Surfski IndexAn index of surfskis
Feedback
263craft

Star Kayaks · Touring hybrid

Star Kayaks S14 Ski

The A14 hull with 175 litres of hatch storage, 65 forward, 110 aft, and a 145cm x 45cm open cockpit. Star pitches it at exploring the shoreline, surfing a swell or running a river, which is a touring brief rather than a racing one.

Length
4.35 m
Beam
60 cm
Deck
33.5 cm
Lightest
20 kg
Side view unavailable
Top view unavailable
Star Kayaks S14 Ski, Outline drawn to scale from published length and deck height
Outline drawn to scale from published length and deck height · Surfski Index

Specifications

Length
4.35 m
Beam
60 cm
Deck height
33.5 cm (est.)
Category
Touring hybrid
Usually paddled by
New paddlers
New price
NZD 3,999

Layup weights

Thermoformed20 kg

On-water profile

Stability
7–10
Editorial estimateLow confidence
Speed
3

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: Shoreline touring, small surf and easy rivers.

Paddler weight

The estimated sweet spot is 65–75 kg, with a broader estimated guide of 53–79 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

Star Kayaks builds thermoformed plastic craft in New Zealand on one 4.35m x 60cm hull, sold in three fits: a bare entry ski, a ski with hatches and storage, and a hybrid that takes a K1 spraydeck. Prices are published in New Zealand dollars.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • 175 litres of real storage, which almost no ski has
  • Published price
  • Plastic hull tolerates rocks and beaches

Cons

  • 4.35m hull is slow by any measure
  • 20kg to lift onto a roof
  • New Zealand only in practice

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 Star Kayaks yet. All makers and dealers.

NZ$3,999 from Star Kayaks. This index holds Australian and US dollars, so the figure you see is converted from New Zealand dollars 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.