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Fenn · Surfski

Fenn Fennix Spark S

Elite low-volume hull, 6440mm x 420mm with a 375mm seat and a low 310mm bow height - the shallowest deck in the Fennix single range. Owners report the lower half of the hull is close to the Fennix Elite S in rocker profile, but the reduced volume means a sub-80kg paddler actually sinks it to its designed waterline instead of perching on top. Needle bow pierces chop rather than riding over it; the same rocker that makes it carve gives it a lively yaw when side chop hits the ends.

Length
6.44 m
Beam
42 cm
Deck
31 cm
Lightest
10 kg
Source image flipped
Source image flipped
Fenn Fennix Spark S, official studio side profile
official studio side profile · fennkayaks.com

Specifications

Length
6.44 m
Beam
42 cm
Deck height
31 cm
Category
Surfski
Usually paddled by
Racers
New price
A$4,350

Layup weights

Hybrid11 kg
Carbon10 kg

On-water profile

Stability
5
Traced hullMedium confidence
Speed
9

Modelled from this hull's traced beam and depth at its design weight. Medium 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 based on a trace of this hull’s geometry. Qualitative context includes 8 paddler reports and 6 linked sources.

Speed is also checked against the traced hull. Measured from this boat's side and plan photos, the shape alone rates 10, and the score shown is moved a third of the way toward that. What that means.

Suits: Downwind and run-chasing first, where owners rate it exceptional; on flat water its length and narrow beam make it at least as quick as the Fennix Elite S for a paddler within its weight range. Fenn's own guidance: 'This ski is for experienced ocean and SLS paddlers only', for paddlers under 80kg and under 6ft.

Paddler weight

The estimated sweet spot is 69–80 kg, with a broader estimated guide of 56–80 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.

The upper limit is the maker’s; the lighter end follows the proportions of makers’ own ranges. How this is worked out.

Generations

~2020-present

Full redesign of the low-volume Spark under Fenn's current 'Fennix' branding, after the factory fire destroyed the original moulds. Fenn lists six specific changes over the old Spark: wider internal seat width maintained through the depth of the seat, rudder moved 6cm further forward for surf control, a deeper seat for stability, a substantially redesigned and lowered hump under the legs, a longer cockpit, and the tapered bow deck shared with the rest of the Fennix range. Current production model. First sightings were in France in late 2020; Australian container stock landed early 2021.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Fixes the pre-Fennix Spark's two real faults: wider bucket held through its depth, and a much lower leg hump
  • Genuinely stable for an elite ski if you are under 80kg, because you can sink it to its designed waterline
  • Outstanding at chasing runs - owners describe it 'sniffing out' subtle bumps and carving on a wave like a surfboard
  • Low gunwales make remounts easy by elite-ski standards
  • Rudder 6cm forward gives noticeably better surf control than the old hull

Cons

  • Hard 80kg/6ft ceiling - over it, the ski gets wet and the stability argument disappears
  • Lively yaw when side chop hits the nose or tail, and counter-lean steers it in flat water
  • Not the quickest elite hull on dead flat water
  • Hybrid/Carbon only, at elite-ski prices
  • Some long-time Fenn paddlers still prefer the pre-fire hulls and have traded Fennix boats back out

What paddlers say

"The most noticeable change when you sit in the Fennix Spark S is extra width in the seat and the reduction of the hump under your legs" - Fenn KayaksReported experience
"Whereas the Fennix Elite seemed to pinch my hip bones from underneath, this seat felt perfect. Paradoxically although about a centimetre narrower at the top of the bucket, it doesn't taper in as much towards the bottom. The gunwales also weren't as high so remounting was very easy" - Dratz (79-80kg, Sydney), first paddle, surfski.info thread 19988Reported experience
"This is a ski that really comes into its own chasing down runners. It seems to sniff out really subtle bumps and settles automatically into a good position... because of its needle nose it takes no effort to smash through (rather than over)" - Dratz, two-month updateReported experience
"I had a go engaging the primary rocker rather than the curvature of the rails, by leaning hard into a brace... The spark was able to carve across the wave, then arc a turn back to the critical part of the wave, and was basically thrilling to surf, so much more agile than any other full length ski I've ever tried" - Dratz, on a 3-4ft reef breakReported experience
"My stability improved compared to the bigger volume versions of Fenn, and specifically the Swordfish S fennix where I wash from one side of the seat to the other in rough conditions... my weight could not submerge it to its designed waterline" - Penguin (1.83m, 75kg, full carbon), surfski.info thread 20054Reported experience
"The fennix version is directionally more responsive and it took me a while to understand and utilise this to my benefit" - Penguin, comparing against the pre-Fennix SparkReported experience
"One of my friend bought it and it's more stable and surfs very well" - ND, surfski.info thread 19988Reported experience
Dissenting view: one owner ran the Fennix Spark alongside the Fennix Swordfish S and XT S and did "a catch and release for all three", preferring Fenn's pre-fire designs (pilotdov, surfski.info thread 20578)Reported experience

Where to buy

Fenn Kayaks ↗

Dealers:

Ocean Paddler · AU ↗Paddleshop (PADDLES) · AU ↗Ocean Paddlesports · AU ↗Paddle 2 Fitness · AU ↗Sydney Harbour Kayaks · AU ↗Race One Surf Craft · AU ↗

AUD Hybrid $4,350 / Carbon $5,450 (Oceanpaddler AU, 2026); aud_new shown is the Hybrid layup. UK: GBP 2,880 Hybrid / GBP 3,120 Carbon (Ocean Surfskis). EU: EUR 2,790 (Wetiz, Germany).

Sources

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