Differences

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--- plastic_surfskis [2024/06/05 21:32]
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+++ plastic_surfskis [2025/09/15 13:36] (current)
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-[[:surfskis|Main Surfski Page]]
+  *  [[:surfskis|Main Choosing a Surfski Page]]
+      * [[:surfski_tables|Non-Plastic Surfski Spec Tables with Reviews]] (singles and doubles)
-  * [[:surfski_tables|Non-Plastic Surfski Spec Tables with Reviews]] (singles and doubles)
+      * [[:ski_makers|Surfski Companies]]
-  * [[:ski_makers|Surfski Companies]]
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@@ Line 24: / Line 23: @@
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-**Plastic**  (typically polyethylene) surfskis are **considerably heavier**  than their fiber based (fiberglass, carbon, Kevlar) siblings, but they do have a very significant **advantage**  over their lighter counterparts in terms of **durability and capacity to absorb collisions and abrasions**. If you are anticipating rough care and/or negligent storage habits for a surfski OR you want to use a surfski for **rivers**  or **shore breaks**  where bumps and scrapes are likely, then a plastic surfski might very well be a worthwhile investment. They are **less expensive**  than their fiber construction equivalents. Plastic surfskis can also be handy for rescue drills where you do not want to worry about banging surfskis together.
+**Plastic**  (typically polyethylene) surfskis are **considerably heavier**  than their fiber based (fiberglass, carbon, Kevlar) siblings, but they do have a very significant **advantage**  over their lighter counterparts in terms of **durability and capacity to absorb collisions and abrasions**. If you are anticipating rough care and/or negligent storage habits for a surfski OR you want to use a surfski for **rivers**  or **shore breaks**  where bumps and scrapes are likely, then a plastic surfski might very well be a worthwhile investment. They are **less expensive**  than their fiber construction equivalents. Plastic surfskis **can also be handy for rescue drills**  where you do not want to worry about banging surfskis together. Some plastic surfskis also have **flip up rudder options**  (sea kayak style) that can be quite useful if you will be doing a lot of shallow water paddling.
 ===== Discussion/Construction =====
@@ Line 32: / Line 31: @@
   * Zack Handler: "Keep in mind too that the plastic skis use a different construction (//Ed. - all plastic skis?//) than most plastic sea kayaks and recreational kayaks. Rather than solid plastic they are a sort of sandwich construction with aerated plastic "foam" in the middle between solid plastic walls. They are stiffer than solid plastic (//Ed. - which should make for better speed//), but the trade off is they are a bit more brittle and prone to damage from sharp impacts."
   * Various construction methods: rotomolded PE vs. rotomolded skin/foam PE vs. thermoformed ABS vs. Vajda's Styrolight
+  * **Care**
+      * [[:plastic_v7_manual|Epic Kayaks Manual for V5, V7]] includes storage and transportation advice applicable to all plastic surfskis
 ===== Options =====
@@ Line 44: / Line 45: @@
       * [[http://www.cobrakayaks.com/recreational-kayaks/radical-kayaks/|Website]]
       * [[https://paddling.com/gear/cobra-kayaks-eliminator-kayak|Paddling.com review - Eliminator]] (no longer made)
+  * **DragoRossi**  (website says "HDTP polyethene" - but polyethene is just another name for polyethylene)
+      * [[https://dragorossi.com/en/product/sprintwave/|SprintWave]] pop-up rudder [[https://youtu.be/dINDP0b1zh4|sport show video]]
   * **Epic**
       *  [[https://www.epickayaks.com/v5|V5]]
@@ Line 51: / Line 54: @@
         * [[https://youtu.be/DIx0l5tsu4M|M. Sundin Intro Video]] 1/13/2021 (plastic)
         * [[https://www.k2nonlinepaddleschool.com/post/surfski-gear-review-epic-v7-plastic|Robert Norman review]] 2/24/2023 (plastic)
+      * [[:plastic_v7_manual|Manual for V5, V7]] this is Epic's Manual but it has advice on care and transport which applies to plastic surfskis in general
   * **Finn **  (Australian maker of plastic boats - not to be confused with South Africa's Fenn surfskis)
       * [[https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057245808466|Facebook Page]]
@@ Line 56: / Line 60: @@
       * [[https://youtu.be/9vqmRlp44Bg|Video - surfing with a Molokai]]
   * **Liker **  (China)
-      * [[http://likerkayak.com/product-detail-231608.html|Onwind]] (are all 507s?, Björn Thomasson's?)
