Vajda has posted a video of their new Next range of surfskis on vimeo. Does anyone have any more information on the range? They appear to be low volume.
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Vajda Next - by: JohnK
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Stellar SEI 2G Independent Review - by: portmanm
Stellar South Coast NSW, Australia lent me the latest SEI in Advantage layup to demo @ Wollongong.
4 hours, 40+km in the bucket in different conditions including a 10km wild downwind. I've got a SEI 1G Excel in the garage but paddle the new SEL 2G Excel pretty much all the time, see my bio in the signature below.
Pros
- build quality has improved, the seam is outstanding and colours now included within the mould by the looks of things, no more over-spray
- narrower catch than 1G
- stable intermediate ski
- snugger comfortable seat than 1G
- catches the runs no problems and responsive rudder control
- bomb proof 3-point footplate
- handles bow, stern and middle for easy handling
- thought the handles in the middle may catch things trying to re-mount, no issues
Cons
- footplate adjustments continue to be clunky. I've got 3 Stellars in the shed & demo alot of models, can be frustrating compared to other brands
- rudder adjustments are frustrating, cord and tying knots don't allow for fine tuning, look at other brands systems
- Personally, not a big fan of drink bottle underneath your legs, prefer infront of footplate or bladder in PFD. I use this spot to store my leg leash, always on board
- no hose notch in the footplate to allow a forward hydration system to be installed easily
You may argue the cons are minor & once you set the ski up once you'll be fine.
General feedback from others who've tried the new ski are all positive. Those who disliked the seat in the original are pleasantly surprised.
Like to hear from others who paddle Stellars.
4 hours, 40+km in the bucket in different conditions including a 10km wild downwind. I've got a SEI 1G Excel in the garage but paddle the new SEL 2G Excel pretty much all the time, see my bio in the signature below.
Pros
- build quality has improved, the seam is outstanding and colours now included within the mould by the looks of things, no more over-spray
- narrower catch than 1G
- stable intermediate ski
- snugger comfortable seat than 1G
- catches the runs no problems and responsive rudder control
- bomb proof 3-point footplate
- handles bow, stern and middle for easy handling
- thought the handles in the middle may catch things trying to re-mount, no issues
Cons
- footplate adjustments continue to be clunky. I've got 3 Stellars in the shed & demo alot of models, can be frustrating compared to other brands
- rudder adjustments are frustrating, cord and tying knots don't allow for fine tuning, look at other brands systems
- Personally, not a big fan of drink bottle underneath your legs, prefer infront of footplate or bladder in PFD. I use this spot to store my leg leash, always on board
- no hose notch in the footplate to allow a forward hydration system to be installed easily
You may argue the cons are minor & once you set the ski up once you'll be fine.
General feedback from others who've tried the new ski are all positive. Those who disliked the seat in the original are pleasantly surprised.
Like to hear from others who paddle Stellars.
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Video thread - by: Hiro
Wanted to start a thread where we would post our paddling videos. No stroke analisys or technical stuff. Just paddling for the fun of it.
Here's mine.
real fun starts at 3:45
Here's mine.
real fun starts at 3:45
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New Ski - Epic V8 Double - by: MCImes
I just noticed this announcement on another racing forum
www.epickayaks.com/article/article/new-epic-v8-double
Length: 22’ (6.7 m)
Width: 22.4” (57 cm)
Depth: 15” (38 cm)
Capacity: 485 lb. (220 kg)
Approximate Weights
Ultra 42 lb. (19 kg)
Performance 53 lb. (24 kg)
This looks like a fun boat for introducing new paddlers to surfski, extreme conditions, or long distance races (I found it on the rivermiles.com forum, home of the 340 mile (550km) race).
It should still be fairly fast with 2 intermediate paddlers too. I'll have to test paddle one next summer (US summer I mean).
Cool to see another approachable boat in the market. Boats like this will really help grow the sport of surfski, at least in the USA. We have a pathetic ski scene, but I think this will help grow awareness and engagement. Good times!
www.epickayaks.com/article/article/new-epic-v8-double
Length: 22’ (6.7 m)
Width: 22.4” (57 cm)
Depth: 15” (38 cm)
Capacity: 485 lb. (220 kg)
Approximate Weights
Ultra 42 lb. (19 kg)
Performance 53 lb. (24 kg)
This looks like a fun boat for introducing new paddlers to surfski, extreme conditions, or long distance races (I found it on the rivermiles.com forum, home of the 340 mile (550km) race).
It should still be fairly fast with 2 intermediate paddlers too. I'll have to test paddle one next summer (US summer I mean).
Cool to see another approachable boat in the market. Boats like this will really help grow the sport of surfski, at least in the USA. We have a pathetic ski scene, but I think this will help grow awareness and engagement. Good times!
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Kayak Seat Position - by: epic5253
Hi guys, i have recently played around with my Epic 18x sea kayak seat position. I have moved the foot braces max forward & adjusted the seat accordingly. Surprisingly i have much more stability & better swell handling resulting in much faster average speed. The nose used to go over the swell with a spectacular splashing landing. The kayak is 5.45m long with the entre of my bumcheek 2.60m from the back, which gives it a ratio of roughly 48%. The seat used to be .10m more to the rear. Is there any "magic ratio" one can follow other than playing aroubd with the seat position? I know most surfski's if not all have fixed seat positions. It would be ibteresting to know if there is an industry standard. What is your surfski overall lenght / seat position ratio?
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↧
Kayak seat position - by: epic5253
Hi guys, i have recently played around with my Epic 18x sea kayak seat position. I have moved the foot braces max forward & adjusted the seat accordingly. Surprisingly i have much more stability & better swell handling resulting in much faster average speed. The nose used to go over the swell with a spectacular splashing landing. The kayak is 5.45m long with the entre of my bumcheek 2.60m from the back, which gives it a ratio of roughly 48%. The seat used to be .10m more to the rear. Is there any "magic ratio" one can follow other than playing aroubd with the seat position? I know most surfski's if not all have fixed seat positions. It would be ibteresting to know if there is an industry standard. What is your surfski overall lenght / seat position ratio?
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HAPPY NEW YEAR - by: OSS
HAPPY NEW YEAR...
..to all paddlers around the world!!
..to all paddlers around the world!!
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Which one, if any, is the most stable intermediate ski? - by: Canario
Hi!
My name is Matias Gomez. I am a 53 years old family man who discovered surfski 13 months ago. I´m 1.86 tall and still 95 Kgrs ( down from 107Kgrs 13 months ago....). I started on a Cruze and after 4 months went to a Boost. Carbonology Sport is the choice of 90% of the people here in Gran Canaria. Now Im starting of thinking on going ahead to an intermediate boat. I have always been told not to trade speed for stability, so I would like to spend my money in an intermediate boat as stable as possible. I have asked here and have got three different answers:
- There is no such a thing as all intermediate boats are more or less the same in terms of stability, so try some and go for the one you feel more confortable on.
- Carbonology Sport Zest, because of my height and weight.
- Think Evo II, even when maybe that is more a beginner/intermediate than a proper intermediate boat, like the Epic V10 Sport, but will allow you keep on going ahead more comfortably.
Any help form the forum members? Thank you very much!
My name is Matias Gomez. I am a 53 years old family man who discovered surfski 13 months ago. I´m 1.86 tall and still 95 Kgrs ( down from 107Kgrs 13 months ago....). I started on a Cruze and after 4 months went to a Boost. Carbonology Sport is the choice of 90% of the people here in Gran Canaria. Now Im starting of thinking on going ahead to an intermediate boat. I have always been told not to trade speed for stability, so I would like to spend my money in an intermediate boat as stable as possible. I have asked here and have got three different answers:
- There is no such a thing as all intermediate boats are more or less the same in terms of stability, so try some and go for the one you feel more confortable on.
- Carbonology Sport Zest, because of my height and weight.
- Think Evo II, even when maybe that is more a beginner/intermediate than a proper intermediate boat, like the Epic V10 Sport, but will allow you keep on going ahead more comfortably.
Any help form the forum members? Thank you very much!
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Thermoplastic Surfskis, Racing Skis - by: Uffilation
Made the list to seek for a downriver (stone hitting) alternative for the flatter days(+family/guests "abuse ski"), maybe someone has a use for the list for his/her own quest. I guess there are more thermoplastic surfskis and SOT-type-Ski-Hybrids on the market, so you are invited to add the list or correct mistakes. tia
Actual prices s.b. outdated or differ or be lower or ...:
Spirit PRS SKI, Spirit PRS Elite SKI
Manufacturing process: rotomoulding
Made in: Australia
Material: PE
Length: 567cm
Width: 50cm
Moulded weight: 20.5kg
Moulded weight, Elite: 18.3kg
Weights fully outfitted: ?
