Carbonlite Owners Manual

Eddyline kayaks, including our little Sky 10, handle very well in choppy water. Before paddling in any type of water, we strongly encourage our paddlers to put safety first. As a general rule, longer kayaks will handle better in choppy water than shorter kayaks.  If you intend to paddle in adverse conditions, we would recommend that you consider our Lightweight Touring Series. Eddyline kayaks are designed with stability and safety in mind.  We encourage paddlers to make sure they have a good [F.I.T.] with their kayak—For you, Intended use, Type of water. A good F.I.T. will enhance your safety and effective maneuverability on the water.

Yes, most Eddyline kayaks are very easy to use for novice paddlers. They will also continue to be a pleasure to paddle as your skills develop.  Like any sport, kayakers will often find that they benefit from practice and instruction.  Please review our [F.I.T.] posts and video for more information. 

Eddyline kayaks are built in Burlington, WA, and Queretaro, Mexico.

Eddyline’s Carbonlite material is a high-performance, co-extruded plastic laminate that is proprietary to Eddyline Kayaks. It is first made into a two-layer flat sheet with an ABS substrate for the “muscle” and a hard, abrasion and UV resistant exterior composed primarily of pigmented and clear acrylic.

First, each laminate sheet of Carbonlite is heated until it is pliable . Then using vacuum suction, we form each sheet over a custom mold that shapes the sheet into the deck or hull of a kayak which is then cut and trimmed to size.  We use the same process to form and trim the seat bases, seat backs, bulkheads, and coamings of our sit-inside kayaks.  The kayak decks are rigged with deck ties, decklines, bungees, hatch rings and coamings.  The decks and hulls are fused together with a chemical weld and bulkheads are installed in our sit inside boats.  The kayaks get outfitted with their foot braces, soft goods (seat pads and back pads), and hatch covers.  A thorough cleaning and quality control inspecition is the last step before each kayak is packaged for delivery.  You can see the process in our facility tour video.

The two most significant benefits are lighter weight and more rigidity. Thermoformed-ABS kayaks are lighter and more rigid for their weight than rotomolded-polyethylene kayaks. Those two characteristics equate to better paddling performance on the water and make our kayaks easier to manage off the water (e.g. car topping your kayak). A few other benefits include ease of repair, higher abrasion resistance, and better UV resistance and higher heat-distortion temperatures (i.e. they won’t warp or “oilcan”). 

Eddyline kayaks are often 10-30% lighter than comparable rotomolded-polyethylene models.

Eddyline kayaks are quite durable. Eddyline’s Carbonlite material has excellent abrasion and impact resistance and high heat-distortion temperatures (i.e. they won’t warp or “oil can”). However, they are not designed to withstand the same abuse as a rotomolded-polyethylene kayak. Eddyline kayaks are designed to have an optimum balance between weight and durability for their intended use and are plenty durable for the majority of paddlers.

The feeling of stability is very relative to the paddler and the more time you spend paddling, the progressively more stable you will feel in any kayak. That said, we pay close attention to the properties that affect stability (center of buoyancy and center of gravity) so that most novice paddlers should feel comfortable with the stability of our Lightweight Touring series kayaks.  Eddyline’s boats are considered “hard-chined”.  Chine describe show the bottom of the kayak meets the sides. A hard chine means means that the bottom and side meet more at an angle, while a soft chine is more rounded.  Hard-chined boats generally have more“ primary stability”, or stability when the kayak is floating level. 

First, it’s important to note how they’re the same. On kayaks, rudders and skegs are both used as tracking aids in currents and windy conditions to help keep the kayak heading on an intended course. With that in mind, the short answer for how they are different is as follows: rudders are mounted externally and turn the kayak to keep it on course, and skegs are mounted internally and adjust the kayak’s hydrodynamic properties to neutralize the effect of wind and currents.  Check out this great article from our friends at paddling.com that discusses the benefits and drawbacks of choosing a skeg and rudder system. We also discuss the rudder vs skeg question here on our blog

None of our kayaks need a rudder for paddling in calm conditions. However, they can be beneficial on certain models in certain paddling conditions. Rudders are not recommended on our Touring series of kayaks as they come standard with skegs and were designed to be operated optimally with a skeg. The Equinox and Caribbeansmay benefit from a rudder if you regularly paddle in windy conditions and/or currents. Our tandem kayaks come standard with a rudder.

Maintenance on an Eddyline kayak is pretty minimal. In addition to cleaning your kayak, it is a good idea to inspect your deck hardware and fittings to make sure they are still secure and not coming loose. You’ll also want to check the bungee/shock cords, perimeter lines, and carry handles for wear and that they are still properly secured to their fittings. They are easily replaced if worn out. Hatch covers should be treated with UV protectants at least once a year, more often if you’re in a very sunny region and/or store your kayak outside, to keep them in good condition. Lastly, remember to check your rudder or skeg housing for any debris that may inhibit its use. 

