Sweep
Member
Member #: 515 Posts 4
Registered: 23-1-2004 Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 23-1-2004 at 08:48 |
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Which board?
I've been hiring equipment since I started windsurfing last summer and have decided to buy my own this year, so would like some advice.
I'm 80kg and windsurf inland about once a month. I want to get a complete set of kit. The sails aren't too bad as I think if I get a
general all-round freeride type sail then it will do for everything, but I'm not sure what board to go for. Theres just so much
choice.
I'm not particularly good yet, but can sail along, tack and come back again, usually (but not always) staying dry. What should I be
looking for, and does anyone have any recommendations or ones to avoid?
TIA
S.
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AndyW
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| posted on 23-1-2004 at 10:02 |
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Sweep,
What kind of board/Sail combination have you been hiring?
Based on what you have been using already then something a little more ambitious may be suitable.
To sail inland you may aim for a big board/sail combination once you've mastered the basics but I would suggest something suited to
allround freeride that is not too difficult to sail.
Andy
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justal
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| posted on 23-1-2004 at 11:15 |
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Hi Sweep... welcome to both Forces-of-Nature and the joys of windsurfing.
Its been a while since I was sailing big floaty boards, so i can't give any recommendations, but as Andy has said go for something a
little ambitious so that it will have more lasting appeal. I'm not sure what you've been sailing, but I'd say look towards something in
the 150-160 litre range without a daggerboard. It will still have plenty of float to keep you going in the early stages that you are
at, but will still be a very usable board in lighter winds once you've progressed a bit.
As I say, I haven't used any modern big boards, but some to look at are:
F2 powerglide
Fanatic E-Ray or Fanatic X-Ray
Mistral E-motion
Bic Techno 283
Starboard Carve (one of the bigger ones of course).
Look for 2nd hand stuff as well, and if you find anything we'll let you know if its any god.
Al.
URL: Pixelwave Design - Website Design Wales
Shop: Website Templates
Personal Weblog: A Simple Life of Luxury in West Wales
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Sweep
Member
Member #: 515 Posts 4
Registered: 23-1-2004 Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 24-1-2004 at 09:14 |
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Thakns guys. I've been hiring a hifly magnum up until now, but feel as though its just a bit too big and bulky and really want to move
on from that.
I'll take a look through your suggestion justal and look for some good quality second hand stuff (are there any particualr places I
should look?)
Also, what do people think of the combined board and rig packages? are they any good or do they just package up a board with
sub-standard components??
S.
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griptool
Pro  
Wipeout of the Year Award 2004
Member #: 239 Posts 80
Registered: 3-6-2003 Location: on the nest Member Is Offline Mood: Gripped
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| posted on 25-1-2004 at 22:06 |
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I started on a starboard go 170 (2002) with a 7.8 tushingham twin cam sail, a set up like that would be ideal for inland lakes, plenty
of volume and stability which will build your confidance quickly, the cam induced sail keeps a good profile which will help you in the
dirty inland wind. The Go is a free formula board with a comfy eva deck ideal for climbing on and falling off!! and with a 50cm fin it
will plane in 10 knots and with plenty of downhaul will cope with 16-18 Knots
The other manufactures have also made similar boards bic nova fanatic viper
Check out the Boards http://www.boards.co.uk/ for private ads and also the blue chip site
http://www.windsurfer.co.uk/menuusedgear.htm
Dont buy a board with a daggerboard - get on the plane
Have fun
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Bananaman
Pro 
Member #: 522 Posts 99
Registered: 26-1-2004 Member Is Offline Mood: Re-invigorated
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| posted on 27-1-2004 at 11:11 |
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Hey, I moved from training board with daggerboard onto a Bic Techno 283 last summer and whoopey now I'm having a great time, I can even
tack it now without falling off (jybing is another story). I find it a good board, I struggled with it at first there was no way I
could even stand on it but now its easy peasy. I would definitely reccomend one. Got mine from Boardwise as part of a complete
package for £500. WOOHOO.
