I don't see either My lightwind TT is a Flydoor3 170x50, with the 8cm center fin. Really goes upwind well!

The Mako has the single 56 on the front, 2x 51mm and 85mm on the back. Pads are set to the less-back mutant position, but I think I need the rear foot further back. I can REALLY cut upwind riding "backwards" and the Mako just slices through the chop.

So I'm thinking? the Mako goes faster and smoother through the chop, the concave creates a jet funnel effect, the fins give lift? hell I don't know! it really is remarkable! There's SFA in it between the 'door and the Mako.

Also notice?when you carve hard, the Mako sends a solid, smooth wall of spray. I reckon I can literally feel the smoothness. The TT sends a "jagged" wall out.

Oh and I gotta add? it's so smooth at speed! Mad-powered heel to toe carves are just awesome fun!

Nice description man. I'm suprised it works better in the mutant mode. Maybe those extra fins help keep a more solid line through the chop. One would think they would create drag. You are talking about a mako 150 by 40 right? You are saying sweet FA between this and the 170 by 50 flat rockered door.

Are you positive man? Did the wind pick up when you swapped boards. If so that's great.

Anyhow the 150 is the sweetest carving board I've ever used.

Probably, I work better with it in mutant mode. Find it much easier to lock it into the edge and ride... in TT mode, the Mako skips around a lot on me.

150x40, yeah.

Can't have picked up much! Or maybe dropped much.

What's the diff between a King and a 150, in feel?

kam, send me your email and ill send a few pictures how the shinn speedball holds an edge

Yeh the king has the same characteristics, but you won't get a great deal more low end out of it. Some but not a huge amount.

I agree it loads much better in mutant mode. Hence why I have a square tipped TT as well and leave the mako for what it is best at, carving.

Yeh look into the speedball to but remember it rides very very differently to the mako and quote honestly doesn't load and boost that well from my time on it. The mako is still far better for what you describe by a long margin.

Depends on what ya after really.

yeh pop on the speedball isnt that good, due to the foot placement or length but imo it isnt what its about, yet to get on a mako, i tried to swap up at graveyards but the mako owner wasnt that keen, maybe that was a sign how good they are ?

Wasn't me was it cauncy? Nah don't think we have ever met? One day soon hopefully. Crank the zephyr and 10m edges out! Plus I gotta try that 7m edge again in good winds!

I had-and will again-a small TT for over-powered boosting and silly-buggers play time... now I'm doing it on the Flydoor, which is a bit ridiculous cos if the wind picks up to what would be fun on the small TT eg. big jumps, is now warp-speed once the board touches the water sooooooon...

Want the Mako for just goofing on the waves? still haven't got the hang of how to pop with it. But that's fine cos that's not want I want it for

I just find it so easy to ride in mutant mode!

Had the first ride of my mates Mako 150 today ,very nice board,he had it set as a tt with a single centre fin both ends carving upwind through the surf was a breeze the footstrap placement was prob a bit close together for me so will adjust a bit for my next ride ,the board cut through the surf and chop like a hot knife through butter and got over the whitewater with ease will give it a better try next time as we have gathered up a few mutants to put head to head

150 mako
148 c/b wave
Shinn wave
Decay cutlass
And my own S/b tt that I had made.

Should be a good head to head.

Awesome report back. Give yourself some time the mako rides in quite a unique way.

Select to expand quote

radman4 said..

mutants to put head to head

150 mako
148 c/b wave
Shinn wave
Decay cutlass
And my own S/b tt that I had made.

Should be a good head to head.

O for awesome.

that would make an epic review!...

Post up a pick of your sb tt I haven't seen it yet.

Heres some pics of my 4'8 T/T S/B it has a full length double concave







Have had it out a couple of times but only in the lighter winds so far its got a lot of float and rips over the surf

Nice one radman. Very surfboard like indeed.

We have consistently light winds in SW Florida and flat to washing machine surf ( not the clean riding type) as our primary conditions - 9k to 15k gusty is common. Mako's are popular here especially the King and 150 ; also 135 and 140 models for moderate to high winds). The King is a great option as a one board quiver for a heavier rider ( I weigh 73kgs and use mine with a 10 and 13 Edge) in just about any wind over 9K when ridden with a 16Crossbow ( heavier friend rides it with his new Zephyr and loves both). The King's size confuses until you have one for a month and ride it in 25 plus on a 10Edge in the chop or in the Gulf's nasty surf. I lost my 140 ( left it behind at the beach ) and decided to use my King for everything on a 10 and 13 Edge. It works as a TT or a Mutant well and it does not discriminate between high winds or light winds.

Select to expand quote

eppo said..

Nice one radman. Very surfboard like indeed.

Yea that's what I was aiming for I wanted the S/B feel but the mutant ride,the double concave is very aggressive have cut down on the amount of fins as the board edges really aggressively,have also modified some fins to make them the same size as the Mako fins to try.
The board rides very similar to my TT but with more float and pops over surf and whitewater effortlessly like a S/B.

