Firewire Surfboards Machado Cado
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The Firewire Machadocado: Rob Machado's Summertime Weapon
The Machadocado is the board Rob Machado reaches for when the surf is less than perfect and fun is the top priority. Born from a creative mashup of a fish outline, avocado silhouette, and shortboard performance DNA, this is Machado's most versatile squash tail yet. It rewards surfers who want to feel effortlessly connected to the wave, whether the day is knee-high and crumbly or building toward overhead and punchy.
Designed by the California-based style icon and shaper, the Machadocado reflects decades of small-wave surfing experience along California's point breaks and beach breaks. Every curve in its outline and every degree of its rocker is tuned to match the way Machado actually surfs: flowing, fast, and deceptively powerful through even the most forgettable sections.
Outline, Rocker, and Bottom Shape
The Machadocado's outline is its defining feature. The wide point sits slightly forward of center, borrowing from fish and funboard geometry to maximize surface area right where you need it for early entry and planing speed. From that wide point, the outline tapers into a clean squash tail that concentrates hold and pivot right at the back of the board.
The rocker profile is deliberately low through the entry and mid section, keeping the board flat and fast across slow, open wave faces. A subtle tail lift provides just enough release to pivot through a tight arc without the board feeling skatey or loose in steeper, more powerful sections. This balance is what makes the Machadocado genuinely dual-purpose: it grovels confidently on soft days and locks in when the wave has some authority behind it.
Underneath, a single concave flows into a double concave through the fins. The single concave channels water and generates forward drive off the paddle; the double concave converts that drive into side-to-side responsiveness as the board accelerates through a turn. The tail tapers to a refined squash finish that supplies stability in cross-sections without sacrificing release off the lip.
Fin Configuration: Three Setups in One Board
The Machadocado runs a five-box fin setup that lets you configure the board as a twin, a twin with a small center trailer, or a full thruster, depending on the conditions and how you want the board to feel. Ride it as a twin on faster, more open waves where you want speed and a loose, skate-like flow. Drop in the trailer to add a touch of drive and directional stability when the surf has more power. Set it up as a thruster when you want the most hold and predictability across a range of wave sizes. Firewire recommends the Machado 2+1 Fin Set, a template designed specifically for this shape to enable tight turns and precise control.
Who the Machadocado Is For
Firewire built the Machadocado to work for a wide range of surfers. Experienced shortboarders will find that it opens up waves they would normally pass on, delivering satisfying speed generation and a responsive, snappy tail in waves from knee high to overhead. Intermediate surfers gain a board that provides enough stability and volume distribution to make paddling and wave catching feel natural, while still rewarding progressive surfing as skills develop. The Machadocado does not demand perfect conditions or perfect technique; it responds to both.
The board is slightly wider and thicker through the nose and midsection compared to a standard shortboard, giving it exceptional paddle power and early planing ability. Toward the tail, Firewire has thinned the rails considerably, which provides the control, hold, and sensitivity in rounder, more powerful waves that experienced surfers expect. This taper is what keeps the Machadocado from feeling like a foamy or a fun board: it still surfs with precision when you push it.
Construction and Feel
The Machadocado is built in Firewire's lightweight construction, which produces a board that feels lively and responsive underfoot. The deck is firm enough to stay crisp through repeated sessions, while the flex pattern through the tail amplifies the snap and spring that Machado's squash tail outline is designed to generate. The clean, high-gloss finish on the standard colorway and the striking Grey Swirl graphic option are both built on the same proven construction platform.
You can check exact lengths, widths, thicknesses, and volumes in the size chart below. For personalized sizing guidance, call Island Water Sports at 954-427-4929 or visit us in store.
Firewire Machado Surfboards at Island Water Sports
Island Water Sports has carried Firewire Machado surfboards for surfers up and down the South Florida coast since the brand established its reputation for functional, innovative design. The Machadocado sits at the center of the Rob Machado surfboard lineup as the shape that works hardest across the widest range of everyday surf conditions. Whether you are comparing it to the Sunday, the Seaside, the Glazer, or the Go Fish, the Machadocado stands apart for its ability to combine grovel-friendly volume with performance-oriented rail and tail geometry. Use the variant selector on this page to choose your length, and reach out to our team if you have questions about how this shape compares to others in the Firewire Machado range.
