Seaward Kayaks officially announced its closure last week after almost four decades in business, marking the end of an era for a cornerstone of the sea kayaking community.
The Seaward story began in 1986 when Steven Ree and Geoff Workman, two pioneering figures in the North American sea kayaking industry, joined forces. Under the ownership of Ree and his wife Jacquie, Seaward earned a reputation for crafting high-quality composite kayaks on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The kayaks became trusted companions for paddlers worldwide, from recreational enthusiasts to outfitters leading multiday expeditions.
Over the years, Paddling Magazine has reviewed many Seaward models, including the Passat G3, Chinook, Infiniti 175 TX and Quantum.
Navigating The Waves of Business
In 2014, Seaward gained broader public recognition when it appeared on the Canadian television show Dragon’s Den (similar to the American TV show Shark Tank) with a pitch to build a rotomolded plastic kayaks division. While the business initially had the interest of four of the five Dragons, after due diligence, the venture capitalists and the Rees decided to part ways.
Instead, Kayak Distribution acquired Seaward’s thermoform division. The composite operations remained owned and operated by the Ree family, and the kayaks continued to be handmade by two dozen skilled craftspeople on Vancouver Island. Seaward went back to “doing what we do best,” Jacquie Ree said at the time.
In the fall of 2019, Seaward changed ownership. Steve Emery and Louise Defryn, who previously owned a fleet of over 100 Seaward kayaks for their tour operating business, purchased the company.
In May 2024, Emery replied to speculation about Seaward’s future on a forum for West Coast paddlers: “Seaward is closing its factory in Chemainus this summer. No further Seaward kayaks will be manufactured for the foreseeable future. We have no current plans to re-open but will eventually be making Seaward available for sale to whoever is interested.”
Emery did not respond to Paddling Mag’s request for comment.
In the official closure announcement made via a Facebook post on August 14, 2024, Seaward expressed thanks to the paddling community for its unwavering support. “With a mixture of sadness and gratitude, we would like to announce that after 30-plus years, Seaward Kayaks is closing its doors,” the post stated. “Your dedication contributed overwhelmingly to Seaward’s long-time success.”
The company’s Facebook page has since been flooded with messages from customers with one user reminiscing, “I own four of your boats. They are my absolute favorites and what I consider a top-notch Canadian product. This is devastating news.” Another paddler shared, “I’ve toured in Seaward kayaks and know their quality was legendary. Seaward will always be a part of West Coast sea kayaking history.”
“This is especially unfortunate not only for West Coast, Canadian-made kayaks but manufacturing in general,” added another.
Though Seaward will no longer manufacture kayaks or parts, its online store will remain open until inventory is depleted. “We encourage anyone that owns a Seaward kayak and may need replacement parts to order them sooner rather than later,” the announcement advised.
