Quatro 2018 Cube and Super Mini

I picked up 2 new boards this season and thought I'd share my initial thoughts. This is my first time riding any Quatro boards and I just had to dive in seeings there is nowhere to demo in my area - it wasn't a tough decision as they always seem to get pretty good reviews. Previous boards have been a range of Starboard, Fanatic, Tabou - The last 2.5 seasons on 2016 Starboard Reactors 82 and 92 - which I have really enjoyed.

I chose the Cube 86 and the Super Mini 94. My thoughts being the Super Mini would be my light wind/on-shore board and the Cube would cover everything else. I weigh in at roughly 82kg depending on my snacking/beverage habits

Out of the box the gear looks really well finished and what you would expect for a top quality product. The MFC fins have been upgraded this year as apparently they had some quality issues with last years. They have a reasonable amount of flex in them and feel good to me. The foot-straps are quite soft and comfy - I actually found that maybe they were a bit too soft and had to run them a bit tighter than I have with others - I might upgrade these in the future. Both boards feel quite light as well.

I've now had both boards out in a range of conditions, here's what I thought.

Super Mini 94:

I have used this in cross-off and cross-on with both my 5.3 and 4.7 Ezzy Taka4's. This board is quite chunky with a lot of its volume in the tail, so when you first get on this board in sub planing conditions its easy to bury the nose - this took a little while to adjust to and you really need to stand back from the mast foot. Another note is that this board is quite corky/tippy as well and I found that initially in light wind and tacks it's easy to put your feet in the wrong spot - just takes a little while to get use too - probably a result of my previously wide boards. All this volume really comes into play though and gets you planing super early - easily the quickest wave board to plane that I have ever used!!! In cross-on it keeps it's speed really well in sluggish sections and turns on a dime - it has a really fun nature that likes to go from heel-side to toe-side. It gets air quite easily off the lip again thanks to the volume. The bottom turns feel secure and projects you well up the face, ready for a tight top turn. It's a great cross-on wave board - full marks in these conditions.

In strong cross-off and/or powerful waves I have found that the early planing gets you into waves early and easily, but all of that volume can become a hindrance if your not careful and you really need to watch how much pressure you apply in your top turns/cut backs - too much and it is very easy to skip out, I think a better sailor might not struggle in this area as much, but for me it has taken some getting use to. In these conditions I would use the Cube.

Cube 86:

Again used in a range of conditions with both 4.7 and 5.3 Taka4's mainly in cross off so far. This board is much more an all-rounder, the Super Mini is more of a niche board, but the Cube is a go anywhere wave machine. From float and ride to maxed out it just feels great - at the top end it never feels sketchy or out of control. It is still a bit of a chunky board with some volume in the tail - but nowhere near as much as the SM. Not quite as early to plane, but still probably quicker to plane than any of my previous boards and it's pretty quick at the top end too. Bottom turns feel great and secure, top turns tight and grippy - but you can also draw them out if you want/need too. It also feels good in the air. Out of the two boards this is my favourite - and I keep finding myself wanting to use this the most.

Conclusions:

I really love the Cube 86 and will be riding it as much as possible, especially when it's cross-off and powerful waves and/or really windy - it's an epic board!!!!

The Super Mini is a real gem in light wind and cross-on (exactly what I bought it for) and I have had many fun session in those conditions. It has taken a little longer to adjust to, but it's been worth the effort and I can see myself using it lots in light wind and cross-on.

Thanks for reading, feel free to share your own thoughts/experiences with these boards.

Cheers

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Jens said..
Nice review Bigdaz. The Cube sounds really good, and pretty much echoes what Dick says about his. He has the 95 & 105 from last year, and really rates them. Do you think that in retrospect you might have chosen the next bigger Cube as your light wind alternative, or do you prefer the different feel that the SM brings?

Cheers, Jens

Cheers, I'm not sure I would make that call yet. Because I couldn't demo either of them I went for one of each with the thought that I might like one style more than the other and possibly switch one of them out next season - as I do usually prefer the same board in 2 sizes. I'm still really liking both boards for the different conditions I sail in. The SM early planing and on-shore top turn are pretty addictive. I'll just need to spend more time on them to see if I want to sacrifice that for the more all round style of the Cube as my light wind board. I might end up going that way as quite often we still get light wind days cross-off but with a powerful wave, where the extra volume is required but not so much volume in the tail.... It's a really tough call as there is so much to like about both boards, it's still early days and only time will tell which way I go.