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Specifications
- Brand
- Firewire Surfboards
- Model
- Machadocado
- Shaper
- Rob Machado
- Board Type
- Shortboard / Small Wave Hybrid
- Tail Shape
- Squash
- Fin Setup
- 5-box (Twin / Twin + Trailer / Thruster)
- Bottom Contour
- Single to Double Concave
- Recommended Fins
- Machado 2+1 Fin Set
- Wave Range
- Knee High to Overhead
- Skill Level
- Intermediate to Advanced
- Gender
- Unisex
Size & Dimensions
| Length | Width | Thickness | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5'2" | 19 13/16" | 2 1/4" | 25.9L |
| 5'4" | 20 13/16" | 2 1/4" | 28.8L |
| 5'5" | 20 7/8" | 2 3/8" | 30.5L |
| 5'6" | 20 7/8" | 2 9/16" | 32.3L |
| 5'7" | 21 1/4" | 2 9/16" | 33.7L |
| 5'8" | 21 1/2" | 2 1/2" | 34.4L |
| 5'9" | 21 9/16" | 2 9/16" | 36.0L |
| 5'10" | 21 5/8" | 2 11/16" | 37.6L |
| 5'11" | 21 5/8" | 2 11/16" | 38.7L |
| 6'0" | 21 5/8" | 2 3/4" | 40.1L |
| 6'1" | 22" | 2 7/8" | 43.3L |
| 6'2" | 22 5/8" | 2 15/16" | 47.1L |
Full manufacturer size chart. Sizes available to order are shown in the selector above.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What kind of waves is the Firewire Machadocado designed for?
- The Machadocado is built primarily for small to overhead surf, with a bias toward the smaller end of that range. Its low entry rocker, wide outline, and volume distribution make it exceptional in soft, gutless waves where a standard shortboard would feel sluggish. It also holds up well in rounder, more powerful overhead surf thanks to the thinned-out rails and squash tail, which provide control and hold when the wave has more push behind it.
- Is the Machadocado good for beginners?
- The Machadocado is most at home under surfers with at least some experience on shortboards, and it is designed to shine in the hands of intermediate through advanced surfers. That said, its extra width and volume compared to a standard shortboard make paddling and wave catching noticeably easier, so a motivated intermediate surfer who already has solid pop-up mechanics will adapt to it quickly and enjoy the added wave count it provides.
- What is the difference between the Machadocado and a fish surfboard?
- The Machadocado borrows its wide, rounded outline from the fish but replaces the traditional swallow tail with a performance squash tail, and adds the low rocker and bottom contour geometry of a shortboard. The result is a board that planes and flows like a fish on small waves but is far more controllable and responsive on steeper faces, especially when configured as a thruster. It sits in its own category: more high-performance than a classic fish, and far more small-wave-friendly than a standard shortboard.
- How do I choose the right size Machadocado?
- The full dimensions and volumes for every size are in the size chart on this page. As a starting point, most surfers ride the Machadocado slightly shorter than they would a standard shortboard, because the extra width and thickness make up for the reduced length in terms of paddle power and stability. If you are unsure, our team at Island Water Sports is happy to help: call us at 954-427-4929 or visit us in store.
- What fin setup does the Machadocado use?
- The Machadocado is set up with five fin boxes, giving you the flexibility to ride it as a twin, a twin with a small center trailer, or a standard thruster. Each setup changes the character of the board: the twin setup is looser and faster; the twin-plus-trailer adds drive and direction; the thruster provides the most hold and all-around predictability. Firewire recommends pairing this board with the Machado 2+1 Fin Set for the best balance of turn radius and control.
- How does the Machadocado compare to other Rob Machado Firewire surfboards like the Sunday or Go Fish?
- The Machadocado sits between the more performance-oriented Sunday and the looser, glide-focused Go Fish. It is more maneuverable and shortboard-like than the Go Fish, and more small-wave forgiving than the Sunday. If you surf a wide variety of everyday conditions and want one board that handles both average beach break and the occasional cleaner overhead set, the Machadocado is the most versatile option in the Firewire Machado lineup. Use the variant selector on this page to explore the options, and reach out to our team if you want a side-by-side comparison.
- What is the machadocado review consensus from surfers?
- Surfers consistently praise the Machadocado for making average surf feel genuinely fun. The most common feedback highlights its exceptional paddle speed and early wave entry, the way it generates momentum across flat, slow sections, and the surprising control it offers when a set wave jumps up overhead. Critics of the design note that committed performance shortboarders may find the wider outline feels slightly different on steep, hollow waves compared to a narrow-tailed high-performance board. For the everyday surfer who wants more waves and more fun, the reviews lean strongly positive.