Seabreezers, I just got my tax return so its time for a new board!
I've been pouring through different threads and the Or mako seems to fit the bill.
but I am unsure on the right sized mako for my needs. I weigh about 80kg and am an experienced kiter, I ride mainly in small to medium wave locations, average winds are 15-20 knots. I have a light wind TT and a stonger wind TT so am looking for a board to fill the sweet spot in between. I am really only interested in riding waves, hard carving and boosting. I don?t really get into much freestyle stuff, just the occasional back/front loops, dark slides ect.
From the limited online research I have done I am leaning towards the mako 150. There is no possibilty of demos where I live and I don?t know anybody with a mako.
So the question is what is the right size for me, and is the mako the right board for my needs.
Thanks in advance for your input
hello,
i have a mako king. I love the board. I am using the board strapless until I find the sweet spot.My Style is surf . My background is surfing.
I weigh 90 Kg. I got it one month ago. The board is great for carving and easy on the knees on bumpy ocean. It goes upwind but it is not the best board to go upwind. I also have a North Freerace and a North Surf 11 whip surfboard. I don't like the north surf 11 because is to much work to go upwind but the North Freerace goes upwind and I can turn the board like a surfboard.
so what I know is the Freerace flots a lot more than mako I can let go the kite and ride the wave . On the mako you need to be pull all the time.
I always ride big boards so the 160 is perfect size for me the downsize is heavy. I can't answer you question about is 150 a good for you but I hope my comments will help with you search for the next board.
cheers
Hey Bennie have ridden my mates Mako 150 twice he has it setup in TT mode with a single centre fin both ends,I found the board rails upwind and is ultra smooth through the chop,it carves onto toeside effortlessly,also holding the edge is so easy the rail digs so hard that it takes way less effort than a STD TT,size wise even though it's 150 I would equate it to a 133-135 x 41-42 so it's not a real low wind board for my weight 95 kegs it would be in the 16 + wind range,might even buy one myself
For what you want the 150 would fit the bill ,the 140 would be a lot of fun but more a mid to high wind board judging from the 150 and I wouldn't give up my high wind TT for one also the king would be too big for me as a couple of times I clipped the peak of a wave with the rear of the 150 and it popped my front foot out,not being used to the extra length.
I'm in a similar position I have a great light wind board and mid strong wind board for the in-between I've got a cardboards wave it's great but after a while riding it starts to feel a bit heavy,the 150 mako I found really light in comparison so i might have to take the plunge and sell the wave for a Mako.
I weigh 75k and had the 140.... If you dont need it for lightwind get the 140... the 150 feels like a battleship on ur feet.....
I rode eppo's 140 and king. Out of the 2 I enjoyed the 140 best. Such a fun board.
I haven't ridden the 150 so can't comment.
150 bennie. I to have a light wind TT (cruiser pro) a more square tipped 132 laluz and the 150 mako for carving and waves.
Radman's description is spot on. Has its own feel. Thing is and one thing a lot of people fail to mention, this board rides flat really well. Much better than a TT that need a its rail engaged all the time (unless sliding out etc), but it will still stick. Great for shooting down the line in a tight spot. Also this means you can stand more upright in the waves. And yes when you want the rail will bite like a maniac.
Be aware though they can get squirrelly at high speeds when trying to load. More front foot pressure and also chucking in the mutant fins reduces this, but they are built to carve. Still can jump them though and all that hooked in jazz, fine. But a perfect board to compliment a quiver for sure.
150, its the smoothest out of the lot to for some weird reason, concave versus length or something...140 is more for higher wind having fun!
The king for surfing only. Don't get me wrong you can throw down stuff on the king at your stomach muscles peril!
Read my reviews, and other stuff I have observed...
There is also the Dundee if ya wanna go more traditional TT but its nice to have something real different in your board quiver I feel. Totally different board hey. Yes like radman I loved my CB wave...mako is better.
Yep noticed the same thing riding it you can hold the edge in a more vertical position and give the board more front foot like a SB ,so who's selling these boards in AUS and whats the best price on a 150 heading over soon so wouldnt mind picking one up to bring back.
I have a 165 (Mako king). I ride it almost exclusively. Perfect for waves and carving not so much for boosting. I think its got a bit to much windage!!
The only problem I have found is when riding it strapped and hard carving on waves you can't get enough weight over the back fins (feet stuck in the foot straps). Maybe the shorter version would be better in this regard.
Great fun though. Grab one you wont regret it. I imported mine for $550 as they wanted $1100 for one in Oz (from the distributor)....LOL..... This may have changed as it was two years ago.
Hey Bennie
Yep we do the Ocean Rodeo gear.
I tend to agree with comments on the 150 being the go to board of the range.
But saying that we have sold more Kings than 150's & 140's combined?
I have only had the chance to try the boards myself once. I definitely found the 150 more fun and would be plenty big enough to act as a lighter wind option.
