Where Are Kayaks Manufactured?

[Neumie]

I originally put this post on Facebook, but wanted to share it here as well. I've compiled a list of nearly all the kayak brands currently available for sale in the US and listed where they are being manufactured. I know some people care about where the kayak is manufactured and can be a bit confusing as most companies do not list were they manufacture (or buy) their kayak. Hope this helps.

I've listed it by company, so note some popular brands fall under a different name (ie Native Watercraft is under BIG Adventures) due to mergers.

Made in the USA:

• Bass Pro (Ascend; Missouri)
• BIG Adventures (Bonafide, Hurricane, Liquid Logic, & Native Watercraft; North Carolina)
• Crescent (Crescent & Solo Skiff; South Carolina)
• Diablo Paddlesports (Texas & North Carolina)
• Eddyline (Washington)
• KYSEK (Louisiana)
• Hobie (California)
• Jackson (Jackson & Blue Sky; Tennessee)
• Johnson Outdoors (Ocean Kayak & Old Town; Maine)
• Lifetime (Utah)
• Lightning (Minnesota)
• Malibu (California)
• NuCanoe (Wisconsin)
• Pelican International (Wilderness Systems & Perception; South Carolina)
• Santa Cruz (Washington)

US Companies who Manufacture in Other Countries:

• Kaku (Florida; China)
• Swell (Washington; South Africa)
• Vibe (Georgia; China)

US Companies with Exclusive Distribution Rights:

• Feel Free USA (3 Waters, Feel Free, & Seastream; Florida; Thailand)
• Viking USA (Texas; New Zealand)

US Companies who Import Generic, Mass Produced Kayaks:

• Born Salty (New York; China)
• Brooklyn (New York; China)
• Eddy Gear (Florida; China)
• Grayco (Texas; China)
• Hoodoo (Texas; China)
• K&R (Texas; China)
• Kayak Instruct (Texas; China)
• Liberty Outdoors (Florida; China)

Companies who Export to the US:

• Delta Kayaks (Canada)
• Kiwi Kayaks (Canada)
• Pelican (Canada)
• Venture (Great Britain)
• Riot (Canada; China)
• Vanhunks (South Africa; China)

No Longer Sold:

• Hemisphere Design Works (Evoke, Sun Dolphin, Future Beach, Third Coast, Heritage; Michigan; Out of Business)
  Cobra (New Zealand; no longer importing into US)
  Riptide (Texas; China; Presumed Out of Business)

Note:
Magellan (Academy) and West Marine are typically re-branded Perception kayaks. Ozark Trail (Walmart) are re-branded Sun Dolphin kayaks. Field & Stream kayaks are re-branded Seastream kayaks. Sportsman's Warehouse are re-branded Riot kayaks.

[2 Weight Willie]

Nice, I've seen lists before but never this completed and with that important disclaimer!

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[ben_beyer]

Do you know where Heritage (Redfish series manufacturer) were made by chance?

Just curious.

[Neumie]

Do you know where Heritage (Redfish series manufacturer) were made by chance?

Just curious.

Heritage is a quirky one as it changed hands many times.

Heritage was originally founded in 1997 by Hol Whitney and Paul Cronin with rotomolded kayak production beginning around 2000 in Rhode Island (Initially they just made kevlar and fiberglass touring kayaks). In 2006 they were bought out by Andy Zimmern (who had just founded Legacy Paddlesports - Native Watercraft) and moved Heritage's rotomolded production to North Carolina. In 2014 Heritage was sold to GSC Technologies and I'm assuming production was moved to their Quebec, Canada facility. In 2017 GSC Technologies and KL Outdoor merged creating Hemisphere Design Works and production moved to Michigan. In 2019 the Heritage Redfish became a rebranded Evoke Vue/Navigator 100 but at the end of 2019 Hemisphere Design Works went out of business.

That's about all I know.

[imaoldmanyoungsalt]

Do you know where Heritage (Redfish series manufacturer) were made by chance?

Just curious.

looks like it says in Michigan by Hemisphere Design Works but no longer sold

[Neumie]

Do you know where Heritage (Redfish series manufacturer) were made by chance?

Just curious.

looks like it says in Michigan by Hemisphere Design Works but no longer sold

Depends on the year.
2000-2006: Rhode Island
2006-2014: North Carolina
2014-2017: Quebec
2017-2019: Michigan

[Neumie]

Looks like KL Outdoors is back in production in Michigan starting in mid 2020. Not 100% on which brands they're producing, but Sun Dolphin is one of them.

https://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/202 ... mpany.html

[Dandydon]

Great meticulous work, Neumie! You must be good at your job w/ all that free time you have. Lol.

