Nelo · Surfski
Nelo 560
Shorter, narrower elite hull (5.6m x 0.45m) with reduced wetted surface engineered to trade a small friction penalty for lower drag; low, narrow seat and reduced bow volume make it very maneuverable for its speed class and easy to transport on a standard roof rack, but the tradeoff is a narrow, tippy platform.
- Length
- 5.6 m
- Beam
- 45 cm
- Deck
- 33.5 cm
- Lightest
- 8.5 kg
Specifications
- Length
- 5.6 m
- Beam
- 45 cm
- Deck height
- 33.5 cm (est.)
- Category
- Surfski
- Skill level
- advanced
- New price
- A$5,700
Layup weights
On-water profile
Both scores are rated at the hull's own design weight. How these are derived.
Speed here also has a traced hull behind it: measured off this boat's own side and plan photographs, the shape alone rates it 8.9, and the published score moves a third of the way toward that. What that means.
Suits: Best in clean-to-moderate ocean swell and flat-water racing for paddlers with strong balance; not forgiving in confused/cross chop for less experienced paddlers - Nelo's own copy for the 550 explicitly markets it as more forgiving than the 560.
Paddler weight
This hull is built around a paddler of about 82 kg. It stays workable from 72 kg to 86 kg, and sits at its best between 76 kg and 83 kg.
Derived from published hull dimensions and calibrated against manufacturer paddler limits, not taken from a marketing range. The method, in full.
Generations
Original ('old') 560, essentially a sit-on-top K1-style racing hull carried over from Nelo's flatwater sprint pedigree. Extremely tippy - forum consensus it suited roughly 5% of the ocean ski paddling population; discontinued.
Full redesign ('new 560') - wider, lower, more forgiving seat position while retaining flat-water speed; first Nelo surfski line to get the redesign, ahead of the 520/510/550/600.
'560 2020' refresh - reduced wetted surface vs the 2016 boat for a faster hull in all conditions, WWR/SCS layups, AIR ultralight (8.5kg) added subsequently. Current dimensions 5.6m x 0.45m, stability 2/10 on Nelo's own scale.
What works, and what it costs you
What works
- Fast in all conditions - reduced wetted surface pays off on flat water and downwind alike
- Very maneuverable for an elite-length ski - easy to change direction and surf waves
- Stiff, light builds (as low as 8.5kg in AIR layup)
- Shorter length (5.6m vs older ~6.4m elite skis) fits standard roof racks
- Secure, highly adjustable foot strap system praised by reviewers
Trade-offs
- Low stability - not beginner or intermediate friendly; steep learning curve
- The pre-2016 'old' 560 was notoriously unstable, and even the modern redesign is one of the tippier elite skis
- Requires a genuinely advanced paddler to unlock its speed; slower paddlers may go faster in a more stable boat
What paddlers say
"The original 560 became known as a boat that suited 5% of the ocean ski paddling population... a terrific boat for flat water or harbour" - paraphrased, performancepaddling.net 2016 reviewReported experience
"NELO 560 lightweight 11kg SCS construction... faster acceleration is a major plus for high-speed downwind paddling" - Garth Spencer review, via ipaddle.co.nzReported experience
"The old 560 is an awesome boat. It's much more a sit-on-top K1 style boat. It is almost as unstable as a modern K1" - paraphrased forum comment, surfski.infoReported experience
Gallery
Where to buy
Dealers in the markets we have mapped:
AUD price from Pro Kayaks (AU Nelo dealer), 2026: A$5,700 (WWR-equivalent) to A$6,900 (SCS-equivalent). NZ dealer ipaddle.co.nz lists it at NZ$6,700.
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