HUKI S1-R Unlimited Class Offshore Racer:

Designed and shaped in early 2005 by Jerry Montgomery with computer aided techniques developed here at HUKI, the HUKI S1-R went into production in April of the same year. I wanted to develop a ski with a great deal more stability than our other two surf skis. I wanted a big bump boat that wouldn't toss me off in a messy sea. Something that would surf and maneuver well. Jerry and I went back to our S1-X for the successful shapes that produced the best performing surf ski in the world. We made her a little beamier and a foot shorter and we gave her a little more volume. The result is the new HUKI S1-R that has been tested in some BIG 4-6 foot windchop, mixed slop and current, by very experienced paddlers and novices alike.

The HUKI S1-R has the same styling and cockpit as the S1-X with all the same options and more. Additional options are transom mounted kickup rudder, that is interchangeable with thru hull rudder in about a minute. More storage options for multi day endurance race/touring and river running. She has a higher stem and stern than the S1-X and the gunwales are slightly higher. The HUKI S1-R is way more stable than the S1-X with as little loss in flat water speed as could be calculated into it. The increased stability will come in handy for those advanced paddlers who want more confidence in the big mixed waves, especially while training alone. Also for entry level paddlers who want to reach a high competence level quickly. The S1-R makes it an easy cross-over from Outriggers and Touring/Recreational kayaks to a high performance Surf Ski. This IS the ski of choice for big days crossing the Kaiwi Channel and for those paddlers like myself who seem to loose a lot of balance skills once they're exhausted in the last mile or two of a very long, very rough race.

She carves face very nicely and perhaps a bit better than the S1-X, allowing you to surf a diagonal so well you'll giggle as you skim along. Straight down faces, you'll notice she doesn't pearl easily and the rudder stays in the water, even in the super steep-stacked stuff. In tall-nasty-slop, THIS IS THE SKI YOU WANT TO BE IN. She'll go to weather faster than her competition and will track better as you rock over crests. She isn't as fast as our S1-X in flats, but she's not as slow as her competition.

The kick up rudder is a fantastic addition to the S1-R. It will mount onto the transom with a pull pin, and extension cables will join to the standard cables with the clevis pins that come off the thru-hull rudder's yoke. Conversion from one rudder to the other will take about a minute, and can only be done on shore. You have so many thru hull rudders to choose from, that you'll ask me to choose for you. The cost for the rudder and installation is $250.00.

Her foot well system is unique. We offer individual foot wells and can attach the steering cables to the pedals from the divider or from the gunwales, it's up to you. We can place a stow hatch with fat-bag just behind the divider, under you knees. We also have an adjustable foot well system so that people of different heights can use the same boat.

She has a standard size seat well that fits most people's hips and she is available with a "Wide Seat" option that fits everyone else. The standard sized seat fit's most men with waist sizes up to 34 inches and women with small hips. The "optional" Wide Seat fits Men and Women with waist sizes 35 inches and up. Many people over 6 feet 1 inch have larger hips than most smaller people. The optional Wide Seat is three-quarters of an inch wider without being longer or deeper.

On the S1-R, you can wear most sandals & booties, and we can install self bailing foot well drains. We can install bungees on the fore deck and aft deck, in the cockpit or where ever you want them, and can place stow hatches at both ends of the cockpit as well as under your knees where you can place your water system or other items for easy access while paddling. For those paddlers who need storage, we can install much larger hatches than those offered on our other surf skis. She has the HUKI adjustable response rudder system and can be rigged with a kelp guard and a variety of several rudders. We can install a variety of custom items like; anchor blocks for things like foot straps, handles and hook loops, a sealed hole through the footwell divider for locking the surf ski, eye holes at bow and stern, etc.

Dimensions:
19' 11" LOA, 18.75" BOA
Weights include 4" rudder:
22.5 Lb (Vac'd Carb/Kev)
24.2 Lb (Vac'd Carb/Carb)
30.5 Lb (Non-Vac'd Fiberglass)
6" & 5" stow w/bag adds .75 Lb.... 4" adds .5 LB.
Printed Fabric inlays add between half a pound and three pounds, depending on size.
Adjustable foot well system adds 4 pounds.
Carbon inlays don't add weight.
Other options may add several ounces

Testimonies:

The S1-R combines speed, comfort and stability. It is the fastest and most stable 19" wide ski I have paddled. Training in Crescent City can be very challenging. I need a ski that allows me to feel safe when I train alone in the open ocean in the winter. In the rough, my technique has improved. I can feel the runs and concentrate on power, instead of struggling to just maintain balance.
Tom Crakel

Can a ski be too stable? HA! It is great on our slop and chop beam stuff. I found the HUKI R to be most the comfortable of the new age long ski's and what it seem's to love that some ski's do not love is beam paddling in short steep stuff, the rolling over my lap stuff, the ski loves it! I feel, that is one of the fun things to do in a ski and this ski tracks on it great even with a 4" rudder. Waves larger than 2 or 3 ft and you will need the 7" rudder for this and running with the waves.
Joseph Pettigrew

Right on, Joseph. I paddled a borrowed R in last year's U.S. Champs. We were there a couple of days early and it was monster water (compared to my home water). 20 Minutes into the paddle I realized how solid I was and felt giddy as a little kid. I would really love to have an adjustable R around as a guest boat. It's just a great starter ski.
Reivers Dustin

I agree with Josephs opinion. I have raced the S1-R at my first US Champs and was thankful I was in it and not my S1 X. I have since improved my big water skills and am fine in the S1 X Special now. I have friends who have the S1 R and keep up just fine with their paddle buddies in the S1 X as they are more comfortable. It is a great all around ski, one that anyone can have fun in. And yes...Jude has hands on with all that are built in the US at his shop in Sacramento. Cool new colors and designs too....
Kathleen P.

Joseph.....I use to own both an S1-R and and S1-X until last September when I was introduced to the S1-X Special. The S1-R was my favorite boat for big water or doing long distances. Between the X and the R, I got my highest speeds surfing with the R. This was probably because the stability of the boat allowed me to get a little more reckless when traveling down the face of a wave. After I bought my S1-X Special, I was blown away by the fact that the Special could carve on a wave like the R, only faster. I quickly set some new downwind speed records with the Special so I sold my R thinking that I no longer needed it. I love the Special but I find that I long for the R when the waves get steep or the frequency is high. The R is not a flat water racing boat but can hold its own when going up or downwind. I wish that I still had my R and will most likely acquire another one within a year. As I have said to other paddlers, The R is probably the best all-around boat available
Larry Goolsby

In the waves, that is when the R comes alive. This boat is a lot of fun to surf, it turns on a dime, screams down the waves, and acts like it is at home. I have had the R out in the Puget Sound in 35 knot winds and had the time of my life. The R made me understand why everyone likes downwind paddling so much.
Shaun R.