You learn that headline proper. Thermoformed touring kayak icon Eddlyline Kayaks has been acquired by Jackson Kayak (JK), finest recognized for its rotomolded whitewater and fishing kayaks. Manufacturing and gross sales of Eddyline Kayaks will transfer from Seattle to the JK manufacturing facility in Sparta, Tenn.
“Jackson Kayak has a deep root in creating and offering jobs right here in Sparta, TN. With many firms outsourcing and battling the altering tariffs, delivery prices, and manufacturing challenges our JK facility offers a protected haven for Tennessee-made merchandise,” stated Emily Jackson, Advertising and marketing Director at Jackson Kayak.
Eddyline Kayaks
There are two issues that you just doubtless didn’t know — as I didn’t — that assist hyperlink Eddyline and JK.
First, Eddyline began in whitewater kayak manufacturing, simply as JK did. Tom and Lisa Derrer constructed whitewater boats in a tiny store in Boulder, Colo., beginning again in 1971. However the pair moved themselves and their enterprise to Seattle in 1974, and shortly switched to touring kayak manufacturing.
“Eddyline has all the time been about crafting stunning, thermoformed light-weight kayaks that join folks to the water. We’re excited to hold that custom ahead alongside the Jackson workforce,” stated Scott Holley, Eddyline Kayak President. Holley will make the transition with the corporate, and be the Head of Gross sales for Eddyline below Jackson Kayak possession.
It began in 1975 when the Derrers met Werner Furrer, who designed their first sea kayak. The Eddyline WT-500 (Werner Touring, 500 cm lengthy). This is similar Werner who went on to discovered Werner Paddles, one other Washington-based firm that was lately acquired by JK.
The primary in-house designed boat got here in 1978, referred to as the Orca, a high-volume, flat-bottomed touring boat that helped set up Eddyline’s now iconic West Coast boat design model.
Eddyline at Jackson Kayak
“Eddyline, like Werner, is devoted to the buyer journey and high quality of its product. The very first kayak ever produced by Eddyline was truly designed by Werner Furrer SR. So, to have these firms that share a historical past and dedication to paddlesports is inspiring.
“We don’t need that dedication or enthusiasm to be misplaced by being purchased by an funding group or conglomerate that doesn’t share our deep-rooted ardour for paddlesports. Our workforce has been engaged on this acquisition for a while and our objective is to make sure every model stays true to their path,” stated Emily Jackson.
Jackson Kayak makes a variety of kayaks, paddles, coolers, and a wide range of different roto-molded merchandise at its huge manufacturing facility in Sparta, Tenn. Bringing Eddyline thermoformed kayaks below that very same roof and gross sales/advertising infrastructure will doubtless assist each firms develop shortly.
Eddyline will immediately have extra specialty retailers considering its merchandise. JK will immediately have new molding know-how and machines and a full unfold of kayaks to promote. Particularly, Eddyline fills within the touring and sea kayak classes the place JK was gentle and/or not in but.
One unhappy word: long-time impartial reps for Eddyline Kayaks, like Ethan Ebersold of Blissful Paddlin — many instances known as “Ethan from Eddyline” — is not going to be making the transition with the corporate, as JK has its personal gross sales, distribution, and demo groups.