+      * [[http://likerkayak.com/product-detail-231608.html|Onwind]] plenty of leg room for taller paddlers (See Brett M review below). are all 507s?, Björn Thomasson's? we have seen photos of Liker surfskis without a front hatch and with underside surfski type rudders instead of retractable sea kayak style rudders. Simply options with the same basic body designs?
         * [[https://www.thomassondesign.com/en/news/surfski-from-china|Comments by Swedish Designer]]
-        * [[https://youtu.be/fJg9iYZ2EwQ|video review]], [[https://youtu.be/W7vOz4vehyo|video review in Spanish]]
+        * [[https://youtu.be/fJg9iYZ2EwQ|Brett McDonald video review]], [[https://youtu.be/W7vOz4vehyo|video review in Spanish]]
         * [[https://www.kajaksidan.se/products/liker-onwind-surfski|Kajaksidan]] Liker Onwind PE for sale in Sweden
+          * [[https://youtu.be/bg99pENWqv4|video review]]
   * **Nelo**
       * [[https://www.nelo.eu/product/510/|510]] 50% recycled material
@@ Line 66: / Line 71: @@
         * [[https://www.k2nonlinepaddleschool.com/post/surfski-gear-review-nelo-510-plastic|Robert Norman review]] 2/8/2023
         * [[https://www.facebook.com/510paddlingclass/about_details|Nelo 510 Paddling Class]] Facebook group for 510 owners
-        * [[https://youtu.be/UqDoFt7UltA|Conversion of 510 into Outrigger Canoe]] 2023 video how-to with available conversion kit. They may be assuming that you will still be paddling with a double bladed paddle, because we haven't seen any instructions for changing the seating to better suit a single bladed canoer.
+        * [[https://youtu.be/UqDoFt7UltA|Conversion of 510 into Outrigger Canoe]] 2023 video how-to with available conversion kit. They may be assuming that you will still be paddling with a double bladed paddle, because we haven't seen any instructions for changing the seating to better suit a single bladed canoer. (one option we have seen from a paddler who did not modify his seat position has been to use a significantly shorter canoe paddle than would be used in an outrigger or just about any other canoe)
           * [[https://paddle-lab.com/510 aluminium yakos.html|510 iakos w/ connectors]]
           * [[https://paddle-lab.com/510 oc1 ama.html|510 Ama]]
   * **Nordic Kayak**
-      * [[https://www.nordickayaks.se/doc/breeze-en.php|Breeze PE]] (some of the NK websites say recycled plastic and others don't - we believe that the newer version is made from recycled plastic) The Breeze is reportedly made by Liker (the photos look identical)
+      * [[https://nordickayaks.com/kayaks/clubline/breeze/|Breeze PE]] (some of the NK websites say recycled plastic and others don't - we believe that the newer version is made from recycled plastic) The Breeze is reportedly made by Liker (the photos are similar, but the Breeze does not have a front hatch and does have an underside rudder)
   * **Ocean Kayak**
       * **Sprinter **- no longer manufactured - reportedly can be a bit of a wet ride for heavier paddlers. Also not for the tallest or longest legged folks.
         * [[https://paddling.com/gear/ocean-kayak-sprinter-kayak|Paddling.com reviews]]
   * **Spirit **in Australia used to make several different plastic surfskis but we cannot find a working website for them so we assume they went out of business. Some of their models are reputedly quite fast for plastic surfskis.