Most importantly, you should be comfortable in your kayak. Many paddlers have their own, unique preferences for how a kayak should fit. For our Touring-series of kayaks, we recommend a fit that is just snug enough for good responsiveness, but loose enough to allow you the freedom to relax and stretch. A tight fit with good contact at the balls of your feet, knees/thighs, and hips means that your lower-body movements are quickly transferred to the kayak. This results in the kayak being more responsive to your input. However, if the kayak is too tight, it can lead to aches, numbness ,cramping, etc… If you are just starting out, you may want to err slightly loose for more comfort. Our recreational kayaks are sized larger to accommodate a wider range of paddlers with a more relaxed fit for casual paddling.  See our F.I.T. blog series for more information. 

Our hatches and sealed compartments are designed to provide positive buoyancy and additional storage for your paddling experience.  The seams between the deck and hull, the bulkhead and deck/hull, the hatch ring and deck are all water-tight at the seams when properly used and maintained. The bulkhead does have a small vent to prevent catastrophic failure from pressure differential in the sealed compartment.  With that in mind, it’s always a good idea to keep your gear in drybags. Small amounts of water in the compartments can be a common occurrence due to condensation, an improperly sealed hatch cover, slight leakage through the bulkhead vent, or screws that have loosened over time.

In addition to Eddyline’s visual appeal, the high gloss shine aids in visibility on the water relative to other kayaks on the market.  Lighter colors are generally more visible than darker colors. Also, please keep in mind that a brightly colored PFD and paddle can often be the first thing that grabs someone’s attention.  In addition to being seenon the water, make sure you can be heard by including a whistle as part of your on water safety gear.

In a word… length. However, this is a very misunderstood concept. While it is true that hull speed is a function of waterline length with displacement hulls such as kayaks and canoes, there is more to the story than that. While longer boats can go faster so long as sufficient power is available, longer boats also carry more wetted surface area, which equals drag. This is why you frequently see longer boats being narrower in beam. The designer is trading stability for speed in an attempt to control wetted surface. Hull speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull. It can be calculated by this formula:

Hull Speed ≈ 1.34 times the square root of the waterline length.

Here are some examples:

Water Line to Hull Speed: 12 feet = 4.6 knots, 14 feet = 5.0 knots, 16 feet = 5.4 knots, etc. In recreational paddling or touring, average travel speeds are 2-4 knots. So, if you’re not racing, how long of a boat do you really need?

In general, shorter boats are lighter and easier to paddle (less wetted surface, less windage).

While the V is only one aspect of a given hull design, it helps to accomplish several objectives. First, it provides for a stiffer hull with less weight. Secondly, it acts integrally with other portion sof the hull design to enhance tracking while level and carving when leaned. Additionally, a V shape functions as an integral rudder, helping keep the kayak on course regardless of how much of the hull is engaging water at any given time. In wavy conditions, much of the hull is out of the water periodically, but what is in the water is working to help you stay on course.

You can find the capacity of each model of Eddyline kayak on the product page.  The capacity is defined as maximum weight that a kayak can hold (paddler + gear + weight of boat) and maintain buoyancy.  Our listed capacities do not necessarily mean the ideal weight limit for your boat. There are many factors to consider when deciding an optimal amount of gear to take with you in your Eddyline, including the weight distribution and type of water that you’re paddling.

Our environmental concerns go way back to the innovations we made in vacuum-bag technology to reduce emissions and increase the strength:weight ratio of our whitewater kayaks; but more recently, they are much more significant. In the early 90’s we began to experiment with thermoform technology and released our first thermoformed models in 1996. This represents a dramatic shift in environmental responsibility in the following ways. Thermoforming dramatically reduces airborne emissions and airborne dust, and more importantly, nearly all plastic scrap is recycled. Even the kayaks themselves, eventually retired, can be recycled. Not only is this a real boon environmentally, but it led to vast improvements in working conditions for our employees as well. Essentially, our immaculate workplace leads to much easier quality control, product consistency and pride in workmanship.

We’re thrilled that so many people have discovered kayaking during the Covid-19 pandemic.  Over the past several years preceding the pandemic, Eddyline has increasingly become a sought-after brand for consumers looking for a lightweight, beautifully designed and constructed kayak.  The sudden interest in kayaking in general, along with the ongoing excitement for Eddyline has led to exceptionally high, record demand.  We have worked diligently to grow our production capacity while maintaining and improving our standard of quality.  However like many other outdoor product brands, we are currently experiencing backorders with our dealers that may result in delays in you receiving your Eddyline kayak

See our Dealer Locator to find your nearest Eddyline dealer.