I'm glad to know my beloved HOBIE yaks & sailboats are made in California (rather than China)!

Now we need a compilation of where our fishing reels are made. I'm betting my beloved Shimanos and Cadence reels were Chinese-manufactured.

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[JW FunGuy]

Nice Work! That’s always good info to have. Thanks.

[2 Weight Willie]

Thanks!

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[Neumie]

Great meticulous work, Neumie! You must be good at your job w/ all that free time you have. Lol.

LOL. When I'm bored at home in the evenings I get these weird ideas to research about. So I usually throw on a baseball or basketball game as background noise and start researching. It's interesting to see how this sport has changed in the 18 years I've been kayaking.

[Dandydon]

We appreciate the fruits of your nighttime labors, Josh. Keep up the good work!

Now, where the Hell are my Shimano reels manufactured?

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[Ron Mc]

...
Now, where the Hell are my Shimano reels manufactured?

Most of them come from an assembly line in Malaysia, but I'm betting DD buys the grades that are bench-built by Japan technicians, using parts-matching to improve smoothness and reduce inertia.

[Kayak Kid]

Nuemie, You forgot SEDA kayaks.

Even though Sedavitch (sp?) has retired, they were purchased by another enthusiast and are still making premium kayaks in San Diago.

[Ron Mc]

Actually, there's not a make of hand-laid composite surf-ski kayaks anywhere on Josh's list.
Doc's Stealth isn't there, nor my Kestrel (Current Designs), no Kazkazi, Stellar, Epic, and not your Seda.
Pretty sure your Seda was (once) made in Mexico, which was what kept the cost down, and made Seda such a great buy at one time.

[shoffer]

Now, where the Hell are my Shimano reels manufactured?

As it relates to my reels, RonMc is right for the most part. All of my newer Shimanos (all baitcasters including my Curado 200's and my Curado DC 150's and my SLX) have a sticker that say Malaysia). But, my older Curado 50e's have a Korea sticker on them.

[Neumie]

Nuemie, You forgot SEDA kayaks.

Even though Sedavitch (sp?) has retired, they were purchased by another enthusiast and are still making premium kayaks in San Diago.

Actually, there's not a make of hand-laid composite surf-ski kayaks anywhere on Josh's list.
Doc's Stealth isn't there, nor my Kestrel (Current Designs), no Kazkazi, Stellar, Epic, and not your Seda.
Pretty sure your Seda was (once) made in Mexico, which was what kept the cost down, and made Seda such a great buy at one time.

Sorry, the list was targeted to companies which sell kayaks aimed for kayak fishing.

Maybe should have Stealth and Kaskazi, though so few people outside of Prof Salt use these specialized kayaks.

[2 Weight Willie]

I though BIG was made in france?

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[Dandydon]

Thanks for all your impressive REEL wisdom, men, but I just flipped my Curado over to reveal this engraved inscription:

"Made on MARS for Dandydon!"

Is that why it cost $4,999???

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[Neumie]

I though BIG was made in france?

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DAG and RTM are made in France. Those are the only two I'm aware of.

[2 Weight Willie]

Oh, ok

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[Dandydon]

Malaysia, Korea, Japan...? Do those people even speak English?!

WTF! Whatever happened to "Made in America!" How about "Made in Texas!"

I'm gonna write the White House and bring back fishing reels to America!
Let's hear it, men!

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[Ron Mc]

Stevo has a couple of benchmade IRT spinning reels.
Our last Estes trip, his new one had the spool improperly shimmed from the factory, balled up on him and ended his day.


Seigler reels are out there, also - they're famous on this forum


DD, I'm sure you could find one of these to fish

[Dandydon]

Ron, that old vintage Gulf Reel looks smooth as warm molasses, BUT I gotta stick w/ my beloved red Ambassadeur 5000c with the black plastic handle! Yessir.

No Malaysian or Korean reels for me! Those gals treat me bad. My reels are made in Sweden. Look at that royal silver seal engraved on her sideplate. Smooth as a baby's butt.

That's class, men... .
Stick with what's comfy and lube her every day...

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[Ron Mc]

did you see my Abu CTs?
Of course they were improved with Japanese parts (and some Brit and Italian parts).
http://www.texaskayakfisherman.com/foru ... 3&t=252742
You wouldn't believe the distances they'll cast - 1/4-oz to 300' on an 8' rod.