Jim Banks Magic Carpet 6'3 review: a floaty performance quad fish
Updated 2026-09-19
| Length | 6'3" |
|---|---|
| Width | 21 in |
| Thickness | 2 3/4 in |
| Volume | 39.5 L |
| Fin config | Quad |
| Wave range | 2 to 6 ft |
The Jim Banks Magic Carpet 6'3 is a performance fish run as a quad, a genuinely good board that still felt floatier than what eventually replaced it.
What it is and why I bought it
I bought this Magic Carpet stock in April 2016, a PU board with a curved rocker and soft-into-hard rails, running a deep single concave bottom, finished with a swallow tail in a quad configuration. At 21 inches wide and 39.5 litres over 6'3, it followed a performance fish template distinct from the more retro-styled 6'2 Magic Carpet also in the log.
How it surfed
Its best wave came at Dee Why, and it earned a genuinely strong reputation, described directly as great in the register. Even so, it felt very floaty, and the notes point to a Christenson Nautilus or a DHD Sweet Spot as boards that would have been taken instead for similar conditions. AM2 FCS2 fins in a quad setup were the pairing used. The logged wave range is 2 to 6 ft, ideal at 4 ft.
Who it suits and who it does not
A quad-fin performance fish like this suits someone who wants a genuinely capable everyday board and does not mind a floatier feel than a lower-volume alternative. It is a weaker fit for anyone specifically chasing a more locked-in, less buoyant ride, which is exactly the trade-off that led to trying other boards instead.
What happened to it
It sold in November 2017 for $450, against a $975 purchase cost.
Questions people ask
What fins worked on this Jim Banks Magic Carpet?
AM2 FCS2 fins in a quad setup are the pairing logged against this board.
What was the main criticism of this board?
It felt very floaty, and the register notes a Christenson Nautilus or a DHD Sweet Spot would have been taken instead for similar conditions.
How does this compare to the other Jim Banks Magic Carpet?
A separate 6'2 version follows a more retro fish template with a twin fin setup; this 6'3 runs a deep single concave and a quad, and logged more sessions overall.
For the full spec sheet, see the sold boards list. For the other Jim Banks Magic Carpet, see the 6'2 version. For the alternatives noted against it, see the Christenson Nautilus 7'0 and the DHD Sweet Spot 2.