Jim Banks Magic Carpet 6'2 review: a hollow-swell twin fin fish
Updated 2026-09-19
| Length | 6'2" |
|---|---|
| Width | 21 1 / 4 in |
| Thickness | 2 5 / 8 in |
| Volume | 36.7 L |
| Fin config | Twin |
| Wave range | 3 to 5 ft |
The Jim Banks Magic Carpet 6'2 is a late-70s style twin fin fish, good in hollow, long swell, that eventually felt a little big once other boards started covering the same job.
What it is and why I bought it
I bought this Magic Carpet stock in April 2015, a PU board with a curved rocker and soft-to-hard rails, running a single-to-double bottom, finished with a swallow tail in a classic late-70s fish outline. At 21 1/4 inches wide and 36.7 litres over 6'2, it was built around that retro fish template rather than a modern hybrid shape.
It came in a golden colourway.
How it surfed
Its best wave came at a spot called Manga, where it proved itself a good hollow, long-swell twin fin. The register also notes it eventually felt a little big for the rider compared with a Christenson Nautilus tried afterward, a size preference rather than a fault in the board. The logged wave range is 3 to 5 ft, ideal at 3.5 ft.
Who it suits and who it does not
A late-70s style twin fin fish like this suits someone who wants that classic outline specifically for hollow, longer swell. It is a weaker fit for someone who has since found they prefer a slightly smaller board for similar conditions, which is exactly the comparison that led to this one moving on.
What happened to it
It sold in November 2017 for $550, against a $1,200 purchase cost.
Questions people ask
Why did the Jim Banks Magic Carpet 6'2 eventually sell?
It started to feel a little big once a Christenson Nautilus was tried for similar conditions, a size preference rather than any flaw in the board itself.
What conditions suited this board?
The logged range is 3 to 5 ft with 3.5 ft as the ideal, hollow, longer-swell surf.
How does this compare to the other Jim Banks Magic Carpet in the log?
A separate 6'3 Magic Carpet was also owned; that one is noted as floatier, with its own comparison against the Nautilus and a DHD Sweet Spot.
For the full spec sheet, see the sold boards list. For the other Jim Banks Magic Carpet in the log, see the 6'3 version. For the boards that replaced this style, see the Christenson Nautilus 7'0.
