Leaving a bic 1970s -----contd

Question
QUESTION: I was looking at this setup off of ebay....
how about it?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Windsurfer-Mistral-board-380cm-Sailworks-sail-5-6_W0QQitemZ2

once again...I want something better than the traingle piece I have in Michigan...

Thanks!

ANSWER: Hey Colin,

That looks like a really nice rig. Board seems to be in excellent condition. It is definitely a big step up from the old Bic. It will work well in light winds yet do well in high winds too. Very versatile board that will work for many levels of sailors.

The thing to watch for on that deal is the bidding. I looked at the bid history and there are only a few people bidding but they are just jacking the price up as they newbies to ebay and not aware of how to win at a decent price. There is one person there with a high bid history that will be lurking around until the last minute to sweep in and win. You need to decide what your very maximum bid would be and watch the bidding during the last 10-15 min. If it is get close to your max, it will probably go over. If it isn't close, wait until 1 or less to place your max bid. This will give you the best chance of winning. Know that it takes about 15-20 seconds to enter a bid as you have a confirmation page that you have to click on, so bid accordingly.

I really think that if you watch cl and ebay closely over the next few weeks, you should be able to find something to suit your needs in good condition for the $500-800 range you are looking to spend. As for the above board, I personally would only pay about $500 max. The equipment seems to be in excellent condition and may actually be worth more. Used gear is subjective based on what the buyer is willing to pay and the seller willing to accept. With an ebay purchase, you only control how much you want to pay. With a private party purchase, you can negotiate price.

The other thing to consider is how far you have to go to pick up a purchase as most folks won't ship boards. Trucking companies are about the easiest way but most don't want to deal with it. With the price of gas going up every day, it could increase the price of any equipment you buy. So, I hope this will help you with your shopping. Please feel free to ask my advice on any tentative purchase.

Keep on sailing,
Windlover

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

QUESTION: Thanks for the answer and all but it was a little late for me to buy the board.  So now I'm asking what technical specs should I look for when I'm purchasing my stuff.
and a good place to look for buying one.

Type of board, ltrs?, how long wide...
Boom, mast types, new sail?

keep in mind I'm sort of a beginer but can learn fast and wants to be able to do everything with the set up like coasting with a harness, going fast, and wave jibbing? it all sounds just awesome....

I'm looking for all the help I can get.

Thanks a lot....again!

Answer
Hey Colin,

There is so much out there to choose from that I will keep this fairly generic. If you are wanting to go with a fairly new set up, you will be looking at the newer wider style of boards. Freeride is the new term for the type of board you will be looking for to suit the style of sailing you mention. For your current abilities your size, you probably would be looking at something in the 150-180ltr range. Depending on how quickly you advance, going with the lower volume will allow you to grow into the board and not outgrow the board in the advanced levels. A 150ltr would still be a good light wind board for an advanced sailor. As for sails, you just need to find something that suits your predominate wind conditions. Newer sails have a very broad wind range so one or two sails will keep you on the water. For lighter winds you probably will want a 6.5-8.0 for 8-15kts. For 12-20kts you probably will be looking at 5.0-6.0. Most masts are carbon. More carbon content means less weight but also a bit more expensive and more easily damaged. Look for something 40-60% for strength, durability, and light weight. Aluminum booms are the least expensive and are very durable. Carbon are light weight but very expensive. Check out windsurfingmag.com under equipment for some good reviews on the last few years of gear. Check out light wind freeride boards for something that will work well in a variety of conditions. If you find some specific models you are interested or for sale, feel free to ask for some input.

Hope this helps.
Keep on sailing,
Windlover