-      * **Fury **- [[https://web.archive.org/web/20150228140639/http://spiritpaddle.com.au/ProductDetail/19/FURY-RACING-SKI|wayback machine description]]
+      * **Fury**
+        * [[https://web.archive.org/web/20150228140639/http://spiritpaddle.com.au/ProductDetail/19/FURY-RACING-SKI|wayback machine description]]
+        * [[https://www.surfski.info/forum/19-boats/17274-fastest-plastic-ski-ever-made-sneak-peak.html|Surfski.info Discussion 2013]]
       * **Spirit PRS** [[https://web.archive.org/web/20150228140549/http://spiritpaddle.com.au/ProductDetail/17/PRS-SKI|description from web wayback machine]] (given its length of 5.67 m, maybe it was always the PRS 570?)
         * [[https://youtu.be/H7WJHVpufOo|video on Eel River]]
@@ Line 81: / Line 88: @@
         * [[https://www.k2nonlinepaddleschool.com/post/surfski-gear-review-spirit-prs-570-plastic|Robert Norman review]] 1/19/2023
   * **Think**
-      * Briefly offered the "**Nitro**" as a plastic option. The same surfski was also sold as the "**Pyranha Octane**". Neither seems to be currently manufactured. [[https://youtu.be/YucrTTra_pM|surfing video]] (red boat is an Octane - we think)
+      * Briefly offered the "**Nitro**" as a plastic option. The same surfski was also sold as the "**Pyranha Octane**". Neither seems to be currently manufactured. [[https://youtu.be/YucrTTra_pM?t=376|surfing video]] (red boat is an Octane - we think)
+      * Review from Chris Hipgrave in [[https://web.archive.org/web/20180419210508/http://www.surfskinews.com:80/review-blog/2016/9/10/review-pyranha-octanethink-nitro-chris-hipgrave|Wayback Machine]]
   * **Vajda**
-      * [[https://paddling.com/gear/raptor-ski/|Raptor]] made with Styrolight® - styrene-based plastics material with an acrylic surface layer which gives a more shiny appearance than typical with plastic boats.
+      * **Raptor**
+        * [[https://paddling.com/gear/raptor-ski/|Paddling.com]]
+        * [[https://www.vajdagroup.com/gen_page.php?menu=1&catalog_item_id=116|Vajda Webpage]] made with Styrolight® - styrene-based plastics material with an acrylic surface layer which gives a more shiny appearance than typical with plastic boats.
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-<WRAP centeralign>
+</WRAP>
-===== Downwinds in Plastic Surfskis =====
+===== Videos =====
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+  * [[:plastic_surfski_videos|Plastic Surfski Videos]]
+  * ...
-<WRAP centeralign>
-**Epic V7**
-{{page>movies_cached:dwtenerife&nofooter&noeditbtn}}
-.
-**Epic V7**
-{{page>movies_cached:dwsouthcarolina&nofooter&noeditbtn}}
-.
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-**Nelo 510**
-{{page>movies_cached:dwviladoconde2&nofooter&noeditbtn}}
-.
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-**Epic V5 (at least one of these is rotomolded)**
-{{page>movies_cached:dwree&nofooter&noeditbtn}}
-.
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-</WRAP></WRAP>
-<WRAP centeralign>
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-===== Surfing in Plastic Surfskis =====
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-<WRAP centeralign>
-**Spirit PRS 570**
-{{page>movies_cached/dwmargaretriver&nofooter&noeditbtn}}
-<font inherit/inherit;;#ffffff;;inherit>.</font>
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-**Epic V5**
-[[:puerto_rico|Isla Verde, San Juan, Puerto Rico]]
-{{youtube>gK4WdFJgrs0?large}}
-<font inherit/inherit;;#ffffff;;inherit>.</font>
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-===== Flatwater in Plastic Surfski =====
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-<WRAP centeralign>
-**Nelo 510**
-{{page>movies_cached:dwporto&nofooter&noeditbtn}}
-.
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-</WRAP></WRAP>

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