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263craft

Epic · Surfski

Epic V5

Short, wide, high-volume beginner hull with under-hull rudder and cutaway front deck for a close catch. Rounded, forgiving cross-section with deep secondary stability; no storage hatch on composite Gen 2.

Length
4.56 m
Beam
59 cm
Deck
35 cm
Lightest
8.3 kg
 
 
Epic V5, studio side profile
studio side profile · epickayaks.com

Specifications

Length
4.56 m
Beam
59 cm
Deck height
35 cm
Category
Surfski
Usually paddled by
New paddlers
New price
A$3,850 · US$4,320

Layup weights

Ultra10.1 kg
Performance13.5 kg
Super Elite8.3 kg

On-water profile

Stability
9–10
Dimension estimateLow confidence
Speed
3

Modelled from published beam, length and deck height. 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 estimated from published dimensions. Qualitative context includes 1 paddler report and 7 linked sources.

Suits: Flatwater learning, mild-to-wild conditions, surf zone play, first downwind runs

Paddler weight

The estimated sweet spot is 81–95 kg, with a broader estimated guide of 66–98 kg. This estimate is a guide, not a limit. Seat fit, conditions and paddling style matter. Lighter paddlers can still enjoy a larger hull, especially downwind. A test paddle is the best check.

Estimated from hull dimensions using a formula fitted to makers’ own paddler limits. It does not establish the designer’s intended paddler weight. How this is worked out.

Generations

~2013-2020 (Gen 1)

original wide beginner ski, storage hatch on some builds, heavier layups

2020s-present (Gen 2)

slightly longer, narrower and lighter than Gen 1, under-hull rudder, no storage hatch, revised cockpit for ergonomics/forward stroke

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Best-in-class beginner stability
  • Light for its size (Ultra ~10.1kg)
  • Easy to carry/roof-rack

Cons

  • Slowest in the composite surfski lineup
  • No storage hatch on composite Gen 2
  • Limited resale market vs V8

What paddlers say

Epic Kayaks Australia product copy: 'the most stable surfski in the Epic fleet' good for jumping on and going in mild to wild conditions (epickayaks.com.au)Reported experience

Where to buy

Epic Kayaks ↗

Dealers:

Epic Kayaks Australia · AU ↗

AUD is the Performance layup at A$3,850 (Pro Kayaks, listed as V5 Gen 2, 2026); Ultra A$4,750 at Pro Kayaks and Epic Kayaks Australia, which lists the Ultra only. USD is the Ultra layup at US$4,320 (epickayaks.com, 2026), the cheapest US build; Super Ultra US$4,320 and Super Elite US$5,055. The US catalogue no longer offers a Performance layup. The rotomoulded V5 is listed separately.

Sources

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