Picture with Eric Jackson - Founder of Jackson Kayaks
Yesterday, my friend Josh Hamilton and I made the drive to Sparta Tennesse to pick up new inventory from Jackson Kayaks. It took about eight hours to get their headquarters from Logan Ohio, but the drive was definitely worth it. The main reason I wanted to pick them up instead of having them shipped was to view their facility. I always thought it would be interesting to see how an important product to us was made. The production of kayaks is down to a science at Jackson Kayaks. First it takes several months for them to design the mold for a kayak. After the mold is made it is shipped out to make a solid alumiunum mold. Once the alumimum mold is shipped back to the factory they can begin producing kayaks. They start with putting powdered plastic into the molds. The color varies depending on the outfitter's desire. I requested blue and white tiedye. It gives kind of like a cloud color look. Anyways after the mold if filled with plastic they put it into an oven. The oven is probably about 10 feet by 20 feet. So it is pretty big. It takes several hours before the kayak can be taken out of the oven. Once it is taken out of the oven it is taken to the assembly line, where are the accessories are added to the kayak. They can only make 60 kayaks a day and they work 24 hours. That gives you an idea of much time goes into making a kayak. Learn more by going to www.hockinghillscanoeing.com
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