windsurfer assessment

Question
I have a Tiga board.  The ultra light white board is about 12 1/2 feet long by about 25" wide, says "Racing" and "Structural Composite Carbon" along w/ some other print in purple.  I have 3 various size sails.  Carbon mast and all accessories.  I know nothing about windsurfing.  I  bought it hoping to learn, but seems like the rig is way too advanced for beginner.  It all seems like top end gear in great shape--someone told me that everything being carbon fiber is great.  Can you give me some clue as to what it is worth?  I live in Birmingham, AL, USA but often travel to Mobile/Fairhope, Gulf Shores/Orange Beach, AL and Pensacola, FL.  Thanks.

Answer
Hey Mike,

Your rig is not too advanced for a beginner. It is a longboard designed for course racing but can still be used for recreational sailing and learning on. I'm not sure what the year of your board is and due to other factors, it would be hard to give you an idea of what it is worth. The type board you have is pretty much obsolete in that all newer boards from the last 5-7 years are shorter, wider, and lower volume. The only boards as long as yours being made are Stand Up Paddle boards although a few board makers are designing them to attach a sail now.

Depending upon the types and age of your sails, mast, & boom, you may have some resale value there. The board will probably not net much by itself but the complete package could be worth more. I would need to know the types & sizes of the sails and make & model of the mast & boom to give you any type of fair assessment of value.

The other thing to realize is that anything being sold used is a negotiable priced based on what the seller expects, what the buyer is willing to pay, fair market value, and your location. I watch ebay and my local craigslist ads for gear and I'm sometimes surprised at what actually sells and the prices paid.

So, either keep your gear and learn to sail or send me the specs and I'll try to give you an assessment. If you can send a pic it would help also.

Hope this helps.
Keep on sailing,
Windlover