Hi,

Anyone ever bought a PU ECS board (e.g the bulldog) There are not many reviews of the board. One bloke suggested that the bottom is soft - light glassing?

Ive got the ECS vflex drifter - it is light and hard as nails.

With the PU I don't want to risk having an easily dingable board with bottom compressions.

I can get the bulldog in the vflex, but it would be a heap lighter than I'm used to, and I quite like a shortboard being a tad heavier eg in PU.

Thanks Sandy

I've got a couple, ones about 4 years old, PU & has a fair few bumps & bruises from heaps of use. Wouldn't say the glassjob was neither strong or weak. I got it off Ebay. The second one I ordered off Ryan through facebook a couple of years ago when they were making them in Bali, I don't think they are anymore. The board is super light & so is the glassjob. But its a small wave fun board so I don't mind...shapes good for fat waves up to about head & a 1/2. First surf I had with the Bali board was the right hander between Kuta & middle reef just over double head. You really had to nurse the bottom turn coz of the width of the tail. Also surfed it double head airport rights, bloody thing just wanted to keep going even when you stomped on the tail to stall.

If you get a PU its going to generally ding as easily as any other general board off the rack. There are stronger boards around & there are weaker. If you really want a strong board I'd recommend ordering a custom surfboard from a local shaper & going something like 12 ounce top with 8 ounce bottom...I wouldn't recommend the bulldog for winter beachies unless the waves are often fat, its doesn't like sucky takeoffs unless you go short & stomp the tail on takeoff. It loves small waves & doesn't mind a bit of size provided its fat.

I wouldn't say the PU bulldogs would be heaps heavier than the drifter. My 6'2 vflex drifter is heavier than my 6'0 bulldog I picked up in Bali. Go the vflex if you can get one in the size you want, the popular size fusion boards were out of stock last time I looked.

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MickPC said..
I've got a couple, ones about 4 years old, PU & has a fair few bumps & bruises from heaps of use. Wouldn't say the glassjob was neither strong or weak. I got it off Ebay. The second one I ordered off Ryan through facebook a couple of years ago when they were making them in Bali, I don't think they are anymore. The board is super light & so is the glassjob. But its a small wave fun board so I don't mind...shapes good for fat waves up to about head & a 1/2. First surf I had with the Bali board was the right hander between Kuta & middle reef just over double head. You really had to nurse the bottom turn coz of the width of the tail. Also surfed it double head airport rights, bloody thing just wanted to keep going even when you stomped on the tail to stall.

If you get a PU its going to generally ding as easily as any other general board off the rack. There are stronger boards around & there are weaker. If you really want a strong board I'd recommend ordering a custom surfboard from a local shaper & going something like 12 ounce top with 8 ounce bottom...I wouldn't recommend the bulldog for winter beachies unless the waves are often fat, its doesn't like sucky takeoffs unless you go short & stomp the tail on takeoff. It loves small waves & doesn't mind a bit of size provided its fat.

I wouldn't say the PU bulldogs would be heaps heavier than the drifter. My 6'2 vflex drifter is heavier than my 6'0 bulldog I picked up in Bali. Go the vflex if you can get one in the size you want, the popular size fusion boards were out of stock last time I looked.

How's the drifter go?

Thanks Mick,

Good run down.

Cheers Sandy

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goofy said..

MickPC said..
I've got a couple, ones about 4 years old, PU & has a fair few bumps & bruises from heaps of use. Wouldn't say the glassjob was neither strong or weak. I got it off Ebay. The second one I ordered off Ryan through facebook a couple of years ago when they were making them in Bali, I don't think they are anymore. The board is super light & so is the glassjob. But its a small wave fun board so I don't mind...shapes good for fat waves up to about head & a 1/2. First surf I had with the Bali board was the right hander between Kuta & middle reef just over double head. You really had to nurse the bottom turn coz of the width of the tail. Also surfed it double head airport rights, bloody thing just wanted to keep going even when you stomped on the tail to stall.

If you get a PU its going to generally ding as easily as any other general board off the rack. There are stronger boards around & there are weaker. If you really want a strong board I'd recommend ordering a custom surfboard from a local shaper & going something like 12 ounce top with 8 ounce bottom...I wouldn't recommend the bulldog for winter beachies unless the waves are often fat, its doesn't like sucky takeoffs unless you go short & stomp the tail on takeoff. It loves small waves & doesn't mind a bit of size provided its fat.

I wouldn't say the PU bulldogs would be heaps heavier than the drifter. My 6'2 vflex drifter is heavier than my 6'0 bulldog I picked up in Bali. Go the vflex if you can get one in the size you want, the popular size fusion boards were out of stock last time I looked.

How's the drifter go?

