British Columbia isn’t just a playground for paddlers. It’s home to a thriving community of craftspeople, designers, and manufacturers building the boats, boards, and gear that shape how we explore lakes, rivers and ocean coastlines. From thermo-formed sea kayaks to hand-crafted wooden paddles; from SUP boards carved in the Coast Mountains to safety gear built for BC’s cold waters — these companies do more than sell gear. They embed BC’s waves, wilderness, and spirit into every stitch, seam, and hull. Below are some of the standout manufacturers based in BC whose work supports paddlers from novices to seasoned explorers.
If we have missed someone who is actively building paddling-specific gear in BC, let us know and we can keep this list evolving.
Delta Kayaks
Delta has been molding sleek touring and recreational kayaks in British Columbia since the 1980s. Known for their light but tough thermoformed ABS construction, they focus on sea touring, day touring, and recreational kayaks that are durable enough for outfitters yet friendly for newer paddlers. Their designs lean toward efficient hulls with generous storage, built for coastal trips, big lakes, and everything in between.
Based in: Maple Ridge, BC
Website: https://www.deltakayaks.com
Email: info@deltakayaks.com
Clipper Canoes (Western Canoeing & Kayaking)
Clipper is one of the classic Canadian canoe brands and has been building boats in Abbotsford since the 1970s. Under the Western Canoeing & Kayaking umbrella, they are known for expedition trippers, marathon racing hulls, and family canoes in fiberglass, Kevlar, and other composites. If you have seen a loaded canoe disappear up a northern river, there is a good chance it had a Clipper logo on the side.
Based in: Abbotsford, BC
Website: https://www.clippercanoes.com
Email: info@clippercanoes.com
Hellman Canoes
Hellman is a Kootenay original. Building in the Nelson area since the 1980s, they are known for tough, expedition-ready canoes that still paddle nicely empty on a local lake. Their lineup covers whitewater trippers, lake touring canoes, and river-play hulls, many offered in bomber layups built for rock-bashing rivers across western Canada.
Based in: Nelson, BC
Website: https://www.hellmancanoes.com
Email: hellman@hellmancanoes.com
Orca Boats
Orca Boats builds gorgeous strip-built kayaks, canoes, and small rowing craft, often from cedar and other local woods. Their boats are equal parts artwork and functional touring craft, aimed at paddlers who want a one-of-a-kind wooden boat for coastal trips, day paddles, or display on the living-room wall between adventures. They also share plans and kits for home builders.
Based in: Maple Bay, Vancouver Island, BC
Website: https://www.orcaboats.ca
Email: rod@orcaboats.ca
Kahuna Paddleboards
Kahuna has been designing stand up paddleboards in Whistler since 2008. Their boards are aimed at everything from flatwater cruising and touring to surfy river runs and fitness paddling. Kahuna also designs paddles and accessories, and their graphics often nod to West Coast landscapes and surf culture.
Based in: Whistler, BC
Website: https://kahunapaddleboards.com
Email: info@kahunapaddleboards.com
Kerr Boards
Kerr Boards is a small, craft-scale builder in the Slocan Valley that hand-builds cedar-strip and foam-core stand up paddleboards. Each board is shaped to order, often featuring artwork from local artists, and built to last with a focus on performance and beautiful finish. These are heirloom pieces that still get paddled hard on Kootenay and Slocan Lakes.
Based in: Slocan, BC
Website: https://kerr-boards.com
Email: supskerr@gmail.com
Cascadia Board Co
Cascadia Board Co is a Vancouver Island based SUP brand that builds and distributes stand up paddleboards, paddles, and accessories. Their focus is on durable, good-looking boards for coastal touring, surf, and lake paddling, with a strong environmental ethic that includes 1% for the Planet style giving and an emphasis on local waters.
Based in: Vancouver Island, BC
Website: https://www.cascadiaboardco.com
Email: sales@swellsource.ca
Nimbus Paddles
Nimbus has been making paddles on Quadra Island for decades. They build composite and wooden canoe and kayak paddles, from expedition-tough touring blades to lightweight performance sticks for long days on the water. Many BC guides and instructors still swear by a well-worn Nimbus as their daily driver.
Based in: Heriot Bay, Quadra Island, BC
Website: https://nimbuspaddles.com/
Email: info@nimbuspaddles.com
Blackfish Paddles
Blackfish Paddles designs and builds high-end SUP paddles and fins, with manufacturing rooted on the Sea to Sky corridor. Their focus is performance: different blade shapes for racing, surf, and touring, using bio-resin and other more sustainable materials where possible. They also distribute SUP and foil gear through their SUPandFoil arm.
Based in: Squamish, BC
Website: https://www.blackfishpaddles.com
Email: sales@blackfishpaddles.com
True North Paddle Co
True North Paddle Co is a small Vancouver Island workshop that handcrafts wooden paddles. Using fine hardwoods and classic laminated construction, they build strong, beautiful canoe and SUP paddles aimed at paddlers who care as much about feel and aesthetics as they do about power. Production is small and custom-oriented.
Based in: Parksville, BC
Email: wildcoast@shaw.ca
Mustang Survival
Mustang Survival has been “saving lives since 1967” and is one of BC’s best-known marine brands. From their Burnaby HQ they design PFDs, inflatables, drysuits, and water rescue gear used by paddlers, SAR teams, Coast Guard crews, and military units worldwide. Their recreational line includes touring PFDs, whitewater vests, and dry gear well suited to BC paddling.
Based in: Burnaby, BC
Website: https://mustangsurvival.ca
Email: custserv@mustangsurvival.com
North Water
North Water builds rescue and paddling equipment in Vancouver: throwbags, tow lines, outfitting, deck bags, rescue PFD accessories, and industrial water-safety gear. Their products are standard issue for many instructors, guides, and SAR teams across Canada, especially for whitewater and swift-water environments.
Based in: Vancouver, BC
Website: https://northwater.com
Email: shop@northwater.com
Predator Helmets (Predator Designs Inc.)
Predator is a Vancouver-based helmet company started by former competitive whitewater kayaker Matt Kelly. They design low-profile, skate-style and full-coverage helmets for water sports, many of which are popular with whitewater kayakers, canoeists, and SUP paddlers who want solid head protection without a bulky feel.
Based in: Vancouver, BC
Website: https://www.predatorhelmets.com
Email: info@predatorhelmets.com
Ocean Rodeo
Ocean Rodeo is best known in the kite and wing world, but their drysuits and waterwear have a big following among SUP paddlers and kayakers, especially for cold coastal conditions. Based in the Victoria area, they design drysuits and neoprene gear that balance warmth, mobility, and durability for long sessions in rough water.
Based in: Greater Victoria (Saanich), BC
Website: https://oceanrodeo.com
Paiwen Board Sports
Paiwen is a women-focused SUP brand founded in 2009 and based in the Vancouver area. They design boards, paddles, and packages specifically with women’s body types and paddling styles in mind, aiming to make getting into SUP feel comfortable and unintimidating. Their boards show up on lakes and gentle coastal waters across BC.
Based in: Vancouver, BC
Website: paiwenboards.com
Email: info@paiwenboards.com
If you spot another BC-based company that is actively building paddling-specific craft, paddles, or safety gear, or if any of these details need an update, Paddle BC would love to hear from you so we can keep this guide as accurate and inclusive as possible. Email vince at paddlebc.ca
