Hi. I'm thinking about taking up windsurfing, as living in brisbane I am finding that trying to go surfing becomes frustrating as half the time the surf is mediocre due to being blown out, so why not use that wind effectively rather than driving an hour for small, mushy waves? Anyway, I have done a bit of looking around at boards. Does any one know if the bic techno 283 is good for learning on? (same goes for the newer bic technos 148/160/133). Any other recommendations? Is it possible to get a useful secondhand setup for under $1000?
Depending on your enthusiasm, and commitment, it is possible to learn on a Bic Techno 283 (I did..) They're pretty tough, and apart from the nose, quite resilient to the antics of a beginner
However, there are better/easier boards to start out on. The Techno is more of a flat water intermediate blasting board (going flat out in a straightish line) and best suited to a 7 or 8 metre sail.
Something like the Starboard Go is a good choice - they're wider and so more stable than the Techno, but neither the Go or the Techno will be any use in those waves you're talking about!
You'll probably have at least one season of apprenticeship before you're ready to hit the waves. Given that you surf, you probably have reasonable balance, so it'll mainly be the sail skills that slow you down for the first few months.
What is your height and weight? That'll help people to make useful suggestions, and believe me when I say that around here, the guys need all the help they can get when it comes to making useful comments
I wish I'd got myself something like this when I first started last year, my first board was way too skinny and nearly put me off the sport altogether some days.
seabreeze.com.au/Members/Classifieds/Gear/2002-Starboard-GO-276-cm-170-litres.aspx?id=0043&search=EjQ0DoWvNYjtdwsOwWvBpw%3d%3d
I was looking at getting that particular board myself for a light wind board, but someone is talking me into formula.
Get a sail around the 5.5m size. You can use it to begin in light-moderate winds, and then keep if for higher winds when you get better.
Learn somewhere about waist-chest deep, avoid tidal channels with lots of cruiser boat traffic (I learnt the hard way).
nah, I wasnt thinking of going in waves with a windsurfer-only windsurfing on moreton bay/ flat areas (lake cootharaba looks nice too) as a closer to home alternative to normal surfing. im 68ish kilos. 185 cm tall. I've seen those windsurfing guys blasting when I used to sail a laser and it was reaching on the boat that I enjoyed more than racing, so thats what I'd eventually want to do withn a windsurfer. What is a formula board? I assume its something different to the general freeride board?
Hey good question. They are certainly wide enough, anyone know if a formula board is easy to learn on?
Gday Drew,
I'll be listing my 4yo Techno 283 in the coming weeks on seabreeze, I think the 152 litre volume will be mega floaty for your weight and should allow learning as well as progression to intermediate level. There's plenty of better boards out there but the bics are generally very good value and tough as. I've also got a bic slalom board from 15 years ago and its still a good fast board with nil major damage.
Yes you can get going for under a grand on reasonable gear but be warned......you'll spent a fortune after your hooked !!!
Cheers
So, I assume that sailboard are generally constructed the same as a surfboard-polystyrene foam with fibreglass on thre outside, but using epoxy resin, and just a lot tougher than a surfboard? Why do they look/feel so much more plasticky than a surfboard, if the constructiln is similar?
Yeah, my RRD has kevlar in it, apparently... at least the new ones do, I read it somewhere I'm sure. I'm calling it "Superman".
The construction process is different to a standard surfboard.
I noticed that the new indestructible/clone surfboards are also made in the Cobra Factory.
(It's amazing how much you can learn on the internet isn't it?)
thanks for that link, yes they are rather more complicated. But can some dings still be fixed with epoxy resin,q cell and fibreglass?
... as 555 says, the plastic skin over the epoxy outer makes for a tougher, more durable board ... ideal for beginners/intermediate sailors (and the weight is still pretty good)
The great thing about the process is that the boards do come out at the lower end of the price range. They are extremely popular with people who have gone through our beginners course & are looking for something that they can use then, and also progress on.
Second hand ones are hens teeth, as people seem to want to keep hold of them, but we are selling complete Bic board - Tushingham Storm packages, all new, from $1990 ..... pretty good price, and not that bad looking 555!! (Only nine available though)
Happy Christmas to all.
Jez
www.2ndwind.com.au
I am just about ready to graduate off my learner board, a GO 150.
It was NOT a good board for light winds. I highly recommend a centreboard type if you are learning in light wind. I just couldn't get it back upwind without a big sail and some speed. Teaching even less experienced people, I would generally spend 4x their sailing time getting back to the start location, often needing powered assistance.
Once I stopped bothering with really light winds (under 12 kt) and smaller sails the GO is a lot of fun.
Oh, cost for learner gear... I got the old GO secondhand from a shop with a couple of clamp-on extendable booms for about $600, secondhand sails for $100 each, a new mast extenstion $60 and a 2-piece secondhand mast $250 totalling about $1100 so far. BUT I also was generously given (or picked up off street chuckouts): 3 boards, 3 one-piece masts, 2 mast extensions, 4 sails, and got a passable sail for $10 on eBay.
Light wind sailing can be lots of fun with the right gear.
I'd rather get Mrs Windsurfing into the sport than have her sitting at home, and many women seem to quite like light winds if they have the right gear (like many men who have the right gear do).
