Hi there. I'm New around here, and Impressed with the support. I will chat w shq here in Melbourne too (and any other seller you'd recommend?), but thought I'd ask you all too.

I'm looking to buy a new or used sailboard for my 14yo, sporty son, and his 3 younger sisters. I Spent arduous hours sailboarding on 'too big' gear as a kid, and keen to get them up a bit quicker.

It'll be rough choppy bay play in Melbourne over summer, and sw vic.

Any thoughts would be most welcome.

Yes, too many adults forget to scale things down for adolescents, especially if they are late bloomers. A reminder to others, 4.5 for a 50kg kid is like a 90kg windsurfer using an 8. It sounds like Dromana can relate.

Some brands have reduced sized kit, HotSailsMaui MicroFreak and Sailworks Ripper which were great for my kids. The other is to look at HSM's Diva line - the HSM sail has a couple of used but not sure if they still make them new. Things like boom cutouts, etc are designed for smaller sailors.

www.hotsail.store/index.php/product-category/all_new_sails/kids-sails-and-rigs/
www.sailworks.com/the-gear/sails/ripper.html

There are many options if buying new.

From shq For boards, jp young gun or funster. Other choice would be a sup with centreboard which gives the board multiple uses. Something with a centre fin or centreboard.

Rigs I think you'll need 2 sizes because of the kids ages but I'm guessing.

For your 14 yo 3.8m severne redback or similar. Younger kids need smaller depending on ages

What ages, heights and weights are your kids.

A wide short board like this Starboard Go 170L (99cm wide) and small light sail - this is the Starboard 2m kids sail and matching boom/mast.
Flat, enclosed waters and light breezes really help a LOT. :-)



These short, wide boards, like the Go, are NOT just beginners boards that will be useless when you progress. The good ones are great light wind all round fun boards to use by more skilled kids and adults in lighter winds. I got my Go over 10 years ago for my kids to learn on, but I still use it regularly in summer light wind days to cruise around with a big sail.

The other suggestion I have is probably a lot less available, but it is by far the safest and most effective method I have found to introduce basic skills to kids, and anyone really. This the Mk1 Starboard Gemini but I saw a newer Mk2 Gemini for sale just last week.

Hello, Dromana,

Aside from SHQ, you might also consider The Zu, who are in St. Kilda (talk to Paul or Ivan). Their web site is here: www.thezu.com.au/

Both shops offer a package deal for beginners, if you can afford it. For your children's ages, you might consider a sail no bigger than about 4.5 square metres, as Gestalt suggests.

Suggest learning when the forecast is 5 to 10 knots as this will keep the water from becoming too choppy. Also suggest that the sailor wears a life jacket.

Finally, you might care to post in the Victorian Forum.

Hope this helps.

Check out the buy/sell here... There is a jp young gun , couple of starboard pro kids and a starboard tuffskin... The latter would probably the best option unless your son is an intermediate/advanced sailor.

i'm thinking the boards on seabreeze are a bit too small for learning.
the jp is a 60lt quad and the 2 starboard pro kids from the gold coast are around 60lt.

definitely workable as a higher wind setup once up and planing but not for learning for a 14yo.

the kids on the goldcoast that used the starboards all bypassed boards with centreboards and learnt to sail 80-110 litre boards from the start. some were planning in the straps within 3-4 months.

other kids get benefits from centre fins / boards. i think it depends on lots of factors. fortunately there are boards that offer both.

the jp young gun magic ride was the board i was suggesting. it's 118lt and has a centre fin option..

patrick have a range of kids boards too.

I was referring to this one as "tuffskin" ..or trying to :)

www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Windsurfing-Boards/~l3zah/Starboard-Kode-Tufskin-235-cm-123-litres.aspx?search=0rGHfxqAmEJwXoJCi4G3dTxVmQqbHjW8&t=0&ref=sm

Big enough for stability but small enough for steering for a lighter sailor compared to a 170L Go or a windsup, multiple footstrap positions, centre fin for easier upwind, EVA deck softer on knees etc.

My 14 yo grandson, and his 11 yo sister are learning on an old Starboard Start with retractable daggerboard and the stern wheel to roll it around to the water. Volume is 225 liter. Huge aircraft carrier for them. It will never be fast, but it is stable and easy to use. (The grandson now wants a faster board.)

