What to buy...

johnbaker17 · Post by **johnbaker17** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 8:57 pm

I need advice from you experts out there. Many of you have seen me at the beach and have observed my skill level, and I owe a huge "Thank You" to a couple of you who have helped me advance in my learning process.
I lost my old triangular 6.0 sail, aluminum mast, and aluminum boom in that accident a few weeks ago.

The dude who ran me over cut me a check for $500. At The House, I can get a Hifly X Ride rig (sail, mast, boom, & uphaul) for $430. This is what I would have gone for, but Tighe (You ROCK Tighe!) decided to give me a brand new 2006 Loft Concept 360 (he won it in a raffle and didn't need it). I took it out today and I am in love with this sail.

I've never used anything less than 10 years old, much less brand new.
Now, seeing as I still have $500 to spend, I'm wondering what I should use it for. A good board for around $500? Haven't seen any yet, but might be findable. All my boards are heavy and extremely outdated. Another sail? I need something between 5.8 and 8.0. I do need a new mast, but I've got some old fiberglass ones that might work until I can afford a new one. I've got one carbon mast (a Christmas present) and the others are fiberglass with weird diameters at the bottoms. A boom I am not in need of, assuming I can figure out how to rig the ones that don't have clamps (see other thread).
I can't go far over the 500 limit. 30 if my wife is in a good mood. So how would you spend the money if you were in my aqua shoes?
John

chanrider · Post by **chanrider** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 9:24 pm

I've got an AHD 310 which is a larger board, nice for light wind I am probably going to part ways with for pretty cheap.

Not sure what you mean by a "no clamp" boom, but I would include a regular clamp style boom (170-220?) with the board if you wanted it.

Sails... I don't have a whole lot here but potentially an 8.2M (pretty good sail), but a little too big for the boom.

Might have a mast for this sail also 490cm carbon... I would need to think about.

Anyway, windsurfing stuff is pretty plentiful these days I would think... you should be able to get a decent used board plus other goodies with $500 no problem.

Your weight, sailing ability and goals would help determine your next equipment I would think... maybe post a "wanted" on the classifieds?

Geo · Post by **Geo** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 10:03 pm

Also in the "free is good" category, I have a Chinook Aluminum Boom 62"-84" (157-213cm) that is the old no clamp style. And it would be free, which is good. I couldn't tell if you had a boom like that (maybe in that size?), but if so, it should work fine...you gotta crank /twist the rope to get it tight, but the rope is flexible and so it is actually easier to rig.

Used equipment is the way to go, especially now with so many people going Kite. The bic Technos (150l were some of the first wide-style boards and there are a lot of them around, pretty fun in 6.0 + conditions. For 100L boards try to ask around / look in the classifieds for turny boards that stick in the water in choppy conditions. Ideally to save $, look for fin boxes that are the same if you get two kinds of boards, so you at least have the option of fiddling around with different fins if conditiona aren't perfect for your board/sail.

Depending on your development, a 150L board, 100L board and 5.0, 6.5, 8.0 sails would cover most sailable conditions. Less wind: go swimming. More wind: tighten everything down and hold on for dear life.

JRN · Post by **JRN** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 6:34 am

Chinook makes a boom clamp that will convert a lace-on boom to a clamp-on. Iwindsurf has lots of classifieds, too. The Gorge & Maui shops also clear out alot of gear end of season. I'd talk to Sean at the House or Larry at Scuba Center. They may have something in the "back room" that they want to move at a discount. The Pacific line of boards are good quality at factory direct prices. Larry used to have some consignment in-ventory at good prices. Good Luck. You deserve some good gear, that old stuff is only holding you back.

JN

johnbaker17 · Post by **johnbaker17** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 9:10 am

I'm 145lbs and 5'10". I have a harness but haven't used it very much. I've never been in footstraps. I have one short boart (Aitkin 811) that is heavier than the newer boards and I've gotten up on it twice now. It's not a floater, so the ability to waterstart is required. I'm not there yet. My other boards are monster OBriens, a 12' Sanival, and a Rocket 99 with a bad fin. I can spend hours on the water without falling. My turns are fairly smooth, but not planing due to the deplaning tendency of my boards. I'd like a board that will allow me to advance in my skill level. I've had several of you tell me that my gear was holding me back, and I see this as an opportunity to step up.

chanrider, I'll take at look at your AHD310 if you decide to sell it. Let me know. You can email me at jbaker at alpine-capital.com. Send me a pic?

Geo, I totally agree. Free is good! Almost all my stuff was aquired free. I'll take that boom. Just the fact that it's Chinook means it's probably better and newer than anything else I have. My booms were made before they were putting brand names on everything.

JRN, thanks for the tips. I'll talk to Sean at The House, but how do I get a hold of Larry at Scuba Center?

