Declarations first = I own both these boards & I bought these boards with my own money, owe no-one any favors

They are both gr8 boards & highly recommended.

Strengths Manta 54 = Gybing & smooth handling in choppy water I thought the iSo 86 was the best board I had ever gybed, this one's even better!!!!

Strengths iSo 86 = Versatility Wide Wind Range & Top end speed, the board is fast

Weaknesses Manta 54 = Maybe a bit technical to get top end speeds, have to have everything set up properly and learn how to get maximum top end out of it, still havent quite sussed it out yet.

Weaknesses iSo 86 = Hard to identify any?

Manta 54 is superior to iSo 86 in the gybing department.
ISo 86 is superior to Manta 54 in wind range & top end speed.

They are both so good at this stage I cant depart with either, have to keep both, just 2 of those classic boards they just got right.

Have you found a better gyber than the 86!? Then the manta 54,is on my test list..
i absolutely love my 86,awesome speed and control i mainly use 30 and 34 vector fins, the 5.5 tilll 7.0 range..

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benti said...

Have you found a better gyber than the 86!? Then the manta 54,is on my test list..
i absolutely love my 86,awesome speed and control i mainly use 30 and 34 vector fins, the 5.5 tilll 7.0 range..

Initially i was a bit disappointed in the 54 coz I wanted something faster than the iSo 86, and being very happy with the gybing of the 86, I thought I would sell the 54, but when I gybed it trying to beat my Alpha 500 PB, I smashed it, and I though Faark this is so good at gybing I cant get rid of it

Hardie next time i'm up your way take my CA SL52 for a spin. i too owned a Iso 86 and thought it was the sweetest gybing board on the market.

that was untill i got the Sl52. It's so much better and it's faster too.......

hardie try comparing both the boards in choppy conditions instead of flat water at mandurah....and let us know your thoughts

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snides8 said...

hardie try comparing both the boards in choppy conditions instead of flat water at mandurah....and let us know your thoughts

What Mandurah isnt Choppy?

Cracked 37kts on the Manta 54 today very happy Yes have to ride it differently to get it to go fast, shifting all weight to rear of board.

Is the Manta a Tabou? If so what .. A freeride or what? One day I want to buy a cheap 2nd hand small Tabou as my 30kt + board..
PS - Cripes you guys must get some wind to be able to use a 54 ltre board!

54cm wide

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sboardcrazy said...

Is the Manta a Tabou? If so what .. A freeride or what? One day I want to buy a cheap 2nd hand small Tabou as my 30kt + board..
PS - Cripes you guys must get some wind to be able to use a 54 ltre board!

Tabou manta 54cm wide 74 litres fn gr8 board!!!!!!!!!

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sboardcrazy said...

Is the Manta a Tabou? If so what .. A freeride or what? One day I want to buy a cheap 2nd hand small Tabou as my 30kt + board..
PS - Cripes you guys must get some wind to be able to use a 54 ltre board!

I reckon a more freestyle or wave board would be the go for the likes of you and me than a full on slalom/speed board in strong winds.

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sboardcrazy said...

Is the Manta a Tabou? If so what .. A freeride or what? One day I want to buy a cheap 2nd hand small Tabou as my 30kt + board..
PS - Cripes you guys must get some wind to be able to use a 54 ltre board!

Are you saying that Hardie is gravitically challenged?!

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lao shi said...

Are you saying that Hardie is gravitically challenged?!

Ya have 2 hamburgers with the lot for breakfast and the name callimng starts

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hardie said...

lao shi said...

Are you saying that Hardie is gravitically challenged?!

Ya have 2 hamburgers with the lot for breakfast and the name callimng starts

it not so much the hamburgers, it's having them as entree's which is the concern

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Bender said...

Hardie next time i'm up your way take my CA SL52 for a spin. i too owned a Iso 86 and thought it was the sweetest gybing board on the market.

that was untill i got the Sl52. It's so much better and it's faster too.......

Don,t do that cos then he,ll want one of those too.

I found that the 52 was "less" effort to push up wind as it had a longer water line but the off the wind speeds were the same. The foot strap set up was better than the 86. Haven,t tried the Manta yet.