What to buy...

adamel111 · Post by **adamel111** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 10:21 am

I would also say the Prodigy is a good board to look at. It is wide and stable at 88 cm and also extremely flexible. It can be sailed effectively in light wind with a dagger board and also rips when you pull the track back and get in the footstraps. I think that the Prodigy has a leg up on the Techno 2 because of the dagger board, and doesn't lose much, if anything at all, in planing conditions.

However, I am unsure of the price and if you would be willing to pull the trigger if it was a little more expensive. I am guessing it is probably in the same price range as a techno 2 (for hull only). A complete rig (with sail, mast, and boom) is probably around $1500 - but, again, I am just guessing.

Note: I grew up sailing longboards and taught on Prodigies for a summer in Madison so I am somewhat partial. I think that if you are a person that wants to maximize your sailing time in the Midwest, you need to have longboard (meaning a board with a dagger). Sailing around in subplaning conditions on a Techno2 doesn't teach you much in my opinion, but sailing around on a longboard in subplaning conditions allows you to work on sailing technique, practice turns, and get around easily without having to worry about paddling or walking back to your launch. For example, I don't think you can effectively learn to use a harness with a techno in sub planing conditions. However, you can learn to use a harness on a longboard/prodigy in subplaning conditions. The prodiby will also handle wind just as well as the Techno2 - ok, probably not quite as well, but that is only when you consider the boards in some relatively gnarly conditions. I could go on and on (obviously, just look at the length of the post already), but that is my two cents.

johnbaker17 · Post by **johnbaker17** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 4:08 pm

I hear ya, but up to this point I've been using an old board that is close to 9' long and has a dagger. I've got my turns down, though not planing since the board slows down so quickly, and I've even been in the harness a few times. Most days, I can stay out for hours without falling and I can keep upwind effectively (without using my dagger). I'm really looking forward to getting onto a wide, light board that will allow me to learn planing jibes, and at the same time allow me to teach friends in a matter of minutes.
The absense of a dagger board doesn't bother me much, since I'm already good at digging my heals in to carve upwind. Friends I teach would probably do better with a dagger, but I think they'll just have to deal with that.

Once they have the technique down, I'm gonna give em my old O'Brien anyway. lol
I'm almost certainly going for the Techno 2. I just have to finalize my calculations. I'll be purchasing a few other things at the same time, including a new mast and sail, and possibly a boom. I have to see how the numbers work.
I really appreciate your advice and its given me a better picture of what's out there and how it compares. I'm still learning about how these boards differ in their performance and I'm soaking up everything you guys are telling me.

adamel111 · Post by **adamel111** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 4:39 pm

Sounds like the Techno2 is a good board for your next step. Think Mistral will give me some money for promoting the Prodigy?

johntr · Post by **johntr** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 9:18 am

John:

The Bic Techo 2 looks like a reasonable board for you. I have a Carve 135 that I'm learning to sail, and the Techno 2 looks like a similar board.

I will say that for me the progression to the harness and into the straps was much faster on my Start and Go boards that it would ever have been on the Carve. The extra width of the Start or Go meant that I could spend a lot more time on the board learning to sail, and less time in the water. I know that some of the more experienced sailers find the very wide boards less exciting than the narrower boards; I think that's just because they like an excuse to get into the water every now and again

.

So, knowing everything I know now, and having learned to plane and use the harness and straps on a Start, I'd personally do it all over again on a wide board without a doubt. At 200 lbs+ the Start is probably better; at 150 lbs and below, one of the smaller Go boards is probably better. (Go 165?)

Unfortunately I can't help you with a source for a used Go 165. Most people who have them don't want to part with them.

John

P.S. I grew up on longboards with daggerboards, and I'm with you, John, about not needing one to progress in the harness. There's no problem at all staying in the harness while schlogging on a modern wide board. You give up *a lot* in speed and upwind performance in schlogging mode, but that's not what most of us are looking to optimize. (I often sail with my dad, who sails a longboard. He blows me away for speed in light air, and I blow him away on the plane in the puffs.) As you say, digging in the heels works pretty well for staying upwind on a wide board even in light air.

johnbaker17 · Post by **johnbaker17** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 9:09 am

I waited too long. Someone beat me to the T2. ...and it was perfect for me too. Back to the drawing board. I think I'll post a wanted ad.

steveb · Post by **steveb** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 2:35 pm

Bummer John, maybe have a look on Iwindsurf .com maybe something there.
The other thing would be the swap next spring.

johnbaker17 · Post by **johnbaker17** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 9:17 am

Quick... How bout a 1998 AHD 300 140L?

JRN · Post by **JRN** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:42 pm

That was one of the 1st boards to really "cook" in light winds. Looks like the price is right! Only drawback: Not very "ding-proof." If you whack it on a rock, or drop a boom on it you'll have a ding to patch for sure. JN