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Sterling Kayaks builds sea kayaks in Bellingham, Washington, using a composite construction process that combines fiberglass or carbon fiber and Kevlar layups. The company traces its origins to 1985, when boat builder Sterling Donalson designed the first Sterling kayak, and it grew into a commercial operation in 2003 as demand for the design increased among Pacific Northwest paddlers. Donalson relocated the business to its current Bellingham facility in 2012 after a fire destroyed the original shop, and in 2021 the company was purchased by Scott and Sarah Boden, who retained the existing production crew and operations manager. Each kayak is built by hand at the Bellingham facility, where the company produces touring, expedition, and playboating models including the Illusion, Grand Illusion, Reflection, Progression, and Ice Kap. Sterling Kayaks offers a standard fiberglass composite layup as well as an upgraded carbon fiber and Kevlar construction intended to reduce hull weight while maintaining strength. All design, layup, and assembly work takes place at the company’s Washington shop, which continues to build kayaks in small batches for sea kayakers and outfitters across North America.
