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Icon · Surf lifesaving spec

Icon Hydrus GMAX

Second ILS-legal hull in the Hydrus range, listed at the same 5.79m x 48cm class limits, the same VTEK layups and the same price as the Elite. ICON does not publish what separates the two.

Length
5.79 m
Beam
48 cm
Deck
33.5 cm
Lightest
15 kg
Side view unavailable
Top view unavailable
Icon Hydrus GMAX, Outline drawn to scale from published length and deck height
Outline drawn to scale from published length and deck height · Surfski Index

Specifications

Length
5.79 m
Beam
48 cm
Deck height
33.5 cm (est.)
Category
Surf lifesaving spec
Usually paddled by
Confident ocean paddlers
New price
GBP 2,550

Layup weights

VTEK light15 kg
VTEK standard17.5 kg

On-water profile

Stability
5–8
Editorial estimateLow confidence
Speed
7

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 1 paddler report and 2 linked sources.

Suits: Surf lifesaving racing: beach starts, surf zone and buoy turns.

Paddler weight

The estimated sweet spot is 75–87 kg, with a broader estimated guide of 61–90 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

current

ICON Sports is a UK paddlesport brand whose Hydrus range is built to the ILS lifesaving specification, 5.79m maximum length, 48cm minimum width, using what ICON calls VTEK: vacuum, heat-cured epoxy over a PVC foam core with carbon reinforcement.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Priced openly
  • Two published layup weights
  • Built to the ILS specification

Cons

  • No published difference from the Elite
  • Class-limited hull, so no downwind advantage
  • 15kg is heavy against ocean skis

What paddlers say

No independent owner review located as of August 2026.Reported experience

Where to buy

We don't have a dealer listed for Icon yet. All makers and dealers.

ICON lists the Hydrus range at £2,550 in the UK. This index holds Australian and US dollars, so the figure you see is converted from sterling and is not a shelf price.

Sources

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 Prices checked October 2026, may be out of date.