Paddle the Rainbow: Seawolf’s Kayak Color Guide
After deciding which model to build, choosing a color is the most obvious way to personalize your kayak. It is also what people spend the most time agonizing over. From bright yellow to dark brown to light gray, the color options are seemingly endless and once pigment is added to the polyurethane, you are committed. This guide will help you settle on a color before the workshop.
Clay Pigments
Seawolf uses clay pigments that won’t take years off your life like some of the nastier acid dyes. Since we hand-mix the powdered pigment into the polyurethane, you can expect some speckles and streaks of color that add to the unique look and character of each boat.
You can control the saturation of color by adding less or more pigment. Less pigment creates translucent boats that allow more light to shine through. More pigment means more saturated color and opaque skin. We recommend adding pigment ½-teaspoons at a time—you will have the chance to create a few test strips before coating your kayak.
**Our pigments rotate based on availability and popularity. The options below represent our principle selection, but we might have swapped colors out for new by the time of your workshop or order.
Yellow — Classic Kayak
The most popular color and for good reason—yellow boats turn out beautifully. Yellow stands out the best on the water, making it the safest choice for paddlers.
Tan — Buckskin Boat
Tan and light brown are also popular choices. While glossier than sealskin, some people choose tan for its more genuine skin-boat appearance.
Red/Cedar
Another classic choice. Though not as bright as the yellow or tan boats, red and cedar brown boats stand out well on the water. We recommend reds to be more saturated or mixed with another pigment to avoid a pink boat.
Gray — Camouflage
Gray boats look beautiful on land and disappear on the water. They are ideal for fishing or sneaking up on fowl.
Green/Blue
Green/Blue kayaks look great on the water, but they are more dangerous because they disappear easily on the water and it is harder for other people to see you. If you are not certain about this as a color choice, then choose a color that has more visibility.
No Pigment — Translucent
You may also choose to use no pigment at all. Once coated with clear polyurethane, boats become highly translucent, catching the most light. The white nylon will yellow slightly overtime, giving the boat a beautiful weathered look.
Color Mixing
You can customize your color by mixing any number of our six clay pigments. Due to the nature of the pigment, it is best to mix similar colors (tan/yellow, red/brown, green/gray)
For color inspiration, check out kayak images below and throughout the site!
