Heard very little about these boards and now seeing a few pop up 2nd hand or ex demo. Used to love my 8/3 x32 Le and this could be a worthy replacement in the cheapish barebones version or mega $$$$ version, anyone ridden one ?

Hey Rossall i have the 8.6 and it rips hard... Its is a bit of work stability wise but compared too like the jp and stuff its prob on par with the 8.10 .. Or a tad tippier ..

Had it out in 3-4 13th beach today and yer its basically my fave board now when its hallow .. Point and GO

Ive come off a speed 8.8 & flow 8.7 ...

Its tippier than both these boards but its worth it .. Super responsive and snappy ... It actually paddles really quick too not missing any waves like i though i would...

I was gonna move it cause it not an every day board but I'm gonna make my self get it dialed and see if it can become a board i ride in most conditions ...

Hey Rossall , Ive got the 8'1 ..... Im surprised theres not more on these on the net as they're a super nice shape ... Im 76 kgs , and used to stuff down the 95 ltr (raptor) . I wanted a floatier board for bigger waves with rips and choppy conditions ... I often want to conserve energy for windsports later in the day if the wind blows up , so dont always want to ride tiny boards .

Firstly , first thing you notice on maddog , is how much tail kick they have , way more than x32 and alot of boards in general . Was worried it would kill the speed on a wave , and 1st session perfect to test this as waves were solid head hi on an offshore reef but wrong tides meaning waves were pretty fat and gutless. Was surprised to find it still had really good speed on a slow waves . Also really noticable to alot of other boards was how forgiving it was in turns (not bogging rails) , and the flow you could have turn to turn , even if your weight wasnt perfect or slightly too far forwards . For sure the rocker and fatter midsection rails really helping these aspects . Also , the foot doesnt have to be jammed right on the raised kick pad to rip a sharp turn , and if you do manage to have the wave speed and push on a bowly section and jammed right on the kicker - it will pivot really really tight . Interesting , dont normally like quad set-ups in sups - but liked the performance immediately in quad on the mad-dog . Rails in the tail are nicely pinched , fattening quickly 1/4 way up the board

Stability for me is amazing - has a huge sweet spot , 1st jump up on the board and any waves the first session I felt I was standing and jumping on the deck 'anywhere' !! and still balancing fine ... (compared to raptor which is size of my feet sweetspot) - any long paddles are great and easy . Negatives - Have had it out in some solid head + 3/4 etc ... and felt there was a bit of width / fin drive to deal with sometimes for my weight (my previous bigger wave gunny shape was 27 3/4 vs MD 29) , and stock fins were whistling a bit !! Ive since changed to thruster with a small backfin - so the top end I think will improve alot (sitting nicer in carves in solid size, less nose lifty) . With thruster small back set up - turns are even looser , and it can tighten really quick in a bottom turn and smack a section very close to you ... with tiny rear thruster you have to be bit more careful surfing turns making sure its through the backfoot more heavily than with stock quad as theres less fin leveraging the nose up , so Ive caught the odd rail just adjusting to tiny back , but thats my technique issues with a new fin set-up

So , so far so good , Ive had it out in everything from waist to good size , and for me is a one board alrounder to leave in the van everyday do everything pretty bloody good ... Raptor95 will be thrown in for glassy days ... Im particularly loving the float / easy volume for how tight and reactive it is on the wave ... If your a fairly agressive rider - you'll appreciate the rocker , if your intermediate - the board is a joy on how forgiving and non rail boggy it is if you havnt shifted your weight back , or tend to surf more foward on the board ... in this respect its better than anything ive surfed before . My feeling is overall its a better more 'rangey' board than the x32 ... having a better topend and carving ability in bigger better waves ... still really good float and stability. Maybe the perfect board for x32 users to step up to . On double overhead days Im going to enjoy the super easy stability and having composure making late catch decisions in front of big faces . my previous shape was lovely in semi glassy stuff , but when its really pumping and rippy - was losing me a few waves ...

