I’ll be attending the Fly Fishing Film Tour (http://flyfilmtour.com/) in Middlebury, VT this Friday, April 13th, and Jackson Kayak will be on display. Come check out the Coosa, Cuda, our new Big Tuna, ask questions, talk to team members, and watch a great show at the same time!
The Vermont Fly Guys will be there as well — these are the folks who tied the winning fly for James at the Musky World Championships. Way to go James!
See you at the show!
D
The custom colors program at Jackson Kayak offers our customers the unique opportunity to come up with a completely one of a kind color or mix combination for their kayak. It can be a really fun way to show your support of your favorite sports team or university, experiment with a color idea you might have, or just stand out from your friends.
Every year we experiment with new color combos for the next season, some work out, and some don’t. Here’s some photos of an experiment that we did on a Cuda with orange, blue and white, that would probably make some Florida Gator kayakers pretty happy. Georgia Bulldog fans are lucky this year with our standard Black Widow, but we could probably mold team colors to suit fans of Clemson, LSU, Alabama, Oklahoma, Miami, Texas, Oregon, West Virgina or most any university out there. Same goes for NFL, NBA, MLB team colors, on and on.
Maybe you have a kayak fishing team and want all team member to stand out on the water? Maybe a university whitewater club? Whatever the reason, go for it!
Check with your local dealer, or e-mail Customer Service at Jackson Kayak to discuss pricing and any color opportunities you’d like to explore. Some colors mix better than others, and while there’s no guarantee a mix will come out as intended, our molders know what they are doing and will do their best to make your color idea into a reality.
Have fun on the water. Go Kayakers!
D
It’s always an exciting time when a new kayak is ready for production. It’s when all of hard work everybody has put into making a design become a reality comes to the surface, and what was once an idea in a meeting turns into something you can carry to your favorite river and head downstream.
Developing a new model takes some time. After deciding just what we want the model to do, David Knight and EJ go to work developing a virtual CAD model of the concept. From that, prototypes can be molded and tested, proving a design functions as intended. Once we’ve reached that point, the final CAD model can be made into a plug the mold maker uses to machine a production kayak mold. There’s a lot more that goes on too, like graphics and outfitting development, but that’s the process in a nutshell.
When the final mold comes into the factory, the activity level really heats up. It takes some time to ‘dial in’ the correct molding parameters, so we can be sure the performance and quality level live up to Jackson Kayak standards. There’s a lot more to rotomolding a kayak than pouring plastic into a mold, melting it, and spinning it. Ramp rates, cooling rates, mold treatments, cooling fixtures, etc all can influence the plastic integrity and final shape of a kayak. Jackson Kayak has expert molders with decades of molding experience, and these guys know what they’re doing. This is a critical phase for any new product as EJ, and all of us at Jackson Kayak, are passionate about consistently providing a high performance, quality product, and taking a little time to make it perfect is well worth it.
Well, the Zen is at that phase! Last week at the factory EJ, Dane and I hit the water with a couple pre-production test kayaks to compare small variations in hull shape as we nail down the final production specifications. Rock Island is a great place to test a kayak like the Zen, with everything from waterfalls and long rapids, to surf waves and playspots within minutes from the factory.
We’re excited about the Zen. It’s got speed, stability, is easy to roll, and an absolute blast to take downriver. It will be excellent for beginners to experts on a wide variety of river types and features, and I personally can’t wait to have one in my quiver.
Stay tuned, the Zen is about to launch…..
Damon
Ebenezer Creek, outside of Savannah, GA, is a Georgia Wild & Scenic River and National Natural Landmark, flowing through miles of ancient dwarfed bald cypress on its way to the confluence with the Savannah River. Some of the trees are estimated to be over a thousand years old, with bases over 12 feet wide, creating a very unique and interesting glimpse into the past. Rich with history, including a well known Civil War incident, Ebenezer Creek is well worth a day of exploration.
Ashley and headed out in an Ibis and a Journey to do some exploring of our own, two designs very well suited for a cruise through Ebenezer’s ancient timber.
Here’s some photos and a report from Ashley after using the Ibis on Ebenezer Creek:
Jackson Ibis
Day Tripping on Ebenezer Creek, Georgia
11/16/2011
The sun was peaking through the clouds despite the threat of rain in Georgia as we made our way to Ebenezer Creek outside of Savannah. The area is immersed in history and cypress trees, boasted on several websites as an excellent kayaking day trip destination. This was my first encounter with the Jackson Kayak Ibis and I was excited to get it in the water to try it out.
At first glance I noticed the awesome new color this year, Earth, a swirled mix of green, blue and white that looks like…you got it, planet Earth! The second thing I noticed was the shape…it doesn’t look like your standard friendly yet sluggish rec boat. While the boat is wide and stable, the bow looks sleek and fast. This was going to be fun!
We unloaded and prepared to get on the water around lunchtime, bringing with us a bagged lunch of Chic-fil-A (Damon has to have his fix). I placed our precious cargo into dry bag on the rear deck. A few quick adjustments of foot pegs and seat location had me ready to go. The wide cockpit and Elite Seat made for a causal comfy ride.