I can see I'm going to be doing some shopping around. I'll let you guys know what I find and you can nix it if you don't think it'd be a good fit for me. I really (and I mean really) appreciate all your help. You guys know what I need better than I do.
John

steveb · Post by **steveb** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 2:54 pm

John....get yourself a wide light air board, something like the 310, bic formula, nova, starboard Go or start etc. It'll get you more water time and make it easier to get your harness and footstrap usuage dialed in.

Josh J · Post by **Josh J** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 4:02 pm

Totally agree with Steve on this one.
I learned on a old-style mistral longboard while my brother, wife, and dad learned on a wide light air type boards. Took me a year and a half to get in the harness and straps. They were all in the harness and straps after 3-5 sessions.
Maybe that says something about me though.

Geo · Post by **Geo** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 7:21 pm

Free is good: email me and I'll coordinate w/ you on giving that boom to you:
geo@alchemyarch.com

johnbaker17 · Post by **johnbaker17** » Sun Aug 20, 2006 8:42 am

Good news! I now have slightly more to work with, since I just had a birthday and family knew I was getting ready to buy a board. Yay!

chanrider, how bout that AHD 310? Have you decided if you were gonna sell it? I'm definitely interested.

email me at {jbaker at alpine-capital.com}

Geo, I'll email you about that boom on Monday from work.

johnbaker17 · Post by **johnbaker17** » Sun Aug 20, 2006 8:47 am

Would this work well for me?
1998 Fanatic Bee: volume 135, length 294cm, width 60cm.

steveb · Post by **steveb** » Sun Aug 20, 2006 5:50 pm

John...for what wind strength and sails sizes are you thinking you want the board for?.

JRN · Post by **JRN** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 7:17 am

I had a veloce 135. It was a nice size for an entry level medium wind board. It was good for 7.5 sails down to about 5.5. I'm guessing 15 to 25
mph winds. Not as quick to plane as the Technos, but smoother in chop.
Hope that helps! JN

Josh J · Post by **Josh J** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 1:08 pm

I have a veloce 135

I learned to use the harness and footstraps, waterstarts, and how to execute crappy jibes with that board. I would definatly reccommend something in that size range. Still big enough to easily uphaul but small enough to be fun and take in the 20+ winds. I'd go with the Bee if the price is right.

johnbaker17 · Post by **johnbaker17** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 1:19 pm

Wind strength? Whatever is blowing. If it's blowing at all, I'll be using this board. I can't think of a condition in which I'd go back to using my O'Briens.
Sail sizes... Well, the 5.8 Loft Tighe gave me is pretty much the only thing I'll use until I get another new sail, which (if I can get this board for cheap enough) might not be that long. My next sail will probably be something in the range of 6.5-7.5.
Steve, I'm taking your advice and looking for a wider light air board. I have to see if one guy still has his 2000 Starboard Start for sale and get specs for it. (No dimensions in the ad.) The other one I'm leaning toward is the Fanatic Bee.

If someone thinks one of these wouldn't be good for me, please speak up. I'm really leaning on your expertise here cuz I have no idea what's best for me.

...oh yeah... one other question... On a sail, what's fogging and what does it indicate?

Dave Z · Post by **Dave Z** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 4:07 pm

Fogging - a lot of older sails and some newer sails (Ezzy SE's) have a vinyl window that can fog up or get milky looking - usually it goes away once the sail is dry. Monofilm just tends to get beat up over time with scratches and eventually loses it's clear look to a milky looking color. X-ply fabric has gone a long way in terms of added durabilty. Hope that answers your question.

Oh, welcome to the flyweight club! I weigh 142 and you will find that as your skill level improves you will be able to ride much smaller sails and boards. I'm usually on .5 to 1 full meter less sail than most guys.

steveb · Post by **steveb** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 4:08 pm

John...fogging on a sail is usually dirt.
The start is quite heavy, I'd lean more towards a GO or Nova.
I'd leave the Bee alone, it's only 60 cm wide. Light air disaster, with your weight for a bread and butter board I'd say 70cm or more, better 80+.
The era of the bee boards were longer and skinnier, the Bee for it's day was a nice board but compared to modern boards it has very little low end, nice 15mph + but sucky below.
Doesn't anyone have a Nova, Starboard Carve 145 ,Bic formula, Starboard freeride they want to sell?.

JRN · Post by **JRN** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 6:01 pm

There's a T-2 in the classifieds right now. Early planing and fast. Mine smoked a few formula boards in its day. Not so big and wide to make the ride boring..a good all around choice. JN

thewavebb · Post by **thewavebb** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 6:27 pm

John--I replied to yourEmail about the sails. Give me a call on the # I sent you.

steveb · Post by **steveb** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 9:14 pm

John, Have a look at the T2 Jim mentioned, you'd get a lot of miles out of that.

johnbaker17 · Post by **johnbaker17** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 7:09 am

The price was the only thing shying me away from the Bic Techno 2, but I'll see what I can do.

LAKAWA

What to buy...

What to buy...

Boom Clamp

135 liter board

Techno 2