Muzza has been mastering quad fin design for over five years now. Regardless ,the majority of the market are still sceptical of four fins.

The fact that the pro tour has not embraced the quad seems to be the biggest impediment to mass acceptance; all except for one however, Kelly has gone out on a limb with the round tail quad.

Those who think it is or was a fad ,better think again! This design, as did the thruster , evolved very quickly and at this point the latest round tail quads look nothing like their predecessors at all. Certainly there will come a time when most will take the step and I am sure Muzza’s advice will be- “do not leave it too late” !

Read below and hear what some of Muzza’s converted are saying about his latest breakthrough with the Brooko Round tail quad and the Bullet series.  The results clearly suggest that quads are here to stay and will evolve further with shapers like Murray Bourton pushing their boundaries.

Fat & Skinny Bullets

G'day Murray.
 
Just thought I'd let you know I picked up my 6'2" bullet quad last Thursday and rode it on the weekend.
 
Put simply - it's unreal! You were definitely right about it just wanting to go. There's heaps of paddle power, and just giving it that little initial pump before the first bottom turn shows the board's ability for phenomenal speed. Although, the board is already cocked and ready to go before you've even got to your feet anyway!
 
The round tail plus quad fins allow you to pivot on a really small turning circle and let you do nice critical and tight turns off the top. I also found the board handled really well in more drawn out cutbacks too. I'm using Simon S25 fins. It's fantastic to turn.
 
You're right on the money with this one, and I will definitely be spreading the word. I've got a feeling my thruster's going to feel sluggish after riding the Bullet (if I ever go back)!
 
Conditions were ok but far from optimal on the weekend, so I can't wait to try the board in fast hollow conditions - I reckon it'll light up even more in those circumstances.
 
You're advice as to the dimensions for me were spot on too.
 
Cheers and well done on a great design.
 
Tom.



Murray,

Surfed the fat bullet at Coffs at 4 ft on Sat – winding walls.

It was so stable on the take offs and paddles in easily. Probably the nose concave helps?. Such an easy flowing board to ride, fast with little effort and cuts back so smoothly.
It definitely has a more consistent smoother power delivery than my tris, which go from squirt to squirt in a more jerky way.

I think you have found the idea older guys board. After years on many tris and a fish, it's amazing that it has happened at 50!. Stick with the design.
Im very happy. Thanks again.

I'll have to think about a bigger size quad for 6ft plus.

Regards
James

Murray,

I have given the fat bullet a good testing at Angourie (backhand) and Back Angourie (mainly forehand) this week. There has been constant swell here.

Firstly, it paddles in very easily, so the size/ volume is just right. The hull must be a stroke of genius I think!

I loved it forehand. It is very forgiving and smoother than any tri fin. Tri fins swallows have been a bit jerky for me in contrast. It cuts back better than any board I have ridden before both in a tight one or a longer one out on the wall. There is no rail grab or jerkiness like I have had on other boards. I can also pump it in this nice regular motion down the line, keeping up better than in the past on tri boards. It never skittered, up to solid 6 ft.

Backhand I found it a bit harder to get used to. Then again Angourie was about 6 ft plus solid on Wednesday when I first got to ride it backhand with 30 guys and two bad drop ins burning me off onto the rocks. The radius of my turns may have been a little tight on the fast walls. Today it had dropped a bit to about 5 ft with less guys and I started to get it more, but I was hanging a bit in the lip at times after coming off the bottom. Again, it was smooth and rides high on fast hollow sections which helps get you through the sections.

 I also saw a good surfer on a fish quad forehand driving beautifully off that first critical turn out the back. In contrast twin fishes at Back Angourie looked lame.

So thank you, I must have found the board for me I suspect, for all but bigger days, after 42 years of surfing. I wonder what a 7 ft gun in Bali would be like?


Regards
James Hamilton

Hi Muz,

Just wanted to give you some feedback on my new stick as discussed over the phone.

I really can't say anything bad about the fat bullet (although as you said, mine's a fat bullet on a diet!!). It's super quick off the mark, allows me to maintain more speed through turns than I've ever had, and it turns on a dime. I can't get over the wave size range it works in. So far I've surfed it from 1ft up to 4-5ft winki without any issues. I thought as a 5'10" it would start to get a little loose over 4ft, but so far it's been fine. I really think it'll handle up to 6ft without any problems. The extra speed the bullet has is amazing. I mean I can now do 2 turns in the space I could only do one on my thruster and I can maintain more speed through those turns allowing each turn to be more critical. In short this board is probably the best board I've ever owned, definitely the most fun that's for sure!!!

