Knysna Racing · Surfski
Knysna Racing Genius RS
Wide (52.5cm), high-volume, forgiving entry hull with a lengthened cockpit for taller paddlers and a 120kg maximum paddler weight. Rounded, very stable cross-section marketed as a 'get in and paddle' ski for people new to ocean paddling.
- Length
- 5.8 m
- Beam
- 52.5 cm
- Deck
- 35 cm
- Lightest
- 12.5 kg
Specifications
- Length
- 5.8 m
- Beam
- 52.5 cm
- Deck height
- 35 cm (est.)
- Category
- Surfski
- Skill level
- intermediate
- New price
- A$2,650
Layup weights
On-water profile
Both scores are rated at the hull's own design weight. How these are derived.
Suits: Flat-water fitness paddling and learning ocean/downwind conditions; a stable step up from a pure beginner ski for developing paddlers, including taller ones
Paddler weight
This hull is built around a paddler of about 120 kg. It stays workable from 106 kg to 127 kg, and sits at its best between 112 kg and 122 kg.
Derived from published hull dimensions and calibrated against manufacturer paddler limits, not taken from a marketing range. The method, in full.
Generations
Entry-to-intermediate ski with an extra ~100mm of cockpit length for taller paddlers. Still sold new by dealers (Oceanpaddler AU, kayaks.co.za) though no longer listed on Knysna's current surf-skis page
What works, and what it costs you
What works
- Very stable, easy for beginners/improvers
- Extra cockpit length suits tall paddlers
- High 120kg paddler capacity; multiple layups
Trade-offs
- Slow relative to narrower race skis
- Heavy in Glass Polyvac layup (~17kg)
- Dropped from brand's current lineup page
What paddlers say
Oceanpaddler product copy: an 'ultimate entry-level surf ski' and a 'get in and paddle' craft for those wanting to join ocean paddling without worrying about keeping it upright (oceanpaddler.com).Reported experience
surfski.info forum threads compare the Genius RS against stable rivals such as the Fenn Bluefin 2 as a beginner/intermediate option (surfski.info forum thread 20429).Reported experience
Gallery
Where to buy
Dealers in the markets we have mapped:
AUD prices from Oceanpaddler (Australian dealer, 2026): Glass Polyvac 2,650 / Glass Epoxy Vacuum 3,250 / Carbon Epoxy Vacuum 4,000. aud_new shown is the base Glass Polyvac layup. South African retail ~R18,950 at kayaks.co.za.
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