I would chose the King for really long downwiders & agree with eppo that it would be more surfboard like ride on waves.
But for regular session riding the huge size (imo) would be cumbersome and not really offer too many advantages over the 150.
I have recently offered a customer - who cant demo here in Perth - the option of a 150 on sale or return if it doesnt fit the bill.
Ring me if you want details on this option.
As a general comment on the Mako I see it as niche market board. Its not a regular TT & its not a surfboard either.
A great option for wave riders not chasing that purist surfboard experience but wanting to make the most of what I describe as 'playing in the waves' & for that the 140 or 150. The King - for me - would only come out in big waves or really long downwinders.
Hey Bennie
Yep we do the Ocean Rodeo gear.
I tend to agree with comments on the 150 being the go to board of the range.
But saying that we have sold more Kings than 150's & 140's combined?
I have only had the chance to try the boards myself once. I definitely found the 150 more fun and would be plenty big enough to act as a lighter wind option.
I would chose the King for really long downwiders & agree with eppo that it would be more of a surfboard like ride on waves.
But for regular session riding the huge size (imo) would be cumbersome and not really offer too many advantages over the 150.
I have recently offered a customer - who cant demo here in Perth - the option of a 150 on sale or return if it doesnt fit the bill.
Ring me - 0430 966 397 - if you want details on this option.
As a general comment on the Mako I see it as niche market board.
Its not a regular TT & its not a surfboard either.
A great option for wave riders not chasing that purist surfboard experience but wanting to make the most of what I describe as 'playing in the waves' & for that the 140 or 150. The King - for me - would only come out in big waves or really long downwinders.
Has anyone ridden an RRD Toxic Wave? Would be interested to here peoples views on them as you don't here much about them.
thanks for all the input lads. I have posted this question in a couple of different forums and the overriding consensus is the 150. The other thing I have noted is that unusually there are hardly any negative comments about the mako range, only guys frothing over these boards. Usually you will at least get a few crew who have negative things to say about a bit of kit.
Puppet I will be in touch . Do you know if OR are releasing 2014 gear soon?. It would be frustrating to buy a 2013 only for an updated model to come out in a few weeks.
Eppo I did consider the dundee, also the speedball, but the mako's middle ground between surfboard and TT characteristics just sounds right for me. I was originally contemplating going down the surfboard route( I already have a couple of old surfboards for strapless)But boosting on a SB is a huge issue for me. Interestingly once I get my Mako, we will have very similar board quivers.
Radman, a few months back I was think about getting a CB wave, but then I heard Eppo and a few others banging on about how good the mako is. Also I think CB has gone out of business? so only 2nd hand options left there.
Also what fin configurations are you guys using?. I am thinking I will purchase the 80mm surf fin for my natural back end
Yea that's what I would do bennie I would also setup as a Mutant just like my wave I don't see the point of setting up as a TT already having the Tt covered,might even keep my Wave and swap the fins over.
I run 60 mm fins on my mutant. I found the 80mm too big. But I love to smash the the shallow.
Yeh depends. In winter I just run some 50mm on the sides. In summer when there is f'all swell I just ride as a TT.
Also depends on swell. If it is big I fin up, if it is s all to medium riding as a straight TT gives you enough.
The CB wave probably feels more like a SB when actually on the wave...slightly more, but the mako beats it for everything else.
Radman might verify that though been a while since I have been on the wave.
Yea CB wave does feel more like a SB especially on the face of a wave toeside in some ways I prefer it to the SB ,haven't used the Mako yet in TT mode will have to swap my Wave rears onto my mates Mako and give it a go to see how it compares.
I've been riding the Mako 150 for the last three years and would have to say its my all round board, it's the perfect board for just messing around in the chop waves whatever. Easy on the knees and in TT mode super slidey takes a bit of getting use to but so much fun.
Easy for upwind and toeside is simple.
I've been giving the surfboard a good crack but the Mako is still my preference so much fun and easy for he long sessions. I'd go the 150 as the 140 is somewhat TT in performance where I find the 150 is like no other board I have ever ridden.
See if you can borrow a 150 and give it a good test they're different so be patient, the Makos are well the effort.
All this Mako talk makes me want to get one
. I nearly broke the bank with a new zephyr
your just at that in between weight at 80kegs ...
for us bigger guys at 85kgs+ then the Kings (165cm) are magic imo ... lighter guys at around 75kg's will prefer the 150's ... I like 'em all !
