Slater Cymatic 5'11 review: a steady, easy-paddling performance fish
Updated 2026-09-19
| Length | 5'11" |
|---|---|
| Width | 20 5/8 in |
| Thickness | 2 13/16 in |
| Volume | 38.4 L |
| Fin config | 5 Slots |
| Top speed | 27 km/h |
| Wave range | 1 to 5 ft |
The Slater Cymatic is a 5'11 five-slot performance fish, praised in the register for being very steady underfoot and an easy paddler despite its shorter length.
What it is and why I bought it
I bought the Cymatic stock in September 2018, an LFT-construction board with a curved rocker and medium rails, running single-to-quad-concave channels through the bottom, finished with a bat tail and five fin slots. At 20 5/8 inches wide and 38.4 litres over 5'11, it followed a modern performance fish template.
It came in a white red and blue colourway.
How it surfed
Its best wave came at Curl Curl, at a top speed of 27 km/h (about 16.8 mph) over a 109 metre ride, using Hayden Shapes or Firewire quad fins. It confirmed the register's own description: very steady under foot, paddles well, a combination that a shorter, performance-oriented fish does not always deliver. The logged wave range is 1 to 5 ft, ideal at 3 ft.
Who it suits and who it does not
A steady, easy-paddling performance fish like this suits someone who wants a shorter board without sacrificing stability or paddle power, across a wide range of small-to-medium conditions. It is a less obvious pick for anyone specifically chasing the loosest, most playful feel a fish can offer, since its main strength is steadiness rather than looseness.
What happened to it
It sold in August 2022 for $400, against a $970 purchase cost. A replacement cost of $1,080 is also logged against it, for comparison against what it originally cost.
Questions people ask
What fins worked on the Slater Cymatic?
Hayden Shapes or Firewire quad fins are the setup logged against this board.
What was the Cymatic's main strength?
Stability and paddle power, described directly in the register as very steady under foot and paddling well, a strong combination for a shorter performance fish.
What conditions suited the Cymatic?
The logged range is 1 to 5 ft with 3 ft as the ideal.
For the full spec sheet, see the sold boards list. For the other Slater board in the log, see the Slater Sci-Fi. For more on quad fin setups, see quad fin sets.