A rugged and sea worthy craft eminently suitable for home waters or for those with the time and energy to push just that little bit further.

The Sturgeon – originally the Islander designed by Wye Kayaks of Great Britain and manufactured by the Hereford Glass Fibre Co. – was first launched in 1980. Since then, the Islander has been paddled all over the world including expeditions in Greenland, Oman, Alaska, New Zealand, Scandinavia, the British Isles, and North and South America.

In 1989, Dragonworks, longtime U.S. importer of the Islander, purchased all rights for the boat from Hereford Glass Fibre Co., and in 1990, a new mold was made by H.G.F. and sent to Dragonworks to begin production in the U.S.

In 1999 we sold the Islander name to Watermark [Perception/Aquaterra] for use on their [short-lived] line of plastic sit-on-top kayaks by that name. Merrymeeting Bay, our home, has provided vital habitat to short-nose and Atlantic sturgeon for eons. It was fitting then that we rename our kayak the Sturgeon, since like our 200 million year old namesake, quality never goes out of style.

The new mold incorporated two changes. The large VCP hatch in the rear, improving rear bulkhead access while maintaining 100% water tightness, and the radius of the stern hull profile has been decreased improving cross wind performance considerably.

The rest of the design remains the same. The swede form hull has a maximum width of 22.5”. The relatively flat bottom provides superior stability and maneuverability while sharp entry and exit lines provide excellent tracking. There is ample room in the cockpit with a steeply raked foredeck and the small opening provides maximum protection from spray cover implosion.

The Sturgeon ME (Medium Entry) is designed to accommodate longer & larger paddlers while retaining the best characteristics of the standard Sturgeon. The ME has more foot, leg, & hip room, a slightly larger cockpit (still plenty of bracing surface), a soft seat, & large VCP oval hatches fore & aft.

Standard outfitting on both Sturgeons includes full desk line, bungies fore and aft, VCP hatches fore and aft providing access to sealed storage space, and a built-in bilge pump. Options include a recessed deck mounted Suunto K158 compass, custom colors, Feathercraft surf rudder, our "Keep It Simple Skeg System" [KISS] and KevlarTM, SpectraTM, and carbon fiber layups. On the standard Sturgeon, the soft seat is also an option.

Paddling, like nearly every other activity, is not without risk. Don’t let a sunny sky, beautiful boat, and beckoning sea cause you to leave home without judgment or training. Dragonworks, Inc. is not responsible or liable for any problems you or your kayak may have. We encourage you to read, to learn from others, and to train so that you will develop the necessary judgement and skills to enjoy many years of safe paddling. See our suggested reading list. People to paddle with can often be found in local paddling clubs, through local chapters of Sierra or Appalachian Mountain Clubs or American Canoe Association.