Simon

Muzz
Luv it the hull feels smooth and drivey, board catches waves so easy, even works well in choppy crappy waves, seems to plough thru it, its weird, hard to explain. Might be coming up to the fish fry. That fish you made for base in Torquay wouldn’t mind trying that it looks unreal
Nigel

Ok Muz
 
    I'm 48 and have been surfing since I was 15, but i'm just the average punter out there, fall off as much as anyone. Suddenly I'm on this quad ..... fuck me, this thing is like the future. For future reference the speed is incredible, I'm making sections I never used to (but you knew that would be the case), it's very loose if you want it to be but will hold when and where you want it to (that's an eye opener in itself), I turn and lots of spray comes off (pretty good for an old bloke when a young gun is watching), I kid you not when catching a wave I only need half my previous effort and I'm catching waves I never could before. The board responds ... actually responds, I pulled a floater on a section on the weekend that normally would have eaten me. The only thing I am still getting used to is less rocker, I usually lie further up the front but with this board I have to get used to positioning myself back a bit .... so I'm not paddling out so well just yet. I muffed a few waves because of it because I wasn't trusting the board ... once I got used to the ease of paddling into the wave all was good on that side. I put my paddling out down to my age. You are on a winner mate !
 
Cheers
 
Terry
 

Hi Muzza,
 
I have been riding your quad for the past week and it is great. I have been able to paddle into waves much easier than any other 6'5' board I have used. It is the perfect next level up from my HPR 6'8".
 
In the small stuff 1/2 ft it has the same speed as the HPR but more skatey i.e. it just goes where I want it. But when the surf was a little bigger, but mushy (which is all I have been able to find at the moment) 2-3 ft this board comes into its own. for example when my HPR board would normally dig at the front and go under your quad just simply lifts up and increases speed it much more forgiving and fast. I am still learning the best language to describe to the sensations the board is giving me but let's just say your hull is an amazing technological difference.
 
I am using FCS Q-H2c Fins not sure which ones you recommend for this board. I am back down at Coolie for the next week so I will get a chance to play more with it. I will be interested to see your new "groper" you were talking about the other day.
 
Thanks heaps for providing the tool that pushes my surfing to the next level.
 
Steve

 

 

Brooko Round Tail Quad

Murray

I just gotta tell you the board straight away had me top to bottom surfing like I was ten years ago and now like never before.

For someone with my lower back fixed (fused) with no movement and lack of fitness this is amazing, and now I am learning how to stick airs!

This alone I hadn’t even contemplated, this insane board has got me surfing better than ever and now I’m trying to get fitter to get more out of it, you’ve proved me wrong (boundary wise) and should truly feel proud as the value of this board is much more than $.      

Thanking you,
 
PARKESY



Muzz,

Yes I have more ramblings to report back on!!!!

Had a great days surfing down south on the RTQ on Saturday (3 – 2.5 M of solid swell). I rode it with the PC – 3 fins in the front and it went really well!

Great solid swell clean conditions and solid 4 foot with better sets coming through at Moses rock (long left)….great down the line conditions with lots of speed needed for the sections.  There were some great cut back sections and for the first time I really felt that ball and socket feel coming off the top on my back hand….felt great!

Took on a few of the bigger set waves and the board just wanted more….it definitely feels like it can take on a bigger wave with no dramas! 

Which is a great feeling when you're surrounded by flatness in Perth and then when you arrive at Margs its offshore and just on & you need a reliable board you know will get you in on a range of waves….there is no warm up its just get in there buddy!

There were two other people out there on quads (really chunky fishy things…made by Yahoo in Yallingup…that in my mind look ok for a fat wave but not a good down south wave) they seemed to be struggling through the quicker sections & speaking to them they did not seem to be getting the waves or having as much fun out there as I was! 

I know I keep raving on about this board but its just so much fun and exactly what I had in mind for a good down south surfing….i have a feeling it will go insane in Indo!  Am mulling over a semi gun quad for when it’s that bit bigger down south….
Nick



Hey Muz,

Go the Quad!!!

Had a spin on a 6’5 one of yours last weekend, was a bit odd at first (as is any new board) but after a few waves no one could get near me! Was awesome. Super responsive and didn’t skip a beat, super quick acceleration off the bottom! Had a ball!

