was just scrolling through some of the buy and sell stuff and started thinking. How old is your every day board. iv spent many happy hours scooting around on a 74L FSW that i piced up for a few hundred $$$ about 2004-6 i guess
seems to be some deals to be had if you dont mind a few years and the odd repair or dent. whats your thoughts people having said this i do think a rig that is alot newer can make or brake any board / rig combo

The boards I tend to use seem to be centred about 2005 or 2006. I think its the price point where I don't mind buying yet another board, and I don't mind breaking/repairing them.

I do admire the look of more modern boards, but I know with the way I sail, they would all look second hand after a season with me I don't think I could handle the stress of trying to keep them looking pristine.

Also, with a newer board I would be less tempted to add footstrap inserts all over the place

Agree with you on sails, decided a few years back that that was where the hard earned cash is best spent (plus good rig components) so until recently my main board was 13 years old (2000 freeride purchased ex-demo). Got a new no-cam slalom sail last year and quickly found the top speed for the board every session. Now have my dream board 2011 model (boards seem like cars to me - not much point in buying new).

Similarly on the small board back in 2009 I went from a 1999 87L freeride to a 2006 freewave 78L. That was a first big step into modern wider boards - had to find a new stance (changed to waist harness at same time - so it was all completely foreign in feel for a while). I think it was around 2001 to 2005 where the designs really changed. Not sure other than the recent - fins "arms race" that things have changed that much since. One mag suggested they had got a bit too wide and are now coming back.

my most used boards are 2001-2006
my most used sails are 2006-2010

mike105: boards in 85 to 95 cm width seem to be coming back
freemove and freeformula

Recently traded my 2004 fanatic 109 triple-x for a 2012 tabou 116 s3... not sure if I'm convinced. .. but haven't given it much of a go either.

2009 Tabou FS 100
2009 JP FSW 84
2009 Starboard Evil Twin 80

Sails are mostly 2010.

I very rarely have brand new boards. I'll probably replace everything after another 2 seasons, but with secondhand / previous season stuff. Unless I break something first.

2008 - Tabou Rocket 125 + 95
c2005?? Tabou Pocket Wave 78ltres

Tabou rockets are featuring in this thread, the board most likely to be kept forever?

My '08 115 has done a few nautical miles. 2 years since it snapped almost in two, the controversial repair (www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Repair-your-own-boards-like-a-Boss/?whichpage=2&index=39) is still strong but the deck has collapsed below the 64. I've acquired a 105 while it's in for another repair. The 105 definitely sails one size smaller. Get one half way between by all means Moby, but I don't think one will replace two.

My every day board is a 101 RRD FSW it handles all conditions just change sail from 4.9 - 6.0 NP fuson to 7.2 hellcat

sboardcrazy said...


Cripes what did you do to snap it? I get the impression they are pretty durable and well built..I'd love a 105 or 115 to go in between my 125 & 95..If I win lotto I'll do that + get a trailer to carry it all..[}:)]
Ps .. your 115 looks crap..I'll take it off your hands..

Well i was trying to gybe on the front of some swell, got out of balance and a piece of chop threw me off up into the air. The rocket sailed on without me into the trough, I followed in a parabolic arc and slammed into it. Sort of like what those those world championship wrestlers do to an opponent after climbing the turnbuckles. I was sore, but it sailed back to the beach OK.

Waddya mean it looks crap? Looks beautiful to me.

Ian K said...

sboardcrazy said...


Cripes what did you do to snap it? I get the impression they are pretty durable and well built..I'd love a 105 or 115 to go in between my 125 & 95..If I win lotto I'll do that + get a trailer to carry it all..[}:)]
Ps .. your 115 looks crap..I'll take it off your hands..

Well i was trying to gybe on the front of some swell, got out of balance and a piece of chop threw me off up into the air. The rocket sailed on without me into the trough, I followed in a parabolic arc and slammed into it. Sort of like what those those world championship wrestlers do to an opponent after climbing the turnbuckles. I was sore, but it sailed back to the beach OK.

Waddya mean it looks crap? Looks beautiful to me.

Maybe Barn could have dressed up the repaired section to look like a giant bandaid? You may as well make it a feature!

Ian K said...

sboardcrazy said...


Cripes what did you do to snap it? I get the impression they are pretty durable and well built..I'd love a 105 or 115 to go in between my 125 & 95..If I win lotto I'll do that + get a trailer to carry it all..[}:)]
Ps .. your 115 looks crap..I'll take it off your hands..

Well i was trying to gybe on the front of some swell, got out of balance and a piece of chop threw me off up into the air. The rocket sailed on without me into the trough, I followed in a parabolic arc and slammed into it. Sort of like what those those world championship wrestlers do to an opponent after climbing the turnbuckles. I was sore, but it sailed back to the beach OK.

Waddya mean it looks crap? Looks beautiful to me.

Oww.. Did you get it on Go Pro? Must have hurt! Well seeing it doesn't look like I can convince you to scrap it and throw it my way it's actually its quite a neat repair..

I gotta say, new boards are great, but I ask myself whether the worry they incur (dont wanna ding it) is worth the trouble. The older boards I own are the ones I do crazier stuff on, because there would be a certain amount of "meh" if I snapped them in half......