Colours: white+many others as per google
Price: from AU$1595, 1190€
Spirit Racing SKI
Manufacturing process: rotomoulding
Made in: Australia
Material: PE
Length 496m
Width: 51cm
Moulded weight: 19.5kg
Weight fully outfitted: ?
Colours: white
Price: from AU $1295
Spirit Fury Racing Ski
Manufacturing process: rotomoulding
Made in: Australia
Material: PE
Moulded Weight: 19kg
Moulded Weight: Elite 17.6kg
Length: 570m
Width: 47cm
Price: from AU$ 1895.00
FINN Molokai
Manufacturing process: rotomoulding
Made in: Australia
Material: PE
Length 590m
Width: 47,5cm
Moulded Weight: 18kg
Price: AU$ $2150 (website)
FINN Endorfinn
Manufacturing process: rotomoulding
Made in: Australia
Material: PE
Length: 520cm
Width: 54cm
Standard Weight 18kg plus deckout 5-6kg
Lightweight 15kg plus deckout 5-6kg
Standard AU$1399 (website)
Lightweight AU$1649 (website)
Cobra Surf Ski
Manufacturing process: rotomoulding
Made in: New Zealand
Material: PE
Length: 520cm
Weight: 21 kg?
Price: ?
VAJDA Raptor Ski
Manufacturing process: thermoforming
Made in: Slovakia
Material: double layered ABS-type with outer acrylic layer
Length: 535cm
Width: 53cm
Weight fully outfitted: 19.5kg
Colours: pearl white, metallic: orange, red, blue
Price: 1250-1350+- €
Epic V7
Manufacturing process: rotomoulding
Made in: South Africa ? (test paddled one with Made in USA sticker though, anyone has details?)
Material: PE, solid skin with foam layer
Length 520m
Width: 54cm
Moulded weight: <19kg
Weight fully outfitted: 22.7kg (from EPIC website)
Colours: white
Price: $1495, Au$ 1995, 1295€
THINK Nitro/Pyranha Octane
Manufacturing process: rotomoulding
To be made in: England?
Material: PE
Length 535cm
Width: 53cm
Color: orange, white
Liker Surfski PE
Maker: Liker Kayak, China
Length: 505cm
Width:55cm
Depth:35cm
Weight:21kgs
NELO 510, PE ... ????
pops up in the 2016 pricelist for surfskis , so?
Actual prices s.b. outdated or differ or be lower or ...:
Spirit PRS SKI, Spirit PRS Elite SKI
Manufacturing process: rotomoulding
Made in: Australia
Material: PE
Length: 567cm
Width: 50cm
Moulded weight: 20.5kg
Moulded weight, Elite: 18.3kg
Weights fully outfitted: ?
Colours: white+many others as per google
Price: from AU$1595, 1190€
Spirit Racing SKI
Manufacturing process: rotomoulding
Made in: Australia
Material: PE
Length 496m
Width: 51cm
Moulded weight: 19.5kg
Weight fully outfitted: ?
Colours: white
Price: from AU $1295
Spirit Fury Racing Ski
Manufacturing process: rotomoulding
Made in: Australia
Material: PE
Moulded Weight: 19kg
Moulded Weight: Elite 17.6kg
Length: 570m
Width: 47cm
Price: from AU$ 1895.00
FINN Molokai
Manufacturing process: rotomoulding
Made in: Australia
Material: PE
Length 590m
Width: 47,5cm
Moulded Weight: 18kg
Price: AU$ $2150 (website)
FINN Endorfinn
Manufacturing process: rotomoulding
Made in: Australia
Material: PE
Length: 520cm
Width: 54cm
Standard Weight 18kg plus deckout 5-6kg
Lightweight 15kg plus deckout 5-6kg
Standard AU$1399 (website)
Lightweight AU$1649 (website)
Cobra Surf Ski
Manufacturing process: rotomoulding
Made in: New Zealand
Material: PE
Length: 520cm
Weight: 21 kg?
Price: ?
VAJDA Raptor Ski
Manufacturing process: thermoforming
Made in: Slovakia
Material: double layered ABS-type with outer acrylic layer
Length: 535cm
Width: 53cm
Weight fully outfitted: 19.5kg
Colours: pearl white, metallic: orange, red, blue
Price: 1250-1350+- €
Epic V7
Manufacturing process: rotomoulding
Made in: South Africa ? (test paddled one with Made in USA sticker though, anyone has details?)
Material: PE, solid skin with foam layer
Length 520m
Width: 54cm
Moulded weight: <19kg
Weight fully outfitted: 22.7kg (from EPIC website)
Colours: white
Price: $1495, Au$ 1995, 1295€
THINK Nitro/Pyranha Octane
Manufacturing process: rotomoulding
To be made in: England?
Material: PE
Length 535cm
Width: 53cm
Color: orange, white
Liker Surfski PE
Maker: Liker Kayak, China
Length: 505cm
Width:55cm
Depth:35cm
Weight:21kgs
NELO 510, PE ... ????
pops up in the 2016 pricelist for surfskis , so?
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↧
Surfski Width x Length Chart - January, 2017 - by: owenfromwales
It`s been nearly four years since I last updated the Skinniest Boats list. Back then there were about 50 ski designs on the list, today it`s up to 162 and there must a few more out there that are absent. Feel free to let me know what`s wrong/missing from the list. I`m trying, but failing, to upload the info as an attachment, so I`ll cut and pasted it below for now.
Happy paddling all!
Owen
(present set up: Stellar SEI 2G in Advantage lay-up, and Knysna Racing Delta L paddle.)
Surfski Width x Length Chart – January 2017
Manufacturer Name of Ski Width Length
O'Krea Oya 40 605
Huki S1-Z 40.64 630
Scofits Ayahavela SSR 41 633
Scofits Ayahavela Bullet 41 633
Carbonology K1 Downriver ski 41.5 520
Steller SES 41.6 620
Neumann Adventure Racing 42 660
Vajda Orca 42 650
Think Uno (pre 2016) 42 648
DD3 Envy 42 645
Kayak Sipre Sea Vortex 42 645
Nelo M/XL 42 640
Elio Mazu Pro I 42 627
Fenn Elite SL 42.5 644
Fenn Elite Spark 42.5 644
Fenn Elite Glide 42.5 644
Allwave CX 42.8 640
Ocean Built Kona K-64 42.8 640
Ocean Built Konastorm KS-64 42.8 640
Epic V14 (new) 42.9 640
Kayak Pro Oquendo 43 659
Zed Tech Dominator 43 658
Honcho Oceans Pro 43 647
Opium Infinity 43 645
Think Uno (2016) 43 645
Think Uno Max 43 645
Fenn Mako Elite 43 644
Think Legend 43 643
DD3 Turbo 43 640
Epic V12 (new) 43 640
Epic V14 (old) 43 640
Flow Kayaks Addict 43 640
Flow Kayaks Sharpski 43 640
Knysna Genius 40 43 640
Nordic Kayaks Nitro 43 640
Revo 1 / LV 43 635
Honcho Extreme 43 634
Vajda Next 43 630
Knysna Genius 20 43 628
OSS Ocean 2 43 6245
Elio Pro Elite 43 620
O'Krea Ozo 43 616
Carbonology Pulse 43 605
Epic V10 (old) 43.4 650
Epic V10L (old) 43.4 650
Red7 Surf70 43.5 660
DD3 XLR8 43.5 655
OSS Ocean I 43.5 6495
Stellar SEL 43.5 645
Vajda Hawx 43.5 643.5
Epic V12 (old) 43.5 640
Nordic Kayaks Nitro+ 43.5 640
Seabird 6.4 43.5 640
Vajda Hawx 43 43.5 633
Kayak Centre Eos 660 43.6 660
Custom Kayaks Bullet ?? 640
Ygara Xama 44 660
Stellar SEL 44 655
DD3 Albatross Gen 6 44 650
DD3 Albatross 44 648
Opium Molokai 44 644
Kayak Sipre Sea Vortex + 44 642
Fenn Mako 6 44 640
Nelo XXL 44 640
Felci Yachts Windseeker 44 620
Epic V10L (new) 44 615
Carbonology Atom 44 595
Stellar SE 44.5 655
Think Ion 44.5 642
Carbonology Flash 44.5 635
Epic New V10 45 645
Opium DW 45 645
Icon Genesis 45 640
Nelo Vintage 45 640
