possible board purchase

Question
Hey

I started windsurfing last summer on a 1986 windsurfer. It was a bit of a tank and I am looking to get something a bit newer/faster. Everything new is out of my price range but i found these boards and am wondering if I would be able to uphaul them? I weigh about 185lbs. If not what weight would be able to uphaul them? They might work for my younger brothers.
http://kelowna.en.craigslist.ca/spo/1642971877.html

Also what size mast should I look for? Anything else I'm missing that you feel like answering please do. Thanks a lot

Kerry

Answer
Hey Kerry,

Congrats on learning to windsurf but be forewarned, windsurfing is addicting :). That said, the boards you sent a link to are both considered short boards and would be very difficult for even an experienced sailor to uphaul. They could also be called sinkers because when you try to uphaul them, they sink. But, if you feel that you will continue to learn and advance your sailing, this gear is something you would be able to use in another season or two. The price they are asking is quite good if the gear is in decent to good condition. If you are able to look at the gear, look for dings or repairs on the boards, straight fin boxes, tears in the sails, creases in the monofilm, and general wear and tear. From what little I can see, it all seems okay but a closer inspection would be recommended prior to purchase.

As for what size board you would need to advance on and still uphaul, you probably need to look for a board with about 160ltrs volume or more. If you can find something with a daggerboard, it will make it easier for you for uphauling and going upwind. Some newer style with daggerboards to consider would be Bic Nova or Techno, Starboard Go or Rio, and Mistral Prodigy. All of these models have been around for a while so you may be able to find a used one at a decent price. The Mistral is only one size but the Bic and Starboard models come in different volumes. Look for the lower volume ones to have a board that you can advance on yet still work well for light winds and entry level sailors.

As for your brothers learning on the short boards, it would be a very difficult and frustrating time for them. All beginner sailors need a stable board to learn the basics on. The 'tank' you learned on would work for them as long as a small sail is used.

As for what size mast to look for, it really depends on the size of sails that you plan to use. If you decided to purchase the gear in your link, you would need to look on the sails to determine what size mast they would need. My guess is that a 430cm mast would work for the three smaller ones and maybe for the largest sail with a long mast extension/base. If you are going to be sailing light winds, larger sails will need a longer mast.

Hope this helps.
Keep on sailing,
Windlover