obrien sensation windsurfer

Question
Inherited O'Brien Sensation windsurfer from late 1980's.  It's missing part(s) to connect mast to board. The board has an aluminum slot on top of board about 18" long 3/4" wide where I believe a part called a "mast foot" is inserted and I've been told that there is a "mast base" and a "rubber universal joint" that may also be part of the items I would need to connect mast to board.  What parts do I need?  How can I get them?  Can I find anything equivalent now on the market that would work?  Is it worth it?  The 11 1/2' board, 58 SF sail, 15' mast and all other rigging are like new and rarely used.

Answer
Hey Ann,

Your board is still very usable and getting the parts you need are readily available. Go to www.chinooksailing.com for the parts you need. You will need a mast base and at a minimum a short extension. To determine if you will need a longer extension, slide your mast into the mast sleeve of the sail. Pull down on the grommet area at the bottom of the sail with your right foot on the bottom of the mast. If the grommet does not go over the bottom of the mast, a short extension will work fine. If there is 4 or more inches of sail over the end of the mast, go with a medium size. If there is 8-10 inches of sail over the end of the mast, go with the large size extension.

You can find a dealer for the parts listed on their site but some may not do mail order. Check out www.oceanairsports.com for online ordering. You can also go to www.windsurfingmag.com and look under links for online shops that will carry bases and extensions. You can also find used items on ebay and your local craigslist. Be sure to research the Chinook site to determine what you need before you buy used. There are a variety of brands out there that make bases and extensions that can be found used. Just make sure that all the parts you need are available if you go with used. As a newbie to the sport, I recommend buying new as it may be hard to determine how good a used part is if you don't know what to look for in the wear and tear of a used part. But, sometimes budget determines how we shop so take care if you go with used.

Hope this helps.
Keep on sailing,
Windlover