Pulled this out of the shed after seeing a forecast for a big westerly coming... got it with a bunch of old gear way back when i started windsurfing 3 years ago, figured I wouldn't be able to sail it then, forgot about it for a while and decided to give it a crack! :D Just curious if anyone knows more about these boards - or the fancy looking fin sticking out of it :D

Board is probably very good in flatter water and very powered.
Dump that super slow double fin if you want any speed.
Split,fence, for, all work to reduce 'spinout', but are very slow.

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LeeD said..
Board is probably very good in flatter water and very powered.
Dump that super slow double fin if you want any speed.
Split,fence, for, all work to reduce 'spinout', but are very slow.

You rekon it'd work without the front fin? - Cheers for the info! :D Reason i ask that is currently that's the only US box fin i have small enough to use in the board...

Pete Cochrane, who still sails up Noosa way, took over WINDACTION sailboards from Bill Riddell in 1994 up until 2000 when he sold the business. Hopefully he might see this post and shed some light on it for you. Last saw him at Lake George in February.

Greenleader will probably know its history.

1989-1990 Speed Trial model from the range of that time. See advertisement from Freesail magazine of 1989. I think these were shaped by Bill Riddell the original owner and shaper but someone else in Queensland will know. These boards looked cool but alas I never sailed one, WA is a long way away. Sail it with the fin I am sure it works, maybe not as well as a modern fin, but this is not a modern board and not a modern finbox, so just sail it and just do it. Concrete Wave fins were made by or for F2 so at the time were tops. I would say the fin shown was an early one I expect but Greenleader will know more I am sure.

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RichardG said..
1989-1990 Speed Trial model from the range of that time. See advertisement from Freesail magazine of 1989. I think these were shaped by Bill Riddell the original owner and shaper but someone else in Queensland will know. These boards looked cool but alas I never sailed one, WA is a long way away. Sail it with the fin I am sure it works, maybe not as well as a modern fin, but this is not a modern board and not a modern finbox, so just sail it and just do it. Concrete Wave fins were made by or for F2 so at the time were tops. I would say the fin shown was an early one I expect but Greenleader will know more I am sure.

Cheers man! - So cool to see the original colours! - although mine appears to have been blue in the centre

Also see the 1987 SWQ magazine advert (including 5.5 kg World Cup Slalom board) and the speed boards article in that issue. Shapers and designers at WindAction included Bill Riddell, Martin Cooper and Mike Perry. Sounds like WindAction had some good speed boards. Also below article from 1984 Freesail with McTavish speed board, another Queenslander, Bob McTavish, now living in Byron Bay area of NSW who is a top legendary surfer/shaper and loved windsurfing too in the 1980s. (see "More Stoked !" by Bob McTavish).

www.surfresearch.com.au/1981_01_McT_Windsurfing_Tracks.html

In the 1980s Australian shapers and designers led the world, they probably still do today eg Kai Hopf, Ben Severne, Steve Hooper, Bruce Wylie, Mark Stone & Scotty McKercher the list goes on.

i own the square tail 86 87 speed slalom,it was my first short board ,very fast board,but would strugle up wind.i still have the blank and often think of reglassing it ,thanks for posting the picture

Thats an old pic of me and MD at SWQ mag in Brookvale. Back in the day, funny as.

Tread hijack,
I got this old board with another purchase which looks similar to thhe board above only bigger .. Never rode it but kept it because its quite big and floaty for a speed board , just in case i ever lived near flat water . I do now and was thinking of taking it out of retirement . Its in fantastic condition . Also the mast track is more central , not all the way forward like the older boards . Use the back half of the mast track , move the straps forward and put a power box in ,
Could it work for me ??? Is it worth fixing and modifying ???
Made in 1988
275 long , 57 wide ,
Deep single concave turning into double concaves at back,
Big thick boxy rails . Id guess around 100 litres .

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grich62 said..
i own the square tail 86 87 speed slalom,it was my first short board ,very fast board,but would strugle up wind.i still have the blank and often think of reglassing it ,thanks for posting the picture

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grich62 said..

grich62 said..
i own the square tail 86 87 speed slalom,it was my first short board ,very fast board,but would strugle up wind.i still have the blank and often think of reglassing it ,thanks for posting the picture

Is that on the Strand Greg? Great shot!!

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Imax1 said..

Tread hijack,
I got this old board with another purchase which looks similar to thhe board above only bigger .. Never rode it but kept it because its quite big and floaty for a speed board , just in case i ever lived near flat water . I do now and was thinking of taking it out of retirement . Its in fantastic condition . Also the mast track is more central , not all the way forward like the older boards . Use the back half of the mast track , move the straps forward and put a power box in ,
Could it work for me ??? Is it worth fixing and modifying ???
Made in 1988
275 long , 57 wide ,
Deep single concave turning into double concaves at back,
Big thick boxy rails . Id guess around 100 litres .