Elio 45 45 610
Fenn Swordfish 45 610
Nordic Kayaks Storm 45 610
Nordic Kayaks Storm + 45 610
Zed Tech Griffin ++ 45 590
Nelo 560 45 560
Nelo 560M 45 560
O'Krea Marmousse 45 450
Allwave Volo 46 642
Custom Kayaks Focus 46 642
Custom Kayaks Synergy 46 642
Revo 2 / MV 46 635
OSS Ocean 3 46 6245
Knysna BLU 46 620
Stellar SEI 46 610
Scofits Ayahavela SSS (new)46 600
Vajda Hawx 46 46 590
Chalupski Oscar/Hummel 46 580
DD3 Magnum 46 580
Scofits Ayahavela SSS (old) 46.5 598
DD3 Australis 46.5 580
DD3 Wahoo Sport 46.5 579
Honcho Rookie 47 647
Custom Kayaks Icon 47
Think Evo (2016) 47 625
Zed Tech Dominator XL 47 620
Carbonology Vault 47 595
Spirit Fury 47
Fenn XT (older) 47.5 600
Finn Molakai 47.5 590
Neumann Adventure 48 640
Revo 3 / HV 48 635
Think Evo II 48 625
Carbonology Zest 48 615
Kayak Pro Oquendo Sport 48 614
Epic V10 Sport (new) 48 610
Seabird 6.1 48 610
Stellar SR 48 584
Elio Fitness 48 580
Honcho Guevara 48 580
Knysna CLK 48 580
Nordic Kayaks Squall 48 580
OSS Ocean 4 48 5795
Kayak Sipre Marlin 48 578
Point Horizon 48 573
Custom Kayaks Horizon 48 560
Knysna Guppie 48 400
Epic V10 Sport (old) 48.3 610
Kayak Centre Zeplin 48.5 660
Knysna Jester 48.5 457
Flow Kayaks Superstar 49 595
Fenn Mako XT 49 588
Opium Moana 49 588
Lifesaving/Spec ski min.wid/max.len 49 580
Nordic Kayaks Squall + 49 580
Carbonology Zest 49.5 595
Honcho Guru 50 580
Spirit PRS 50 567
Allwave Genesi 50 520
Epic V8 Pro 50.5 579
Think Eze (pre 2016) 51 520
Think Eze (2016) 51 518
Spirit Racing Ski 51 496
Vajda Hawx 52 52 554
Opium Rider 52 553
Vajda Raptor 52 530
Nelo 520 52 520
Knysna Genius RS 52.5 580
Fenn Blue-Fin 53 590
Vajda Oscar 53 559
Stellar S18S 53.3 550
Nordic Kayaks Exrcize 54 550
Epic V8 (new) 54 548
Finn Endorfinn 54 522
Epic V7 54 520
Seabird 5.5 55 555
Elio 55 55 520
Nelo Viper 55 55 520
Nelo 510 55 510
Epic V8 (old) 55.88 548
Carbonology Cruz 56 550
Think Big Eze/Eze 56 538
Allwave Colibri 57 418
Stellar S16S 58.1 488
Epic V6 58.4 488
Epic V5 60 426
Spirit Crosstrainer CTR 61 400
Stellar S14S 62.8 436
List compiled by Owen on Okinawa, February, 2012.
Up-dated 26 April, 2013
Last up-dated January 2017.
Some info above may be incorrect or missing. Most measurements have been taken from manufacturers websites. Therefore, apologies in advance for any mistakes I`ve made and feel free to contact me with any information that should be adjusted or added:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Happy paddling all!
Owen
(present set up: Stellar SEI 2G in Advantage lay-up, and Knysna Racing Delta L paddle.)
Surfski Width x Length Chart – January 2017
Manufacturer Name of Ski Width Length
O'Krea Oya 40 605
Huki S1-Z 40.64 630
Scofits Ayahavela SSR 41 633
Scofits Ayahavela Bullet 41 633
Carbonology K1 Downriver ski 41.5 520
Steller SES 41.6 620
Neumann Adventure Racing 42 660
Vajda Orca 42 650
Think Uno (pre 2016) 42 648
DD3 Envy 42 645
Kayak Sipre Sea Vortex 42 645
Nelo M/XL 42 640
Elio Mazu Pro I 42 627
Fenn Elite SL 42.5 644
Fenn Elite Spark 42.5 644
Fenn Elite Glide 42.5 644
Allwave CX 42.8 640
Ocean Built Kona K-64 42.8 640
Ocean Built Konastorm KS-64 42.8 640
Epic V14 (new) 42.9 640
Kayak Pro Oquendo 43 659
Zed Tech Dominator 43 658
Honcho Oceans Pro 43 647
Opium Infinity 43 645
Think Uno (2016) 43 645
Think Uno Max 43 645
Fenn Mako Elite 43 644
Think Legend 43 643
DD3 Turbo 43 640
Epic V12 (new) 43 640
Epic V14 (old) 43 640
Flow Kayaks Addict 43 640
Flow Kayaks Sharpski 43 640
Knysna Genius 40 43 640
Nordic Kayaks Nitro 43 640
Revo 1 / LV 43 635
Honcho Extreme 43 634
Vajda Next 43 630
Knysna Genius 20 43 628
OSS Ocean 2 43 6245
Elio Pro Elite 43 620
O'Krea Ozo 43 616
Carbonology Pulse 43 605
Epic V10 (old) 43.4 650
Epic V10L (old) 43.4 650
Red7 Surf70 43.5 660
DD3 XLR8 43.5 655
OSS Ocean I 43.5 6495
Stellar SEL 43.5 645
Vajda Hawx 43.5 643.5
Epic V12 (old) 43.5 640
Nordic Kayaks Nitro+ 43.5 640
Seabird 6.4 43.5 640
Vajda Hawx 43 43.5 633
Kayak Centre Eos 660 43.6 660
Custom Kayaks Bullet ?? 640
Ygara Xama 44 660
Stellar SEL 44 655
DD3 Albatross Gen 6 44 650
DD3 Albatross 44 648
Opium Molokai 44 644
Kayak Sipre Sea Vortex + 44 642
Fenn Mako 6 44 640
Nelo XXL 44 640
Felci Yachts Windseeker 44 620
Epic V10L (new) 44 615
Carbonology Atom 44 595
Stellar SE 44.5 655
Think Ion 44.5 642
Carbonology Flash 44.5 635
Epic New V10 45 645
Opium DW 45 645
Icon Genesis 45 640
Nelo Vintage 45 640
Elio 45 45 610
Fenn Swordfish 45 610
Nordic Kayaks Storm 45 610
Nordic Kayaks Storm + 45 610
Zed Tech Griffin ++ 45 590
Nelo 560 45 560
Nelo 560M 45 560
O'Krea Marmousse 45 450
Allwave Volo 46 642
Custom Kayaks Focus 46 642
Custom Kayaks Synergy 46 642
Revo 2 / MV 46 635
OSS Ocean 3 46 6245
Knysna BLU 46 620
Stellar SEI 46 610
Scofits Ayahavela SSS (new)46 600
Vajda Hawx 46 46 590
Chalupski Oscar/Hummel 46 580
DD3 Magnum 46 580
Scofits Ayahavela SSS (old) 46.5 598
DD3 Australis 46.5 580
DD3 Wahoo Sport 46.5 579
Honcho Rookie 47 647
Custom Kayaks Icon 47
Think Evo (2016) 47 625
Zed Tech Dominator XL 47 620
Carbonology Vault 47 595
Spirit Fury 47
Fenn XT (older) 47.5 600
Finn Molakai 47.5 590
Neumann Adventure 48 640
Revo 3 / HV 48 635
Think Evo II 48 625
Carbonology Zest 48 615
Kayak Pro Oquendo Sport 48 614
Epic V10 Sport (new) 48 610
Seabird 6.1 48 610
Stellar SR 48 584
Elio Fitness 48 580
Honcho Guevara 48 580
Knysna CLK 48 580
Nordic Kayaks Squall 48 580
OSS Ocean 4 48 5795
Kayak Sipre Marlin 48 578
Point Horizon 48 573
Custom Kayaks Horizon 48 560
Knysna Guppie 48 400
Epic V10 Sport (old) 48.3 610
Kayak Centre Zeplin 48.5 660
Knysna Jester 48.5 457
Flow Kayaks Superstar 49 595
Fenn Mako XT 49 588
Opium Moana 49 588
Lifesaving/Spec ski min.wid/max.len 49 580
Nordic Kayaks Squall + 49 580
Carbonology Zest 49.5 595
Honcho Guru 50 580
Spirit PRS 50 567
Allwave Genesi 50 520
Epic V8 Pro 50.5 579
Think Eze (pre 2016) 51 520
Think Eze (2016) 51 518
Spirit Racing Ski 51 496
Vajda Hawx 52 52 554
Opium Rider 52 553
Vajda Raptor 52 530
Nelo 520 52 520
Knysna Genius RS 52.5 580
Fenn Blue-Fin 53 590
Vajda Oscar 53 559
Stellar S18S 53.3 550
Nordic Kayaks Exrcize 54 550
Epic V8 (new) 54 548
Finn Endorfinn 54 522
Epic V7 54 520
Seabird 5.5 55 555
Elio 55 55 520
Nelo Viper 55 55 520
Nelo 510 55 510
Epic V8 (old) 55.88 548
Carbonology Cruz 56 550
Think Big Eze/Eze 56 538
Allwave Colibri 57 418
Stellar S16S 58.1 488
Epic V6 58.4 488
Epic V5 60 426
Spirit Crosstrainer CTR 61 400
Stellar S14S 62.8 436
List compiled by Owen on Okinawa, February, 2012.