Looks cool. Yes I was thinking too much finage. I'm currently running 63mm fins which still might be too much.

What about the outside fin angle om the thruster end it looks similar to surfboard angle. I found on mine that made it sweet going forwards but squirrelly going backwards due to the extra angle of the fins trying to turn the board at the front. does that make sence?

I have ended up repositioning my outer fins at the back for a more straighter TT angle that surf thurster angle.

Yea that does make sense plummet when I first set it up I used a set of G5 fins and on the heel side it rocked then when I switched to mutant mode and rode it backwards it tracked really well close to the C/b wave but if I put a bit too much front foot on the outside fin grabbed and carved the nose round ,so switched to GL fin set and was way better less chance of the fin grabbing now I've gone back to a single G5 centre and two modified G5's similar to the Mako for my next try ,prob will end up with way less finnage as the double concave gives the board a real aggressive rail.

Nice mutant!

Keeping the 150 as a powered surf ride... and have picked up a 2011 Slingshot Dialer for cheap... well, cheap in Japan :(

Going to learn to ride it strapless... let the comedy begin!

Hi Radman, that's a sick looking board is that an epoxy vacum job?

... hey Kamikuza, take it from a fellow Clydsdale class rider who just wants fun in sh!tty slop, the Nugget is the best and not just for light winds but for darting around in all sorts of winds whether it be light or strong, big, small or choppy waves, it really is a one board quiver.

For years I swore I'd always ride TT in waves, especially because no one really did it anymore and going to SB is sooo trendy now-a-days but one day I tried it and could see what all the fuss is about.

Sure TT are fun, and mutants a step up again but you really have to have a go on one of these new Nuggets, will make you feel like a smaller younger dude too.

cheers,

Robbie

Got to ride one for about 2 minutes then the wind died... seemed ok

Dialer seems good. Still getting the hang of directionals - just the riding, weird thing to be on

Dr K,

I have shinn wave in mutant mode, a couple of slingshot celeritas', a north whip x-surf and a north nugget. The 'directional' winner from 8 to 25 knots and up four feet of wave for my enhanced frame is the nugget. Borrow one or demo one, it will improve your kiting pleasure.

Kamikuza. It's all relative really if you take the nugget an example. I am 85 kgs .

It does not matter about how big you are , a nugget type board will just get you out much earlier and increase time on the water by more than a bigger mutant. You just match kite size to weight and conditions. In a sense , it is just a bloody big twin tip.
As well as that it is a fun board to ride.

On the nuggets in Darwin , Puetz will be out on 17 m as well as me in lighter winds - in stronger he will still be on 17 and I will go to 13 dice and max out on nugget earlier , then go to surfboard.

Puetz tends to hang on the nugget and change kite size down in stronger wind.

I am on the old design which I am happy with at the moment but I can see that Puetz's new design is working very well for him , having seen him use both old and new.

Have a shot at directional on a nugget It opened up a whole more options for me, especially being in the s*## wind capital of Oz

I might just buy one when the Dialer breaks

Yeh I can vouch for the nugget. Gets my mate out whose 10kg lighter on a 12m when I'm on a zephyr and light wind TT (well 145 by 44) which is a light wind TT for a 75kg guy like me.

He has saved numerous sessions and was bloody doing unhooking rally's and double rotations on the flat with it the other day...lol

Guys, sounds like the Nugget would be a great board to try, especially for the heavyweights amongst us. But has anyone who's ridden a Nugget also ridden an Airush Slayer. This is a comparatively new arrival and available in 2 sizes, the smaller being comparable size to the Nugget & the larger one being even wider than the Nugget. Keen to hear opinions on which one is better.

Cheers

Slayer is more like a free-race board, is it not?

I just ordered an Axis Vanguard Limited so I don't think I'll be buying another board for a while... unless I sell something

A bit of feed back from our Mako 150 riders.
Seems most (almost all) find 3 x 85mm fins for the mutant set-up is way too much fin.
Most are prefering 2 x 56mm thrusters & 1 x 85mm centre fin with a 56 at the front.
Others are finding joy with 56mm fins all round.
Just FYI

NB The Mako 150 comes standard with only 2 x 56mm fins. You need to decide on mutant preference & buy added fins as optional extras.
3 x 85's if you do want the extreme fin effect. 1x56 & 1x85 (most prefered) or 2x56's for the looser ride.
85's add $34ea. 56's add $25ea

And more news - the next production run of the Mako 140 will NOT be offering Mutant option. If you want one get it now or you will have to track down a rare 2nd handi.

I have been using the Mako King over 6 months. I had tried all the setting and the one I like most for surf is








1 - goes upwind better than any other settings
2 - It doesn't slide any more no matter how hard I carve on the chop water, flat water or making the turn at the bottom of the wave..

great job Ocean Rodeo!

What about an Axis Twin Wave? Independent review has just been posted www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/Review/REVIEW-Axis-TwinWave/