I've mostly used the Drifter in Bali at small Ulu's & Impossibles, like head to head & a 1/2. Its been a great travel longboard alternative for me coz it fits into my triple boardbag along with a goto & allrounder. Mines a bamboo deck with kevlar rails EPS epoxy. At 6'2 its got 38L volume. Rocker is conservative, but the fairly narrow tail makes it easier on late/sucky take offs compared to the bulldog at similar size & handles easier in the barrel. This like the bulldog is a fun board, its not high performance, its not a highly refined shortboard but you can throw it around no worries. Just be aware that sometimes an advantage will have a disadvantage. That higher volume is a breeze to paddle into waves & cruise through flat sections. But won't be so fun duckdiving through sizey churning whitewater. The ability to time your paddle out, find a lull or deepwater channel will be of great assistance unless your weight to board volume ratio is not too high...like any other board really. But the conservative rocker & bottom surface area make for an easy paddle, cruisy ride & a lot of fun in a variety of conditions...cheers

I took the 6,6 drifter out today and found it hard to duckdive like mick suggested. I kept nosediving it at the start but worked out you have to be right back on the tail to ensure you make it down the face. I have it set up as a quad and I have found it to drivey. I'm making it a thruster tomorrow. It will,take some time to get used to it I reckon. The board construction is solid and well made. The only criticism is the fin boxes feel a little cheap and trying to screw in the grub screws was difficult.

Mines FCS2, so I havn't screwed the fins in...havta whack them out with a shoe to get em out so they seem pretty secure. Re: "too drivey" no such thing imo just stall, cutback & bottom/top turn to stay in the pocket of the wave. The 6'6 is a lot of board for someone 5'8 & 77kg will be great in fat waves, but a shorter one would be much easier taking off on steep sections. Keep it for those small summer days

I was looking at the ECS Bulldog too and sent them an email saying that I was 88kg and hadn't surfed for a decade but was still very fit. The guy recommended the 6'2" at 39L, do you think that's too much litreage?

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murphs76 said..
I was looking at the ECS Bulldog too and sent them an email saying that I was 88kg and hadn't surfed for a decade but was still very fit. The guy recommended the 6'2" at 39L, do you think that's too much litreage?

Maybe not enough, my mate is the same weight and he is on 40-45lt boards.

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DARTH said..

murphs76 said..
I was looking at the ECS Bulldog too and sent them an email saying that I was 88kg and hadn't surfed for a decade but was still very fit. The guy recommended the 6'2" at 39L, do you think that's too much litreage?

Maybe not enough, my mate is the same weight and he is on 40-45lt boards.

Does he find it hard to duck dive?

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murphs76 said..

DARTH said..

murphs76 said..
I was looking at the ECS Bulldog too and sent them an email saying that I was 88kg and hadn't surfed for a decade but was still very fit. The guy recommended the 6'2" at 39L, do you think that's too much litreage?

Maybe not enough, my mate is the same weight and he is on 40-45lt boards.

Does he find it hard to duck dive?

Not at all.

Thanks for the reply, any other opinions out there before I go ahead with the 6'2"?

+ 1 on Darths comments...at 88kg you will be fine on PU or epoxy 39L boards. Less volume would be easier in more demanding situations like size & how much push the foam has after a wave breaking. But will also be easier to paddle faster to try & avoid being in those situations.

Took the ECS 6'6 drifter out in one foot + fattish clean surf today. Normally i come off the back on my 6'0 magic door rusty - only 30 approx litres. With 47 litres underneath me, got some of the longest waves I have had in a very long time. Didn't need to pump to stay on the wave once. For thirty years I have only surfed 6'2 fishes and 6'1 max shortboards. To up my foam from 30 or so litres to 47 litres was the best thing I've done in years. It is really odd sitting on top of the water, rather than in it and duckdiving is not as successful - in one foot+ not an issue though. The drifter is a really great board. The v flex version is really light and tough. It flies across sections and just takes off on anything. I would really recommend getting this board - 607 bucks delivery - cheaper in PU (i don't work for them and am not affiliated in any way with the company). The drifter is based on a Donald Takayama design - the Scorpion (they start at 6'8). They cost 1500 bucks or so I believe and they look like a work of art - very well made and would be brilliant. You can get them in a surftech design for cheaper - which would be very similar to what I have, except they dont make a 6'6. The Greedy beaver looks very similar but about a grand. If I have any advice to older blokes (i'm 44) is dont be afraid to get some more foam underneath you. I came out of the water smiling.

Just bought an ECS PU Bulldog, 5'8" and road-tested it this morning on a variety of waves. I think the old saying 'you get what you pay for' certainly does this one justice. So, its the latest model and its basically a copy of a Hayden Shapes Hypto Krypto.

Pros:
-The shape is right.
-The volume is in all the right places.
-Easy-take offs.
-A lot of drive down the line.
-Nice array and selection of fins and decent finboxes.
-More solid than a Hypto Krypto (and won't bend in half like Hyptos).