Up-dated 26 April, 2013
Last up-dated January 2017.
Some info above may be incorrect or missing. Most measurements have been taken from manufacturers websites. Therefore, apologies in advance for any mistakes I`ve made and feel free to contact me with any information that should be adjusted or added:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Think Eze vs Fenn XT - flatwater speed - by: paddlepup
Hi all, can anybody enlighten me on how these two boats compare with there flatwater speed. I consider the Eze to be a pretty quick little boat and also fantastic offshore, I hear though that the XT (new version) is dead slow in flatwater ??? The XT interests me as a rough water ski and for surfing but its no good to me if its painfully slow in the flat, as I live right next to a river and will obviously do a lot of river work on it also. Im wishing to compare to the Eze because I know that boat very well.
Bill
Bill
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Venturi-ectomy – Bailer-plasty - by: Simon Haywood
In response to several requests, this is how I’ve fitted Andersen Super Mini (‘Special’) bailer to a Stellar SEI (excel)...There are some short cuts I've found along the way (*SC = short cuts).
Like any operation there are several ways of performing it - this is just one...
Part 1.
Operation: ‘Venturi-ectomy – Bailer-plasty’ Nov 13’
NB: This will probably affect my warranty on my ski – but I’d rather have better drainage.
Disclosure: I’m a ‘C’ grade paddler (and not a good one at that!), I have no formal qualifications in boat building – But, I do have close access to one for advice & help...and nearly 40 years experience mucking around with boats.
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First of all – Make a mould – This will pay dividends in time/finish. The mould is just two blocks of timber which is glued & screwed together then covered in flowcoat/gelcoat. When finished - Use wax & release agent...Apply the finish gelcoat to the mould – Then apply three layers of 200grm Carbon Fibre & a little bit of chop strand mat – I use West 105 epoxy resin.
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Remove the bottom rail (this is screwed and glued in - *SC: do not remove - use a dremel tool to cut & shape) Remove hood & bullet off the bottom – I used a chisel – (*SC: grind it off)
Using the mould/tray you made as your template mark out where it sits and cut out – inside & out.
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Fit the bailer to newly created tray – countersunk bolts are fitted from the underside-out – these need to be notched and glassed in (so they do not spin).
You must bond the inside(deck) to hull be sure to fill all the exposed nomex cells – this needs to air/water tight – I use mix of resin, micro balloons/q cells with glass strands mixed in. Use the same process to bond/glass the tray too.
![]()
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Fill fair and gelcoat the interior / Spray gelcoat to the exterior
Like any operation there are several ways of performing it - this is just one...
Part 1.
Operation: ‘Venturi-ectomy – Bailer-plasty’ Nov 13’
NB: This will probably affect my warranty on my ski – but I’d rather have better drainage.
Disclosure: I’m a ‘C’ grade paddler (and not a good one at that!), I have no formal qualifications in boat building – But, I do have close access to one for advice & help...and nearly 40 years experience mucking around with boats.
First of all – Make a mould – This will pay dividends in time/finish. The mould is just two blocks of timber which is glued & screwed together then covered in flowcoat/gelcoat. When finished - Use wax & release agent...Apply the finish gelcoat to the mould – Then apply three layers of 200grm Carbon Fibre & a little bit of chop strand mat – I use West 105 epoxy resin.
Remove the bottom rail (this is screwed and glued in - *SC: do not remove - use a dremel tool to cut & shape) Remove hood & bullet off the bottom – I used a chisel – (*SC: grind it off)
Using the mould/tray you made as your template mark out where it sits and cut out – inside & out.
Fit the bailer to newly created tray – countersunk bolts are fitted from the underside-out – these need to be notched and glassed in (so they do not spin).
You must bond the inside(deck) to hull be sure to fill all the exposed nomex cells – this needs to air/water tight – I use mix of resin, micro balloons/q cells with glass strands mixed in. Use the same process to bond/glass the tray too.
Fill fair and gelcoat the interior / Spray gelcoat to the exterior
↧
Technique video analysis - by: malvina
Hello fellow paddlers
I have uploaded a short (2m) video of me paddling from different angles. Being largely self taught, I would love to get some comments/advice/corrections from experienced paddlers. You can see the video in the following link
Many thanks
I have uploaded a short (2m) video of me paddling from different angles. Being largely self taught, I would love to get some comments/advice/corrections from experienced paddlers. You can see the video in the following link
Many thanks
↧
↧
1st Gen SES with spungy rudder action - by: Canadasurfskiguy
I'm wondering if anybody else may have a creative solution to my issue.
I've got a 1st gen SES that has a spungy rudder (you crank it all the way to one side and then the pedal will still flex forward a good inch or two). I initially thought the there was too much flex in the cable. I replaced the cable and the issue is the same. I've since learned that older Stellar's have this red cable housing that expands when wet. This creating a zig-zaging housing instead of a straight one and the housing then acts like a spring when the cable is under pressure. Being that the housing is inside the boat and can't be accessed, I don't see a solution that doesn't involve major league surgery. Is this boat destined to have spungy steering or is there a fix that I haven't thought of?
Thanks a lot!
ian
I've got a 1st gen SES that has a spungy rudder (you crank it all the way to one side and then the pedal will still flex forward a good inch or two). I initially thought the there was too much flex in the cable. I replaced the cable and the issue is the same. I've since learned that older Stellar's have this red cable housing that expands when wet. This creating a zig-zaging housing instead of a straight one and the housing then acts like a spring when the cable is under pressure. Being that the housing is inside the boat and can't be accessed, I don't see a solution that doesn't involve major league surgery. Is this boat destined to have spungy steering or is there a fix that I haven't thought of?
Thanks a lot!
ian
↧
surf ski REVO - by: acuario
Hola me podrian dar informacion de los surf ski REVO un saludo y gracias
↧
Help identifying a stellar ski - by: Larry
Hi Folks,
A friend of mine has recently bought a second hand stellar ski, and he let me take it out for a quick paddle on the weekend. I'm trying to work out which model it is so that I can discuss it in a 'which ski for me' type thread, but I'm not quite sure which one it is.
He doesn't know how old it is, although it's clearly not new. The rear deck has Stellar Sports S on there, but I suspect a few letters have been removed. He tells me that the boat was advertised as:
Sports slr
6.5 L Mtr
44.5 W cm
33.8 D cm
capacity 120kg
15kg weight
I checked those against Stellar's current web site, but nothing quite matches up. I suspect it must be an older SE or SEL, but I'm not really sure. Can anybody familiar with the stellar range help me clear it up, or suggest which current model it equates to?
Cheers,
Larry
A friend of mine has recently bought a second hand stellar ski, and he let me take it out for a quick paddle on the weekend. I'm trying to work out which model it is so that I can discuss it in a 'which ski for me' type thread, but I'm not quite sure which one it is.
He doesn't know how old it is, although it's clearly not new. The rear deck has Stellar Sports S on there, but I suspect a few letters have been removed. He tells me that the boat was advertised as:
Sports slr
6.5 L Mtr
44.5 W cm
33.8 D cm
capacity 120kg
15kg weight
I checked those against Stellar's current web site, but nothing quite matches up. I suspect it must be an older SE or SEL, but I'm not really sure. Can anybody familiar with the stellar range help me clear it up, or suggest which current model it equates to?
Cheers,
Larry
↧
NELO 560M Review - by: photofr
The new NELO SURFSKIS have made their way to Brittany, France. With this comes the brand new NELO testing facility: it’s very small, but easily accessible for about 1/3 of the entire French population. The small testing facility is conveniently located on the water’s edge of a protected sea, with easy access to the ocean less than 1km on a surfski.
