Hi all. The last time I've been on a board is about 15 years ago after 25 years of windsurfing I gave it up. My lastboard was a TIGA 268 SLR.the very 1st no nose board, loved the thing! Eventho it was a plastic heavy indestructible thing, it was insanely fast!
No here is the thing, yesterday I went to a salvage barn and there is this old bic vivace 285
Race tech (think it's a 285) and its in near new co edition. Surfi g really starting to itch again!
There is no fin with it and not even sure if trim box fins are still available but I'm very tempted to buy it for 50 bucks. What are these boards like? Worth buying or just leave it? Just want to go cruising again and don't want to fork out thousants of dollars just yet.. I find the new board look weird, keep in mind I've been out of it for a long time LOL! Cheers, Jacko

I would expect to get a trim box fin for it if I was paying $50 that way you are effectively getting the board for free. Not sure which board it is. Is it one of these from the 1994 range ? or is it a later Vivace no nose ? I personally don't like these boards but I have never sailed one. I prefer the earlier BIC's like the AstroRock, Rock, Electric Rock and Presto in RaceTech (CCK) and their cool artwork by Mike Eskimo and these boards with artwork are likely to be the collectors boards. The Vivace might be faster however but as I said I don't know much about them. With all BIC's check the anti skid as this is usually wanting and poor and you might need to attend to that before sailing it. Chinook Monster spray or similar will quickly sort that out I expect.






world.bicsport.com/windsurf/support/previous-range.html

Yes, thats the vivace im talking about. Like I said, there is no fin with it and no foot straps but I can buy them. Just not sure if they still sell these fins.

For the price of a fin you could get a much newer (better) board.

Look for a used fin, something like $30 USD.

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gunmetal said..
Yes, thats the vivace im talking about. Like I said, there is no fin with it and no foot straps but I can buy them. Just not sure if they still sell these fins.

No footstraps means it is getting expensive. Trimbox fins are available second hand or new via Select. The cost is now starting to escalate if these are not included but that is the nature of the sport. One good thing about the largest Vivace (120 litres, not sure which one you are looking at) is that you may be able to use it as a one board option and reduce complexity of gear as it will go well, weight dependent in 10-12 knots up to 30 + knots. This is one of the better things about older boards, given the narrow, longer and pintail shape.

Thanks all. I had a bit of a browse on here and yes, for around $500 I got myself a much better board so I'll steer away from this one. I have always been a fan of simmer style from the day they started and I like the monster they make. Might see if I can pick up one of them.lime I said, I have been out of it for over 15 years so things have changed radically. Will also look at starboard and JP.

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gunmetal said..
Thanks all. I had a bit of a browse on here and yes, for around $500 I got myself a much better board so I'll steer away from this one. I have always been a fan of simmer style from the day they started and I like the monster they make. Might see if I can pick up one of them.lime I said, I have been out of it for over 15 years so things have changed radically. Will also look at starboard and JP.

Please advise what did you get for around $500 ? Enjoy. Thanks.

I didn't get one yet but I seen a JP slalom for sale on here for $500

Avoid those era bics. They have a little track for the footstraps instead of screw holes. When the nut goes, it's stuffed

Avoid slalom boards as a re-entering sailor. They have changed the most since you were on the water last, being both very technique sensitive and not very durable.

270 Vivace....great board, fast, glides well, durable but not like a Veloce, track straps you set front forward, back all the way back so no problems, but.....nose is too low and flat for any kind of chop or windswell. It's a flat water fast slalom board.
And going from 150 to 500 bucks is a big jump.
I'd advice buying a FREERIDE board, and stay away from slalom boards.

I had one of those back in the day. Windsurftom is right, the footstrap tracks were crap. they were fast boards though. I think mine went to the tip after not being able to sell it for $100. I still have the fin ,yours if you want to pay postage.

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Grantmac said..
Avoid slalom boards as a re-entering sailor. They have changed the most since you were on the water last, being both very technique sensitive and not very durable.

Totally agree, modern slalom gear is fast, bloody fast - awesome when dialled in and on song but to be honest a bit annoying when off the boil. Very technical and need to be sailed correctly to get the best out of it, needs good sail/ board/ fin combinations, and good technique to ride them to perfection. My opinion get some free ride gear preferably something with lots of latitude and you will both enjoy and improve on. More time spent sailing (as opposed to bogging or swimming gear around) the more fun you will have, more stoke, more bang for your buck and far far less frustration. Have a look at the fanatic Blast they are good value and very thrilling yet very forgiving.

Totally agree don't get a slalom board if getting back into it. I tried to get back into it on an isonic, big mistake... But one quickly fixed...