FENN SKIS
Stability
First a few
words about stability as this is one of the most asked questions.
An XT falls into
the same category as an intermediate multisport boat. I’ve found that about
half of absolute beginners can stay in an XT (although very wobbly) and the
other half will go for swims. Nearly everyone will be comfortable after about 5
hours of paddling.
Now for the big
one, is a Mako 6 more stable than an Elite??
I
have read someone saying (I think it was on surfski.info)
that an Elite is more stable than a Mako 6, but I would not agree with that
statement. Between a Mako 6, Elite and Millenium I find the 6 noticeably more
stable in flat conditions, and the Millenium noticeable more unstable in choppy
conditions. The Elite lies somewhere in-between.
My
opinion is that in flat conditions I think the Elite is
closer to a Millenium, and in choppy conditions there's little difference
between an Elite and a 6. But ask someone else and you might get a completely
different answer…
Two
things just need to be remembered as well, a heavy boat always feels more
stable than a light boat, especially in choppy conditions. And if the leg
length is too short (only an issue with a Millenium or if you are too lazy to
adjust the leg length) the boat will feel more unstable.
Mako
Elite
The latest ski from
Fenn. It has a single footwell with adjustable footrest, and while it looks very
much like a Mako 6 it is narrower in front with less rocker.
I now paddle and race an Elite and am very impressed
with it. It is a huge improvement over the Millenium,
just as fast but much more forgiving. It’s superb at picking up little bumps and
the bigger it gets the better the boat performs.
There is one issue with the Elite that
I’ve found, it does not work for short paddlers. If
you are 5’7 (~170cm) or shorter the bump between the seat and the footwell is too high and gets in the way. The Elite will,
however, accommodate a 6’5 paddler quite comfortably.
Mako 6
The Mako 6 has a single footwell with adjustable footrests, and is more stable than
the Millenium and Mako Elite.
It handles choppy conditions really well,
and is the ideal ski for those who have outgrown an XT but find the Millenium
too much to handle. Many ex-Millenium padders now paddle Mako 6s, and rave
about the extra stability, comfort of the single footwell
and practicality of the adjustable footrest.
Length: 6.4 metres
Width: 440 mm
Weight: Between 18kg and 20kg for glass,
~12kg for carbon.
Read more here.
XT
This is the ideal beginners/intermediate
ski, still a challenge for total novices but can be easily mastered with a bit
of perseverance. It is perfect for Auckland East Coast conditions. It has an
adjustable footrest and a small hatch for keys or lunch when paddling across to
Rangitoto
Length: 6.0 metres
Width: 475 mm
Weight: Somewhere between 17kg and 20kg for glass, ~12kg for carbon
Millenium
The classic long distance racing ski for
intermediate to advanced paddlers only. In flat conditions this is still the
fastest ski. It surfs really well, but can become a bit of a handful in choppy
conditions.
Length: 6.4 metres
Width: 430 mm
Weight: Somewhere between 17kg and 19kg