Also the new Goyas I reckon! They all look good...

Just thought I'd give a bit of an update on my boards now I've had them for 2.5 months and been able to sail them both in all sorts of conditions.

I'll start with the Super Mini 94: the more I've used this board the more I like it - it is really fun. It took me a little while to dial it in. To start off with I really only liked it in cross-on, but I've been using it more and more in cross-off especially when it's lighter wind, and it is pretty sick. I think it's actually made me improve my technique and become a better sailor. I've been really working on my hand placements on the boom when waveriding and that has made a huge difference in my bottom and top turns - which has really opened up the opportunities with this board. Before I felt there was too much tail volume to really lay into my top turns - but the real issue was I wasn't bringing my back hand far enough forward to really de-power the sail, which caused the tail to skip out easily - so now I have a lot more confidence to really lay into it and it just hooks around, throwing spray and making me smile. I'm really glad I've used it more and more. It's quick to plane, sick in cross-on and sick in lighter wind cross-off. If the wind and waves are really cranking though that's when I get out the Cube 86.

The Cube, has not failed to dissapoint on any session I've had it out, it's just a great all-rounder that can handle pretty much everything you can throw at it.

To sum up, I'm really happy with both boards and they complement each other really well. If I had to have only one board I'd go for the Cube 86, but having the SM 94 is the added luxury to make those less than ideal days even better. I'd say I get them both in the water a similar amount of time due to the conditions I sail in - so for now it's a pretty sick quiver.

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philn said..
Cool review. Which board would you say planes earlier? Maybe difficult to say because they are different sizes so used in different conditions, but interested to hear your opinion.

If the majority of your sailing was in 60% cross on and 40% cross shore, in light wind and mostly waves less than 6 ft faces, which style of board would you choose? I'm considering the Cube 104 vs the Mini thruster 103. I'll be using it 75% with a Banzai 6.3 and 25% with a Banzai 5.7. Early planing is important as I mostly sail beach breaks with strong long shore currents.

Hey Philn, good question.

I think you could easily get either board and be really happy for the conditions you typically sail in, but if I was you I would probably get the Super Mini. I think there are just a few aspects to it that will help make the most of your conditions. Even though I'm comparing different sizes it's quite obvious that it's a bit quicker to plane. Having a thruster with a larger center fin will be more helpful in the strong currents than a quad as well. As a cross/on board I think it also has a slight edge and the fact that you are not sailing large waves also makes me lean in this direction.

If you were to choose the Cube it will still perform well in those conditions, I just think the SM will perform slightly better. Where it could possibly tempt you is it will also handle bigger swell better than the SM and more maxed out conditions - so if you wanted a board that could do that as well then I would choose the Cube.

Decisions decisions, there are always trade-offs, but like I said, I don't think you can go too wrong either way. I hope this is helpful. Let me know how you go :)

Daz

Hi Steve
I do a lot of sailing with Dick down at Margaret river. He weighs about the same as you and has both the Cube 95 and 105. I can tell you that he uses the 95 heaps more, even when the wind is on the light side. Dick reckons that there isn't much difference between them in terms of earliness to plane which is why he tends to go for the smaller one. On that basis the sm may work better for you maybe? Cheers Jens

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frankfinn said..
Hey Bigdaz,

Great review. I have the 2015 Cube 84 and looking to partner it with either the 105 Cube or SM 103. I weigh approx 10kg more than you so your feeling on the 94 would be similar to how I should feel on the 103 (in theory).
What size fins are you using on the SM? Do you change them for DTL?

Steve (aka Frankfinn)

Hey Steve, I'm just running the stock fins 20 Center and 10 sides - haven't felt the need to try anything else in them yet. I might try the K4's in the future.

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Rob0104 said..
Thanks for the review. I've been thinking of changing my 2017 cubes , 85 & 105 to the 2018 versions, problem is I really like the look of the new 96 pyramid for some dtl ripping. now I'm wondering should I get it as well or buy the 103 supermini, the 96 pyramid and a 85 cube.
Anyone with any thoughts. I sail all conditions, and I love my current setup. I have sailed the older minis 103 & 78 and really rated them . However there is nothing to beat a dedicated wave board for dtl and I have missed having a 90-95l board for those epic days.