We paddled up Ebenezer creek enjoying the sights…impressively large cypress trees, turtles, fall leaves, and a HUGE alligator that wanted less to do with us than we did him!! The Ibis offered up a smoother faster ride than I would have expected from a friendly rec boat. The Ibis and Ebenezer Creek were a fun day out on the water…I highly recommend both.
With ample storage, a comfortable and adjustable Elite Seat, friendly and fast hull, the Ibis is the perfect kayak for any day out on the water. At only $799, it’s not a bad investment either for repeat fun.
Key Features of the Ibis include:
1) Elite Seat – Comfortable all day, and easily removable, the Elite Seat system allows for adjustable Hi-Lo seating, and easy access to rear storage. Just shift the seat forward, or take it out all the way, and you have unrestricted access to all the storage you could need for a day or overnights. There’s also an adjustable cup/camera holder that moves with you along the seat track.
2) Stern Dry Bag and Storage – A dry bag fitted to the rear deck comes standard with the Ibis – perfect for a day’s worth of gear or a picnic lunch. The Ibis was specifically designed without front and rear bulkheads, so with the Elite Seat removed, there’s easy, open access to additional storage. For a brief video of these features, click here.
3) Performance Hull – The Ibis sports a nice balance of speed and stability for a fast but extremely stable ride on calm waters. With a wide belly for stability, but narrow bow and stern that cut and break through the water, the benefits of the hull design can be appreciated by beginners and experts alike.
4) Capacity – The Ibis has a high capacity, with relatively low weight, suiting it well for day trips to multi-day overnights. The low weight easy to transport and carry, and the padded cockpit is comfortable on your shoulder.
5) Joe Walton Design – Designed by legendary kayak designer Joe Walton, the Ibis is the culmination of over 20 years of design expertise.
Check one out for yourself at a local JK dealer, and sit back and enjoy great days out on streams near you.
Happy Holidays,
D & Ash
I think a lot of us get too caught up in the ‘routines’ of everyday life. It’s easy to lose focus nowadays, and sometimes it’s good to get away from it all and enjoy a little time off the radar.
The Jackson Kayak Journey is the perfect kayak to help you get away from it all. There’s a lot of places right outside your doorstep to help you do that that you might not realize. A prime example is Little Tybee Island off the coast of Savannah, GA. Within easy reach of beginner and advanced paddlers, Little Tybee is a prime example of an incredible paddling destination within easy reach, whether for day trips or overnights, and the Journey is the perfect boat to get you there.
My wife Ashley and I had the chance to get out to Little Tybee for a relaxing Fall weekend in November. She was in the 13.5, and I was in the 14. There’s plenty of storage room in the bow and stern hatches for gear for overnights to week long trips, and we loaded them up with some luxuries for some quality time on the beach. Tents, sleeping bags, pads, food, stoves, clothes, a little wine, all the essentials!
It was a little breezy on the way over, and the tide was heading out, making for some fun surfing in the waves, and fun chasing dolphins. Ash used her Smart Track rudder to help control the ferry across the river and outgoing tides, while I played in the surf a little and enjoyed the high performance hull we have on the Journey. On the 2012 Journey we also now include the Sweet Cheeks from our whitewater line, and wow does it make a day in the saddle cushy!
Once we arrived at Little Tybee, we had a small drag to find a campsite up on the woodline, and had the island all to ourselves. As the tide continued to fall, we had first dibs on all the seashells, some large enough to return home as soap dishes! After gathering some firewood at sunset, we settled in for a nice dinner and night on the beach.
Little Tybee is just one great example of the types of places the Journey can take you.
This holiday season, give someone a Journey they won’t forget.
Happy Holidays,
D
Jackson Kayak was on display at the 2011 Overland Rally in Rockingham, VT. Hosted by Overland Journal, the Overland Rally is a regional workshop focusing on responsible vehicle supported overland travel. Manufacturers, instructors, industry professionals and enthusiasts from around the country gathered at the Lillie Farm for 4 days of instruction and camaraderie during peak VT fall colors.
As paddlers, one of the realities we face is getting to and from the river, usually by vehicle. For overland travelers, it’s not always just about the driving and scenery, but also having something to do at their destination. There’s A LOT of water out there that needs paddling!
As somebody who enjoys exploring and backcountry paddling trips, this was a great venue to host clinics on kayak designs, uses, and overland vehicle considerations such as rack systems, loading and unloading, and trips in the region for workshop attendees. There was even a small pond on the farm to do some casting clinics and playboating demos. We discussed how different types of boats are more suited to extended backcountry trips like the Journey and Rogues, or kayak fishing like the Coosa and new Cuda, and whitewater models like the Villain and Rock Star. As overland travelers are often logging lots of miles, we also discussed factors such as rack system designs, load ratings, fuel mileage impacts, gear storage considerations, etc. There were lots of questions, and thanks to everybody who came to the clinics, I hope you learned something to aid in your next adventure.
Kayaks are the perfect travel companion — they don’t talk too much, eat your food, snore, or give bad directions, and they’re always ready to do something fun!