Currently in stock for testing: the NELO 520 and the NELO 560M.
The NELO 560L is on its way!
The 520 is super cool, and very versatile (I’ll spend more time on it during the next couple of weeks and try to provide some real life feedback) but this review is about the NELO 560M.
NUMBERS
560 represents its length: 560cm, 5.6 meters, or 18’4 feet.
M Represents a ski designed for Medium to Small paddlers (roughly 77 kilos or less).
(For reference: I still haven’t measured the width, but it’s supposed to be 45cm.)
LOOKS & FEEL
First thing out of the box, you’ll notice a very glossy and shiny ski. Its near-perfect finish will still remind you that this was hand-made, with real humans behind it. Overall, the ski is super clean, so don’t expect too many blemishes because it’s super sharp looking.
The curves are beautiful: essentially, a needle nose ski with a “fat” behind for added stability exactly where you’d need it (behind you).
RIGGING
There’s no denying it: you will be very impressed. I know I was blown away by what I saw. First, there’s the carbon foot plate and pedals (they are very different from anything out there). Adjusting the foot plate length is super easy and very secure once in place. Speaking of adjustments: I have “the world’s shortest legs” and I like to have my knees a little higher than most people. Naturally, the first thing I did was to check if this was going to “work” for me. So, shorter paddlers: finally a ski that will fit you, with plenty of room for the long-legged-counterpart.
Next, you’ll stumble on the foot strap: this one is padded, but rigid. The additional power you’ll get from it may just blow you away. Its adjustment is a little finicky but actually quite simple, with multiple pre-sets.
Took me 15 minutes to unpack the entire ski, rig it, and paddle away. Takes about 20 seconds to change the foot plate length. Too cool.
BUCKET
There’s something missing in the bucket: the hump is nearly all-gone. How does this affect drainage? I don’t know, but I can tell you this: I have swamped my ski trying to draft a boat and it emptied itself in record time. We may very well see copies of the disappearing hump quite soon, because it may not be needed as much as we “thought”.
SEATING AREA
It’s higher than what you are used to if you have used a ski in the last 7 or 8 years, but that’s a good thing. After all, think about it: when we want to seat down at the beach, we try to find a rock, a stump, a step… something to ultimately place our butts higher than our heels. It sounds simple, but try this: seat down on the floor (butt and heels at the same level) and stay there for 2 hours. Now try the same thing, but instead of seating on the floor, try seating on a small step, or even a small phone book. Feels better, doesn’t it?
Well, essentially, the seating area will feel way more natural, right off the bat. More comfort equals more power, so I am all for it and wouldn’t have it any other way.
The bucket is an ergo bucket that isn’t as deep as many other skis. This is one of the first skis where I won’t need any padding for hips, but because it’s ergo, my wife will also be able to paddle it.
Is the bucket the most comfortable bucket ever? I don’t know, and I seriously doubt it. Everyone is made differently, so you’ll have to see for yourselves. For me, it feels natural, and very comfortable (I have narrow hip bones). For my wife, she loves it (and needless to say: she wished she had narrower hip bones).
DRAINAGE
The NELO drainage is highly efficient: see above as it drains faster than ever. The best part: its ease of operation, where finally you are able to concentrate on your paddling, while using your feet to naturally open and close the latch. It’s very intuitive, and very well placed.
THE CATCH AREA
Being a “needle nose” ski, you’ll find the paddle entry point to be very narrow. It’s pure physics: this will make for a more efficient paddle stroke. There’s one little drawback that I noticed after the first 20k: the outside of the pedals stick out a little… and I have hit it with my paddle a few times, but that’s an easy fix.
For me, there’s nothing worse than a wide catch area – coming from someone with a narrow frame. This feels super nice, comparable to the Spark, but with more comfort and less “boat”.
STABILITY
The seating area of the 560M feels higher than the V10L, and much higher than the Spark. Stability, however, feels way better than the Spark and better than the V10L. I feel a lot of additional stability due to how snug the boat feels (you are part of the ski for a change), and the wider area behind the seat is just added bonus for an Elite ski. Primary stability is okay, but secondary stability is excellent. See, I did it: I spoke about stability without revealing any trade secrets regarding the hull .
SMALLER DETAILS
There are couple of things that also impressed me:
There are three leash plugs: one under the seat designed to be used as a leash attachment point, and two more in front of the footwell. The two points up front can be used to secure gear, or as a towing point if need be. It’s no big deal, but I really like that.
The plastic rudder cover is too simple: no tools required to open it, so a big bonus there. I recommend taping your Allen key in there, with surf wax or similar.
The stiff foot strap makes for a great handle and secures the boat on your shoulder when the wind is high.
SIDEWIND
This is the lowest profile ski I have been on in a long time. The closest thing may have been the Chalup Ski back in 1988. Having said that, smaller paddler (heck, ALL paddlers) will find that paddling this ski in side wind may be easier than with any other skis, mostly because the bow doesn’t get blown away like a butterfly in the wind.
WET OR DRY RIDE?
It’s a wet ride, where you are part of the ocean. The drainage is lighting fast, but you will get wet. Sidewalls are not too tall (as I feel they should be) because truth be told: you are going to get wet any way. Remounting is therefore easier, but it's still a wet ride. The deflector is a huge bonus, and works wonders. Mine came with it, and I believe that’s standard on all NELO Surfskis.
UPWIND
I have been paddling in the same spot for about 2 years and I just blew my personal “best” out of the water on an upwind section I have done 100’s of times. Average speed was high (for me) and I was still getting used to the ski. Upwind speed is good, but the feeling was great; I seriously had fun going up wind up swell.
DOWNWIND
As mentioned above, it’s a bit of a wet ride, but one that I thoroughly enjoyed. Conditions were chaotic, with confused seas, but I was able to use my body (much) more than ever before. It’s another dimension, literally.
Most of this comes from the shorter ski, shorter than it’s been for the past decade, but about the same as back when I had tons of fun in the ocean. Essentially, the ski is super maneuverable, catches runs very easily, and is more responsive than anything I have been on. I am seemingly able to paddle less, where I am finally able to use my body weight to keep that nose in the “hole”. Apparently, the laziness in me is coming out, and that’s cool as heck.
ACCELERATION
Faster – way faster… hands down.
WEIGHT AND STIFFNESS
The skis is about the same weight as the V10 GT, but not as stiff. Don’t get me wrong, it’s solid, and quite stiff with zero soft spots to notice, but not quite the brutal stiffness of prepreg. To be fair, it’s also more “absorbing”, especially when it comes to the imperfections encountered at sea. It’s a more comfortable ride that doesn’t seem to slow performance, but that’s just how I feel having paddled both.
The weight of my skis (carbon sandwich construction) is 9.8 kilos, all rigged, including rudder and rear bungie. Yes, I can carry it under my arm all day.
MADE IN EUROPE
Having a ski made in Europe feels good (since I now live in Europe and all) but there are other advantages. Shipping takes about 7 days to reach European countries, and a custom ski can be ordered with approximately 6-week of a waiting period (not 4 months like numerous other companies outsourcing to China).
I don’t know, call me stupid, but this is 2016: I would proudly (and will) place a flag from Portugal on my ski, but I kind of find it difficult to put a Chinese flag on one of my Stand Up Paddle boards made in China. Call me sentimental, but I will also have an Hawaiian flag on my ski
Plus, it’s not just made in Europe, or just made in Portugal; it’s made from one of the biggest composite provider in the World, and trusted by more Olympians than any other brands out there. So yeah: I am proud that it’s made near home.
PRICES
Prices are always a factor, granted, but this should put a smile on people’s faces. A light surfski is now affordable!
Two types of constructions are available.
TYPE 4 CONSTRUCTION
Carbon/Kevlar/Epoxy
Approx. 11 kilos
Approx. 2450 euros
TYPE 7 CONSTRUCTION
Carbon/Epoxy
Approx. 9.5 kilos
Approx. 3850 euros
For reference, I just bought a Stand Up Paddle board, Carbon/Epoxy construction, 14 feet in length, without a rudder, for 3800 euros, and it still weighs 11.5 kilos, and it wasn’t made in Europe.
PERKS OF A SHORTER SKI
What can you too expect from a shorter ski?
For starter, it’s easier to handle on land, where you are most likely to damage your boat. Inevitably, your ski may last longer from less accidental damage on land.
It’s shorter, so there’s less flex on the water, and on the roof of your car; that’s just pure physics.
More reactive to body shifts, and more maneuverable downwind should yield more fun, better average speed, and less paddling fatigue. Keeping the bow into the “hole” will be faster from a more responsive ski, and will allow you to “lock in that wave” longer than ever. Look it up: skis in the 18-19 foot range have always been very fast, see Molokai Channel crossing history.
