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Nelo · Surfski

Nelo 61

Racing hull at 46cm beam, built for a balance of performance and steadiness: Nelo says the adjusted seating height, optimised bow angle and shorter length let it handle rougher water more predictably than the 62, so the paddler can focus on power rather than balance late in a race. M and L cockpits, 37cm and 39cm hip width.

Length
6.1 m
Beam
46 cm
Deck
33.5 cm
Lightest
11 kg
Source image flipped
Source image flipped
Nelo 61, studio side profile
studio side profile · nelo.eu

Specifications

Length
6.1 m
Beam
46 cm
Deck height
33.5 cm (est.)
Category
Surfski
Usually paddled by
Confident ocean paddlers
New price
Not listed new

Layup weights

AIR11 kg
WWR12 kg

On-water profile

Stability
6–8
Dimension estimateLow confidence
Speed
9

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 2 linked sources.

Suits: Ocean racing and downwind in rough water for strong paddlers who want a race hull without the 62’s balance tax

Paddler weight

Nelo rates this hull for paddlers from 75 kg to 100 kg.

The maker’s published range. How this is worked out.

Generations

2024-present

Racing ski introduced alongside the 62 in the renumbered range, replacing the old 550 slot. Nelo positions it as slightly more stable than the 62 through an adjusted seat height, optimised bow angle and shorter hull. Constructions AIR (11kg) and WWR (12kg).

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Race speed with a usable stability margin
  • Handles rough, high-fatigue conditions better than the 62
  • Light AIR layup at 11kg
  • Two cockpit sizes covering roughly 60-100kg

Cons

  • Not yet stocked by the Australian dealer
  • Nelo publishes no price
  • Nelo's own spec sheet prints the boat size as 6.2m x 0.46m, which contradicts both the model name and their description of it as shorter than the 62
  • Too new for independent reviews or a used market

What paddlers say

Nelo product copy: 'The 61 was developed with a focus on key aspects to create a versatile, reliable, and efficient racing ski... Designed to be slightly more stable than the 62 model, the 61's adjusted seating height, optimized bow angle, and shorter length allow it to better handle rougher conditions' (nelo.eu).Reported experience

Where to buy

Nelo ↗ Find a dealer ↗

Dealers:

Paddler HQ · AU ↗

Nelo does not publish list prices for its ocean range, and the Australian dealer (Pro Kayaks) still catalogues only the superseded 520/550/560/600 boats, so there is no AU price for this hull yet. For scale, Pro Kayaks sells the outgoing 560 at A$5,700 (carbon/kevlar WWR) to A$6,900 (carbon SCS). Price on application through a Nelo dealer.

Sources

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