hi,
ok i am a 16 year old beginner and im getting a lesson on a starboard go. i dont want to buy a learners board that i will have to sell shortly after i buy it to upgrade. i am 60kg and patient so i dont mind falling off a lot. i have $300 to spend.
please post any information that might be helpful or any complete board set i might be interested in.
Thanks in advance.

Firstly that kit will sell for close to $600-$700. Secondly its not appropriate for learning.

To get a decent kit you need to invest closer to $1000. Aim for a 130l freeride board it will serve you well. You should be able to get a second hand one for around $500. Sails are inexpensive for what you need. Something that can take some punnishment would be an old wavesail 4.7, you should pay no more than $100-$150. Mast 430 @ $100 boom $100. Extension and Uni - $50-100.

These are guide prices only, but you have little or next to no chance getting appropriate kit for $300 and making any decent use of it.

I fell into the trap when I started. First complete kit was $400 - complete outdated junk and unsailable. I didnt know that at the time. Then another $700, then another $1200. Wasted all my money.

Best spending a little bit more for the right kit than less for the wrong kit.

Unfortulately most of the time you get what you pay for.

jermaldan said...

Firstly that kit will sell for close to $600-$700. Secondly its not appropriate for learning.

To get a decent kit you need to invest closer to $1000. Aim for a 130l freeride board it will serve you well. You should be able to get a second hand one for around $500. Sails are inexpensive for what you need. Something that can take some punnishment would be an old wavesail 4.7, you should pay no more than $100-$150. Mast 430 @ $100 boom $100. Extension and Uni - $50-100.

These are guide prices only, but you have little or next to no chance getting appropriate kit for $300 and making any decent use of it.

I fell into the trap when I started. First complete kit was $400 - complete outdated junk and unsailable. I didnt know that at the time. Then another $700, then another $1200. Wasted all my money.

Best spending a little bit more for the right kit than less for the wrong kit.

Unfortulately most of the time you get what you pay for.

Good advice except be careful about buying a mast that is the right length for the sail you buy. I don't know of many 4.7 sails that fit on a 430 mast unless they have a very long adjustable turbin and even then it wouldn't be the right set up. Around 5.5 would be a better size for a 430 mast or a 400 mast would fit a 4.7 better

Bento said...

I know this has been covered before but this is a prime example.

Cost is a major stumbling block for the young the enter this sport.

not many 16yo have one grand lying around

disappointing as he may loose interest

I agree, have a look at a windsurfer one design. Secondhand $100-$400
A great cheep beginner board

Thanks for the advice everyone. Ill check out some of the windsurfing schools and see if i get lucky.

I've been looking at that board on ebay but wasnt sure if it was good or not.

Thanks for going to the effort of searching for a board for me :)

hey everyone,
I've found a board that i think looks pretty good but ive been told to get a second opinion.
It's an 11 foot board, has 2 mylar sails with cams(1 x 5.8m and 1 x 7.5m), 2 centre boards, mast, foot, boom, harness. Everything is in good condition but board needs a little repair on the bottom(see in pictures). All this is $250.

Pm me,I got a heap of gear in the shed I haven't used for years , 5 boards, got an immaculate one design ,the good one with the swing centerboard (the things like new) got a heap of slalom and wave gear , 2piece fiberspar mast , 2 piece north wave mast, few good speed /slalom sails ,a couple of booms.......ect .i' m sure I can get you on the water for $300 bucks or so? You can probably have the lot for $5- $600?

For the$600 I'll even throw in a land sailor board!! See my profile pictures.

kato said...

Sails $20 ea board free. You can do better. This is mostly junk

Yes agreed do not buy that.... It will cost you to dispose of it!
It is old and not user friendly.... must be heavy as well. Get the Mistral even at $500 it will be a bargain.
I have seen relics like that at my local tip.!

You guys in Qld why don't you start a topic listing all the junk that (could be treasure to newbies with no cash) that you are hoarding and offer it to good homes for free or cartons of beers or whatever (mowing the lawn, weeding the backyard.... ) young guys would jump at it and you would please the miss use for clearing the shed! + do a good thing for the sport we all love…….
Some guys did that here in WA and all the gear went in no time! I picked up some cheap sails and a nice board for beer!
Come on guys!

Will do,
But if anyone hears of a 120L or close to that at a reasonable price please let me know.
Thanks again for helping me out.

Aussiex said...

I got a question. as i said before, Swoosh has lent me the board for over xmas so i should get some practice in then. I have found a board that i think would be good to downgrade to when im ready to advance. i thought i should give swoosh a break from all my questions and bug u guys.

www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Windsurfing/Boards/~by2ax/2004-Mistral-Screamer-289-cm-117-litres.aspx?search=EjQ0DoWvNYjnOWqQ%2fsNBfq5NA40F6LS2

I messaged the guy selling it and he said it wouldn't be good but thats before i knew i was getting the board over xmas.

Thanks in advance

If you can get a bit of experience they are a nice board, comfortable and pretty quick. With your weight I reckon you would be ok. I have a newer model 115l and I'm 85kg, no problem for me to uphaul. I have always had a soft spot for them. Cheers and goodluck, PS Dieter is pretty reasonable from past experience.

Thanks guys,
I'm just real keen to get my own gear. using someone else gear worth 1000's of dollars that someone has trusted you with makes me a bit nervous. lol. I know the all the gear is tough but it's still a bit scary.
But thanks for helping me out.

hey i am buying a sail,mast and boom from the guy above. But it doesn't come with a mast base. so does anyone have a cheap 1 i can buy.