Feedback on the new Fenn Sailfish

Hi guys,

Does anyone have experience with the newly launched Fenn Sailfish? It’s supposed to be the low-volume version of the Spearfish. For me (and probably many other paddlers) this sounds like a very attractive design.

The dimensions are the same as the Spearfish: length 6.3 m and width 45 cm. But the seat width is 40 cm (vs. 40.7 cm on the Spearfish), and the bow height is 32.5 cm instead of 36 cm, making it more suitable for lighter paddlers. Fenn’s website says it’s ideally suited for paddlers under 85 kg.

I am VERY interested in hearing from anyone who has tested the new model. How does it feel compared to the Spearfish (or other models)? Stability? Comfort? Does it catch runs differently? Does the lower volume compromise downwind performance? Flat-water speed?

Any insights would be appreciated!

Thanks for the heads up Henk. When it is listed as an Intermediate ski which is 45cm wide and for under 85kg paddler, I will definitely be organising a demo. It sounds not too far away from a low volume Swordfish (even though Fenn's description is low volume Spearfish) which really appeals.
I'll report back...

I have had 3 paddles on the Carbon Sailfish last week and there is a lot to like. Long low and sleek, no handles (except the classic Fenn soft handle on the left in front of foot board which I have trouble making use of), and it came with a surf rudder. Bucket is fairly shallow and very comfortable. The hump was making some soft contact with my calves which interfered with rotation a little when I had the foot board one hole too long but was not noticeable when at the correct length. Beware if you have short legs and big calves!
I have spent a few years doing most downwind paddles in the (pre-Fennix) Swordfish S which I still love but it is showing it's age and has always felt mildly corky for my 73kg. When the Spearfish and Sailfish are promoted as "bridging the gap between the Swordfish and the elite boats" I wondered if that would mean that it was less stable than the Swordy but for me it was noticeably more stable with a really planted (opposite of twitchy?) feel even at a lower weight in full carbon.
One flat water paddle was only enough to tell me it was very comfortable, tracked really well, and rewarded extra effort with good speed. I would estimate that it is 0.2 to 0.3 km/h faster than the Swordfish at cruising speed but without that feeling that resistance is ramping up with harder efforts. Because the Swordy sits higher in the water at my weight, the increase in waterline length in the Sailfish is more than the 20cm difference in overall length.
Downwind is where this boat really shines. The primary stability is so good that you can apply good power at virtually all times. The extra length makes it subtly slower to accelerate than a short light boat but I could back off the power earlier and the sailfish finds a good balance point high on the wave and harnesses it's power really well. It is not highly manoeuvrable (vs shorter boat, as expected) when the bow is wet but once up surfing it can be lightly directed wherever you want it to go, really accurate and composed and fast.
Conditions were a bit sloppy and wind only moderate last week but whenever the skates lined up it was fun, fast and confidence inspiring.
It had good manners on a couple of brief upwind sections. Remounts were a breeze with the low sides but the ride is a bit wet if side-on waves or with the dreaded fall off the back of the wave errors.
Overall the Sailfish really delivered on what I was hoping for. I found it both more stable and faster than the Swordfish by virtue of sitting properly in the water due to lower volume, and the longer waterline. I got the feeling that in better wind with some big long runners it would be an absolute weapon.
Many thanks to Andrew Crothers from Ocean Paddler WA for allowing me to have some decent paddles in the conditions the boat is designed for and for dropping the demo boat off at my doorstep. I have placed an order on a new carbon version of the Sailfish and cannot wait to get it out in the big stuff.

So cool to hear your experience with the Sailfish! And congrats on the new ski! It definitely sounds like a weapon!!

There’s no Sailfish to demo where I’m based, so your impressions are super valuable. When you say the seat is shallow, do I understand correctly that you sit less deep in the bucket (i.e. not as close to the waterline)? If so, did you feel a larger "heel to seat" height difference than on the Swordfish S, and therefore better power application (and posture)?

Also, how did you find the bucket size? Did it feel narrower and/or more suited to slimmer paddlers than the Swordfish S?

The flatwater speed increase of 0.2–0.3 km/h at the same effort sounds amazing. That must put the Sailfish near the top (of comparable skis) in terms of flatwater speed; how would you compare it to similar skis from other brands?

Do you think the carbon version is worth the extra cost compared to the hybrid? Would you mind sharing your thoughts on that?

Reading your experience honestly makes me very close to ordering a Sailfish myself

Hi. I didn't notice any difference in the bucket to heel height but was referring to the low sides of the bucket. The height of the ski is pretty low which must allow reduced volume for that length. It makes remounts easy but can be wet when not up surfing.
Bucket size is narrower than Swordfish which I liked. I will not need side pads which I have always used on Swordy (and V9) but that is partly due to improved balance since I got The Swordfish about 7 years ago and the absence of corkiness for me in the Sailfish.
Don't quote me on the extra speed. That was just the impression I got from frequent checking of my Garmin while on a meandering tidal river with light current and light variable wind. There was no formal timing involved but I was convinced that it gave a good increment of extra speed during efforts.
As for comparisons, I've trialed a Zest X LV (the artist formerly known as Vault) which was also fast but the primary stability was a bit low for me to be comfortable. I'm planning to sell my Fenn Spark S which I really liked but I wasn't stable enough to control it surfing in rough water and found the extra core workout really tiring after 30-40 minutes on ocean. Weirdly, I never fell out of it while downwinding as the bucket was such a nice fit that I could always correct or tolerate any rolling side to side. Not so with virtually all other buckets. I even fell out of the V9 a few times if trying something radical or foolish in the waves. I actually thought there was very little speed difference between the Sailfish and the Spark (for me) which may be because they are similar length. The Spark might have a bit more rocker (?).
I was quoted AUD$5450 for carbon and $4350 for the hybrid. If the weight difference is just 1kg (as per the Fenn website) then the price difference is hard to justify for a buyer. If I remember rightly the difference in weight between my old full carbon and prior hybrid BlueFins was more like 1.6kg. I guess I'm applying the Buy Nice or Buy Twice principle plus when the boat is stable I want it to be as light as possible.
So that was a lot of "sharing thoughts" with no good data. Overall I was pleased that the boat's reality seemed to match up well to the promise of it's shape and dimensions.

Hi
Thanks for sharing your review. I too currently have a Spark and thinking of switching to the new Sailfish. Would you mind sharing your views on

1. Did you experience any abnormal nose diving of the Sailfish when down winding requiring you to lean back to lift the nose up (pearling)
2. During the longest paddle session (how long would that have been?) did you experience any uncomfortableness with the seat shape (especially after frequently applying full power)
3. In comparison to the Spark, did you find you sat higher in the Sailfish

Cheers - I enjoyed you review!

Hi Rudder, thanks.
1. No, it's not prone to nose-diving at my weight.
2. Longest paddle only just over an hour. The small ridge in middle of bucket is noticeable but did not become uncomfortable.
3. Yes, probably a little higher.
For me it felt like a worthwhile upgrade on the Swordfish (lighter, faster, more stable, and still surfs really well) and was a lot more manageable than the Spark S. It is likely to be Goldilocks for a lot of sub-85 kg paddlers.