Molokai Surfski (the boat not the race)

Hello Everyone

Looking at buying an old Molokai Surfski (still in pristine condition), since my Hammer is dead in the water. Struggling to find a review of the boat. Any of you longtime surfskiers outhere got some experience with the surfski? Please share.

This is a South African Molokai - built by Brian's Kayaks. It was the intermediate ski of its day and I did the first South African World Cup in 2004 on one.

If it's my old boat, it has a orange, green and purple areas of colour on it!

At the time I remember the Mark 1 from Custom Kayaks came out - the Mark 1 was better downwind than the Molokai but I used to power upwind passed the Mark 1s - the Mark 1 was a horrible slapper going upwind.

In its time then, the Molokai was quite popular. I found it quite tippy to begin with after my wedge! But by the time we got to the World Cup, I appreciated its stability and during that race (which was run in exceptionally rough seas) I beat all my buddies who were on their Mark 1s which were more tippy and more tricky to remount.

If you can get the Molokai at a really good price - R2K or less - then go for it, but if you could get a more modern boat at a similar price, I'd go for one of them.

Make sure that the Molokai is the right length for you - those boats were not adjustable!

Hope that helps.

Thank you for the info Rob. I have too manny different interest to spend a lot of money on a new generation ski of R5000 plus (Sailing, Mountain Biking, etc). Like to paddle in G'bay over the weekend, weather or should I rather say South Easter permitting, but my Hammer is getting a bit slow since my wife got a Molokai and paddling circles around me.

Going to look at the Molokai this week, in the pictures it still looks in pristine quality and is under the R2k mark.

Take care and paddle safely

Went to have a look at the Molokai yesterday, excellent condition for a boat that age, so I bought it. Going for a paddle (probably more of a swim since it is more tippy) tomorrow late afternoon if the weather keeps.

Hi smile us

Great pic and great boat I bought a similar last year after having 2 other well known makes. It's a great boat. Also privilege enough to have rob post and comment as well. surfskidorset.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/pro...-of-surfski-ing.html

Went out yesterday on the Molokai for the first paddle. What a lovely ski and fast.