Quicksilver Bat 6'6 review: a cheap softie for small-wave fun
Updated 2026-09-20
The Quicksilver Bat is a 6'6 soft-top with a racy bottom for a softie, picked up on sale after starting out on a cheaper board and wanting something with a bit more refinement.
What it is and why I bought it
The Bat came in at 6'6 x 22 x 3 1/8, working out to 53 liters. Compared with an entry-level soft-top ridden before it, the rails on the Bat are noticeably slimmer, which is what makes it more fun for an intermediate rider rather than a true beginner board. This one was picked up when a local surf shop was closing out stock at half price.
How it surfed
The stock fins are stiff, which helps, but the real feature is that they sit on screws rather than being glassed or bolted on, so they can come out entirely in favor of an FCS I set, opening up a two-plus-one or thruster configuration. In practice the stock fins stay in, since this board mostly comes out for a closeout, shorebreak kind of session where a bit of stiffness and simplicity is exactly what is wanted and there is no concern about the board taking a knock. There are also no fin bolts poking through the deck, which keeps the construction clean and is worth looking for on any soft-top.
Who it suits and who it does not
A softie with a slimmer rail and a racy bottom like this suits an intermediate rider who wants something low-risk for scrappy, close-in surf, not a first-timer. It came out well short of ideal for an actual beginner too: even a small child learning to surf would need something considerably bigger than 6'6 to get going comfortably.
The verdict
This one earns its keep as a fun intermediate board rather than a beginner's first board, and at half the retail price it did exactly the job it was bought for.
Questions people ask
What fin setup does the Quicksilver Bat use?
It comes with its own stiff stock fins mounted on screws, so they can be swapped out entirely for an FCS I set if a two-plus-one or thruster configuration is wanted.
Is the Quicksilver Bat any good for a beginner?
Not really. It suits an intermediate rider who wants a slimmer-railed softie for casual, close-in surf more than someone just learning, who would do better on something noticeably bigger.
Is the Quicksilver Bat good value?
Yes, at closeout pricing. This one was found at half its normal retail price when a local shop was clearing stock.
This one is still in the rack; more on where it fits sits on the quiver hub. For another soft-top in the record, see the MF Beastie. For whether cheap boards are worth it more generally, see cheap surfboards.