(I use the 140 as my higher wind TT and just set a smaller size kite than i would on a smaller TT - altho I've got a 135 mako as well, I hardly ever use it over here)
also, a lot depends if you have 'em set-up in TT or Mutant mode, as naturally it makes a big difference ... and the size of the side fins you wanna run with (in mutant mode) as Eppo mentioned
At 80kgs, and if you are only gunna have one Mako, then probably the 150 is the go... if you find yourself in waves more often, then you won't mind being on a King either, altho a 150 will still do it for ya in waves just as good at yr weight...
as a bigger guy, in our 'off' season when no waves, I can use my King in TT mode in super flat water sometimes (in lighter winds) and have a blast on it.... means i can set a smaller kite too ...
all the Mako's go well in chop, due to the huge 18mm concave (think of multi-hull boats in rough water)
(i think for larger guys in waves and flat, then the King & 140 combo is good ...)
* there are so many variables, it's pretty hard to nail what is best for you personally and the conditions your using 'em in, until probably you get the chance to try both the 150 & King in different conditions to say what is absolutely the best choice for you.
Eppo's had all 3 sizes, and at his weight, i agree, the 150 is the prob the all round best option (yr around 75-80kegs aren't u eppo?)
* couldn't get my hands on the first batch of 2013 models until very early feb this year (pretty sure that was the first production batch for sale), so don't expect the 2014 models to come out any earlier than early next year again (un-like most kite models which come out 6 months before the new year begins !) ... anyways, over the years the mako's haven't changed much at all - the 2013's came with new 'mini-tucked rails' - otherwise, the only usual difference from year to year is the colour-ways they come out in the different sizes...
cheers for the advice Buzz, I am pretty much sold on the 150 now. I plan to run it in TT setup, but the beauty of boards like this is that you can experiment with foot and fin combinations. Who knows If I like it enough I may just get a king and a 135 to go with it.
I have heard good things about the 130, same ratio of length to concave as the 150... It seem to make a diff. Love to get on one!!
bit of history about mako's ...
it all started off with just one size around 2005-2006 - the original Mako 150 x 35 ...
(you can see the canadian boys at OceanRodeo (John Zimmerman & his mates) used some of their snowboarding background to come up with the rounded off ends and basic shape) ... no more spray in the face from the usual sqaured-off ends of normal TT's was a big plus imo (I used to ride Underground FLX's)
that original Mako 150 killed it, got rave reviews & then they decided to experiment a bit and bring out the 150 x 40cm in 2007 and called it the Mako 150 wide and introduced a new size 134 x 35cm (i got both of 'em that year, and still have the 134 for history's sake)
we then gave 'em a bit of feedback about the 134, being too small & narrow & not being as good as the new 150 x 40, and they then brought out the 140 x 40cm in 2008 i think it was ... and so the Mako Wide range was born ... they stopped making the 150 x 35cm even tho it was a great board, the 40cm was preferred by most
next came the Kings at 165 x 45cm in 2009 I'm pretty sure it was, and the first size that came in mutant option ... I got one thinking maybe too big, but was a ****n blast ... and still is (especially for bigger guys in lighter winds, altho lighter guys love 'em too)
all models have always had the original 18mm concave - thats never changed & I hope it never does... as it's this concave that funnels water thru the back instead of dispersing water from the sides like you get with a flat bottomed board (coming from a surfing background, I used to love deep 6 channel bottom boards which sorta do a similar thing) ... the deep concave, I believe, makes 'em a lot easier on the knees as it makes for a 'cushion type' effect that eats chop & you can ride for longer periods because of this imo ...
also the quite profound rocker (banana bend) in 'em has always been there, which makes 'em good in waves ...
this a pic of the original 150 x 35cm Mako and another below ...
in regards the above history, please correct me if I'm wrong ! 
i agree with buzz and the 2 makos, (@ 70kgs ) i have had the king since 2011, about 70% of the time in mutant mode and change too twin setup in lighter conditions, last year i bought a 140 for when its nuking. i think they ride much smaller than there size, my 140 feels very similar in size to my old t555 134 x 42 just a different feel so smooth through the chop. ( and i find them brilliant upwind)
Damn that's a nice shot of that guy in the wave..sooo good. And captures the makos ability to ride toeside and upright like a SB.
Oh yeh I hear a lot of hype about no spray and all that jazz...get on a mako to find out what no spray is about.
Select to expand quoteludbey said..
i agree with buzz and the 2 makos, (@ 70kgs ) i have had the king since 2011, about 70% of the time in mutant mode and change too twin setup in lighter conditions, last year i bought a 140 for when its nuking. i think they ride much smaller than there size, my 140 feels very similar in size to my old t555 134 x 42 just a different feel so smooth through the chop. ( and i find them brilliant upwind)
spot on ludbey ... enjoy the stoke mate !
I use the 150 (tried the king enjoyed it but found the 150 best for me) and as others have said one of the stand out features is lack of spray in your face and the softer ride on the knees. It takes a few rides to get use to so give it a fair go and you will have found your go to board!
Also they are one of the best made boards out there very high quality finish IMHO
At 82 pies it works well for me but did find boosting off the edge different to a TT. Must say thanks to KKS for the demos great guys there
