This is the new Huki Gull wing which I just had installed on the S1-A surf ski. Nick, who owns Precision Rowing Repair in Arlington, Virginia, did the retrofit. I've been looking at the Gull Wing for over a year but the cost and shipping expenses always held me back. Then this summer I ran into another racer, Earl, at the Wye Island Regatta with an S1-A and an extra Gull Wing. He had ordered one from Huki but it arrived damaged so Jude replaced the wing free of charge. I bought the damaged wing for $200 ... a fraction of the cost of a new wing + shipping ... had it repaired and installed on the surf ski. The installation is designed so it can come off when needed and paddled without the wing.



The beauty of the Gull Wing is that it's designed to sit above the water except when the boat tips to the side. This provides less water friction than if the wing were sitting in the water all the time like an ama on an outrigger canoe. So it provides maximum stability without sacrificing too much speed. I actually thought I was faster with the Gull Wing because I was able to focus entirely on paddling without worrying about flipping over. Flipping over in an S1-A is very easy. It has a 14" waterline beam and a pretty rounded hull.



Here are some short video clips showing the Gull Wing in action.

Huki Gull Wing in action from Susanita on Vimeo.

~Susanita