clueless newbie

Hey Jimn
I'm heading to Swansea this weekend. Probably Sunday. I am far (SO FAR) from an expert but I might be able to give you a few ideas, certainly with setting your gear up. I do love to sailing Swansea . Where are you from? There are learner's days in the north and south and gear you can hire from WS Tas.
PM me if you around early next week.
Cheers
Steve

Thanks guys !
Ill be around on monday steve and live in riverside launnie for now.
Where are you based geared4knots ?

Hey there Clueless, welcome to the no-good drop-out drunk braindead world of windsurfing.................oh yeah and where do you live?

"slot insert thingy", I know just what your talking about. Geared4knots has heaps in stock.

Did I mention something about a photo? Maybe post a pic of the bits you DO have (board attachment point and mast base).

Clarence

Jimn have a think about talking to some of the guys about getting a newer board. The Bombora was the top of the range in ancient Roman but after Caesar was stabbed in the back with a Bombora fin they were banned from the Empire.

The newer boards are so much more fun and very easy to learn on but beware of people selling you gear that is not suited to your level and type of sailing. Most of the guys up north started out with intermediate freeride boards and progressed very quickly. Some of the high performance slalom and wave boards are difficult to learn on so talk to the people you sail with and when you do find something that you think might be right get advice before you purchase.

I hire out learner gear down south and I'm often pretty surprised with some of the gear these guys have bought to learn on. Some come along with ancient roman boards and rigs others have been sold high performance gear none of which are suitable and just costs them money.

Anyone selling gear please consider who you are selling it to, please make sure it is the best gear for the buyer.

On saying all that Jimn if you love your board stick with it

G'day Jimn,
I came back to Windsurfing a few years ago after over twenty years out of the sport. My observation and recent experience is modern equipment has advanced enormously in functionality, usability and performance. Equipment is now easily 1/3 of the weight it was and twice as strong.
Yes it is expensive. However if you look bargains can be had. Ultimately you get what you pay for.
Your skills are not progressing fast because your gear is holding you back.
That is how it was..."In The Day" we flogged ourselves half to death trying to master the sport. Those that didn't give up in frustration got there in the end. So many chucked it in.....because the equipment was holding them back too.
You have a choice; Persist, spending hours and days and weeks fighting equipment. Or...get some more recent equipment and be amazed how easy it is to sail. You will not be able to wipe the smile from your face! I still come back with a stupid grin after every sail!
Having said that I still enjoy sailing the original Sailboard; The "Windsurfer" Probably out of nostalgia which takes me back 35 years! Definitely not performance or usability...they are incredibly difficult to sail.
Your board is constructed from polyethylene; virtually nothing will adhere to it. Believe me we tried lots of stuff after splitting and retro fitting footstrap inserts boards in the 80's
Attempting to retro fit a new mast track will work in the very short term. However once the polyethylene boards are modified they lose strength and inserts will part from the board or at best allow water to enter the foam core making your board sail like a slab of concrete!
Feel free to PM me if you would like some advice on epoxies and how to retro fit inserts.

Huh..... Nice replys there!
does it matter what sails I have for board choice ? I don't know what ppl learn with but i've got 2 and only ever used a 7.5 sail with this board cause I thought bigger was better I have a super old 4.5 as well.
if I change boards id like something that will last me a fair while.

ok so i really want to know what my board is so i know what literage iv been using.
im pretty sure its not an xit now since i found this pic in an old page on this site.... and the xit is obviouse in the middle left. mine is th second from right with the white kangaroo on black sticker. thats what im running. sizes are ( close as i could measure ) 2900mm to 2910mm long and as good as 640mm wide.

here is the mast base insert thing that i broke with its size to those that thought they might have one ?

HI Jimn.
Simple , cheap solution.
flat aluminium plate cut to outside size of old track approx. , use existing screw holes that held the old mast track in and secure it too deck.
then just drill a hole for your mast base to screw into.

save your time and money and buy a new / secondhand modern board.

I am sorry to tell you but your roof racks are of more value than your current quiver.
When you do purchase new gear please dont sell it, and dont take it to the tip in one piece. dispose of in a big hole.

lol....... im getting an idea that it wasnt the best board ?????
im going to rent something and see how it goes. hopefully my struggling up till now will have been of some use :)
it just seems such a waste to just chuck it tho.

also i know this isnt the forum for it but if any of your guys build or drive buggys in tassie, pm me !! id like to know :)

Really geard4knots ?? $400 Just to destroy it ??? Also, what's an average entry level kit going to be worth roughly ?
Hey rust..... you live on riverside drove with that beast don't you !! I watched it evolve in your car port for months !! Full restoration ?
I was more talking this sorta thing.
But go to the last half of it......

www.minibuggy.net/forum/projects-progress/19591-fzx250-buggy-13.html