Epic Kayaks
Epic Kayaks is a privately held, founder-led paddlesports company that designs and sells high-performance composite and rotomoulded surfskis, touring kayaks, paddles, and accessories to recreational and competitive paddlers globally through its own e-commerce site and a multi-region dealer network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersErwin, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Epic Kayaks does
Epic Kayaks, operating as Epic Kayaks USA, is a privately held paddlesports designer and manufacturer headquartered in Erwin, Tennessee. Founded in 1997 by four-time Olympic medalist Greg Barton (under the Epic Paddles label, with kayak manufacturing following in 1998), the company designs and sells a comprehensive lineup of high-performance surfskis (V5 entry-level through V14 elite, plus touring variants and doubles), touring kayaks (GPX, 14X, 18X Sport, 18X Double), paddles (Twist, Wing, and Touring series), accessories, spare parts, and apparel. Manufacturing relies on a mix of rotomoulded polyethylene and composite constructions (Performance fiberglass/carbon hybrid, Ultra Nomex honeycomb core, and Elite 3K carbon fiber laminate) with proprietary components including the Epic Bailer System, Generation 3 self-adjusting footboard, Twist paddle blade geometry, and integrated SmartTrack overstern rudders. Computer-aided hull design is used to optimize stability-to-speed characteristics across the lineup.
The company operates a dual-channel go-to-market combining a Shopify-powered direct-to-consumer storefront (epickayaks.com) with a multi-tiered dealer network: 21+ US dealers across New England, the Mid-Atlantic, the Midwest, the Southeast, the Southwest, and the West Coast, plus exclusive and standard international distributors in Australia, New Zealand, France, the UK, Norway, Israel, the UAE, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Brazil, and Tahiti. Three Epic Centers (Gainesville GA, Toms River NJ, Half Moon Bay CA, with a Hawaii location) provide demo infrastructure, and warehouses on the East Coast (Erwin TN) and West Coast (Monroe OR) support distribution. Pricing follows a one-time transactional model with paid tiers scaled by construction quality, ranging from $1,850 (V5 Roto) to $5,095+ (V14 Generation 2, 18X Double), with paddles spanning $299–$589 and accessories from approximately $30 to $175. Sponsorship of community events such as the Gorge Downwind Champs serves as the primary mid-funnel demand-generation lever.
Customer segments are horizontally oriented across recreational paddlers, surfski enthusiasts, competitive racers, touring kayakers, and coaches/instructors, with no enterprise accounts. R&D operations are anchored in a Cape Town, South Africa facility established in 2026 alongside a restructuring of Chinese manufacturing to address USA-China tariff exposure. Leadership is founder-led, with Greg Barton as principal designer, Charles Brand (joined 2003, former Cape Grace Hotel operator) as CEO, Tyrell Impson as Head of Manufacturing since 2001, and a small staff of 11–50 employees. The business is profitable in appearance, with no external VC/PE funding disclosed.
Epic Kayaks firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Epic Kayaks
- Legal name
- Epic Kayaks USA
- Website
- https://epickayaks.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Epic Kayaks is a privately held, founder-led paddlesports company that designs and sells high-performance composite and rotomoulded surfskis, touring kayaks, paddles, and accessories to recreational and competitive paddlers globally through its own e-commerce site and a multi-region dealer network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Epic Kayaks industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Watersports Equipment Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing (33992), Boat Building (336612), Boat Dealers (441222)
- SIC
- Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Paddle Sports Retail (Kayak, Canoe, SUP, Paddles) (CRAMAIAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Water Sports & Marine Recreation Retail (Paddle/Surf/Dive/Boat Accessories) (CRAMABAI), Water Sports Equipment Retail (Wake, Ski, Tow, Tubes) (CRAMAIAC)
Keywords
Where Epic Kayaks is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Erwin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Epic Kayaks business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Surfski Sales: Direct sales of high-performance surfski kayaks ranging from entry-level V5 Roto ($1,850) to elite V14 Gen 2 ($4,995+). One-time purchase model with multiple construction options (Polyethylene, Performance, Ultra, Elite) affecting price.
- Touring Kayak Sales: Touring kayaks including GPX, 14X, 18X Sport, and 18X Double. One-time purchase model with Performance and Ultra construction options.
