You read that headline right. Thermoformed touring kayak icon Eddlyline Kayaks has been acquired by Jackson Kayak (JK), best known for its rotomolded whitewater and fishing kayaks. Production and sales of Eddyline Kayaks will move from Seattle to the JK factory 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,” said Emily Jackson, Marketing Director at Jackson Kayak.
Eddyline Kayaks

There are two things that you likely didn’t know — as I didn’t — that help link Eddyline and JK.
First, Eddyline started in whitewater kayak production, just as JK did. Tom and Lisa Derrer built whitewater boats in a tiny shop in Boulder, Colo., starting back in 1971. But the pair moved themselves and their business to Seattle in 1974, and soon switched to touring kayak production.
“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,” said Scott Holley, Eddyline Kayak President. Holley will make the transition with the company, and be the Head of Sales for Eddyline under Jackson Kayak ownership.
It all started in 1975 when the Derrers met Werner Furrer, who designed their first sea kayak. The Eddyline WT-500 (Werner Touring, 500 cm long). This is the same Werner who went on to found Werner Paddles, another Washington-based company that was recently acquired by JK.
The first in-house designed boat came in 1978, called the Orca, a high-volume, flat-bottomed touring boat that helped establish Eddyline’s now iconic West Coast boat design style.
Eddyline at Jackson Kayak