Made me feel 10yrs younger!

Thanks a bundle!

Jakob

Murray,

Love the quad…….finding my feet on it nicely…….the speed and drive is awesome.

Thanks for making the whole process an enjoyable experience and result.

Regards


Stephen Ayling
                                                                                                                                                                   

G'Day Murray,

I thought I'd give you some feedback on the 6'3 round tail quad you made for me.

It only took 3 weeks for the surf to finally turn up (due to having to wait for it to cure while the east coast was pumping!) so I could get it out but the wait's been worth it. After coming straight off my 6'3 7S fish I was at first a little taken back by having a pointy, thin and light board to contend with again. Mind you, it only took about 15 minutes for that shock to disappear forever.

The widened version was the way to go. The paddle shock was minor and I found it very easy to re-adjust. I didn't feel that I was catching less waves and actually found it easier to ride once on because of the lightness and speed. Mind you, I won't be taking it out in 1 ft. The board is great.
It's certainly fast and I've found myself making sections that I wouldn't normally make on the fish. I've also found that I can take off and generate heaps of top end speed without having to make big bottom hand turns, although, when making those big turns the board really flies up into the lip. I love the turning ability of the quad. At first I was worried about how it would hold when making those big turns and probably held off a little too much. Once again after a few waves I was confident to dig it in on my turns as well as when smacking the lip or making big cut backs (typical for the Moffat beach wave). Another typical part of my local Moffats is how the wave will have a big fat section before turning into a freight train through

various sections. I just hold onto the fat section staying close to the pit before a few quick pumps up high which would drive down the line when the wave started to fire.

I suppose in summing up I'd say "Turns like a twin, holds like a thruster and faster than them both!"

Thanks again mate, I'm really happy and looking forward to Thursday when a new swell is due to arrive!

Michael Warner

                                                                                                                                                                  

Gday murray
Its Greg Beattie my new board is going amazing it could possibly be the best board I've ever had, I can't fault it it's so fast and feels really lively under my feet, it has changed my surfing heaps I'm doing a lot more reos right in the pocket and throwing fins a lot more, it also holds rail through cut backs really good.
 Cheers GREG

                                                                                                                                                                    

Hi Muz,

I just wanted to give you some feedback on the board you shaped for me, as I am really fucking stoked with it!!

I first took it out in 2ft. high tide shories and it felt like coming home again, the board has drive right off the mark which is what I like most as I

Tend to shy away from crowds on the points and surf shorter waves. Since then I've ridden it every day in a variety of conditions and waves, from onshore junk to clean 4ft. winki/bells. The biggest difference I've noticed from the one you measured is possibly foam under the front which makes this board better when there's more power. There is noticeably continuous drive under the front foot through all points of the turning arc when compared to the Mayhem I showed you, for example, when rebounding off the foam at the end of a turn the transfer speed is much greater. Further, in small conditions the up and go is a huge advantage in order to drive off the bottom and into close-out's.

The major point I want to get across is that the dynamics of this board suits me personally and I have been searching for it for a while, so thank-you for taking the time to measure something out and then put your own take on it. Thanks again it's much appreciated!!

Cheers,
Bryn.

                                                                                                                                                                    

Murray,

Thanks for your advice and information re: the Brooko Roundtail Quad. After speaking with you, I thought the Brooko Roundtail Quad was just what I was looking for. You really did a fantastic job in shaping it, and the specifications suit me really well. It's a fast board!! Easy to turn and yes it does get vertical easily, the extra volume through the body is an added bonus, very easy to paddle. Overall I'm rapt with the board, I'll definetly be getting my next board through you guys, spot on, thank you. 

Chris Jukes, Vicco.  

                                                                                                                                                                     

G'day Murray,

I met you about 2 weeks ago on a Saturday at the BASE store in Coolangatta and we discussed your range of Quads (most importantly the Troy Brooks Quad).

I bought the Troy Brooks Quad and just wanted to email and say a MASSIVE THANK-YOU for creating such an outstanding board. It is SENSATIONAL.

Definitely the best board I have ever ridden and I'm pretty confident to say that I won't be getting back on to any board with 3 fins. Will have to come in now and replace my whole quiver with quads. I really enjoyed getting the opportunity to talk with you about how you produce your craft and am impressed by how humble and receptive you were to my questions (as opposed to some of the other self focussed individuals in the industry).

Looking forward to a long quad fin riding life.

Cheers
Adam

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