You nailed that seabreezer.... Exactly how it feels to be honest ...

I would just add it can easily feel too advanced kinda cause it so lively or something at the start .. Could be why there's a few for sale ....

Now i love it and i even had a crack on a 8.10 acid recently and the mad dog is way more lively and a touch more stable /...

Seabreezer or any one whats the deal with this fin or hum noise ??? I had it happening yesterday i totally thought it was my leggy dragging or something ... I actually kept looking back for seaweed too..

??????????

Its the fins , Ive changed all of them ... Was going to swap out fronts first , then backs and replace fronts to find out exactly which ones , and even what side ... but got too exited on trying the small back thruster style .... the stock fins look thicker / chunkier front fin profile / draggier than say the raptor stock fins which I thought were fairly ok ... I'll try sanding down the stock fins when I get a (very) bored moment ....

Btw - for x32 users ... if you felt like 'stepping up' to a maddog , maybe think in terms of

7'11 x 32 .... try 8'1 x 29 MD
8'3 x 32 .... try 8'6 x 29 MD

I am LOVING the amount of zap , snap and zip for such easy float with the MD ...

Mick Chard
I am looking at getting a Mad Dog 8'1''.
What do you weigh out of interest?

Select to expand quote

seabreezer said..
Btw - for x32 users ... if you felt like 'stepping up' to a maddog , maybe think in terms of

7'11 x 32 .... try 8'1 x 29 MD
8'3 x 32 .... try 8'6 x 29 MD

I am LOVING the amount of zap , snap and zip for such easy float with the MD ...

Well said!!
The MADDOG is a true performance board. I will admit at first I was hoping that the boards were going to be more stable but found myself disappointed, AT FIRST... I have now been using the 8'6 as my go to short board for quite some time now. The stability (personal opinion) is, its not lacking. These are a sharp stability, If that makes sense. Unlike some boards with a slightly more gentle or rolled rail, The MADDOG is sharp for most of the rail which can make it feel a little sharper than a lot of boards. This being said, that's what makes it so impressive... Just to clear things up, Yes I'm a shop owner, I have the full range of Naish, F-One and the new Infinity in store and a lot of "demo's" hahaha. I do really like similar boards from the other brands but Naish shapes just work for me! Up until late last year my X32 was my go to board simply for comfort.. Now that has gone it has forced me to spend more time on the MADDOG and I have loved every minute of it.. Get down to your local dealer and demand a demo...

Just getting to grips with my Mad Dog 8'6" and agree definitely less stable than my old 8'3" but it is 3" narrower so exactly what I was expecting and yes I am in the drink a lot at the moment when its messy and choppy but its getting less as I settle into the board. Where the Mad Dog lights up is on the wave this thing is amazing, late drops, very quick to accelerate, smooth bottom turns and pivots of the top, I love it. Its light and seems stronger than the old LE's not sure if they beefed up the construction for the MG. This seems to be a board that has gone unnoticed especially on the west coast, I think I am the only MD owner in WA !!!!

Great board very happy. Disclaimer : unfortunately I have no connection to Naish or a shop and have to pay hard earned cash.

phil

Looks like the only real negative highlighted is the price point in the UK...

Not sure I agree with all the points, mines like a bloody rocket and paddles into moves early. Plus feels like 120 ltrs for my 86 kgs

Not sure I agree with all the points, mines like a bloody rocket and paddles into moves early. Plus feels like 120 ltrs for my 86 kgs

Fair point Rossall....I own a few boards where I disagree with the consensus re stability & paddle speed...each to their own I reckon! The main thing is that you're stoked with your board...hopefully I'll get to demo 1 soon

PS - for the record, I do find the SUPBoarder reviews helpful & informative in highlighting new gear...good job Reuben!

Yeah SBM do great reviews and at least there are a few reviews coming out for this great board that seems of flown under the radar in 2017. Should be a good session today on the Maddog, clean, offshore and 1.4 m

Woof