Hey folks...I run a summer camp in northern Minnesota where we have a fleet of OLD windsurfers that are almost impossible for kids to learn on. I want to unload this stuff and pick up a few of the inflatable mistral windgliders. Anyone know a market for these 'antique' boards, masts, sails, booms? I'd prefer to sell this as a single lot and not a la carte--if there's a market for this stuff at all. Does anyone still use this old stuff? Other uses? Decor for a windsurf-themed bar? How about a fence made entirely of sailboards? Maybe an old-timer wants a Sainval for purely nostalgic reasons? Minnesota Windsurfing Museum exhibit? Is there any sense in hauling it all down to the spring swap? Suggestions, questions and offers welcome. Thanks! --Dray.
Antique Inventory:
4 Wayler boards, approx 12', circa 1983
4 O'Brien boards, approx 11'6", year unknown, but with 'Graduated Rigging Method' (also a great 80's band)
1 Tiga 'Fun Cup', approx 11'6", year unknown
1 even older Tiga, approx 12', year unknown
1 Sainval, approx 12', ancient artefact, carbon-14 dated to pre-1988 (when I bought it used from some guy in the boonies between Hibbing and Virginia, and taught myself how to windsurf, kind of sort of)
7 misc sails
8 misc masts
12 misc booms
numerous dagger boards, mastfeet/universals, fins
(at least one functional mastfoot/universal for each type of board)
market for antique windsurfers?
Moderator: MK
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bill keitel
- Posts: 117
- Joined: Wed Jan 08, 2003 7:56 pm
- Location: worthington MN
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Hey Dray,
I have not been sailing long enough to recongnize most of the gear you have ot offer but I though of an idea. If you can transport all of the gear to the swap this spring you should do it. If you can't get it all down here, leave the oldest/worst condition boards up there and make stuff out of them.
I put FREE on some of gear that I got in a lot purchase my first year at the swap and sold the next year. It went fast. Sometimes folks just might be looking for the footstraps from these oldsters or have other ideas for them. You probably wouldn't have to take the boards home if you couldn't sell them. Who knows, they might be fun for accomplished sailors to store one at their cabin.
The masts, sails and booms are a differnt story. They still have some residual value for land and ice sailors. You might be able to get $5-15 bucks per item, maybe more...
The "misc" items might be junk or they might be GOLD to the right person. I know that any working universal joint for a propritary system might be worth somthing to that guy or girl trying to bring their old board back to life. I could easily see paying 20 bucks for a weird UJ that I needed. I'd put "Make Offer" on each misc item. If someone shows even the slightest interest, you probably have a live one on the hook! Set it and reel him in.
If you can pay for your gas back and forth it might be worth it to come down. You might find some more modern stuff to restock your fleet plus the House will have everything else you might need. You'll also save any shipping costs. You might also mention that you are trying to stock a summer camp with windsurfing gear. I would think that would help lower the price on used stuff.
Windglider - never sailed one, looks like a good choice for a camp though. you can probably get a few kids at a time on/in one. One other thing I'd consider is get a modern learning board like a Start or a Bic (something with padded deck) as your advanced board in the fleet. Kids graduating from the Windglider would be able to take the flag ship out for a spin perhaps.
Here's the big plus, YOU could use that board to patrol the area and if the conditions were right, show the kids what it might be like to get on a plane. You might like this board if the wind picks up and you have some time to take a sail. It's a REAL board.
Have fun,
I have not been sailing long enough to recongnize most of the gear you have ot offer but I though of an idea. If you can transport all of the gear to the swap this spring you should do it. If you can't get it all down here, leave the oldest/worst condition boards up there and make stuff out of them.
I put FREE on some of gear that I got in a lot purchase my first year at the swap and sold the next year. It went fast. Sometimes folks just might be looking for the footstraps from these oldsters or have other ideas for them. You probably wouldn't have to take the boards home if you couldn't sell them. Who knows, they might be fun for accomplished sailors to store one at their cabin.
The masts, sails and booms are a differnt story. They still have some residual value for land and ice sailors. You might be able to get $5-15 bucks per item, maybe more...
The "misc" items might be junk or they might be GOLD to the right person. I know that any working universal joint for a propritary system might be worth somthing to that guy or girl trying to bring their old board back to life. I could easily see paying 20 bucks for a weird UJ that I needed. I'd put "Make Offer" on each misc item. If someone shows even the slightest interest, you probably have a live one on the hook! Set it and reel him in.
If you can pay for your gas back and forth it might be worth it to come down. You might find some more modern stuff to restock your fleet plus the House will have everything else you might need. You'll also save any shipping costs. You might also mention that you are trying to stock a summer camp with windsurfing gear. I would think that would help lower the price on used stuff.
Windglider - never sailed one, looks like a good choice for a camp though. you can probably get a few kids at a time on/in one. One other thing I'd consider is get a modern learning board like a Start or a Bic (something with padded deck) as your advanced board in the fleet. Kids graduating from the Windglider would be able to take the flag ship out for a spin perhaps.
Here's the big plus, YOU could use that board to patrol the area and if the conditions were right, show the kids what it might be like to get on a plane. You might like this board if the wind picks up and you have some time to take a sail. It's a REAL board.
Have fun,
I agree with Eric about considering getting a Start instead of the windglider. I haven't tried the windglider, but I've taught a bunch of people -- of all ages -- on my two Starts and one Go 165, and they're great! They're very easy to learn on, and when you're ready to progress they take you right up to hooked in, in the straps, and flying! They're also inexpensive and durable.
John
John
Thanks for the feedback, bill, eric, john. I might bring down the misc parts to the swap meet just to see if there are any takers, rather than throwing them away. The boards and sails I think we'll hang on to if they're not going to fetch more than a few bucks--maybe we'll lash all the boards together and build a three-masted schooner! Also thinking of a Stonehenge replica in sailboards. I'll let you know what we come up with.
I appreciate the suggestion of a Start or a Bic. The reason I'm looking at the windglider over a startboard is cost--used windgliders for $200, startboards for....I'm guessing $1000 complete? The windgliders are great for teaching basics, but limited beyond that. Maybe I'll see if the boss will cough up the cash for one start board. Am I likely to find one at the swap?
I appreciate the suggestion of a Start or a Bic. The reason I'm looking at the windglider over a startboard is cost--used windgliders for $200, startboards for....I'm guessing $1000 complete? The windgliders are great for teaching basics, but limited beyond that. Maybe I'll see if the boss will cough up the cash for one start board. Am I likely to find one at the swap?