Cons:
-Argh!!! What happened to my rails. This chubby little bastard just wants to slide out from underneath you. Don't plan on any large turns. You need to use your weight to turn this thing (particularly in bottom turns) rather than the rail of the board. Not sure whether the rails or rather the lack of rails have something to do with being shaped by a machine. Now that HaydenShapes have started getting their Hyptos machine- made, it would be interesting to know whether they have the same problem.
-It is slow to paddle.
-I thought that by getting the PU, rather than the EPS, that this thing would have a bit more weight. But it is sill too light (for my liking) and chatters through faster sections on the wave.

This one gets 2.5 out of 5 stars on my board scale. Not sure whether a Lost Quiver Killer would be a better option here. It seems to have better structural integrity and is cheaper than a Hypto but might have better rails than the Bulldog.

Just bought an ECS PU Bulldog, 5'8" and road-tested it this morning on a variety of waves. I think the old saying 'you get what you pay for' certainly does this one justice. So, its the latest model and its basically a copy of a Hayden Shapes Hypto Krypto.

Pros:
-The shape is right.
-The volume is in all the right places.
-Easy-take offs.
-A lot of drive down the line.
-Nice array and selection of fins and decent finboxes.
-More solid than a Hypto Krypto (and won't bend in half like Hyptos).

Cons:
-Argh!!! What happened to my rails. This chubby little bastard just wants to slide out from underneath you. Don't plan on any large turns. You need to use your weight to turn this thing (particularly in bottom turns) rather than the rail of the board. Not sure whether the rails or rather the lack of rails have something to do with being shaped by a machine. Now that HaydenShapes have started getting their Hyptos machine- made, it would be interesting to know whether they have the same problem.
-It is slow to paddle.
-I thought that by getting the PU, rather than the EPS, that this thing would have a bit more weight. But it is sill too light (for my liking) and chatters through faster sections on the wave.

This one gets 2.5 out of 5 stars on my board scale. Not sure whether a Lost Quiver Killer would be a better option here. It seems to have better structural integrity and is cheaper than a Hypto but might have better rails than the Bulldog.

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Eugo said..
Just bought an ECS PU Bulldog, 5'8" and road-tested it this morning on a variety of waves. I think the old saying 'you get what you pay for' certainly does this one justice. So, its the latest model and its basically a copy of a Hayden Shapes Hypto Krypto.

Pros:
-The shape is right.
-The volume is in all the right places.
-Easy-take offs.
-A lot of drive down the line.
-Nice array and selection of fins and decent finboxes.
-More solid than a Hypto Krypto (and won't bend in half like Hyptos).

Cons:
-Argh!!! What happened to my rails. This chubby little bastard just wants to slide out from underneath you. Don't plan on any large turns. You need to use your weight to turn this thing (particularly in bottom turns) rather than the rail of the board. Not sure whether the rails or rather the lack of rails have something to do with being shaped by a machine. Now that HaydenShapes have started getting their Hyptos machine- made, it would be interesting to know whether they have the same problem.
-It is slow to paddle.
-I thought that by getting the PU, rather than the EPS, that this thing would have a bit more weight. But it is sill too light (for my liking) and chatters through faster sections on the wave.

This one gets 2.5 out of 5 stars on my board scale. Not sure whether a Lost Quiver Killer would be a better option here. It seems to have better structural integrity and is cheaper than a Hypto but might have better rails than the Bulldog.

Tails a lot wider than a Hypto...try larger fins & see how that goes. Rails are just as chunky as the Hypto, I think its the wider outline of the tail that your feeling in your bottom turns if your comparing to the Hypto. You didn't say what fin setup you were using, I rode both of mine as quads due to the width of the tail. Should add I rode mine on fat reefies or under chest high beachies. The overall width & wide tail doesn't gell well in steeper/larger waves. Hypto's a more versatile shape imo.

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DARTH said..

murphs76 said..

DARTH said..

murphs76 said..
I was looking at the ECS Bulldog too and sent them an email saying that I was 88kg and hadn't surfed for a decade but was still very fit. The guy recommended the 6'2" at 39L, do you think that's too much litreage?

Maybe not enough, my mate is the same weight and he is on 40-45lt boards.

Does he find it hard to duck dive?

Not at all.

Agreed won't be hard to duck dive at volume at all ... Im 92kg and ride in the 45ltr range for daily drivers

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DARTH said..

murphs76 said..
I was looking at the ECS Bulldog too and sent them an email saying that I was 88kg and hadn't surfed for a decade but was still very fit. The guy recommended the 6'2" at 39L, do you think that's too much litreage?

Maybe not enough, my mate is the same weight and he is on 40-45lt boards.

Yeh that would work. I had a ecs bulldog 6'2 its allot of board.