We refer sales to our dealer network. Please see our Dealer Locator to find your nearest Eddyline dealer.
If you are having difficulty finding a dealer near you, please Contact Us and we’ll be happy to connect you with dealers who can help.

Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate any requests for non-standard, off catalog colors. We work with third party manufacturers to formulate and produce our extruded Carbonlite material.  The coloring is manufactured into the sheet before it arrives at Eddyline.  Our color limitations are a function of the size and quantities of the material.  We hope you can find the model and color combination that fits you best!

A PDF copy of the owner's manual can be found here. Carbonlite Owners Manual

The last two digits of the serial number/Hull Identification Number will tell you the model year of the kayak. For example, a serial number ending in “14” would be a 2014 model.  For more on what you can learn from your Hull Identification Number, check out this article from the US Coast Guard.
Also read our article about Hull Identifications Numbers (Serial Numbers)

The last two digits of the serial number will tell you the model year of the kayak. For example, a serial number ending in “14” would be a 2014 model.
See our article for more info

Protecting your kayak from exposure to sunlight when stored will significantly lengthen its useful life. Although Carbonlite is UV-resistant, the sun will eventually break down the material over prolonged exposure (many years). Storing your kayak indoors is best. If storing the kayak outside, it should be elevated, covered against the elements, and secured to prevent wind damage. A cockpit cover is very effective in protecting the inside of your kayak from the weather and critters. It is best to store your kayak clean and dry, especially in the bulk headed compartments. In areas with harsh winters, dry the kayak and protect it from snow loads. Freezing water expands and can put stress on glue joints and seams. Please visit our Kayak Care section for more details on storing your kayak

Eddyline kayaks can be transported on your vehicle in a variety of ways. Our sit-on-top models transport very nicely with the deck down on padded bars. Our sit-in models can be transported cockpit-side down, on their sides, or cockpit-side up using appropriate carriers such as saddles, stackers, or J-cradles. Straps should be tightened to be snug, but there is no need to excessively cinch them down and potentially damage the kayak. Lines from the bow and stern of the kayak to secure attachments at the front and rear of your vehicle are always a good idea. However, take care to secure any loose ends as driving over them can cause serious damage to both the kayak and your vehicle. 

That is a complicated question due to the variety of vehicles and car racks in use. We recommend contacting your local dealer as they will probably have the latest and greatest offerings for car racks and kayak carriers that best suit your vehicle. Our kayaks transport very well with most systems currently available. Some saddle-style kayak carriers may have a fit issue with the pronounced keel of our Caribbean series. A padded spacer between the saddles and kayak would be required to give the proper clearance for the keel.

Our Infinity Seat System is outfitted with comfortable padding to suit the needs of most paddlers without additional customization. However, minicell foam and contact cement can be used for truly customizing the fit of your kayak. There are a variety of pre-shaped, aftermarket kits available. Blocks of minicell foam in varying thicknesses are available from your local dealer and can be cut and shaped with a small knife or saw and fine-tuned with sandpaper.

As rubber hatch covers age, they tend to dry-out and become less supple, making them more difficult to use. To keep your hatch covers looking and performing like new, we recommend regularly treating them with products like 303® Aerospace Protectant™.

If required you can also purchase replacement hatch covers.

Many Eddyline kayaks can be ordered with a rudder, but we do not currently offer a bolt-on kit to add a rudder to kayaks built without one.

There are too many waxes for us to try them all, but we’ve come to like Shurhold Serious Shine for its ease of application. However, most automotive and marine waxes should be suitable as well.
Check out our Care & Repair collection page.

A simple rinse with clean, fresh water after use is usually enough to keep your kayak clean. If your kayak is especially grungy, you can use a light soap solution to wash your kayak the same as washing your car by hand. If you would like to clean and wax at the same time, we recommend Mer-Maid Boat Wash with Carnauba Wax. Use a mild solvent like isopropyl/denatured alcohol to remove stubborn marks. Adhesive removers can be used to remove residue from decals. Never use acetone, other strong solvents, or ammonia-based cleaners on Eddyline Kayaks. Eraser sponges can be very effective at removing marks, but they may dull the kayak’s glossy finish. Care & Repair page for more details.

Most importantly, we recommend keeping your gear in drybags when paddling. Beyond that, make sure the hatch covers are properly sealed and maintained. You should hear/feel a slight pop on our performance hatches when they seal. Check nuts, washers, and bolts to make sure that none have come loose and are no longer sealing their hole. Some paddlers add a sponge to the bottom of their kayaks.

