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Mazu (Elio) · Surfski

Mazu (Elio) 55

5.0m x 55cm beginner hull, the widest and shortest Mazu, built for a paddler who wants to stay dry and upright rather than to race.

Length
5 m
Beam
55 cm
Deck
33.5 cm
Lightest
11 kg
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Mazu (Elio) 55, 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 m
Beam
55 cm
Deck height
33.5 cm (est.)
Category
Surfski
Usually paddled by
New paddlers
New price
Not listed new

Layup weights

Light11 kg
Standard15 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 4 linked sources.

Suits: Flat water, sheltered coast and first sessions.

Paddler weight

The estimated sweet spot is 77–90 kg, with a broader estimated guide of 63–93 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

2016-present

Mazu is the surfski line of Elio Kayaks of Oporto, Portugal, who have built sprint and marathon K1s since the 1970s. The skis are shorter and lighter than most of the market by design, aimed at manoeuvring through waves rather than at flat-water top speed.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Very stable platform for a first surfski
  • Short enough to car-top and carry without help
  • Composite construction rather than plastic at this end of the market

Cons

  • 5.0m x 55cm is slow next to anything raceable
  • Heaviest layups in the Mazu range
  • No published price

What paddlers say

Discussed on surfski.info as a light, short, manoeuvrable alternative to the mainstream 6.4m hulls; the K1 pedigree of the Elio factory is the recurring point in its favour.Reported experience

Where to buy

We don't have a dealer listed for Mazu (Elio) yet. All makers and dealers.

Elio and its UK and Australian distributors quote on enquiry rather than publishing a list price. Confirm with a dealer.

Sources

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 Prices checked October 2026, may be out of date.