Sail it as it is and keep it original. A US box fin can be easily and cheaply found and new straps and screws and you are away. That is more of a high wind gun speed slalom than an all out speed board but it looks like it will be fast.

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RichardG said..

Imax1 said..

Tread hijack,
I got this old board with another purchase which looks similar to thhe board above only bigger .. Never rode it but kept it because its quite big and floaty for a speed board , just in case i ever lived near flat water . I do now and was thinking of taking it out of retirement . Its in fantastic condition . Also the mast track is more central , not all the way forward like the older boards . Use the back half of the mast track , move the straps forward and put a power box in ,
Could it work for me ??? Is it worth fixing and modifying ???
Made in 1988
275 long , 57 wide ,
Deep single concave turning into double concaves at back,
Big thick boxy rails . Id guess around 100 litres .

Sail it as it is and keep it original. A US box fin can be easily and cheaply found and new straps and screws and you are away. That is more of a high wind gun speed slalom than an all out speed board but it looks like it will be fast.

OK , I will .Kinda
Ill one strap at back,
Move front ones forward 10 cm.
I have plenty old fins I can modify for US box . How long , what shape , for new sails ?

Select to expand quote

Imax1 said..

Tread hijack,
I got this old board with another purchase which looks similar to thhe board above only bigger .. Never rode it but kept it because its quite big and floaty for a speed board , just in case i ever lived near flat water . I do now and was thinking of taking it out of retirement . Its in fantastic condition . Also the mast track is more central , not all the way forward like the older boards . Use the back half of the mast track , move the straps forward and put a power box in ,
Could it work for me ??? Is it worth fixing and modifying ???
Made in 1988
275 long , 57 wide ,
Deep single concave turning into double concaves at back,
Big thick boxy rails . Id guess around 100 litres .

SA based shaper had plenty of boards made by Shane he;s now into windfoiling

Select to expand quote

choco said..

Imax1 said..

Tread hijack,
I got this old board with another purchase which looks similar to thhe board above only bigger .. Never rode it but kept it because its quite big and floaty for a speed board , just in case i ever lived near flat water . I do now and was thinking of taking it out of retirement . Its in fantastic condition . Also the mast track is more central , not all the way forward like the older boards . Use the back half of the mast track , move the straps forward and put a power box in ,
Could it work for me ??? Is it worth fixing and modifying ???
Made in 1988
275 long , 57 wide ,
Deep single concave turning into double concaves at back,
Big thick boxy rails . Id guess around 100 litres .

SA based shaper had plenty of boards made by Shane he;s now into windfoiling

Yes he shaped Bombora Protos as well and also shaped surfboards. I believe he is responsible for the design of some of the Tyronsea boards in the 1980s. As well as foiling he also is a Windsurfer LT sailor and I last heard he is also working at the LT dealer in SA. binksmarine.com.au/store/windsurfer-and-windsurfer-lt/821-windsurfer-lt

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snorkel692 said..

grich62 said..

grich62 said..
i own the square tail 86 87 speed slalom,it was my first short board ,very fast board,but would strugle up wind.i still have the blank and often think of reglassing it ,thanks for posting the picture

Is that on the Strand Greg? Great shot!!

hi Michael, that was taken at palleranda at the last park ,it was a front cover for townsville magazine

My old Wind action wave pro from about 89 I think....still one of my favorites all time. The slalom board on the ground was a Les purcell from the sunshine coast

Showing age and a bit scary that the 80's doesn't seem that long a go.
Wind Action, back then they were the best. I had a Wave and a Competition.
Hanging around the Mermaid Shop ogling new shooters and hearing about design.
I'd forgotten about the Duranbah.
Don't know if they were the first to sail Duranbah but it wasn't as popular a break as it is now.
The shore break in a SE was tricky with light wind, had a share of swim in's and a few broken masts.
I was very happy on solid days to sit on the hill and watch the WAction fellas on the inner and outer sand bank sailing the asymmetrical, footage probably never exists for those times.
fibreglass boards, I know (compared to now) are heavy and the shapes antiquated. But the board graphics and paint sprays, I think still look great.

I had a Wind Action - super fast for a wave board

The trend of "Neil Pryde" logos on boards must have been mimicry of the boards shown in the NP videos Moving Target, Instant Replay, Fast Forward and Rigmarole. I wonder how many license fees were paid by the board makers to Neil Pryde for this usage ? Probably zero.

Select to expand quote

Imax1 said..

RichardG said..

Imax1 said..

Tread hijack,
I got this old board with another purchase which looks similar to thhe board above only bigger .. Never rode it but kept it because its quite big and floaty for a speed board , just in case i ever lived near flat water . I do now and was thinking of taking it out of retirement . Its in fantastic condition . Also the mast track is more central , not all the way forward like the older boards . Use the back half of the mast track , move the straps forward and put a power box in ,
Could it work for me ??? Is it worth fixing and modifying ???
Made in 1988
275 long , 57 wide ,
Deep single concave turning into double concaves at back,
Big thick boxy rails . Id guess around 100 litres .

