Joy Overloaded: The Waka Skuxx 

The Waka Skuxx has exceeded my expectations and a clear frontrunner has emerged in the half slice world! I have been loving my time demoing this boat and want to share this joy with all of you! I tried this boat with the seat in the center position for a day and then moved the seat back for the remaining time I spent in the boat. I always paddle half slices with the seat in the back position because that’s where the party is! I also use one foam pad of ¼ inch to raise my center of gravity and make the boat a little easier to lean and roll. 

The Boat

Stern – A+++ 

The stern is incredibly easy to get under and is extremely well balanced for stern squirting. It sinks effortlessly and stabilizes nicely while vertical to allow you to spin in circles until your heart is content. It also slices into a wave nicely while surfing and loads up while blasting a hole to give a great deal of control.

In my opinion, the stern balance and ability to slice are the most important aspects to a half slice and this boat has peak performance in both of those categories. Another strength of the stern is that it doesn’t grab when you don’t want it to. I don’t have to fight with the stern when paddling down rapids and it was easy for me to lift the bow to launch the boat when I wanted to. The rocker on the stern allows it to stay up nicely and in control while backsurfing. The stern on the Skuxx takes the prize as the best stern on a half slice I’ve ever used. 

Hull – A+

The wide flat hull of the Skuxx makes it very stable and gives extra confidence when running rapids. The flat hull allows for spins on a wave like a playboat. The boat is extremely maneuverable and friendly to control. The edge allows you to carve turns easily to dart in and out of eddies and slots and glide effortlessly back and forth across waves. There is also a great amount of stability while on edge. The Skuxx has nice speed for an 8 foot boat and I’ve been able to easily make small attainments and ferries that are difficult in other slower half slices. 

Bow – A

The bow rides high over features and confidently allows you to carry momentum downriver. The bow rocker allows you to stay on the surface, which is appreciated for running big rapids and while surfing. It lands smoothly off waterfalls and skips beautifully landing off drops and going over holes. The only downside to such a big bow from a freestyle standpoint is that it is challenging to get under for loops and cartwheels. 

Outfitting – C+

I have mixed feelings about the outfitting. The knee braces are quite possibly the best on the market and really wrap around your knee to hold you in place. The seat is also very comfortable to sit in. The hip pads are a nice shape and hold you in place well for the most part. However, they loosen up and it can be challenging to pull the strap tight, often requiring you to reach your hand behind the seat into an uncomfortably tight area. The backband is not great. I adjusted it many times and struggled to find a comfortable position that supported my back and held me in place. The backband was adequate for most paddling but felt like it tried to slide around when I had a major impact, like a firm landing off a backender or loop attempt.

The Skuxx is a phenomenal kayak and has performance characteristics that will excite kayakers of all skill levels. Advanced paddlers will appreciate the extremely playful stern and the carving edges. Beginner and intermediate paddlers will appreciate the stability and the friendly bow that takes you downstream with ease. The wide, flat hull allows the boat to surf like a playboat but it also makes it harder to roll than some of the other, narrower half slices on the market.

For a beginner or intermediate paddler, using the Skuxx with the seat in the center position will help make it friendlier and more well rounded. For an advanced paddler, having the seat in the back position makes this boat a downriver freestyle machine! The overall performance of the Skuxx is unmatched by any half slice I have paddled and it makes kayaking more exciting and fun than it ever has been before!

Boat Characteristics

Stability – A+

Agility – A+

Speed – B+

Squirting – A+++

Balance on the Stern – A+

Carving – A+

Rolling – B

Leaning – A

Boofing – A+

Comfort – A

Friendliness – A

Don’t take my word for it. Take out the demo Skuxx at Calleva’s River Store and experience joy overloaded for yourself!

Author’s Note 

For reference, I am about 6 feet tall and weigh 175 lbs.

The half slice kayaks that I have spent a lot of time in are the medium Rewind and Firecracker 242. The new Antix 3 is high on my list to try next. There are obviously some excellent designs that I haven’t tried so I always recommend demoing boats to see which one works best for you.