If you can fit your car in a garage, you should no longer have any problem storing your ski right at home.
FASTER ACCELERATIONS
Shorter waves heaven: the 560M does really well in open ocean swells, but for the majority of people on surfskis, downwind in smaller conditions or in a bay will have you smiling again, and downwind paddling in the Mediterranean Sea will have you “flying”.
CHOICE OF COLORS
You can have a white ski… if that’s what you still want, but you can also choose from a huge variety of colors available online.
CUSTOM SKIS
Custom skis come with your custom colors. Turnaround times take about 6 weeks.
SHIPPING
There are 2 ways to get your new skis to you.
1. You can place your order with one of the reps in France, and pick it up from them (no extra charge).
2. You can place your order with one of the reps, and have it delivered to your house (for about 100 euros more).
IN A NUTSHELL
The new 560M is a shorter surfski that’s surprisingly more responsive than other skis people are used to. It excels for shorter and super light paddlers (though I am told the standard 560 is well-geared towards bigger paddlers like Oscar). When it comes to flat water paddling, the 560M doesn’t disappoint.
When you first paddle the ski, you are likely to notice:
Its needle-nose look, and tight paddle catch area.
Wide area located seemingly behind you.
Higher seating position; comfortable.
Very secure foot strap system.
Good stability for an Elite ski.
Amazing downwind control.
You will be “one” with the water, literally.
My favorite: the ability to once again affect your ski in the surf, even if you weight “nothing”.
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
QUESTIONS, TESTING OR ORDERING IN FRANCE
Contact: Ludovic BACQUET
NELO Testing Center – FRANCE (West Coast)
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
I: www.nelokayaks.com
T: 06.24.74.53.70
International Calls: 011 [33] 624-745-370
Currently in stock for testing: the NELO 520 and the NELO 560M.
The NELO 560L is on its way!
The 520 is super cool, and very versatile (I’ll spend more time on it during the next couple of weeks and try to provide some real life feedback) but this review is about the NELO 560M.
NUMBERS
560 represents its length: 560cm, 5.6 meters, or 18’4 feet.
M Represents a ski designed for Medium to Small paddlers (roughly 77 kilos or less).
(For reference: I still haven’t measured the width, but it’s supposed to be 45cm.)
LOOKS & FEEL
First thing out of the box, you’ll notice a very glossy and shiny ski. Its near-perfect finish will still remind you that this was hand-made, with real humans behind it. Overall, the ski is super clean, so don’t expect too many blemishes because it’s super sharp looking.
The curves are beautiful: essentially, a needle nose ski with a “fat” behind for added stability exactly where you’d need it (behind you).
RIGGING
There’s no denying it: you will be very impressed. I know I was blown away by what I saw. First, there’s the carbon foot plate and pedals (they are very different from anything out there). Adjusting the foot plate length is super easy and very secure once in place. Speaking of adjustments: I have “the world’s shortest legs” and I like to have my knees a little higher than most people. Naturally, the first thing I did was to check if this was going to “work” for me. So, shorter paddlers: finally a ski that will fit you, with plenty of room for the long-legged-counterpart.
Next, you’ll stumble on the foot strap: this one is padded, but rigid. The additional power you’ll get from it may just blow you away. Its adjustment is a little finicky but actually quite simple, with multiple pre-sets.
Took me 15 minutes to unpack the entire ski, rig it, and paddle away. Takes about 20 seconds to change the foot plate length. Too cool.
BUCKET
There’s something missing in the bucket: the hump is nearly all-gone. How does this affect drainage? I don’t know, but I can tell you this: I have swamped my ski trying to draft a boat and it emptied itself in record time. We may very well see copies of the disappearing hump quite soon, because it may not be needed as much as we “thought”.
SEATING AREA
It’s higher than what you are used to if you have used a ski in the last 7 or 8 years, but that’s a good thing. After all, think about it: when we want to seat down at the beach, we try to find a rock, a stump, a step… something to ultimately place our butts higher than our heels. It sounds simple, but try this: seat down on the floor (butt and heels at the same level) and stay there for 2 hours. Now try the same thing, but instead of seating on the floor, try seating on a small step, or even a small phone book. Feels better, doesn’t it?
Well, essentially, the seating area will feel way more natural, right off the bat. More comfort equals more power, so I am all for it and wouldn’t have it any other way.
The bucket is an ergo bucket that isn’t as deep as many other skis. This is one of the first skis where I won’t need any padding for hips, but because it’s ergo, my wife will also be able to paddle it.
Is the bucket the most comfortable bucket ever? I don’t know, and I seriously doubt it. Everyone is made differently, so you’ll have to see for yourselves. For me, it feels natural, and very comfortable (I have narrow hip bones). For my wife, she loves it (and needless to say: she wished she had narrower hip bones).
DRAINAGE
The NELO drainage is highly efficient: see above as it drains faster than ever. The best part: its ease of operation, where finally you are able to concentrate on your paddling, while using your feet to naturally open and close the latch. It’s very intuitive, and very well placed.
THE CATCH AREA
Being a “needle nose” ski, you’ll find the paddle entry point to be very narrow. It’s pure physics: this will make for a more efficient paddle stroke. There’s one little drawback that I noticed after the first 20k: the outside of the pedals stick out a little… and I have hit it with my paddle a few times, but that’s an easy fix.
For me, there’s nothing worse than a wide catch area – coming from someone with a narrow frame. This feels super nice, comparable to the Spark, but with more comfort and less “boat”.
STABILITY
The seating area of the 560M feels higher than the V10L, and much higher than the Spark. Stability, however, feels way better than the Spark and better than the V10L. I feel a lot of additional stability due to how snug the boat feels (you are part of the ski for a change), and the wider area behind the seat is just added bonus for an Elite ski. Primary stability is okay, but secondary stability is excellent. See, I did it: I spoke about stability without revealing any trade secrets regarding the hull .
SMALLER DETAILS
There are couple of things that also impressed me:
There are three leash plugs: one under the seat designed to be used as a leash attachment point, and two more in front of the footwell. The two points up front can be used to secure gear, or as a towing point if need be. It’s no big deal, but I really like that.
The plastic rudder cover is too simple: no tools required to open it, so a big bonus there. I recommend taping your Allen key in there, with surf wax or similar.
The stiff foot strap makes for a great handle and secures the boat on your shoulder when the wind is high.
SIDEWIND
This is the lowest profile ski I have been on in a long time. The closest thing may have been the Chalup Ski back in 1988. Having said that, smaller paddler (heck, ALL paddlers) will find that paddling this ski in side wind may be easier than with any other skis, mostly because the bow doesn’t get blown away like a butterfly in the wind.
WET OR DRY RIDE?
It’s a wet ride, where you are part of the ocean. The drainage is lighting fast, but you will get wet. Sidewalls are not too tall (as I feel they should be) because truth be told: you are going to get wet any way. Remounting is therefore easier, but it's still a wet ride. The deflector is a huge bonus, and works wonders. Mine came with it, and I believe that’s standard on all NELO Surfskis.
UPWIND
I have been paddling in the same spot for about 2 years and I just blew my personal “best” out of the water on an upwind section I have done 100’s of times. Average speed was high (for me) and I was still getting used to the ski. Upwind speed is good, but the feeling was great; I seriously had fun going up wind up swell.
DOWNWIND
As mentioned above, it’s a bit of a wet ride, but one that I thoroughly enjoyed. Conditions were chaotic, with confused seas, but I was able to use my body (much) more than ever before. It’s another dimension, literally.
Most of this comes from the shorter ski, shorter than it’s been for the past decade, but about the same as back when I had tons of fun in the ocean. Essentially, the ski is super maneuverable, catches runs very easily, and is more responsive than anything I have been on. I am seemingly able to paddle less, where I am finally able to use my body weight to keep that nose in the “hole”. Apparently, the laziness in me is coming out, and that’s cool as heck.
ACCELERATION
Faster – way faster… hands down.
WEIGHT AND STIFFNESS
The skis is about the same weight as the V10 GT, but not as stiff. Don’t get me wrong, it’s solid, and quite stiff with zero soft spots to notice, but not quite the brutal stiffness of prepreg. To be fair, it’s also more “absorbing”, especially when it comes to the imperfections encountered at sea. It’s a more comfortable ride that doesn’t seem to slow performance, but that’s just how I feel having paddled both.
The weight of my skis (carbon sandwich construction) is 9.8 kilos, all rigged, including rudder and rear bungie. Yes, I can carry it under my arm all day.
