Jackson Kayaks – Made in Tennessee, USA

A question I get asked all the time is some form of the following. “Are the more expensive name brand fishing kayaks worth the extra cost?” The answer for me is yes. However, I realize that everyone has a different budget and nothing I say here will change that. The best kayak is the best one you can afford and gets you off the banks and out on the water. What I will attempt to do in this article is explain to you what you get for your extra hard-earned dollars. My budget is not unlimited either but there are times when extra money spent pays off with added value.

First of all, the extra cost of a name brand kayak, such as a Jackson Kayak, brings with it an added level of comfort. The seat on a kayak is probably the most critical component that will determine your level of comfort while out on the water. The Elite Seat that comes standard on all Jackson Fishing Kayaks is quite comfortable and allows you to stay on the water for longer periods of time without discomfort. The raised design of this seat, even in the low position, also alleviates the issue known as “swamp butt” or sitting in a puddle of water all day due to the seat being low and right on the hull of the kayak.

Additionally, with a Jackson Fishing Kayak, you get a kayak that was designed by kayak fishermen for kayak fishermen. Jackson Kayak has a team of kayak anglers that provide lots of input into the design process of each of their boats. Prototypes are built and tested to see what works and what could use a little tweaking. The end result is a kayak that has been put through its paces and designed specifically for fishing and not just a recreational kayak with a couple of rod holders added.

With Jackson Kayak, there is the added benefit of their vast experience building whitewater kayaks that can stand up to lots of abuse banging into rocks and other obstacles. Even if you do not fish moving water, you can still appreciate the durability of solid hull construction based on years of knowledge gained by real world use in some of the harshest conditions any kayak could face. While you might not be running rapids, you never know when you may forget to strap your kayak well and it go for a tumble off the trailer. Then there are those hard to get to launch locations that can involve dragging the kayak down rocky slopes to get to the water. Whatever the case may be, it is nice to have this added piece of mind.

I will end with this. Jackson Kayaks are 100% made in the USA with all components made in the USA as well. It is nice to get a bargain but there is a lot to be said for the quality and craftsmanship that can only be found in an item built with pride right her in the USA. For those of us that live in Tennessee, we get the added benefit of knowing that we are buying a Jackson Kayak that is made right here in Sparta, Tennessee, by fellow Tennesseans who look at kayak building as a craft and not just a job. In fact, this sign reading “Build It Like It’s Yours” proudly hangs in the Jackson Kayak Factory and is taken very seriously by the craftsmen and women who love their jobs . And my preference on where to buy Jackson Kayaks is from the good folks at Caney Fork Outdoors. They will go out of their way to make sure you are 100% satisfied with your purchase. Be sure to tell them Darrell sent you.