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Dallas
Beach Bum 
Member #: 213 Posts 24
Registered: 8-5-2003 Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 27-1-2004 at 16:35 |
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Which board?
Hi Sweep,
Re your question on rig / sail packages I think the best advice is to be careful. There are many packages that include decent sails,
masts, booms etc which will last you for ages....there are some that don't! I got completely ripped off as I didn't know what to look
for, and found that although the board was a great buy, I wanted to change the sail, mast & boom as soon as I progressed a bit.
Shop around and check with the guys here before you buy.
Good luck & happy shopping
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vdubs
Grommet
Member #: 806 Posts 11
Registered: 4-6-2004 Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 4-6-2004 at 12:37 |
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Hi Sweep, been in a simular situation as you recently. Get yourself the current Boards and Windsurf mags they have reports on larger
boards at the mo.
I am 78Kg and have just got a 2003 JP Freeride 144ES. 144L of volume but definatly feels like a lot more and loads of stability cause
of the width. This is matched with a NP 6.4Jet and 7.5Supernova and they perform great.
Most of my sailing is inland and I try to go at least once a week.
My preferred choice would have been the Xcite which is more begginer/intermediate friendly than the freeride.
These boards are Epoxy sanwich boards which are nice and light early low wind planers but will also get easily damaged due to boom and
mast impacts.
Fanatics E Ray board might be a good choice, again light (10Kg) but with a tough skin to help with the dings. again this is in this
months windsurfing mags
Hope this helps, just ask if you need more details
Keith
www.vdubs.freeuk.com
vdubs@freeuk.com
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badexcuseforasailor
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| posted on 4-6-2004 at 21:09 |
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I'd have to say the the techno 283 will be a bit of a challege at first but will be a lot cheaper than a full expoy sandwich board and
more ding resistant too.
I sailed a 145 powerglide in dahab and it was horrible compared with my techno.
http://brogboroughlake.windsurf.me.uk/
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Hans@BW
A Force-of-Nature * 
Member #: 680 Posts 150
Registered: 1-5-2004 Location: Land Locked! Member Is Offline Mood: Need some waves..... :-(
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| posted on 5-6-2004 at 03:24 |
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Sweep,
Glad to hear that you are enjoying getting in to windsurfing and have made it through the love it / hate it stage of Level 1 and hiring
kit and are looking to commit yourself - and buying some of your own kit....
Whilst I agree with most of the comments posted in reply to your enquiry - I do not think that you should be looking at anything like a
JP Xcite or a small E-Ray at this stage!!! And as for a cammed 7.something rig...... ehh? THIS GUY'S JUST LEARNING...!!!!
I would only recommend going for something without a dagger board if you can already sail the equipment you have been using and
managing to stay up wind without using the daggerboard. I think a few people have forgotten how hard this can be when you are first
learning and it is an unfortunatepart of the process of learning windsurfing - BUT IT IS SOMETHING YOU NEED TO MASTER BEFORE BUYING A
BOARD WITHOUT A DAGGER BOARD!
I speak from bitter experience! When I started out i had a Pacific 320 something with daggerboard getting on ok and was looking for a
bit better board amd a 'mate' sold me a board that was too advanced for my level and I hated the sport until I got a board that more
suited where I was at the time.... Mistral Malibu S - 310. You need to really think about this!
If you are feeling confident then try out some of the boards suggested - Al had some good suggestions as long as you are looking at the
160 E-Ray / Powerglide. We have some second hand ones of these at the shop (Boardwise) that you can demo from us for a week or so...
try before you buy type thing. Alternatively you could come along to our Thursday afternoon / evening demos at Chasewater which is a
lake just 10mins from the shop in Cannock.
Remember - selecting a board is a personal thing and only you can really decide what is the best option for you and the forcomming
season - don't be miss guided into buying something that you'll get pissed off with because it's too advanced like I did!
So, basically try out some boards - have a good think about it and then....... think a bit more....... and buy it!
Hope this has been some help,
Hans.
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Pixelwave Web Design.
justal@forces-of-nature.co.uk