MADE IN EUROPE
Having a ski made in Europe feels good (since I now live in Europe and all) but there are other advantages. Shipping takes about 7 days to reach European countries, and a custom ski can be ordered with approximately 6-week of a waiting period (not 4 months like numerous other companies outsourcing to China).
I don’t know, call me stupid, but this is 2016: I would proudly (and will) place a flag from Portugal on my ski, but I kind of find it difficult to put a Chinese flag on one of my Stand Up Paddle boards made in China. Call me sentimental, but I will also have an Hawaiian flag on my ski
Plus, it’s not just made in Europe, or just made in Portugal; it’s made from one of the biggest composite provider in the World, and trusted by more Olympians than any other brands out there. So yeah: I am proud that it’s made near home.
PRICES
Prices are always a factor, granted, but this should put a smile on people’s faces. A light surfski is now affordable!
Two types of constructions are available.
TYPE 4 CONSTRUCTION
Carbon/Kevlar/Epoxy
Approx. 11 kilos
Approx. 2450 euros
TYPE 7 CONSTRUCTION
Carbon/Epoxy
Approx. 9.5 kilos
Approx. 3850 euros
For reference, I just bought a Stand Up Paddle board, Carbon/Epoxy construction, 14 feet in length, without a rudder, for 3800 euros, and it still weighs 11.5 kilos, and it wasn’t made in Europe.
PERKS OF A SHORTER SKI
What can you too expect from a shorter ski?
For starter, it’s easier to handle on land, where you are most likely to damage your boat. Inevitably, your ski may last longer from less accidental damage on land.
It’s shorter, so there’s less flex on the water, and on the roof of your car; that’s just pure physics.
More reactive to body shifts, and more maneuverable downwind should yield more fun, better average speed, and less paddling fatigue. Keeping the bow into the “hole” will be faster from a more responsive ski, and will allow you to “lock in that wave” longer than ever. Look it up: skis in the 18-19 foot range have always been very fast, see Molokai Channel crossing history.
If you can fit your car in a garage, you should no longer have any problem storing your ski right at home.
FASTER ACCELERATIONS
Shorter waves heaven: the 560M does really well in open ocean swells, but for the majority of people on surfskis, downwind in smaller conditions or in a bay will have you smiling again, and downwind paddling in the Mediterranean Sea will have you “flying”.
CHOICE OF COLORS
You can have a white ski… if that’s what you still want, but you can also choose from a huge variety of colors available online.
CUSTOM SKIS
Custom skis come with your custom colors. Turnaround times take about 6 weeks.
SHIPPING
There are 2 ways to get your new skis to you.
1. You can place your order with one of the reps in France, and pick it up from them (no extra charge).
2. You can place your order with one of the reps, and have it delivered to your house (for about 100 euros more).
IN A NUTSHELL
The new 560M is a shorter surfski that’s surprisingly more responsive than other skis people are used to. It excels for shorter and super light paddlers (though I am told the standard 560 is well-geared towards bigger paddlers like Oscar). When it comes to flat water paddling, the 560M doesn’t disappoint.
When you first paddle the ski, you are likely to notice:
Its needle-nose look, and tight paddle catch area.
Wide area located seemingly behind you.
Higher seating position; comfortable.
Very secure foot strap system.
Good stability for an Elite ski.
Amazing downwind control.
You will be “one” with the water, literally.
My favorite: the ability to once again affect your ski in the surf, even if you weight “nothing”.
QUESTIONS, TESTING OR ORDERING IN FRANCE
Contact: Ludovic BACQUET
NELO Testing Center – FRANCE (West Coast)
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
I: www.nelokayaks.com
T: 06.24.74.53.70
International Calls: 011 [33] 624-745-370
↧
↧
Perfect Paddle Selection - by: photofr
Perfect Paddle Selection: There isn’t one, but perhaps this will help…
People often ask: what’s a good paddle, and right there: it hurts. Judging from the lack of information shared about paddles, I guess it’s a difficult subject for most people to get into. I am probably going to fail miserably, but I am going to attempt to simplify things about wing paddles, and put it all into prospective.
It probably helps to point out that wing paddles weren’t originally designed for surfski paddlers, but instead were designed specifically for flat water kayak racing. This is important because originally, paddles were rather unforgiving – zero tolerance for any trajectory deviations (you had to nail your stroke in order to get any benefit out of the paddle).
I like to place wing paddles into three groups:
Powerful & unforgiving, Weak & forgiving, and Everything else in between.
There’s nothing simple about paddle choices, however, it’s slightly easier when you think of what is needed for your particular “program” or needs.
FLAT WATER
For flat water training and racing (on a kayak or on a surfski), you’ll probably want a paddle that is somewhat aggressive and powerful. Aggressive refers to somewhat unforgiving, with usually a very strong catch. Powerful refers here to a large blade size, and even to an abnormally long shaft.
This type of “ideal” paddle may not be very forgiving, but you might survive the shock, only because you are paddling on flat water. Keep in mind that more often than not, flat water training is between 200 meters and 10 to 15 km, so a very large and powerful blade isn’t going to harm you as much as if you were paddling 40-50k in Open Ocean.
OPEN OCEAN
To better determine your paddle needs, ask yourself a few questions:
How rough is your preferred Open Ocean?
What are your preferred distances?
How often do you paddle?
There are many other factors that will determine your next paddle purchase, but I feel that the 3 above will make a world of difference for you.
Generally speaking, you will want to add stability to your ski when facing rough water. A shorter shaft will force you to paddle with a faster stroke rate, thus adding stability. You’ll also want to prevent injuries, so a smaller blade size will be advantageous there. Finally, if you don’t paddle often, your paddle stroke may not be the most accurate: you’ll need a rather forgiving paddle in order to remain comfortably upright.
In my opinion, this is why a great number of paddlers have gone with a smaller blade size, and with a shorter paddle length. This is perhaps also the reason for which paddle manufacturers have gone to great lengths to provide us with very forgiving paddles, which are still quite powerful.
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
BRACING: Some paddles are horrible at bracing – they provide little or no support. Others are rock solid on the brace, so be sure to test your bracing.
CLEAN EXIT: Some paddles feel so heavy when exiting the water, so look for one with a super clean exit.
CONSTRUCTION: The finish of a paddle usually says it all. Look for paddle makers that have been around for a really long time. I once paddled with my hands for 4.7 km on a huge downwind. That was not very fun. You’ll want to be very confident in your paddle, because you just don’t want it to break.
WEIGHT: Anyone can make a strong paddle with plenty of extra material. The key is to make it strong and LIGHT. This can usually only come from a lot of experience in paddle-making.
ADJUSTABLE: Don’t think about the resale value. Think of the max length you’ll ever need, and go down from there.
STIFFER BLADES: The blade acts as an anchor, so make sure you don’t have a noodle of a blade. Since the catch is so important, make sure your blade is as stiff and as light as possible.
SOFTER SHAFTS: Softer shafts will save your shoulders, and proven to prevent injuries. A shoulder injury is not an “overnight” problem: it’s for life. Do yourself a favor, go for a softer shaft.
FORGIVING: Open Ocean paddling isn’t a perfect science, and the effect of water moving all over the place around you is going to affect your “perfect paddling stroke” greatly. For this reason, you’ll probably want to aim at a very forgiving paddle to favor downwind or chaotic conditions.
PERSONAL CONSIDERATIONS
SKI WIDTH: You’ll need at little bit of a longer paddle when using a wider surfski, this is especially in reference to the ski width where your blade actually enters the water.
SEAT HEIGHT: You’ll also need a longer paddle if your surfski seat is highly padded or naturally higher than others.
PADDLING BEHIND: you’ll want a shorter paddle to somewhat prevent paddling too much behind you.
Paddler’s arm length, paddler’s torso height, paddling style, water conditions, paddler’s weight, and ski weight will all affect your paddle choice: mainly blade size, shaft size, and shaft stiffness.
FAVORITE
It’s so much easier for me to tell you which paddle I did not appreciate and why – but that’s for another day. Today, I can tell you this:
Braca has been making paddles for a very long time. One of their most popular model ever built (and most duplicated blade on the market) is the Braca IV (4). It seems that Fenn and Epic even based their paddle on it, amongst others. It’s a paddle that I liked to paddle with, but I truly fell in love with the Braca XI (11).
The Braca XI is the newest Braca paddle produced. It is based on an exclusive license by Van Dusen (Massachusetts, USA) which underwent a great deal of lab and field testing. Aside from being a beautiful paddle with a lot of twist, I find the Braca XI to provide me with a super clean catch, and a very clean exit. It’s one of the most efficient and comfortable paddle I have had. As a bonus, I find the Braca XI to provide me with a solid brace.
