mistral sst

Question
QUESTION: Hey, I just bought a Mistral SST, its an older board and it didnt come with some parts. I have no idea what i'm doing but i want to get into windsurfing. The part that connects the mast to the board is missing? where do i get this? Can you email me with any help you can give me? i'm also missing fins? any help would really be appreciated. Thank you

ANSWER: Hey Rami,

The part for the mast to board is called the mast base. I believe that your board will use a standard type mast base instead of a Mistral specific base. Look at the track that the base will attach to. If there is just a long slot, then it is a standard type mast track.

It might be a moveable track. If so, at the end of the slot towards the tail of the board, there will be a black tab that will flip up and you can push down on. Then the white part in the slot will move forward and back. In this white part should be two holes for a mast base. One will be smooth inside with a couple metal rods on the side. This is a Mistral specific slot. The other hole should have a threaded insert that a standard mast base will fit.

If you don't have the standard type or the moveable type, then it will be a Mistral specific and only accept a Mistral specific base. Standard bases are available at all the links below. Mistral specific only at the last two.

Here are some that should work for you if your board has the newer type mast track.
Go to  http://www.chinooksailing.com/products/

You can also see and buy at www.windance.com. Windance also has new and used fins.

Check out www.oceanairsports.com and www.bigwinds.com for Mistral parts if your mast base is a Mistral specific base.

Welcome windsufing and best of luck,
Windlover

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hey, thank you for your quick reply. My board has a slider on it? It looks like there is only one hole and it is white. I checked out the sites but I didnt see anything about a mast base for mistral. I can send you a picture of what it looks like if that helps. Thank you

Answer
Hey Rami,

Look at your slider closely. It should have two holes, one threaded and one with two steel rods. There should be a small black tab that will push down to spread open the rods to allow a Mistral specific base stud to slide in and lock. The threaded hole will accept a standard threaded base stud. I looked at OceanAir and they seem to be out of the Mistral studs.

If your slider only has a Mistral hole, then you need the Mistral specific stud. You can buy any standard mast base and remove the threaded stud and insert the Mistral stud.

Try emailing Big Winds with a picture of your slider and they should have the parts you need. They don't list their Mistral parts online but I have been in their store and I do know that they have a fairly large inventory of the older Mistral parts.

Hope this helps.
Keep on sailing,
Windlover