Just shy of two years to go to celebrate its 50th anniversary, Seaward Kayaks of Chemainus, British Columbia , has announced it is shutting its doors.
A longtime maker of high-end sea kayaks that have graced the waters of the Northwest and beyond for decades, Seaward kayaks was started in 1986 and, in an era of consolidation has remained a small family-owned business with about 25 staff. But a shrinking market, competition, increased costs and more have combined for it to announce it is shutting its doors. Founded by Steve Ree, the company was sold to Steve Emery and Louise Defryn in 2019, longtime owners of a touring outfitter business that carried a fleet of Seaward sea kayaks for their operations.
“With a mixture of sadness and gratitude, we would like to announce that after 30 plus years Seaward Kayaks is closing its doors,” the company posted on Facebook. “We’d like to thank everyone who has supported Seaward through the years – including our loyal customers and hard-working staff. Your dedication contributed overwhelmingly to Seaward’s long-time success.”
Over the years, Seaward has been a beacon of innovation in the sea kayaking industry, known for its high-performance composite and fiberglass sea kayaks, with a reputation based on quality, trust, performance and innovation. Among other advancements, Seaward developed the Self Rescue System (SRS)™, the safeHatch™system, the smartrudder™ system and locking cockpit covers, all industry-leading developments.
While the company announced it is no longer manufacturing kayaks or parts, it said the online store will remain accessible until inventory levels are depleted. “We encourage anyone that owns a Seaward kayak and may need replacement parts to order them sooner rather than later,” the post maintains.
Spare parts that will or may be difficult to replace include: fiberglass hatch covers, rudders, seats and seat components, button kits, UHMW keel guards and pedals.
Spare parts and accessories are available at its online store, priced for quick sale: https://shop.seawardkayaks.ca/.