- Paddle Sales: Sales of paddles including Twist Series (Mid Twist, Small Mid Twist at $589), Wing Paddles (Club Carbon to ProGrip options from $439-$569), and Touring Paddles (Active and Relaxed from $299-$539).
- Accessories and Parts: Spare parts (rudders, footboards, hatch covers, rails), accessories (boat stands, paddle bags, leg leashes, stability pads), and apparel.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Rotomoulded Polyethylene - Entry level durability |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Performance Construction - Fiberglass/carbon hybrid |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Ultra Construction - Nomex honeycomb core with Kevlar/carbon/fiberglass |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Elite Construction - 3K carbon fiber laminate |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Paddles - Club Carbon Entry |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Paddles - Full Carbon Performance |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Touring Paddles |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Accessories Range |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Apparel Range |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels9 records
Epic Kayaks product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Epic Kayaks designs, manufactures, and sells high-performance surfskis, touring kayaks, paddles, accessories, and apparel for recreational and competitive paddlers. Products are built using rotomoulded polyethylene, fiberglass, Nomex honeycomb, and 3K carbon fiber constructions, and are sold direct-to-consumer via Shopify as well as through a global dealer network.
Product overview
Epic Kayaks is a paddlesports company offering a comprehensive lineup of surfskis, touring kayaks, paddles, accessories, apparel, and spare parts. The core product lines include: Surfskis (V5 through V14 series including V5/V7 Rotomoulded, V8/V10 Doubles, and Tourer variants) ranging from beginner-friendly entry-level models to elite racing surfskis; Touring Kayaks (GPX, 14X, 18X Sport, 18X Double) for day touring and expedition paddling; and Paddles including the Twist Series (Mid Twist, Small Mid Twist), Wing Paddles (Small Mid Wing through Large Wing), and Touring Paddles (Active Touring, Relaxed Touring). The company was founded by Olympic gold medalist Greg Barton and brings racing pedigree to recreational and competitive paddlers alike. Products are available in multiple construction options including Polyethylene (rotomoulded), Performance, Ultra, and Elite carbon fiber composites. The company operates as an official distributor of Epic Kayaks products in the USA with headquarters in Erwin, TN.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Epic Paddles: Paddle products line including Twist Series, Wing Paddles, and Touring Paddles
- Tourer Series
- V-Series
Products and services
- V5 Surfski Entry-level composite surfski with excellent stability and a narrow catch at the bow to improve forward stroke technique for beginners.
- V5 Roto Surfski Rotomoulded polyethylene version of the V5 with enhanced durability and stability for beginners in rough conditions.
- V5 Tourer Surfski Touring version of the V5 with rear hatch storage and dual rudder options for versatile waterway navigation.
- V6 Surfski Surfski/touring kayak hybrid with touring kayak storage capacity and SmartTrack kick-up rudder system for shallow water.
- V7 Roto Surfski Lightweight rotomoulded kayak with carbon fiber footboard and Epic bailer, breaking the mold of heavy rotomolded performance boats.
- V8 Surfski
Quantifiable outcome
- V10 originally won the Molokai Challenge twice in elite competitor hands
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Epic Kayaks
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Epic Kayaks technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Epic Kayaks partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Epic Paddle Sports Pty Ltd (Australia)coreExclusive distributor for Epic Kayaks in Australia and Sydney region. Located at Unit 7, 8 Marina Cl, Mount Kurring-Gai, Sydney NSW 2080. Managed by Andrew Bettman.
- Fergs Kayaks (New Zealand)coreDealer for Epic Kayaks in New Zealand. Located at 12 Tamaki Dr, Orakei, Auckland 1071.
- Epic Surfski EU (France)coreEuropean dealer for Epic Kayaks. Located in Dives-sur-Mer, France.
- TR Kayaks Ltd (UK)coreUK dealer operating as oceansurfski.co.uk. Located at Moorhayes Farm, Washfield, Tiverton EX16 9RF, UK.
- Gorge Downwind ChampscoreMajor sponsor and vendor at the largest all-downwind paddle race in the world. Event held annually in Columbia River Gorge. Epic provides rental surfskis, fielding team of athletes. 829 paddlers registered in 2023.
- Berkshire OutfittersminorUS dealer in New England region. Located at 169 S Grove St, Rt 8, Adams, MA 01220.
- Kayak CentreminorUS dealer in Rhode Island. Located at 70 Brown St, Wickford, RI 02852.
