Surf Kayaks, Waveskis and Surfskis.

Surf Kayaks, Waveskis and Surfskis

A Carolina Paddler Article

By Paul Scrutton

-Let’s start with some basic descriptions of dedicated surf boats:

Surf Kayaks – kayaks that are designed to ride waves in the ocean. Not related to sea kayaks. The hull shape and tail design and rails on the kayak are optimized for riding waves. Typically, surf kayaks are sit-in but can also be sit-on-top (SOT) designs. Construction is typically composite, but some easier-on-the-wallet rotomolded plastic examples also exist.

Waveski – Sit-on-top devices used to ride waves in the ocean. These have a seat-well / pad to sit on, a waist-belt, and footstrap loops. A real no-nonsense, no- compromise solution to riding waves. You are exposed to the elements. Just a hull; no deck to be bothered with. These are usually constructed of glass over foam, and available in a range of sizes to suit most paddlers. These are often available full custom from several manufacturers.

Surfski – I’m adding this category as it’s another “-ski,” and to remove any confusion. These are very long sit-on-top devices that are designed for flat out speed, and to a lesser extent, surfing open ocean swell.  They are often seen at flat water races. They are approximatey  14′-21′ in length, very narrow (17″-21″), very tippy for the beginner surf-ski paddler new to any performance designs. These are typically used in lakes for fitness paddling, open ocean for fitness paddling, racing and swell riding, and occasionally on rivers for racing. They are typically comprised of a composite hull and deck that are fused together with some foam inside. Epic and Stellar are two dominant brands. Weights are in the range of approximately 25-35 lbs., with the plastic variants (e.g. Epic V7) coming in higher. While they aren’t custom built to the paddler, various different models exist and you can pay more to get a higher end construction boat that is lighter. Epic sells a couple of variations in construction for their models. They typically come with a rudder which is foot controlled, and a bung for the seatwell which can be removed to drain water when under-way. Foot-straps for the rudder pedals are pretty standard, to help lock you onto the boat better.

I’m going to leave Surf-ski’s at that, and do a deeper dive on Surf Kayaks and Waveskis.

Surf Kayaks: Sit-On-Top

Tackling the SOT style surf-kayaks first – these can be plastic or composite construction. An example of a composite boat is the Mega Kayaks Surf on Top.  Popular plastic boats are Dagger (or Wilderness Systems) Kaos, Perception 5-0 and Cobra Strike.

Sit-on-Tops are for people who don’t want to learn how to roll or who feel more comfortable being able to easily exit a boat.

Surf kayaks: Sit-In

These are predominantly composite, but some have been made in plastic to bring the cost down somewhat. Companies making sit-in surf kayaks include Mega, Hobson, Watertech and Murky Water.

There are two competition classifications for surf kayaks and this drives the design of each of them. This information is taken from the “World Surf Kayak Rules”:

Long Boat – 3 meters or more in length, without fins. Originating from the longer kayaks first used in surf. Previously called “IC”, or the International class.

Long boats have further restrictions on the hull shape, permitting only less than 10mm of concave depth in the hulls. Short boats have no such restrictions.

Short Boat – 2.75 meters or less in length, with surfing fins. Previously known as

“HP”, or the High-Performance class.

Hulls for both styles of boat are generally flat allowing the boat to plane up on a wave.

Short boats typically have a thruster set (center and 2 side-bites) of fin-boxes/fins, although some designs incorporate quad or more fins. The fins purpose for short boats is to drive the boat on waves by redirecting the water over the hull.

Channel designs in the hull are popular too. They help lock the boat on a wave and keep the boat moving forward.

Long boats have rails (angle between the chine and the hull) that help the boat carve on a wave. These can be sharp for a precision surfing boat, or more rounded for forgiveness in edging.  Less grabby.

Long boats are easier to paddle out, through the surf, than shorter boats (because they are faster), easier to launch (short boat fins can be a pain to launch from the sand), and fun to surf; you can take off on swell (rather than a wave). Short boats are snappier to turn, and if you are good, you can start working on lip maneuvers, and aerials – they are the short-board of the kayak world.

A popular boat style is the long length ‘HP’ boat, one coming just under the 2.75m length but with the characteristics of a long boat. This gives you the lighter weight of a short boat, but with length for catching waves. It is a dominator in short boat competitions when the waves are fickle. Mega Bullitt S or Banshee are designs of this type.

