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Carbonology · Flatwater trainer

Carbonology Feather SOT

A 5.2 m x 35 cm K1-length sit-on-top drawn for downriver racing. A splash lip throws most of the water off and two flexible independent venturis drain the rest, so it needs no spray deck: portages are faster and a swim means climbing back on rather than emptying a boat. Carbonology’s own line on it is blunt: "this is NOT a surfski".

Length
5.2 m
Beam
35 cm
Deck
35.4 cm
Lightest
8 kg
Side view unavailable
Top view unavailable
Carbonology Feather SOT, Outline drawn to scale from published length and deck height
Outline drawn to scale from published length and deck height · Surfski Index

Specifications

Length
5.2 m
Beam
35 cm
Deck height
35.4 cm (est.)
Category
Flatwater trainer
Usually paddled by
Confident ocean paddlers
New price
A$2,600

Layup weights

Glass12 kg
Hybrid10.5 kg
Carbon8.5 kg
Carbon Honeycomb8 kg

On-water profile

Stability
1–4
Editorial estimateLow confidence
Speed
8

Our estimate from published descriptions and reviews. Low confidence. Speed is our rating. Both are given at the hull's own design weight.

These ratings are Surfski Index estimates, worked out from published dimensions, traced hull shapes where we have them, and reviews. They are not supplied by the maker or timed on the water. How a ski feels depends on your weight, skill, set-up and the conditions, so use them to shortlist skis and paddle one before you buy. How we rate.

Stability here means how steady the ski feels sitting still on flat water. Where two craft have overlapping ranges, we can't say which is more stable. Downwind handling is a separate thing, covered in the evidence note below.

Evidence note

This band is a cautious editorial estimate; it is not backed by a hull trace. Qualitative context includes 3 linked sources.

Suits: Downriver and multisport racing where portages and swims are routine. Flatwater training for a paddler who wants K1 speed without a spray deck.

Paddler weight

Carbonology rates this hull for paddlers from 60 kg to 100 kg.

The maker’s published range. How this is worked out.

Generations

2016-

Listed as "K1 sit-on-top" on the old Carbonology site, shown as coming soon in the 2023 catalogue and now sold as the Feather SOT.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Cannot fill with water: no spray deck, fast portages, remount and go
  • Genuine K1 speed at 35 cm and 8 kg in the top layup
  • Cheapest composite craft Carbonology builds

Cons

  • 35 cm of beam: this is a racing hull, not a stable one
  • Purpose-built for rivers; the maker explicitly says it is not a surfski
  • Venturi drainage is slower than a surfski bailer

Where to buy

Carbonology Sport ↗

Dealers:

Ocean Paddler · AU ↗Australian Paddle Sports · AU ↗Ocean Paddlesports · AU ↗PaddleZone · AU ↗

Australian Paddle Sports 2026: Glass (12 kg) A$2,600, Hybrid (10.5 kg) A$3,375, Carbon (8.5 kg) A$4,000, Carbon Honeycomb (8 kg) A$4,550.

Sources

BetaRatings are estimatesRatings are estimates. How we get the numbers. Prices checked October 2026, may be out of date.