Pelican International USA Inc. (formerly known as Confluence Outdoor and Confluence Watersports) is an American manufacturer of kayaks, canoes, and related accessories. The company comprises seven separate brands which each specialize in paddling sport boats or accessories.
On May 12, 2025, it was one of the assets acquired by a group of investors who expressed interest after its parent company filed for bankruptcy in the USA and Canada. Following this, Confluence Outdoor merged its operations with Pelican International, creating a new entity called Pelican International USA, Inc.[2]
History
In 1998, American Capital sponsored the merger of Wilderness Systems and Mad River Canoe. When the financial services firm acquired Confluence Watersports in 2002,[3] the new entity became known as Confluence Holdings Corporation (CHC).
In 2005, Confluence purchased Watermark, acquiring the Dagger, Harmony Gear, Adventure Technology, and Perception brands. Sue Rechner joined the company as CEO in 2007, coming from Victorinox Swiss Army.[3]
On April 22, 2014, four years after purchasing Bomber Gear, CHC was acquired by J.H. Whitney & Company and was renamed Confluence Outdoor and announced plans "to grow the business into a full-service outdoor recreation company."[3][4][5] On December 16, 2019, it was announced that Confluence had been acquired by Pelican International, a Canadian manufacturer of kayaks and other outdoor products.[6]
In spring 2025, following a bankruptcy procedure in Canada, Pelican International was dissolved, and the assets purchased by a group headed by Pelican's former CEO. In late summer, 2025, the new ownership changed the name of Confluence to Pelican International USA.
Brands
Confluence Outdoor manages eight separate brands which each specialize in paddling sport boats or accessories.[3][7][8]
Distributor of imported stand up paddle boards, surf boards, and accessories.
Dagger Kayaks
A kayaker in a Dagger kayak launches into flat water
Manufacturer of recreational, touring, and whitewater kayaks - including the Alchemy, Axiom, Axis, GT series, Katana, Jitsu, Mamba, Mambo, Nomad, Torrent, and Zydeco models.[10] Founded in 1988 based on the success of whitewater and touring kayaks designed by Joe Pulliam.[3]
Harmony Gear
Manufacturer of canoe and kayak accessories - including apparel, fishing accessories, life jackets, paddles, and sprayskirts.[11]
Mad River Canoe
Marty Plante paddling a Mad River Outrage on the Chattooga River
Manufacturer of recreational, sporting, touring, and whitewater canoes - including the Adventure, Caption, Destiny, Expedition, Explorer, Freedom, Heritage, Journey, Legend, Malecite, Outrage, Reflection, Synergy, Serenade, models.[12] Mad River Canoe was founded in 1971 by Jim Henry and Kay Henry in Vermont. The company's Malecite model was created in the Henry's woodshed, becoming their first model and remaining the company's signature model today.[3]
Perception Kayaks
Students engaging in outdoor education on the York River in Perception Prodigy kayaks
Manufacturer of fishing, recreational, and touring kayaks - including the Carolina, Essence, Expression, Impulse, Prodigy, Tribe, Tribute, and Triumph models.[13] Perception Kayaks was founded by Bill Masters in the early 1970s. The company develops rotational molding of plastic kayaks, reducing the expense and maintenance of kayaks.[3]
Wilderness Systems
Kayaking on the River Wye in Wilderness Systems Tarpon kayaks
Manufacturer of fishing, recreational, and touring kayaks - including the Aspire, Commander, Focus, Pamlico, Pungo, Ride, Tarpon, Tempest, Tsunami, and Zephyr models.[14]Andy Zimmerman and John Sheppard founded Wilderness Systems in 1986 in North Carolina.
Operations
The company operates in a single 300,000-square-foot facility in Greenville, South Carolina, which opened in 2011 and as of 2014 employs over 425 people.[1][3]
References
1 2 "Company". Confluence Outdoor. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
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