Fenn · Surfski · Out of production
Fenn Mako 6
Wider, more forgiving hull than the Millennium it replaced, with a raised/relaxed cockpit for stability. More rocker than the later Mako Elite, giving easier wave-catching and downwind control at a small cost to top-end flat-water speed. The sweet-spot Fenn hull between beginner Mako XT and race-focused Elite.
- Length
- 6.44 m
- Beam
- 44 cm
- Deck
- 35 cm
- Lightest
- 0 kg
Specifications
- Length
- 6.44 m
- Beam
- 44 cm
- Deck height
- 35 cm (est.)
- Category
- Surfski
- Usually paddled by
- Paddlers in chop
- New price
- Not listed new
Layup weights
On-water profile
Modelled from published beam, length and deck height. Low confidence. Speed is our rating. Both are given at the hull's own design weight.
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
Suits: All-round ocean ski - downwind runs, open ocean chop and flat water; raced at elite level (US Champs, Molokai) but pitched by Fenn primarily at intermediate paddlers moving up from a beginner hull.
Paddler weight
The estimated sweet spot is 83–97 kg, with a broader estimated guide of 68–100 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
Launched early 2006 to replace the Millennium as Fenn's top-end/intermediate-expert ski; later superseded by the Mako Elite / Elite SL. Discontinued, used-market only in Australia now.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Big step up in stability over the Millennium with 'no sacrifice in hull speed' per Fenn
- Won multiple major international titles (US Champs 2006/2007, Dubai Shamaal, NZ King of the Harbour, Molokai)
- Well-loved intermediate/expert sweet spot - forgiving to learn on, fast enough to race elite
Cons
- Long discontinued - parts (rudder, footplate hardware) increasingly hard to source new
- Superseded in speed by the narrower Mako Elite/Elite SL/Glide lineage
- Used stock in Australia is limited and ageing
What paddlers say
"Fenn Mako6 surfski for sale. A great intermediate to advanced boat... water tight fast" - Gumtree Australia listing, Brighton VICReported experience
"When I lost my beloved carbon Fenn Mako6 at the end of a disastrous downwind, I took the opportunity to order a new carbon Mako Elite" - surfski.info 'Review: Fenn Mako Elite'Reported experience
"My last Fenn Ski was a Mako 6 and I had a similar [hump/footwell fit] problem [as the Glide]" - Wesley Echols, surfskiracing.orgReported experience
Gallery
Where to buy
The Mako 6 is out of production. You can only buy it second-hand.
Dealers:
Discontinued; no current AU dealer new price. A fibreglass Mako6 was listed on Gumtree Australia (Brighton VIC, Jan 2025) as 'great intermediate to advanced boat... water tight, fast' but the asking price couldn't be retrieved (page blocked). Low confidence on exact figure.
Similar craft
Closest in stability, speed and paddler weight.
These prices haven't been checked for more than three months and may be out of date. Check with a dealer before relying on one.
Allwave RS595
A$4,750new
Stability: dimension estimate, low confidence
Kai Wa'a Vega Flex
A$6,950US$4,450new
Stability: dimension estimate, low confidence
Nordic Kayaks Squall 580
A$5,095new
Stability: dimension estimate, low confidence