I'm looking at buying a second-hand Windsurfer One Design, and wondering if the one advertised in NSW on Gumtree is reasonable value for money? -> http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/brookvale/sail-boats/wally-one-design-windsurfer/1062100171
He wants $650 for the board itself (which he says is in mint condition) or $850 with the rig (sail is new this year), but I think the price might be negotiable. The only other one design with rotating centre-board currently for sale that I'm aware of is in SA for $500 in 'good' condition (on eBay), but it would cost me $300 in petrol to drive to SA and back from Canberra. Another option is to buy a brand new one from Windgenuity ($1899 - full kit), but I'm out of work at the moment, so would prefer to go second hand. Does anyone know of other One Design boards available? Everyone I have spoken to has recommended getting one with a rotating centre-board, but would I cope with an older one with dagger centre-board?
My background: Just started windsurfing in Canberra in October this year on a Naish Kahlua 250 litre beginner board (hired from the Wet Spot). If you are in Canberra, you may have seen me around falling off the board regularly (I met a few of you at Yarralumla Bay)! I recently spent a week in Boracay in the Philippines and did some lessons on a JP Funster 160 litre with sails ranging from 4.0 to 5.7 - loved it! I can now beach start, use a harness and almost get into footstraps (front only). I want to buy a second-hand longboard, preferably a Windsurfer One Design, as they are fairly indestructible and the winds are quite variable in Canberra.
On a related topic - does anyone race longboards in Canberra? I saw a few one designs out on the water a few weeks ago one evening when there was an easterly. I'm not anywhere near ready to start racing, but might be nice to have something to aspire to.
Hi Gerard
Yep, some of us do race Windsurfer One Designs in Canberra, at Yarralumla the first and third Mondays of the month unless it's calm as it was last night. I've seen you out a couple of times when I'm out on the boat, I think; you're going well!
That board looks very nice; one of the beautiful boards built in the '80s just like mine are. Other nice boards can be found for a lot less (I got a beautiful board+CB at the tip shop a couple of months ago) but they tend to be bare boards, without mast, boom, uni and sail. A new One Design sail is about $450, so unless you're lucky enough to find another good board with a good sail you're up for $450 or so anyway + the price of the rest of the kit (another $700 or so).
IF the sail is new (the one in the pic is not a new standard cut or colour) and the rest of the gear is in as good condition as it looks then it's not bad at all, esp if the old sail comes with it too; One Design prices seem to be going up as people return to longboards in general and One Designs in particular. You can get them for less but it can take many months of sniffing around, or getting one from interstate. The boom on that board looks like an older tie-on one which will still work but be a bit more hassle - no big deal as second-hand modern booms are cheap.
That board has many, many years left in it and could still easily win the nationals, and the sails last for many years if well cared for. I've been trying to find another One Design for a two-time world dinghy champion but they are hard to come by - I think he's going to buy new.
Whatever you do, PM me and I'll add you to our COWS (Canberra One design Wind Surfers) email list. You are welcome to borrow a board from me to give One Designs a try.
Cheers
Chris
I passed an old style board (with daggerboard but no rig) in council clean up pile at Newport today.
Steve
Yep, I just realised I forgot to answer the question about the original daggerboard models. They are WAY harder to sail in anything over about 8 knots but I have one available for loan.
I just realised who owns the board for sale - he's a good guy and knows his stuff, so the board will probably have been treated well.
Welcome to the board Gerard. Being "in between jobs" is the ideal time to get another board, especially with summer coming on. 
Windsurfer one designs come up on ebay and gumtree every few weeks, probably 2/3 of them are the pre-1988 (?) style with the non rotating centreboard. There was an almost identical Bombora produced board that was a copy of the one design- they also appear periodically. I am fairly certain the bombora ones had a fully retracting allgier type daggerboard and a US fin box. Theoretically this would allow an even higher level of high wind performance with a big fin and fully retracted centreboard compared to the one design.
The rotating centreboard is definitely the way to go. The other big difference between the pre-88 and post-88 models is that the post 88 models have footstrap inserts, which were not standard on the earlier versions, and a mast track which allows the base to be moved in a slot (although NOT a sliding mast track as such). The almost fully retracting centreboard and footstraps makes a huge difference in performance compared to the older model.
At $500 the one in SA seems like a good deal. If it was near where I live I would buy it myself.
There was one here in Tasmania a few months back for over $1000 (from memory) which didn't last long. The "standard" price for the newer one designs on ebay or gumtree is anything from $300 to close to $1000. I think a lot of it depends on whether the seller knows that these are one of the few old school boards that can actually fetch a reasonable price.
Be aware that the mylar on the older sails can delaminate, even if they have been cared for and stored correctly. Most sails over 10-15 years old will show at least some delamination. They will still work in this state, but are well and truly on the way out by then.
Clarence
Thanks everyone for your advice. I ended up buying a One Design Wally with full kit off a local in Canberra, so I'm all set to go. 
Looking forward to seeing some of you out on Lake Burley Griffin over the summer.
I have just posted a one design on the advert section of this website for sale. It has the retractable centreboard and is s complete set with sail and boom and mast etc. Please let anyone you know tgat mihht be interested to calk me on 0435 322 482
I have just posted a one design on the advert section of this website for sale. It has the retractable centreboard and is s complete set with sail and boom and mast etc. Please let anyone you know that might be interested to call me on 0435 322 482
We do actually have a new, complete one design in stock, if anyone wants to go retro racing.
Jez
2ndwind.com.au