There’s no way that the Braca XI could be everyone’s favorite, but I highly recommend everyone in the market for a new paddle to at least give it a try, especially if you are going to paddle in chaotic waters.
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People often ask: what’s a good paddle, and right there: it hurts. Judging from the lack of information shared about paddles, I guess it’s a difficult subject for most people to get into. I am probably going to fail miserably, but I am going to attempt to simplify things about wing paddles, and put it all into prospective.
It probably helps to point out that wing paddles weren’t originally designed for surfski paddlers, but instead were designed specifically for flat water kayak racing. This is important because originally, paddles were rather unforgiving – zero tolerance for any trajectory deviations (you had to nail your stroke in order to get any benefit out of the paddle).
I like to place wing paddles into three groups:
Powerful & unforgiving, Weak & forgiving, and Everything else in between.
There’s nothing simple about paddle choices, however, it’s slightly easier when you think of what is needed for your particular “program” or needs.
FLAT WATER
For flat water training and racing (on a kayak or on a surfski), you’ll probably want a paddle that is somewhat aggressive and powerful. Aggressive refers to somewhat unforgiving, with usually a very strong catch. Powerful refers here to a large blade size, and even to an abnormally long shaft.
This type of “ideal” paddle may not be very forgiving, but you might survive the shock, only because you are paddling on flat water. Keep in mind that more often than not, flat water training is between 200 meters and 10 to 15 km, so a very large and powerful blade isn’t going to harm you as much as if you were paddling 40-50k in Open Ocean.
OPEN OCEAN
To better determine your paddle needs, ask yourself a few questions:
How rough is your preferred Open Ocean?
What are your preferred distances?
How often do you paddle?
There are many other factors that will determine your next paddle purchase, but I feel that the 3 above will make a world of difference for you.
Generally speaking, you will want to add stability to your ski when facing rough water. A shorter shaft will force you to paddle with a faster stroke rate, thus adding stability. You’ll also want to prevent injuries, so a smaller blade size will be advantageous there. Finally, if you don’t paddle often, your paddle stroke may not be the most accurate: you’ll need a rather forgiving paddle in order to remain comfortably upright.
In my opinion, this is why a great number of paddlers have gone with a smaller blade size, and with a shorter paddle length. This is perhaps also the reason for which paddle manufacturers have gone to great lengths to provide us with very forgiving paddles, which are still quite powerful.
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
BRACING: Some paddles are horrible at bracing – they provide little or no support. Others are rock solid on the brace, so be sure to test your bracing.
CLEAN EXIT: Some paddles feel so heavy when exiting the water, so look for one with a super clean exit.
CONSTRUCTION: The finish of a paddle usually says it all. Look for paddle makers that have been around for a really long time. I once paddled with my hands for 4.7 km on a huge downwind. That was not very fun. You’ll want to be very confident in your paddle, because you just don’t want it to break.
WEIGHT: Anyone can make a strong paddle with plenty of extra material. The key is to make it strong and LIGHT. This can usually only come from a lot of experience in paddle-making.
ADJUSTABLE: Don’t think about the resale value. Think of the max length you’ll ever need, and go down from there.
STIFFER BLADES: The blade acts as an anchor, so make sure you don’t have a noodle of a blade. Since the catch is so important, make sure your blade is as stiff and as light as possible.
SOFTER SHAFTS: Softer shafts will save your shoulders, and proven to prevent injuries. A shoulder injury is not an “overnight” problem: it’s for life. Do yourself a favor, go for a softer shaft.
FORGIVING: Open Ocean paddling isn’t a perfect science, and the effect of water moving all over the place around you is going to affect your “perfect paddling stroke” greatly. For this reason, you’ll probably want to aim at a very forgiving paddle to favor downwind or chaotic conditions.
PERSONAL CONSIDERATIONS
SKI WIDTH: You’ll need at little bit of a longer paddle when using a wider surfski, this is especially in reference to the ski width where your blade actually enters the water.
SEAT HEIGHT: You’ll also need a longer paddle if your surfski seat is highly padded or naturally higher than others.
PADDLING BEHIND: you’ll want a shorter paddle to somewhat prevent paddling too much behind you.
Paddler’s arm length, paddler’s torso height, paddling style, water conditions, paddler’s weight, and ski weight will all affect your paddle choice: mainly blade size, shaft size, and shaft stiffness.
FAVORITE
It’s so much easier for me to tell you which paddle I did not appreciate and why – but that’s for another day. Today, I can tell you this:
Braca has been making paddles for a very long time. One of their most popular model ever built (and most duplicated blade on the market) is the Braca IV (4). It seems that Fenn and Epic even based their paddle on it, amongst others. It’s a paddle that I liked to paddle with, but I truly fell in love with the Braca XI (11).
The Braca XI is the newest Braca paddle produced. It is based on an exclusive license by Van Dusen (Massachusetts, USA) which underwent a great deal of lab and field testing. Aside from being a beautiful paddle with a lot of twist, I find the Braca XI to provide me with a super clean catch, and a very clean exit. It’s one of the most efficient and comfortable paddle I have had. As a bonus, I find the Braca XI to provide me with a solid brace.
There’s no way that the Braca XI could be everyone’s favorite, but I highly recommend everyone in the market for a new paddle to at least give it a try, especially if you are going to paddle in chaotic waters.
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Your heart rate in a surfski race - by: Impala
Dear all,
I am struggling quite a bit with managing power input and heart rate during surfski races. I am 50, have quite a record of competitive endurance sport (running, kayak marathon) and, by this, thought to have a good feeling for how to determine a level of effort during endurance competitions that I can keep up until the finish.
But since I have started to participate in downwind races two years ago, I am at a loss how to approach this. Typically, as soon as I catch my first wave, my heart rate goes up to 175 or above (my max HR is a bit over 190), and just tends to stay there. Or it goes further up to 185 when I really try to stay on the wave. This is contrary to my expectation that surfing should bring your pulse down, and trying to hop to the next wave is the stuff that costs. So far, my only way to relax my heart rate is to let the waves pass me, which is highly frustrating, as then your speed is no higher as when seakayaking, and you are much less in control of what's happening. But OTOH, I can't imagine that I can sustain a heart rate of 175 or above for 1.5 or two hours. Or is that just how it is in downwind races?
I am aware that I have not sufficient exposure to waves, as I rarely have the opportunity to practice on open water. This surely creates technical issues, but I am also interested about whether this high heart rate throughout the downwind race is something common you have to live with (and adapt to), or whether you found a way to relax at least bit during races.
I am struggling quite a bit with managing power input and heart rate during surfski races. I am 50, have quite a record of competitive endurance sport (running, kayak marathon) and, by this, thought to have a good feeling for how to determine a level of effort during endurance competitions that I can keep up until the finish.
But since I have started to participate in downwind races two years ago, I am at a loss how to approach this. Typically, as soon as I catch my first wave, my heart rate goes up to 175 or above (my max HR is a bit over 190), and just tends to stay there. Or it goes further up to 185 when I really try to stay on the wave. This is contrary to my expectation that surfing should bring your pulse down, and trying to hop to the next wave is the stuff that costs. So far, my only way to relax my heart rate is to let the waves pass me, which is highly frustrating, as then your speed is no higher as when seakayaking, and you are much less in control of what's happening. But OTOH, I can't imagine that I can sustain a heart rate of 175 or above for 1.5 or two hours. Or is that just how it is in downwind races?
I am aware that I have not sufficient exposure to waves, as I rarely have the opportunity to practice on open water. This surely creates technical issues, but I am also interested about whether this high heart rate throughout the downwind race is something common you have to live with (and adapt to), or whether you found a way to relax at least bit during races.
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Carbonology Vault - by: Hulk
Hi fellow paddlers,
I'm paddling the always reliable Fenn Swordfish in a Glass Vacuum layup at the moment for the last 3.5 yrs. I'm 1m88 and 76kgs.
I'd like to upgrade to a different boat or to the new swordfish S.
In 2wks I'm going to trial the new Carbonology Vault and was wondering if there is anyone at this forum that could give me any feedback about his experience with the Vault and/or upgrading from the Swordfish.
Cheers
Pete
I'm paddling the always reliable Fenn Swordfish in a Glass Vacuum layup at the moment for the last 3.5 yrs. I'm 1m88 and 76kgs.
I'd like to upgrade to a different boat or to the new swordfish S.
In 2wks I'm going to trial the new Carbonology Vault and was wondering if there is anyone at this forum that could give me any feedback about his experience with the Vault and/or upgrading from the Swordfish.
Cheers
Pete
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