Ocean Kayak

For over 28 years, Osprey Bay Outdoors in Clearwater has been your local Ocean Kayak dealer. Ocean Kayak designs and manufactures sit-on-top kayaks, and their innovative single and tandem boats feature the renowned Tri-Form hull for stability, tracking, and maneuverability. We offer their world-class angler kayaks, women’s specific kayaks, hybrid stand up paddleboards, and new pedal drive kayaks.

In 1971, in a backyard in Malibu, California, Ocean Kayak’s original founder took an old surfboard and carved out two places — one to sit in and another for his scuba gear. That’s right, the Ocean Kayak was born thanks to a passion for scuba diving. But as this craft was seen on the water and on the beach, people began to inquire. Originally built as a fiberglass kayak, several people started asking how they could get one.

In the mid-80s, the operation moved north to Ferndale, Washington. Once in Ferndale, new ways to mass produce the kayaks were needed. Rotomolding was the answer. Rotomolded polyethylene allowed for a tougher — practically indestructible — kayak at a price most people could afford. Starting with only one model – the Scupper Classic – they quickly designed new models to add to the line. Early on, people laughed at the sit-on-top boats. After all, Ocean Kayaks didn’t look anything like traditional kayaks. But when they took a second look, they noticed some of the advantages. Unlike traditional kayaks, a sit-on-top kayak features an open cockpit that is easy to get in and out of and doesn’t require you to learn how to do an “Eskimo roll.” The sit-on-top is open, non-confining, and more welcoming to people who have always wanted to try kayaking but may have been nervous about being trapped in a sit-inside. Ocean Kayak started taking boats to resorts all around the world. While on vacation, first-time sit-on-top kayakers would have a fun time paddling an Ocean Kayak. Because Ocean Kayaks molded its 800# into every boat, vacationers would return home and call to tell how much fun they had, and ask where they could get an Ocean Kayak of their own. Word spread, and by the mid-90s, they were making and selling boats as fast as they could. Today, tens of thousands of boats later, they are one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of sit-on-top kayaks. With operations located in Old Town, ME USA, they also produce in Auckland, New Zealand. They distribute kayaks all over the world and offer a variety of sit-on-top designs, including a motorized sit-on-top kayak, pedal drive kayak, fishing kayaks, and more. As we move into the future, Ocean Kayak plans to continue to innovate and design boats to get more people out on the water and enjoying the sport of kayaking. And Osprey Bay Outdoors plans to be an Ocean Kayak Dealer for many more years to come.