaks, Surfskis and Rowing Boats
Composite
Distributed world wide
Paddling Perfection
New Zealand
Q Kayaks
Ashhurst, New Zealand
Sea Kayak Specialists plus White Water & Recreational Kayaks
Polyethylene & Composite
Started by Max Grant in the 1970s