One of the boats I was the most excited about this year was our Rogue. When I first learned of it, I immediately had some trips in mind. With my whitewater and fly fishing heritage, there’s been a lot of places that I’ve come across over the years that were impossible to access in anything but a whitewater kayak (not even a Coosa), but had good fish potential. On other hand, there have been rivers that were great for fly fishing, but require a lot of effort to get into and I wanted to explore more of them, and a light, versatile kayak that could handle everything from flatwater to whitewater, but still get me comfortably to places I wanted to wade fish would allow for me to see and access the most in a day.
That’s where the Rogue excels. I can take it from Class 1 to Class 5 water, and still have a great day on the water. It’s light enough for me to hike (or cart) it in for miles if needed, but still has enough storage for me to bring overnight gear, stowe a kayak trolley in the rear, and with the removable front pillar, allow me to keep fly fishing or other gear in the front as well. That’s my entire pack stuffed up there in the pics. The deck rigging is a great place to store a fly rod tube and a catch-and-release net. I’ve even mounted a fly rod holder on the rear hatch. If the river is too high to wade, the Rogue can get me where I want to be.
On this particular river, with Landlocked Salmon and Brook Trout, the Rogue becomes an awesome tool for skating flies in the surface film and trying to get fish to rise. When you’re fishing that technique while wading, you have to cast out, and swing your fly in the film with small strips, bringing it back upstream. In the Rogue, it’s fun to just cast out once, point the rod off your bow, set a back ferry, and you can endlessly swing your fly across the current, back upstream, or slowly slip downstream, over and over again.
Not only is it fun to try and catch a fish that way, but it’s a great workout too!
It’s not always about the size or how many you catch, but about your style in doing so.
Go Rogue, and choose your style!
Vermont is well known in New England for outstanding creeking, but unfortunately what we don’t have are many stellar playspots. There are some, and Canada is close, but local spots are something I’ve missed here for a while. With so many local rivers, it just seems like something should be here, it’s just a matter of finding it! So whenever we get a lot of water, I try to get out and see what I can find close to home. This spring and summer have provided for MANY of those opportunities from some low pressure systems, and unfortunately the devastating flooding from Hurricane Irene.
We had one low pressure dump inches and inches of rain in May, that brought the Winooski way up and rearranged Ridley Brook. I got a call from some friends after a run on Ridley that something had formed up downstream of the outlet on the Winooski that I might be interested in. So I hopped in the Jeep with my Rock Star and headed out to see for myself. Sure enough, right in the middle of the Winooski a great looking wave and hole had formed, so I hopped in to check it out.
After a couple rides, I was all smiles! The hole forms in the middle of the river, but there’s actually a large recirculating eddy that brings you back up to another conveyor-like eddy, and attaining back onto the side wave is pretty easy. I had a great afternoon, then came home and convinced Ashley to come back with me the next morning with a camera.
The side wave is a super friendly wave to surf or set up moves, and most anything can be done in the hole with enough practice. It’s taken nearly 10 years to find it, but at least I know it exists now!
As for when it’s there, I’ve gone out a few times now, and you want around 15000 CFS on the Winooski@Essex gauge, 5000 CFS on the Winooski@Montpelier gauge, and another 1000 CFS coming in from the Mad River@Moretown gauge. It’s big water, but really friendly.
I call it ‘Big Woody’ — largely due to the occasional tree you have to dodge floating down the river.
Keep an eye on the gauges and get some!
One of the boats I was most excited about this year was our new Rogue. There are a lot of times when you just want to go cruise a river, or want something very light and easy to load for a quick tour after work on the lake. For me, there are a number of places that I want to get in and fish, and I can’t possibly get a Coosa into them, but I can get a Rogue in, even loaded with overnight gear. For more experienced paddlers out there, opting for a boat like a Rogue on big whitewater can be a lot of fun, bringing back the fun and challenge to some rivers, doing attainment moves (remember those?), racing, etc.
With all the water we had this Spring here in VT, there were plenty of opportunities to get out in my new Rogue and figure out just what it was capable of, and what I wanted to do with it. So when my friend Randel asked about heading down to a swollen Hudson Gorge over in NY, I said, ‘YUP, and you now I have just the things we need to make some BIG water very interesting!’
So, we headed over with me in a Rogue 9 and him trying the Rogue 10. With the help of our friend Marko at Whitewater Challengers, we had a lift to the put-in and we were off for a day of big boats in BIG water. It was great. The Rogue handled everything as expected, fast, fun, stable, and a great change to mix things up. As always with JK, easy to roll, too. Randel was new to paddling a boat like that in big, pushy whitewater, but settled in fine after the initiation on the Indian, and off into the Hudson Gorge we went.
I even found a nice wave to surf by our lunch rock. It doesn’t get much better than that!
I can’t wait to throw some backpacking gear in the back and get into some local creeks for camping and fly fishing sessions where I know nobody else has been. That’s what going Rogue is all about…
Have fun out there,
D
PS — And check out the custom camo color! I call it ‘Seal Team 6′ 
Photos are on my team blog: http://jacksonkayak.com/damonbungard/