Hey Rob, if your budget can cope, get all three. The 103 SM for the less than ideal days and/or cross-on, the 96 Pyramid for those epic days when its really firing and the 86 Cube for those nuking days. Sounds like a perfect quiver to me!!!

I've been trying to work out where I can fit a Pyramid into my quiver (maybe an 83??) I haven't had a chance to try one yet, but I know it would be sick for those epic days.

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Rob0104 said..
hey Bigdaz, thanks for your opinion, I think I'll keep the 85 cube and get the 96 pymarid and 103 SM. As I'm a bit heavier than you (91kg) I appreciate I need more volume in the pyramid, nothing worse than missing that epic wave or getting mullered because of a lull at the wrong time. I would lean towards the 88, a few litres more than body weight is I feel essential on a dedicated wave board. As one of the top racers here in Ireland once advised me, ' buy what you need, not what you want'
cheers rob

Sounds like a great plan, that will make a sick quiver!!! Would love to hear your thoughts once you have picked them up and had a few sessions on them - especially the Pyramid and how it compares to the Cube and SM as I have yet to try one. Happy sailing, Daz.

Nice one

So since buying my Cube and Super Mini I put on some weight, but now have managed to drop 9kg - which is awesome. Unfortunately it has now stuffed me up with my board sizes. So with great reluctance I have decided to sell my 2018 Quatro Cube 86l and readjust my quiver.

It has been one epic board and I am very sorry to have to sell it. If your interested you can check out the add link below (copy and paste the whole thing).

www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Windsurfing-Boards/~-yr5q/2018-Quatro-Cube-220-cm-86-litres.aspx?_page=1&search=iVVAl2umBXmHLC7VP1FIeA%3D%3D

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philn said..
What are you getting instead?

So I ended up getting an 83l Pyramid - it just turned up yesterday :)

I know it's only 3l less than the cube, but it has a finer profile with less volume in the tail and rails - which is what I felt I needed in my small board. I did consider the the 81l Cube which I know would have been amazing - but I was super keen to try the Pyramid and in the end I couldn't resist it. The 78l pyramid was also an option, but felt with the Pyramids more aggressive/hard core shape, a few extra litres wouldn't go astray (wind up my way can be pretty fickle) so in the end I chose the 83.

Anyway I can't wait to get it on the water, I'll post my thoughts after a few sessions on it.

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tomp said..
- nice pic, Gerroa of course
- dropped 9kg, did you cut out beer
- no longer bigdaz!
- still got $ for 2 quatros, good for you

Gerroa
Briefly cut out beer, now its just less beer.
Prob more like mediumdaz now
2 Quatro's ??, now less money for beer, so I guess that works out too

Thanks for the update Bigdaz.

It mirrors my recent experience with the 95l Pyramid vs the Goya 94 Custom Quad (with me at 94 kg). I've been sailing the Goya for .5 yrs, but got hold of the Pyramid about 3 months ago.

The Pyramid is bit slower to get going, but once on the plane it works well, and definitely feels more slice & dicey on the wave than the Goya. Took me a while to get used to because while the Pyramid responds well to back foot pressure, it also has about 2 cm more rocker than the Goya, which means that if you don't drive the front foot as well it doesn't work properly. So at 1st I was stamping hard on the tail, getting lots of grip in the waves, but neglecting the front foot, which meant that sailing the Pyramid was a sketchy affair, with me sometimes going sideways when the tail gave way. (Disconcerting on mast plus waves!) Now I've learnt that you really need to load up the front foot with body weight, leaning forward as well as out (really exaggerating the forward momentum), and all is good: the board points better, stays on the plane and gybes much more smoothly. Took a while to get used to that on the way in, getting over the feeling of imminent catapults on swells, but has paid off with much smoother, more responsive riding. However, when the wind is sketchy I prefer the Goya for float and ride: it points much higher, provides a more stable base, pumps onto swells and just handles the holes in the wind more effectively. I wonder if the vol estimates are off because the Goya at 94l definitely has more buoyancy than the Quatro at 95l.

The upshot is that I like them both, and will use them as the conditions suit: they are both keepers.

Cheers, Jens

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Happy sailing ??

... typo, Happy Sailing!!!

Great read following your journey