- Alder Creek KayakminorUS dealer on West Coast. Located at 200 NE Tomahawk Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Epic Kayaks competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Werner Paddles: Premium paddle maker with carbon and fiberglass touring, whitewater, and SUP paddle lines. Direct peer to Epic's paddle business (Twist Series, Wing, Touring) for the same paddling customer base seeking high-end composite paddles.
- Braca Sport: Premium paddle manufacturer specializing in carbon-fiber kayak, canoe, and surfski paddles. Directly comparable to Epic's Twist and Wing paddle series on material construction, target customer, and racing application.
- Stellar Kayaks: Performance surfski and kayak maker using composite construction (carbon, fiberglass, aramid) across touring, racing, and recreational categories. Directly comparable to Epic's V-series and 18X lines on product positioning and target customer.
- Nelo (Mar Kayaks): Portuguese manufacturer of high-performance surfskis, sprint kayaks, and kayaks. Nelo is a direct peer in the same elite surfski and racing category, supplying Olympic-level athletes and competing head-to-head with Epic at major events including the Molokai Challenge and Gorge Downwind Champs.
- Think Kayaks: Specialist kayak manufacturer focused on performance sea kayaks and surfskis, with similar positioning in the composite touring and surfski niche. Competes with Epic for paddlers transitioning from recreational to performance craft.
- Fenn Kayaks: South African surfski and kayak manufacturer founded by Oscar Chalupsky, with similar specialization in carbon-composite surfskis and direct competition with Epic in downwind and ocean racing categories. Both brands compete for the same elite surfski customer base.
Broad incumbents
- Old Town Canoe: Heritage canoe and kayak brand under Old Town Boat Company. Operates across a much wider recreational watercraft portfolio than Epic and competes for the day-touring customer Epic targets with the GPX and 14X lines, but at lower price points and broader distribution.
- Perception Kayaks: Established mass-market kayak and SUP manufacturer owned by Confluence Outdoor. While operating in the broader kayak category with recreational sit-on-top and touring models rather than surfski specialty, Perception competes for the same end-paddler in the lower price tiers.
- Wave Sport: Whitewater and recreational kayak brand owned by Confluence Outdoor with composite and rotomolded construction across multiple kayak categories. Adjacent competitor in paddlesports with broader product portfolio but lower surfski specialization than Epic.
Others
- Vaikobi: Paddlesports apparel brand making performance clothing for kayakers, surfskiers, and ocean paddlers. Adjacent to Epic's apparel line and competes for sponsorship presence at the same surfski events (Gorge Downwind Champs), but operates purely in apparel where Epic's category is boats and paddles.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Epic Kayaks social profiles
Digital presenceEpic Kayaks financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Epic Kayaks leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Epic Kayaks funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Epic Kayaks M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Epic Kayaks
What does Epic Kayaks do?
Epic Kayaks designs, manufactures, and sells high-performance surfskis, touring kayaks, paddles, accessories, and apparel for recreational and competitive paddlers. Products are built using rotomoulded polyethylene, fiberglass, Nomex honeycomb, and 3K carbon fiber constructions, and are sold direct-to-consumer via Shopify as well as through a global dealer network.
Is Epic Kayaks a public or private company?
Epic Kayaks is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Epic Kayaks founded?
Epic Kayaks was founded in 1997. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Epic Kayaks based?
Epic Kayaks is headquartered in Erwin, United States, in the North America region.
How does Epic Kayaks make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Surfski Sales are the primary driver. The others are touring Kayak Sales, paddle Sales and accessories and Parts.
Who are Epic Kayaks's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Werner Paddles, Braca Sport, Stellar Kayaks, Nelo (Mar Kayaks), Think Kayaks and Fenn Kayaks. Broad incumbents are Old Town Canoe, Perception Kayaks and Wave Sport. Vaikobi is listed as an others.
Does Epic Kayaks have an API?
No public API is recorded for Epic Kayaks.
What industry is Epic Kayaks in?
Epic Kayaks's product category is Watersports Equipment Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAMAIAD, Paddle Sports Retail (Kayak, Canoe, SUP, Paddles), with a secondary code of CRAMABAI, Water Sports & Marine Recreation Retail (Paddle/Surf/Dive/Boat Accessories). Its NAICS code is 33992 and its SIC code is 3949.