Hi all,

Been thinking of getting into windsurfing for a while but never bit the bullet..

Well I have just gone and done what all the experienced riders on these pages suggest that a noob shouldn't.

Yep, I went & bought a complete kit, board, sail, mast, harness etc for $100

How cheap is that.. Now I know what your all going to say, boards/sails have improved a great deal in recent years I should have just stumped up for a newer better kit..

But times are tough and the Minister for War & Finance is hard to convince in handing over the necessary approvals (and cash)..

So anyway to cut to the chase, my question is this.. I have looked pretty damn thoroughly around the net but cannot find any reference to the board that I have.

On the board is a sticker saying Sailboards New Zealand (87 barrys point rd takapuna) Painted in big letters is Omega2 and further stickers Brut33, Faberge etc..
Board is around 2.9m. Is anyone familiar with this board/board maker and what I can expect from it.. I guess picture would help.. will work on that one...

I think it's a bit of a dinosaur, BUT if I get out on it and use it I just might be able to put forward a decent case for an upgrade..

Any help is appreciated..

Cheers

Hey don't knock the old gear, I learnt on a $200 ebay special which gave me way more than $200 of enjoyment...

My concern with your gear is size. How big is it? If it's less than 140 litres or so, you will struggle to get past the uphaul and fall off stage.

As you say, a picture will help a lot.

There is a big difference between a Wally and what sounds like an 80s slalom board when trying to learn windsurfing.

I think the Omega boards were designed by Tom Luedecke, pre Bombora and the orthagonal concept.

It may be possible to learn on such a board but it won't be as easy as learning on either a Wally or a modern learner board thats over a meter wide and has a centreboard.

If it is an old slalom board then learning will be easier if you fit some sort of fin in the centre to give the board a bit of directional stability.

Mobydisc said...

Tom Luedecke, ........... and the orthagonal concept.

Oh ok, that makes a lot of difference. I had one of those orthagonal concept bomboras (see profile pic) and sold it to contribute to the JP. It was a four letter C word of a thing to ride with an old rig. If he's bought something like that then yeah, it's not going to be a good learning board. I had the sence to knock back learners when I sold mine but I guess others might take an easy sale.

I'd love to see a photo of what this board is exactly.

1 little pic = 1000 utterances.

There's degrees of goodness (for the buck) and badness for old gear.
Post a pic or two.

I reckon that's a $100 well spent You'll get more than your moneys worth with enjoyment (and some frustration...lol), and when ya get the basics of tacking, slo mo gybes, beach starts etc kinda sorted (maybe in 3 months or so), flog it off, get ya $100 back and look into a modernish board around 130 odd litres and a nice 5.5 meter (give or take) sail and enjoy round two- it only gets better after to "making a fool of ya self" stage.

Is there any grip on the deck? It looks like it would be super slippery?

Mobydisc said...

First thing to do is to work out a way to fit a centre fin to the board if you want to make learning a bit easier with this gear. The centre fin will give a bit of lateral stability and make it easier to get going in a forward direction, rather than going sideways once you get the sail out of the water.

It won't have to be the most hydro dynamic centrefin design as you won't be going all that fast.

You can make up a centreboard with a bit of 3 ply cut to fin shape about 40cm x 15-20cm. Brush it all up well with fibreglass resin from Bunnings. ($10). Use 2 bits of 25x25 aluminium angle about 15cm long - one each side of the fin - to glue it to the bottom of the board, or use double sided tape so it is removable each session.

But considering how many old beginner's boards go to the tip you'd be able to find a free one.

That rig will be good enough for learning, looks like good condition for age but keep an eye out for any splits at the bottom of the mast.

Looks like a good deal for $100!
Not exactly the best gear for learning on but you'll get there if you have good persistence and good balance. If possible get someone to teach you how to beach start straight off rather than uphaul starts which will be difficult on that board.

Alternatively see if you can pick up a big board.

Ed try to meet up with darryl or other experienced sailboarders in your area a few tips will go a long way they dont steer like a boat Good luck

Interesting rig... never seen such a sail before...

Just make sure you don't go out on an offshore wind... you got Buckley's of making it back on that board.

Onshores and side-shore will be OK for learning.

Have fun !

Nice looking board!

As Mark suggests, now look around for an older longboard to learn on and sail in light winds. Best of both worlds.

ploppy said...

Hi Ed
Welcome to the world of windsurfing it is great fun.
I sail from Torquay,Hervey Bay,(2nd groyne from the pier),

tee hee he said groyne but seriously thanks for the invite, might have to look you up some time to ask a few questions and see how it's done..

I have read through the responses and there's definitely some food for thought.

As I am 6'2" and the wrong end of 80kg it seems the board maybe a little small, especially since I am inexperienced. Will still give it a go and keep an eye out for a beginners board also..

The centerboard idea may be a goer.. I have been thinking about how I might fit one without ruining the board.. but I guess for $100 it doesn't really matter if I stuff it.. I don't think that slalom is my long term objective once experienced, just a nice cruise & bit of playing around. There's not much in the way of waves around here so wave riding is pretty much out.

Maybe try first with the double sided tape and some ally angles to some ply as suggested. I guess glassing in a centerboard mount is not worth the time and hassle particularly as the board is vac formed.

pierrec45
said... Just make sure you don't go out on an offshore wind... you got Buckley's of making it back on that board.

Now that is a good idea, I do like the thought of sailing across to Fraser Island.. but not being able to get back might be a bit of an issue

DrJ said.. Were the Saw trestle (saw horses) included for the $100 .... If so it was a bargain!

Unfortunately not.. still can't complain with the deal I got tho

Right so I have the makings of a trolly(don't have roof racks yet) now so hopefully soon I will be dragging the kit down the beach for a red hot go.. luckily the water here is not too deep so if I time it right I should be able to stand up when I fall off

Thanks heaps for the replies everyone.. will keep you informed on my progress.. Ohh and if you see on the news something about a windsurfer getting blown out to sea & ending up in Noumea it wasn't me OK

ohh and yes that golden retriever is a nice looking dog

Welcome

i am about 4 months in front of you

I did the same thing - $100 eBay kit , feel in love with windsurfing and brought a better kit

The first thing you will notice with windsurfing -

1.Seabreeze is great , so many friendly and helpful guys
2.It Bloody expensive to learn lol


after 1 month i brought a 80 viper -
personally my 80 cm wide viper feel just as stable as my $100 eBay board * 65cm*
but with 2nd had sail it made a huge different



Best tip -
1. get out with some local guys
2. Ask question
3. Hopefully someone can show you how to set it up the sail
4. Wet suit , GET OUT and smile

oh weed fins help a lot if you're in a weedy lake

Nice job should serve you well. Just a thought regarding fin clearence, couldn't you just turn it over and point it in the air. Maybe easier than removing it or making further enhancements. Enjoy.

hope i helped. hate for you to go to too much trouble when you dont need too. Have you been out for a ride yet.

Don't forget to turn the board back over when you get in the water.

Try to remember that for normal use the fin goes downwards. I use the saying :

StalagTIGHTS go down and StalagMITES go up.

and then just mentally note that a fin is like a stalagtite.




For any more helpful hints just ask.