K Dog said...

I'm considering a BIC Techno 283 - anyone have any thoughts on these? It's around 7 or so years old..... I'm just not sure....

Its more or less what I have, if I see you out there you can give mine a burl.

Thanks for the feedback on the board!

My first board was a Go155 which I still have - a mate is currently learning on it.

I'm 78kgs, and after a year with this board, I'd learned to waterstart, plane comfortably in the straps, and started to learn planing gybes.

I then moved to a JP 109 FSW which was a big drop down and a lot less stable, but within a month I was used to it.

I can highly recommend the Go155 for my size. Not too big nor too small to learn good technique on. And remember that most good technique is learned in light winds when you're starting out, so a nice wide deck is important while you're working out how to move.

It's also a surprisingly fast board when you get a big sail on it (6.6m +) in summer by seabreezes of around 17-20 knots. For the first 18 months, I had only two sails - a 5.3m and 6.6m which gave me plenty of range.

And it grows with your skill well. Moving the footstraps right to the outside of the board teaches you about pointing your toes to keep the board flat and the leeward rail down - important technique for getting speed on any board.

K Dog said...

"I challenge you to find a used one here in Victoria!"

Jez, I could have had fun with your comment - I bought the BIC Techno last night and was sussing it out :P The board was in top condition, and got a mast stand (?) and mast connector (?) thingy as well.... now all I need is a sail, mast and boom and its time to rock and roll... (splash)...

Congratz and Goodluck
Mast stand = Mast Extention
Mast Connector = Mast Base

Dont forget the Uphaul Rope, you wont wanna touch the water without one of them. (:

K Dog said...

"I challenge you to find a used one here in Victoria!"

Jez, I could have had fun with your comment - I bought the BIC Techno last night and was sussing it out :P The board was in top condition, and got a mast stand (?) and mast connector (?) thingy as well.... now all I need is a sail, mast and boom and its time to rock and roll... (splash)...

TristanF - thanks for your advice, the board I picked up is 155ltrs... and was used to learn on by the guy I bought it off. I weigh about the same as you... so looks like I went in the right direction on size :)

Here's a pic of the new toy.

I eat my words. However you have probably managed to get the only one in VIC!

So you have a mast plate, universal joint and mast extension?

You will also need an uphaul!

Don't buy a new rig set up because you will punnish it quite a bit while learning. make sure that its a tough ol sail (kevlar/mylar) and dont be too worried about it not being from this season. Dont spend more than $400 for your first rig. Save your pennies for later.

If you want to take it out the board out this weekend give me a shout, I can lend you one of my rigs (at your own risk) I have 3!

K Dog said...

Yep, have uni joint, plug, and mast extender... so you recon:

cheap @rse sail
boom - one here for $110 at Port Melb...
uphaul... can't cost much...
mast... no idea... will look around...

under $400 would be good... see your point... remember trashing my first surfboard....

take you up on the offer for a sunday sesh! how did you end up with so much gear?

Long story, its in one of my earlier posts. I think I may have a slight gear obsession.
I have 3 boards in total: 1 huge monster "Jet" with 2 massive 1 piece masts and 3 sails and 2 Booms.

Out of the newer stuff I have 2 Boards (Slalom an Funride), 3 Booms, 3 masts, 2 harnesses (seat an waist) 2 mast extensions and bases, 5 sails!

And I am out to buy another board... Maybe I can start a hire shop or something....

I'm the Imelda Marcos of windsurfing.

bahaha funny as. I can see myself heading down that road

quote]K Dog said...

how did you end up with so much gear?

Answer: Male. Windsurfer.

"Better get a garage, Son.
Better get a real big one."

(Apologies to The Cruel Sea.)

Check that the adjustment still slides freely,and ask the seller to clamp the head onto a mast,[i bought a S/H boom once and when i went to adjust the boom clamp tension found that the jaws that grip the rope had corroded and wouldn't clamp the rope tight].Could be worth looking at the ezzy wave sail hes got ,i think they were a pretty tough sail.

Someone else might like to comment on the sail ,its a few years old ,but at that money i don't think you could go far wrong,ask the seller to rig it with the boom he's selling [take your mast base]then youll know what mast [mast extension] you need to complete the rig.Might be able to get the other sail to for little more than $200 bucks,then he's rid of the lot.

Thanks pirrad and Jase, checking out this gear this weekend. Boom is pretty newish... sail is in good condition I am told.... we'll see... itching to get out on the water