So, what happens if you have an older surf kayak between 2.75m and 3m long, e.g. a PS Composites Mako. Well, you can’t surf it in sanctioned competitions, but you can free-surf it. These are boats with “no class” distinction. I understand that the sizing gap was added into the rules, to make it obvious what category the boat was intended for, and to remove a lot of the arguments at boat inspection time (boat inspection is done prior to the competition – and yes boats are measured for compliance).

Some manufacturers of waveskis are Island Waveskis and Macski (of Florida), Infinity, TL (Tyler Lausten), Wavemaster and the Australian made Piranah.  Pyranha kayaks are made in England.

Waveskis can be ordered fully custom. They are shaped as a foam form, and seatwell and foot-well are hand-carved into the shape of the ski prior to glassing them. Some manufacturers such as Wavemaster make popular sizes in a molded construction. Wavemaster incorporates an adjustable foot block into their design making buying and re-selling a used ski a little easier, but most manufacturers don’t offer an adjustable foot block.  The straps are set at a particular distance on the waveski and it can be only be properly ridden by people of a particular inseam length and weight (as the waveski will be built with a particular volume in mind.)  Island incorporates different seat-bolt holes in their skis making the seat-belt fit different paddlers.

The waveski (ski, for short) is generally custom ordered and built to fit the paddler. I’ve owned a few skis now, buying them used. If you go that route, buy one where you are at the low end of the weight range. One at the high end of the weight range (e.g. my first used ski) will be impossible to paddle for someone new to the sport. Even when ordered correctly, there will be learning time needed to get acquainted with the balance required to paddle one.

When ridden in good quality surf, there is nothing quite like it, it will blow your mind how well it surfs. On a messy day, they can be hard to balance, they are ‘slow’ to paddle, and you may not make it out to the surfing lineup at all. On the plus point of waveskis, you can bail or exit from them and re-enter in the water. Launching is normally done from the water by walking them out and getting on them, paddling them, then inserting your feet in the straps. You can also paddle them with your feet overhanging into the water for extra balance.

Why would you want to go kayak surfing or waveskiing?

“It is so much fun.” The wave pushes you, you make turns. It’s very exciting and dynamic.

You have family or friend time at the beach, or a beach rental house booked. Well now, you have something specific to do while you are down there. Get up early, score some waves, and then hang out later with friends/family.

You have a trip planned to go kiteboarding or windsurfing, and there’s no wind. Cast your gaze to the beach – there could still be surf.

Surfing in the ocean is quite different from surfing a river wave. A river wave is static and non-moving, once you catch the river wave, you can then perform ‘tricks’ on it (spins, blunts, regular surfing etc).

An ocean wave is moving. You must position your boat to catch the wave close to the peak of the wave where it has the most power. After catching the wave, you then have a decision about the angle you would like to ride the wave at, and where to turn to reposition yourself close to the peak. The peak of the wave moves sideways as the wave moves towards the beach. To surf a wave well and get a good ride you will want to stay in the sweet spot (the pocket) of the steepest part of the wave in the green water. You can achieve that by performing maneuvers on the wave (cutbacks, bottom turns, top turns) to keep in that position. Catching the initial wave and riding the foam in straight isn’t ‘surfing’ per se (although that is probably the first thing you’ll do when trying to learn the sport).

A whitewater kayak can be a good first boat to try in the surf if you don’t own a surf kayak. General convention is that something longer with a planing hull with sharp rails has the right blend of speed and rails to turn on the wave (e.g. like a Necky RIP). If you do bring a whitewater boat to the surf, rinse it out good afterwards as the salt water can be harsh on metal fittings and metal ratchet mechanisms.

A short-boat will allow you to do quick turns on a wave. A sea kayak while good at catching swell, can be a bit of a handful in the waves, and things can get bad (and dangerous to anyone in the surf in front of you) if the boat turns sideways and you get tumbled towards shore.

 

Editor’s Note:  Has Paul’s article tempted you to try surfing ocean waves?  Still unsure?  Why not take a class?  Paul Scrutton is our CCC Education Chair for 2023 and he’s considering an Ocean Surf class as part of our training calendar for this year.  If you would like to find out more, please contact Paul at education.chair@carolinacanoeclub.org

Here’s something for dessert.  It’s an excellent short video on what can be done on a waveski:

SOLAMANZI TEAM WAVESKI SURF TRIP INDONESIA 2020