Sail it as it is and keep it original. A US box fin can be easily and cheaply found and new straps and screws and you are away. That is more of a high wind gun speed slalom than an all out speed board but it looks like it will be fast.

OK , I will .Kinda
Ill one strap at back,
Move front ones forward 10 cm.
I have plenty old fins I can modify for US box . How long , what shape , for new sails ?

Try something like this:

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Used-F-Hot-Us-Box-Fin/153909226316?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908131621%26meid%3Da6b75b7bf733421c9288bbab1de7ee8f%26pid%3D100678%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D15%26mehot%3Dnone%26sd%3D174184402518%26itm%3D153909226316%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057&_trksid=p2380057.c100678.m3607&_trkparms=pageci%3Ad4c82f38-89e0-11ea-b640-0a30d46250b3%7Cparentrq%3Ac4937cf81710a128e15f2b23ffc14ad9%7Ciid%3A1
or this:
www.surfsailaustralia.com.au/product/surf-sail-australia-plastic-u-s-box#surf-sail-clothing-hardware

Select to expand quote

RichardG said..
The trend of "Neil Pryde" logos on boards must have been mimicry of the boards shown in the NP videos Moving Target, Instant Replay, Fast Forward and Rigmarole. I wonder how many license fees were paid by the board makers to Neil Pryde for this usage ? Probably zero.

Was usually the riders sail sponsor, I never watched those videos.
For me it was North, then later Hot Sails Maui. Pics of two different generations of Wind Action wave boards:

MD built me a speed & slalom board in black with the NP in pink on the deck for the Melbourne boat show in the late 80's.
Both great boards, no fees, all about promotion for the brands.

Select to expand quote

RichardG said..

Imax1 said..

RichardG said..

Imax1 said..

Tread hijack,
I got this old board with another purchase which looks similar to thhe board above only bigger .. Never rode it but kept it because its quite big and floaty for a speed board , just in case i ever lived near flat water . I do now and was thinking of taking it out of retirement . Its in fantastic condition . Also the mast track is more central , not all the way forward like the older boards . Use the back half of the mast track , move the straps forward and put a power box in ,
Could it work for me ??? Is it worth fixing and modifying ???
Made in 1988
275 long , 57 wide ,
Deep single concave turning into double concaves at back,
Big thick boxy rails . Id guess around 100 litres .

Sail it as it is and keep it original. A US box fin can be easily and cheaply found and new straps and screws and you are away. That is more of a high wind gun speed slalom than an all out speed board but it looks like it will be fast.

OK , I will .Kinda
Ill one strap at back,
Move front ones forward 10 cm.
I have plenty old fins I can modify for US box . How long , what shape , for new sails ?

Try something like this:

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Used-F-Hot-Us-Box-Fin/153909226316?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908131621%26meid%3Da6b75b7bf733421c9288bbab1de7ee8f%26pid%3D100678%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D15%26mehot%3Dnone%26sd%3D174184402518%26itm%3D153909226316%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057&_trksid=p2380057.c100678.m3607&_trkparms=pageci%3Ad4c82f38-89e0-11ea-b640-0a30d46250b3%7Cparentrq%3Ac4937cf81710a128e15f2b23ffc14ad9%7Ciid%3A1
or this:
www.surfsailaustralia.com.au/product/surf-sail-australia-plastic-u-s-box#surf-sail-clothing-hardware

Ok thanks , I'll modify a old pointer fin and sweep it back at the tip , 33 cm.

Imax1, heres a fin pic from my Cornish of that era.
Slalom eh? Hmmm...

More fin designs from early 90s..

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olskool said..
Imax1, heres a fin pic from my Cornish of that era.
Slalom eh? Hmmm...

I used those fins a lot. or rather, I used the WS11 version. Not sure if that is it. The one in your picture looks a bit smaller (shorter).
In fact. The HT WS11 that Multi Fins Systems (Profoil) produced was actually a very competitive Slalom fin for it's time.

I remember having a sail testing session with Andrew MacDougal (Wild Wind/KA sails Australia) way back in the late 80's or Early '90's. He laughed when he saw that fin I had in my board, said it would be 'sea anchor' slow. I said "lets just go and have a run and see" . He ate his words with wide eyes. It was competitively fast on all points of sail with his non slotted top of the line slalom fin. But we swapped it out and used identical fins for the sail testing anyhow.
The best thing about it was that it just never spun out, which was a big consideration way back then.
I still have one in the shed. I'll see if I can find it and post a picture.

IMAX another option, which I assume you have in your arsenal already, is the Mistral One Design Race fin which is US box :

Sailquik, back in the 80s my HT fin when wound up would get a high pitch vibe. Clearly audible almost like a whistle. Have since clocked the vibe at around 24kts.