Tips for Purchasing a Touring Surf Ski
Surf skis are fast sit on top kayaks which are a great alternative to sea kayaks
Surf skis are fast sit on top kayaks which are very light and are great alternative to sea kayaks. Some come with hatches and kick up rudders.
Many see the sleek look of surf skis and immediately think they look tippy. Touring and beginning skis are very stable. I updated my book with the Carbonology Cruze 18’ x 22” ski. With my legs over the side to take pictures, I had no issues with stability. And it’s faster than any sea kayak I’ve paddled.
Surf skis are also very light and can be easily car topped and carried without assistance.
What to Look For:
If you’re interested in touring, day paddles, surfing and downwinding, look for beginner or ‘fat’ surf skis and/or touring surf skis.
For touring and day trips look for skis with hatches for storage and kick up rudder options. Stellar Kayaks calls these ‘sit on tops.’
Touring and beginning skis will be 20″ wide or more. Less than that, you’ll be spending a lot of time ‘in’ vs ‘on’ the water.
Narrow Isn’t Faster
I’ve seen it over and over beginners thinking they want to go fast and improve quickly thus buy a high performance ski which typically are less than 20″ wide.
Because skis aren’t cheap, they find whatever is on CraigsList or Facebook Marketplace often without trying it out.
You’ll spend more time in the water than on top with a narrow ski especially in rough water.
After some time in a beginner ski, if you want to go faster, enter races and compete at a higher level, then look into a high performance ski under 20”.
Features to Look For
– Length – Most beginner skis will be between 14′ and 18′ long. Longer is faster.
– Ventrulis – There’s different names for this but this is either the holes on the bottom of the cockpit or the lever on the buttom of the cockpit. Both empty the cockpit water when you’re paddling. The holes only mean your feet will be wet all the time. The lever option when closed keeps your cockpit dry, then open it for surfing when you’ll be getting lots of water in.
– Some Touring options have kick up kayak style rudders (also called steel over stern rudder). Great for beach break launches and reef areas.
– Option to add a folding seat if that’s of interest. Stellar has this on the sit on top skis.
– Seat comfort (the seating area is called the bucket)
– Width and foot box, do you fit? I don’t fit in a lot of skis with a 36″ waist and long legs. Manufacturers tell me ‘of course you’ll fit’ but I don’t in a lot of skis.
– Handles for carrying, are they comfortable for a long under arm or shoulder carry? These can be improved on your own.
– Doing Touring? Do the storage hatches have enough storage for a 1-5 night trip? Are there options on deck to add stick-on tie-downs on top?
Try Before You Buy
Always try skis before buying them.
For me, I’m a tall guy and my inseam is too long for most surf skis. And my 36″ hips barely fit in the Stellar and Epic skis. I’ve found I can use a low profile bootie on the Epic V8 for the narrow toe box.
For stability, this is where you find out if you’ll just sit in and go, or immediately fall in!
Tip: Epic V10’s come up for sale a lot and are often very tippy.
Tips for Testing Out a New / Used Ski
When trying out a surf ski, follow these tips for a better experience in finding the right ski for you.
Bring or see if the seller has boat stands to set the boat on to determine if you fit in it. Suspenz makes great stands, and some make them out of PVC and car rack straps.
– How does the seat and seat back (bucket) feel? Stick on seats are available to add some cushion and to keep you from sliding around. And on some skis like the Stellars you can add a folding seat. Other skis require a diy solution for that.
– How’s the width? Does it feel tight at your hips? Slightly or too loose? If loose, material can be added to thicken the walls a bit.
– ‘Proper’ sit position should include slightly bent knees, with your fist to fit under. If you’re tall, can you do this position at max length? If your knees are super high, it’s too small.
– Test the foot pedal and slide the unit back and forth to make sure it moves easily. They can be lubricated.
– Check the rudder. Does it move freely? Are the rudder lines and hardward connected on the deck?
– Check for any cracks, dings (holes) on the hull.
– Before you go anywhere, learn to remount in shallow water.
Surf Skis For Touring and Beginners
Carbonology Cruze – 18′ x 22″ – (Hybrid carbon/glasss or Rotomolded). The Touring option has a large stern hatch, one small ‘day’ hatch and an option for a kayak style ‘steel over stern rudder.’
Carbonology Boost – LV and X (for larger paddlers) 19.5′ x 20″
Stellar s18s (with hatches) or s18s EXP – 18′ x 19.5″ (Now called the Osprey)
Stellar Egret – 18′ x 21.9″ – touring ski with bow and stern hatches.
Stellar s16s – 16′ x 22.9″
Vega Flex – 20.6′ x 18.5″ (this one sounds more narrow but I’ve sat in it and felt stable).
Fenn Blue Finn – 19.3′ x 20.3″
Epic V8 – 18′ x 21.5″
Epic V8 Tourer – Has bow and stern hatches for touring and a kayak style rudder.
Epic V6 – 16′ x 23″ – Has bow and stern hatches for touring and a kayak style rudder.
Think Zen – 18.4′ x 20.5″
Nelo 510 – Rotomolded – 16.7′ x 21.7″
Nelo 520 – Composite – 16.7′ x 21.7″
My surf ski class in Deception Pass State Park. Trip #32.
Where to Purchase – On the West Coast:
Washington State:
Sound Bikes and Kayaks in Port Angeles have Epic Skis.
OceanFlight in Stevenson, WA (Gorge) has Stellar, Fenn and Carbonology (Bob Schade)
British Columbia:
Coast Outdoors in North Vancouver have Epic, Think and others.
California
California Kayak – Epic
Huki – Surf ski and outrigger manufacturer in the Sacramento area
Ocean Paddlesports – Fenn and Carbonology
I Provide Custom Surf Ski and SUP Coaching
Through my business Salmon Bay Paddle, I offer 1-1 and 2-person personalized paddling lessons for sups and surf skis in the Seattle area and beyond for all skill levels.
Whether starting as a total beginner or as an advanced paddler seeking to refine skills I can help you reach your goals.
I provide training for touring, learning about tidal currents and trip planning, paddling safely in Deception Pass, surfing freighter waves in Seattle and more.
Contact me to chat