Way back in 2007 a number of the worlds top class boat designers agreed to take part in the Unsponsored Q&A series. As a run up to the release of the 2011 series I am re-publishing the original series. So the first one up is a Q&A with Eric Jackson of Jackson Kayaks.

Eric Jackson or EJ as he is more commonly known started Jackson Kayak in 2003 with kayaker friend Tony Lunt. Jackson Kayak is truely a family business and has been producing kayaks that have helped push kayak design forward.

I am personally a huge fan of EJ’s due to what he has brought to kayaking over the years – an element of fun.

I think it would be fair to say that getting out there and paddling is what it is all about. So I was very pleased to find out that EJ kindly agreed to take part in the Unsponsored Q&A series.

Do you all consider yourself to be the craziest designer, coming up with the wildest designs; do you see yourself as pushing the design envelope?

David and I feel that we have been pushing the envelope for sure in a variety of ways.  We don’t consider what we do crazy, but instead we consider our designs to offer the best total package to a paddler.   Our success is in boats that are light, comfortable, durable, dry, and perform as intended.

What was your biggest blunder?  

We have made mistakes in every boat we have ever designed, but they generally get smaller as we go.  Our worst boat made yet was prototype #1 of the Ricochet, our slalom boat.  It has been 10 years since I have designed one and we blew prototype #1 terribly.  Proto #2 was reasonable but still not great.  It took us three tries to get it right.  We have not needed prototypes in a long time in our plastic boats.

Biggest success – personal, and commercial? 

Mine is being a lifetime paddler that enjoys getting on the water as much today as I did 30 years ago.   Our 2007 lineup for Jackson Kayak is a professional dream come true.

What made you get in to designing kayak equipment? When did it all start?  

I wanted a better slalom boat in 1993, and David Knight knew he could help design a better one. 

Who is your biggest source of inspiration within the paddling world (and why)? 

My kids- they paddle for the right reasons (fun) and keep getting better so fast I just try to keep up.

Given the choice where would want to paddle? 

No one place, I love variety.  Steep creeks, big water, small water, holes, waves, warm swimming pools, and sometimes lakes.

Do you all know each other? Can Robert Peerson ring up Celliers Kruger and pick his brain?   

We all know each other.  I just responded to a boatertalk posting by Celliers, I used to work with Robert, and I know Snowy, and the Pyranha boys too, and Charles at Bliss Stick, etc. etc.  I rarely discuss product with them, though.

Do you wish boaters would treat your gear better? Or is it that you just have to make tougher stuff to put up with abusive paddlers?  

Bring it on.  Paddling is about running over rocks, not going around them.  That is why we go out of our way to make our boats tough.

How are materials and design process technology progressing our gear and our sport?  

Materials aren’t too much better.  Cross-linked plastic has been around for a long time, it is just too expensive and hard to work with for many to want to use it.  Design is much more advanced with computers.  David Knight is responsible for bringing this technology to kayaking in the late 90’s.

Let us know what’s going on in the world of RnD. What is the next big thing? 

Boats are getting really good.   At Jackson Kayak it is about making reasonable incremental improvements.  We make as big of an improvement as we can and do our best to stay ahead of the competition, but we rarely change our direction 100%.   We like where our playboats, river running playboats, and creek boats are right now and what you saw from 2006 to 2007 is what you can expect from Jackson Kayak.  Same name, same concept, but clear improvements across the board.

Many thanks EJ!