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263craft

Think · Surfski

Think Zen

Beamy, planted hull with a narrower-than-expected bucket built for medium/small paddlers; planes early on a wave and holds a stable predictable line in rough water, with fine entry lines forward of the seat carried over from Think's race skis.

Length
5.6 m
Beam
52 cm
Deck
33.5 cm
Lightest
10.5 kg
Source image flipped
Source image flipped
Think Zen, studio side profile
studio side profile · expeditionkayaks.com

Specifications

Length
5.6 m
Beam
52 cm
Deck height
33.5 cm (est.)
Category
Surfski
Usually paddled by
New paddlers
New price
A$3,990

Layup weights

Performance14.5 kg
Elite12 kg
Ultimate10.5 kg

On-water profile

Stability
9
Traced hullMedium confidence
Speed
6

Modelled from this hull's traced beam and depth at its design weight. Medium 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 based on a trace of this hull’s geometry. Qualitative context includes 2 paddler reports and 3 linked sources.

Speed is also checked against the traced hull. Measured from this boat's side and plan photos, the shape alone rates 6, and the score shown is moved a third of the way toward that. What that means.

Suits: Mixed chop, beam seas, moderate downwind runs and flat water; wants a splash guard for choppy upwind. Suits Gold Coast beach launches and moderate downwind days.

Paddler weight

Think rates this hull for paddlers from 50 kg to 100 kg.

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

Generations

2020-present

Listed by AU dealer Expedition Kayaks since May 2020; sits between Eze and Ion, positioned as a confidence-inspiring but not pure entry-level ski for medium/small paddlers.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Excellent ergonomic Think bucket fit for medium/small frames
  • Stable in beam seas and mixed chop, planes early on waves
  • Lightweight for its performance class
  • Broad appeal from beginners building confidence to advanced paddlers wanting a playful, safer ski

Cons

  • Standard 7in rudder can feel small in bigger conditions
  • Needs a splash guard for wet upwind paddling
  • Ultimate layup is always a custom order with longer lead time

What paddlers say

"Eager like an Australian Cattle Dog, ready, willing and able" with a good turn of speed and stability in rough water (SurfSkiRacing.com, 2019 first-take review).Reported experience
Dealer copy: "feels like a longer, narrower ski... but is free of vices and surprises in the rough stuff... the type of ski most aspiring ocean paddlers should be paddling", Expedition Kayaks.Reported experience

Where to buy

Think Kayak ↗

Dealers:

Think Kayak Australia · AU ↗

AUD (Expedition Kayaks): Performance 14.5kg $3,990, Elite 12kg $4,990, Ultimate 10.5kg $6,300 (custom order).

Sources

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