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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 providing jobs here in Sparta, TN. With many companies outsourcing and struggling with the changing tariffs, shipping costs, and production challenges our JK facility provides a safe haven for Tennessee-made products,” mentioned Emily Jackson, Advertising Director at Jackson Kayak.
Eddyline Kayaks
(Photograph/Jackson Kayak)
There are two issues that you just seemingly 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 always been about crafting beautiful, thermoformed lightweight kayaks that connect people to the water. We’re excited to carry that tradition forward alongside the Jackson team,” mentioned 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 not too long ago acquired by JK.
The primary in-house designed boat got here in 1978, known as the Orca, a high-volume, flat-bottomed touring boat that helped set up Eddyline’s now iconic West Coast boat design fashion.
Eddyline at Jackson Kayak
(Photograph/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 corporations that share a historical past and dedication to paddlesports is inspiring.
“We don’t want that dedication or enthusiasm to be lost by being bought by an investment group or conglomerate that doesn’t share our deep-rooted passion for paddlesports. Our team has been working on this acquisition for some time and our goal is to ensure each brand stays true to their path,” mentioned Emily Jackson.
(Photograph/Jackson Kayak)
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 seemingly assist each corporations develop shortly.
Eddyline will immediately have extra specialty retailers taken with its merchandise. JK will immediately have new molding expertise 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 notice: long-time unbiased reps for Eddyline Kayaks, like Ethan Ebersold of Pleased Paddlin — many instances known as “Ethan from Eddyline” — won’t be making the transition with the corporate, as JK has its personal gross sales, distribution, and demo groups.
