Early in 2005 an outspoken manufacturer told me, “90% of paddlers can’t cope with top-end skis and shouldn’t be on them.” He was referring to the then current crop of tippy high-end surf skis.

Then the Epic V10 burst onto the scene – and here was a fast, fun, top-end ski that could be handled by paddlers with less than perfect balance.  (Click here for our review.)

And last week a demo Fenn Mako 6 arrived in Cape Town. Reports from Durban and East London spoke of its speed and stability.

How would it compare with the other new skis? Would it be as stable; as fast; as comfortable? Could it be even better?

To my delight, I got hold of it last Saturday, and this review is the result…

First Impressions

The Mako 6 has an elegant, clean shape and the finish is excellent. The simple, rounded foredeck is reminiscent of the old Fenn Mako, and Keith Fenn said that he reverted to it because it makes the vacuum bagging process - a nightmare with the Millennium’s complex deck shape - easier.

The seat is based on the Millennium’s, widened slightly at the front of the bucket and was first used on the front of the Fenn XT Double ski. The hump between bucket and single footwell was lowered by some 40mm after some shorter paddlers found themselves unable to reach the rudder pedals on the double ski.

Mako 6 Cockpit

The footwell (which measures the same as the V10’s) has fully adjustable rudder pedals. The pedals come equipped with the holes necessary to take auto-adjusting rudder lines. (The concept was, I’m told, originally developed by Hubby Sandberg in Knysna). The Mako 6 however comes with steel cable installed. A small Allan Key is required to adjust the locks on the cables.

In contrast to the V10’s highly effective single drain hole, the Mako 6 has twin drains set at the front of the footwell – too far forward in my view as you can’t just shove in a block of foam in front of the rudder pedals to reduce the volume that can fill with water – because the drain holes would be blocked.

The hull itself narrows sharply in front of the seat – a feature enabled by the narrowness of the single footwell. When compared to the Fenn Mako, the width of the hull behind the seat has been extended further aft before it tapers down to what appears to be a very similar tail to the Millennium – except that there’s about 30mm more rocker. The hull has been flattened slightly under the seat.

... 30mm more rocker

Click here for a larger version of this photo.