For sails I have old Oceanics 4.0 and 2.6 on a 370 mast and old WH boom. The rig is very light for kids.

I'm 25y.o, 2m high, 115kg, which one is the best for me?

Gestalt, paducha, sailquik, segler, bhc, Windman V - Thank you! I was overwhelmed by the response. You have taken me forward several markers in this slalom event of finding the right gear.

SHQ also helpful - recommended the JP young gun magic ride ES (not sure what the ES stands for). like you Gestalt.
They also mentioned the Unifiber experience complete rig kit 3.0m. Not sure how this compares to those mentioned above, but will explore.

Thanks again.

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Gestalt said..
There are many options if buying new.

From shq For boards, jp young gun or funster. Other choice would be a sup with centreboard which gives the board multiple uses. Something with a centre fin or centreboard.

Rigs I think you'll need 2 sizes because of the kids ages but I'm guessing.

For your 14 yo 3.8m severne redback or similar. Younger kids need smaller depending on ages

What ages, heights and weights are your kids.

Hi Gestalt - apologies for the delay. they are 14, 12, 10 and 8. the 14 yo weighs about 50kg - the jp young gun magic ride says its good to 50kg, but otherwise looks a treat for him now, and the younger ones, too.
On the question of new v used - are beginner boards 'these days' pretty stable for resale. Happy to buy new if that's really important.

Select to expand quote

Paducah said..
Yes, too many adults forget to scale things down for adolescents, especially if they are late bloomers. A reminder to others, 4.5 for a 50kg kid is like a 90kg windsurfer using an 8. It sounds like Dromana can relate.

Some brands have reduced sized kit, HotSailsMaui MicroFreak and Sailworks Ripper which were great for my kids. The other is to look at HSM's Diva line - the HSM sail has a couple of used but not sure if they still make them new. Things like boom cutouts, etc are designed for smaller sailors.

www.hotsail.store/index.php/product-category/all_new_sails/kids-sails-and-rigs/
www.sailworks.com/the-gear/sails/ripper.html

Thanks Paduca...

Select to expand quote

Dromana said..

Gestalt said..
There are many options if buying new.

From shq For boards, jp young gun or funster. Other choice would be a sup with centreboard which gives the board multiple uses. Something with a centre fin or centreboard.

Rigs I think you'll need 2 sizes because of the kids ages but I'm guessing.

For your 14 yo 3.8m severne redback or similar. Younger kids need smaller depending on ages

What ages, heights and weights are your kids.

Hi Gestalt - apologies for the delay. they are 14, 12, 10 and 8. the 14 yo weighs about 50kg - the jp young gun magic ride says its good to 50kg, but otherwise looks a treat for him now, and the younger ones, too.
On the question of new v used - are beginner boards 'these days' pretty stable for resale. Happy to buy new if that's really important.

hi, i think it's the 2018 young gun magic ride that is the one to get. it has a centre fin and it's 118lt.. you are going to need 2 rigs really. a 2.5m and 3.5m would cover all of your kids.

the unifiber rigs are great and fairly cost effective.

my experience with kids is they learn extremely quickly and get bored when the gear holds them back. boards like the young gun get them from the very basic to planing in the straps and prevent boredom. whilst the magic ride is on the smaller side for your 14yo first 3-4 lessons after that it will be the right choice for him.

My kids (10, 12) first tried on a 120L 72x238 and got mostly frustrated. Then I put them on a Starboard Start with center fin and they had a lot more luck. The width really helped.
I was using the Ezzy 2.5 kids rig but honestly it's not fantastic so I've got an old 3.0 which I will rig up next time.

Hi all. Thanks for your assistance. Just an update, we ended up purchasing from Paul at The Zu. Great support. A friend Wes Greene from Jan Juc (Simmer Style) and was also very helpful.

We plummed for the 2020 Starboard Go 155L, a new 2.6 severne synergy Rig, and a barely used 4.0m adults rig. We will rig up our SUP for super support, and have two 'boards' on the water.

Once again, really valued the support from the seabreeze team.

sounds like an excellent setup.