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263craft

Vajda · Surfski

Vajda Makai 48

Mid-volume 48cm race hull on the Makai 43's 5.8m waterline. Progressive double-cut nose and flat planing hull for upwind and downwind, with extra width over the 43 for stability and easier wave-catching. De Brito bailer and cutaway front deck.

Length
5.8 m
Beam
48 cm
Deck
33.5 cm
Lightest
10.5 kg
 
 
Vajda Makai 48, manufacturer product image
manufacturer product image · vajdagroup.com

Specifications

Length
5.8 m
Beam
48 cm
Deck height
33.5 cm (est.)
Category
Surfski
Usually paddled by
Paddlers in chop
New price
A$5,200

Layup weights

Elite10.5 kg

On-water profile

Stability
8
Traced hullMedium confidence
Speed
7

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 1 paddler report and 2 linked sources.

Speed is also checked against the traced hull. Measured from this boat's side and plan photos, the shape alone rates 8, and the score shown is moved a third of the way toward that. What that means.

Suits: Ocean racing and downwind for improving/upper-intermediate paddlers; flat hull built to surf runs

Paddler weight

Vajda rates this hull for paddlers from 55 kg to 110 kg.

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

Generations

2019-present

48cm-wide sister to the elite Makai 43, sharing its 5.8m waterline; added width for stability and easier wave-catching

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Very light for its class (~10.5kg Elite)
  • Fast flat hull that surfs well
  • More stable and forgiving than 43cm elite skis

Cons

  • Narrow 48cm hull still needs intermediate balance
  • Only Elite layup currently stocked in AU
  • Premium price

What paddlers say

APS product copy: 'shares the same 5.8m water length as the Makai 43 making it a very fast and maneuverable boat, with the added width to the hull increasing stability and aiding in ease of catching waves' (australianpaddlesports.com.au)Reported experience

Where to buy

Vajda Group ↗

Dealers:

Australian Paddle Sports · AU ↗

AUD $5,200 Elite (carbon / Herex foam core, hot-cured epoxy vacuum) at Australian Paddle Sports 2026. Racing and Elite Pro layups exist in the range but only Elite is currently stocked in AU.

Sources

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 Prices checked October 2026, may be out of date.