Newbie

Looking for my first surfski — mostly for fitness in a relatively protected bay. Currently paddle plastic 14 - 16 ft plastic kayaks. Leaning towards Nelo 520 or Epic V8. The big question: would anyone buy based upon reviews/price without trying one out?

What are your goals/ambitions?

No. The fit of paddler to bucket matters more than it does with the average kayak. Plastic 14- to 16-footers tend to be fairly wide, with fairly big seats and cockpits. While a small person can do some paddling in a too-big cockpit (still not recommended), someone who is too big for a ski probably will kick himself for not trying it first.

IBesides, in most places it is easier to sell a plastic kayak than it is a ski.

Trying is ideal. Depending where you live however it might be impossible or extremely difficult to do so. I have owned 6 skis and was only able to try 2 of them before buying. 

A ski feels very different from a kayak and your first time in one it might be hard to know if the fit is wrong or if that's just how surfskis are. A surfski generally requires a more upright posture than the slouching posture one might use in a more recreational kayak. There is no back support from the “bucket” during normal paddling. If you are surfing down a wave you might lean back against the rear of the seat but that is probably the only time.  

For me the most important issue is that  the bucket doesnt make my “sit bones” sore. Other people struggle with legs going numb in certain skis, hips pushing into the sides of the seat, or tailbone grinding on the back of the seat. 

For me it can take an hour of paddling in a ski for “deal breaking” discomfort to be evident. Sometimes I can tell sooner than that. Sometimes i actually have to own the ski for some months before determining if i can live with it or not. 

I have not heard many people complain about the v8 bucket. I dont know enough about the 520 to comment. In general wider boats such as those have less restrictive buckets and fit a wider range of backsides. 

Good luck!

I’ve owned 5 skis to date and I’ve only every paddle one before I purchased as well.  My first ski was a v8 and unless you are a very large or very small person I couldn’t see there being an issue.  Very small only because you would have a lot of extra space for your hips. 
I’ve also owned  a nelo 550. Not sure how that bucket compares but I run. 35 inch waste and 200lbs and I still had room.  
my our first ski will be a learning experience for sure.  You’re first point of reference!

Problem is when you first start you have no idea whats a good fit and what isnt as you struggle to stay on them anyway. Best advice would be get something cheap second hand, then once you have got your head around them you will have a better idea of what is right or wrong for you.  It is quite  common for people to move on from their first ski within a short time

Take with a massive grain of salt from an intermediate paddle who's currently content in his kayak...

I used to rent the 18X and would rent the V8 when the 18X wasn't available.  I found going from the Epic 18X to the V8 to extremely easy (on flat water anyhow). Although the 18x was tippier than the plastic kayaks I had paddled before, I was very comfortable in it by the time I first tried a V8.