Our lightweight thermoform construction helps make carrying your Eddyline easy. For longer distances, wheeled kayak carts with pads and straps are generally appropriate for all models. Our Caribbean sit-on-top models, like many sit-on-tops, are not designed to be transported with scupper carts. Do not use a scupper cart to transport your Eddyline sit-on-top. Damage caused by scupper carts is not covered under warranty.

There are many different options. One option would be to get one of these clip-on bottle holders from Cascade Creek: Yakuzzi® - Cascade Creek. This would be a quick, easy, and affordable solution. Another option would be to attach a more permanent gear-mounting system like this one from YakAttack: MightyMount II. Then you could mount a cup holder like this (YakAttack MultiMount) onto that attachment point. If you have one of our Caribbean kayaks, then you could mount that YakAttack cup holder to the accessory tracks on either side of the kayak too. These are just a couple of suggestions but you can get as creative as you want.

Carbonlite is easy to repair. We believe our kayaks are among the easiest to repair because there is no need to melt material or gel coat to fix. For details please visit our Kayak Care section.

Unlike polyethylene and polypropylene, the ABS at the core of Eddyline’s Carbonlite material bonds well with a variety of adhesive materials. For cosmetic damage to the deck or hull of your kayak that does not penetrate the substrate of the material (scratches, cuts and gouges), repairs are straightforward and may only require plastic welding methacrylate, sandpaper, polish and pigment.

For more extensive damage, including cracks and punctures that penetrate the substrate of the hull of the kayak, more involved repairs involving fiberglass cloth tape are required.
Please follow the step by step instructions in How to repair a crack.

A step by step repair video is coming soon.

Unless your kayak has a crack, leaks primarily occur in the following areas: seams, ends, hatch rims, bulkheads, skeg housings, or fittings. Eddyline performs quality inspections on all kayaks that leave the factory, however, leaks can develop from various sorts of stresses such as freezing and thawing. Most small leaks can be stopped using simple sealants. We recommend using either 3M™ Marine Adhesive Sealant Fast Cure 5200 or Sikaflex®-291. We do not recommend silicone sealants.

Below is a list of our models that have been retired from production.

Please note that while some spare parts may be available for these kayaks, we do not maintain a complete inventory of spare parts on

Visit this page for our discontinued models.

If you have any questions on these models please get in touch with us.

Yes, our old owners manual is here.

Please note the contact details are now incorrect. We moved our Head Office

All Eddyline kayaks are covered under warranty against any defect in materials and workmanship for a period of three years from the date of purchase. This warranty is limited to the original owner and is only in effect if the warranty registration card is returned or completed online.

Conditions: Eddyline will repair or replace all items returned under warranty at its own discretion. Eddyline is the sole judge on warranty issues.

The customer pays all return transportation, freight and or packaging charges for warranty claims.

All deck rigging is covered for a period of two years only.

If a product is deemed to be blemished, and is sold as a blemished quality product, the warranty is still in place with the exception of coverage of the blemish itself.

The following are never covered under warranty: scupper cart damage, freight damage, improper storage, improper use, abuse, normal wear and tear, and color fading due to UV rays.

You can register your kayak through our online Warranty Registration or by completing the registration card included with the kayak and mailing it to us.

For kayaks: Eddyline kayaks come with a three-year limited warranty. Please Contact Us with your kayak’s serial number, model, and a description of the problem to get things started. Also, be prepared to share multiple photographs and/or video showing the issue.

For accessories: Eddyline accessories come with a one-year limited warranty. Please Contact Us with a description of the problem to get things started. Also, be prepared to share multiple photographs and/or video showing the issue.

Eddyline Kayaks currently ships to all mainland United States. When purchasing from us the cost of delivery is calculated at the time of check out. 
If you are outside of this region please contact us directly to see if we can assist.
All duties and taxes for international shipping vary and these are not covered by Eddyline. You will be required to pay any applicable duties/taxes when the products arrive.

With all our orders, if the product is in stock it will be processed the next working day. Our aim is to pass them on to our shipping partner within 2 workings days of the order. 
Delivery times will vary based on the location, however we aim to have your Eddyline Kayaks order to you within 10 days.

As always, our Support team is here to help. Please get in touch with our team as soon as possible at support@eddyline.com. Unfortunately, once it is out the door and on the way to you, we cannot cancel. However, we will advise you on how to return the product.

Please contact a member of our Customer Support team at support@eddyline.com to initiate the returns process.

Our return shipping address is: 102 E Central St, Siloam Springs, AR 72761.