choosing the right size board

Question
I'm sure this question has been tackled many times.  I have never seen a chart telling how many liters will float a certain amount of rider weight.  This is my first year windsurfing and although I can sail comfortably, my tacking and jibing still need some work.  I am also still uphauling the sail.  I live in Tahoe, so I surf mostly gusty winds on flat water.  I found a bic techno 283 very cheep. I was wondering if this was a good board for my ability level and to progress on for the area I will be sailing.  I think the board is 150 liters, so I'm assuming I should be able to uphaul the sail on this board.  I learned on a Mistral Equipe, so I'm sure this would be a step up for me.  Any suggestions that you may have for this particular board or what works best for my situation would be helpful.  Thanks

Answer
Hey Ryan,

The reason there isn't a chart detailing how much volume will float a certain weight is because there are too many variables involved. The main variable is the amount of wind for the board you are trying to sail. For any sailor in light winds, there needs to be enough volume to float the sailor. When the winds pick up and a sailor is able to plane, then the variables increase. An example would be, if a sailor is still uphauling, they would need enough volume to float themselves and the sail while not moving. Depending upon sailor size, sail size, and amount of wind, this could be anywhere from a 90ltr board to a 200ltr board. If the sailor has enough wind to waterstart, they could be on anything from an 80ltr board to a 140ltr board. The volume of board needed is extremely dependent upon the sailors' ability level and the amount of wind.

The Techno 283 would probably be a fairly good fit for you at your current abilities. You didn't mention your size but it should float you well enough for uphauling if you are around 200lbs or less. The main thing to realize is that there is no daggerboard so uphauling and getting going will be more of a challenge and require more sail and foot work to maneuver the board. The board would be very good for you because you would grow into the board and it would continue to serve you well for light wind sailing even when you are at an advanced level. If there is any way that you could possibly get to test ride the board before you buy it, that would give you an idea of the challenge you will have. But do realize that the more time you spend on a smaller board, the quicker your skills will increase.

Also, for some great tips and advice for all three levels of sailing, check out www. windsurfingmag.com under the instruction section. Be sure to read all the articles in the beginner and intermediate areas to help you in your transition from a long board to a short board.

Hope this helps.
Keep on sailing,
Windlover