Surfski IndexAn index of surfskis
Feedback
263craft

Custom Kayaks · Surfski · Out of production

Custom Kayaks Icon / Icon Lite

Narrow elite racing hull (21ft/6.42m) built for top-end speed; described by paddlers as noticeably tippy versus the maker's later, more forgiving designs.

Length
6.42 m
Side view unavailable
Top view unavailable
Custom Kayaks Icon / Icon Lite, Outline drawn to scale from published length and deck height
Outline drawn to scale from published length and deck height · Surfski Index

Specifications

Length
6.42 m
Beam
Not listed
Deck height
Not listed
Category
Surfski
Usually paddled by
Confident ocean paddlers
New price
Not listed new

On-water profile

Stability
2–5
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 2 paddler reports and 2 linked sources.

Suits: Elite flatwater/racing; less forgiving in rough water than the brand's later models.

Generations

2004-~2009

Original flagship elite racing ski; team incl. Barry Lewin won the inaugural 2004 Surf Ski World Cup on it. Superseded by the Synergy by ~2008-2010. South African brand.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Genuine elite race pedigree (2004 World Cup)
  • Fast for its era
  • Well known in mid-2000s SA elite scene

Cons

  • Very tippy by owner accounts
  • Discontinued; parts hard to source
  • No verified dimensions beyond length

What paddlers say

surfski.info owner (2008): 'the last Custom Kayaks ski I spent time in, the ICON, [was] very tippy.'Reported experience
surfski.info forum (2016): owner seeking a replacement rudder reports the brand's site already down, unclear if still trading.Reported experience

Where to buy

The Icon / Icon Lite is out of production. You can only buy it second-hand.

Maker closed Custom Kayaks is no longer trading. The Durban builder ceased trading and its site is offline. Boats survive second-hand only.

Custom Kayaks is no longer made, so second-hand is the only option.

No pricing data; production ended over a decade ago.

Sources

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 Prices checked October 2026, may be out of date.