I need to buy my first windsurfer.i have done a few lessons and can tack and jibe.i weigh 110kg and 6 foot tall.the board I want to buy will be a beginner board but I want it to last a few years before I upgrade.i will be sailing in 10-20 knots.which board and what size sail do you recommend.thanks

First up let me welcome you to our awesome club. Windsurfing is therapy for the soul, communion with your environment and as close as you can get to what an albatross feels as it soars just over the cresting water. I'm not a religious man, but windsurfing, in many ways, is enlightenment. A good session can just sets your mind right.

Oh, I'm sorry, what we're we talking about again....

Ah, so you need something with a lot of stability to keep you floating and get you home safely everytime.

I'd consider something like the Starboard Go (you're going to need around 150-160litres) - rock-solid so you can't bust it (and you can be confident buying used) but with the EVA decking, your stacks will be kinder on you as well! They're extremely stable so that you won't get bronchoed if you step a bit clumsily, but it can still be ridden right up on the fin once you get the hang of it. My mate spent his first few seasons on one and I was very impressed with how quick he improved compared to what I learned on back in the day. Only trouble is, I can't find one in buy and sell...

To get you going, I'd suggest a cam-less sail around the seven metre range, but not too much bigger as they can be painful to waterstart.

Let us know how you go.

^^^ Agree with the comments above, and the reason Trousers can't find one is that they hold their value well. This is an added benefit knowing that if you buy one, you'll have no problems selling it when/if you wish to upgrade...although many keep them as they are such good boards to teach kids & friends with.

this would also be good for you, it's available and the price looks very reasonable:
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Browse/Windsurfing/Boards/?search=iVVAl2umBXmHLC7VP1FIeA==

(I am not connected to the seller)

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powersloshin said..

this would also be good for you, it's available and the price looks very reasonable:
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Browse/Windsurfing/Boards/?search=iVVAl2umBXmHLC7VP1FIeA==

(I am not connected to the seller)

Thats not a link to a specific board, just to the general board page.

160L worked really well for me with 6 m when I was starting (100kg) . I used Fanatic Shark which was just great, and I'm still unhappy that I sold it.

Some alternatives to Shark : Exocet Nano, Tabou Guru, JP Explorer (previously Funride), Starboard Go.
All will work for you - I suggest not less than 155L

thanks guys keep the replys coming.time 4 a beer.

Corrected:

www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Windsurfing-Boards/~tkouu/2014-JP-Australia-Funster-258-cm-180-litres.aspx?search=iVVAl2umBXlM$7gkdXkWfe4t3dOWMjxd

Starboard go

i am 75 kg advanced windsurfer and still love getting out on my starboard go. (My short boards are under 100l) You are 35 kg heavier than me which equates to around 35 litres in volume.

I would recommend 70 litres minimum more than your body weight.
110+70=180litres

thanks yuppy.well the starboard go is 171ltrs is that enough volume to float my 110kg weight.how about the starboard rio or the jp explorer the have a much bigger volume.

Don't go too big in volume.
once you've past the beginner stage you still want a board that is responsive so you can still progress into the intermediate stage.
once you're in the straps and harness and you can water start efficiently, the need for volume dramatically decreases.
I went from 160L to 110L once I could water start and im 90kg.

so 170-180ltr volume is about right for my 110kg weight. thanks

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kdalton said..
so 170-180ltr volume is about right for my 110kg weight. thanks

As a general rule the bigger the board the easier it is to learn the basics, but then the harder it becomes to ride in strong winds and choppy conditions once you get planing. With a board like that you should aim to get proficient in the harness and straps, waterstart and do basic light wind jibes. It will take you 1-2 seasons depending how much time you can dedicate to the sport. The next step could be to get a smaller board, maybe at the edge of still being uphaulable, around 130 litres for your weight, but you can still keep the first one to have fun with a big sail in light winds.

As a 110kg beginner, I found my 165lt perfect. I sold it after progressing down to a 107lt board... but realised pretty soon that it limited my tow, so I bought a 130lt for the light days.

My 165 was a jp xcite - a mate still has (and on occasion sails) his 165 go.

thanks sailhack.so your 165ltr had enough volume so you could uphaule.easy.im looking at a nova 160 which has 160ltr volume is that enough volume to uphaule for my 110kg beer gut. thanks

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kdalton said..
thanks sailhack.so your 165ltr had enough volume so you could uphaule.easy.im looking at a nova 160 which has 160ltr volume is that enough volume to uphaule for my 110kg beer gut. thanks

I am 130kg and I can uphaul a 160 board. So long as it is wide enough a short wide board of 160l is easier to uphaul than a longer narrower board of 160L. I have a Hifly Madd 162.

The general(simplistic) rule is every kilo you weigh takes a litre to float. So 110 litres will just float your 110kilos, but you need another ten-ish to counter the weight of the sail,boom,wetsuit and so on, taking us up to, say, 125 litres.

But a board that *just* floats you on the water is also very sensitive to exactly where you put your weight, so if you're starting out you should add some more litres again for stability - then it'll forgive you for stepping too hard on the nose in a tack, whereas a board that just floats you will dunk you in the drink.

In short; 165l sounds a pretty good match for you!

thanks legless.im going to drop into your shop next week.

See if your local shop will do trade ins, that way you can update as you progress and not have to flog your board first.

volume is ONLY one factor
many of today's boards are also ultra-wide
at the moment I have a 160 liter / 80 cm board
and also a 165 liter / 92 cm wide board
the 165 planes earlier and can handle larger sails
the 160 will probably go for sale - next year - autumn here in Canada
for my 105+ kilos, i prefer the 92 cm wide board with a 10 m2 sail in 12+ knots
the 80 cm board was used with 8.x sails in 16+ knots
hope to use the 8.x sails on the larger board and sell the smaller
so, volume and width are your friends as a starter - freemove ??

also, as a starter do NOT get an LTD or carbon board
you will bang up your board
the more sensitive it is - the more you will see and perhaps feel the dings/catapults

where i sail winds often disappoint and as such, I use a longboard more than any of my other boards
long and narrow just glides better with 210+ liters
obviously this all depends on location

i too started with a 7.x sail
good size to play with and keep
once you get the hang of it - 8.x sail for planing in 16+ knots

wishing you all the BEST
remember - the fastest dudes in the world are big n heavy :)
hope you get there too ...

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kdalton said..
thanks legless.im going to drop into your shop next week.

And Boggy Lake is a great place to learn if you don't mind driving a few k's. You can touch the bottom for quite some distance from the shore and the summer breeze mostly on shore making it safer. Great crew down there as well, who I am sure will help you out with rigging tips etc.

thanks jacko.are there people sailing at boggy lake most weekend and whats the best wind direction at boggys.I will go there on a weekend and check it out.cheers

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kdalton said..
thanks jacko.are there people sailing at boggy lake most weekend and whats the best wind direction at boggys.I will go there on a weekend and check it out.cheers

It is sailed most weekends on Saturday and Sunday Wednesday is also a popular day but now with daylight sailing if there is a seabreeze on there is a good chance someone might be out anyday.

Boggy can be sailed in any direction as it is mostly shallow and if you have problem you can walk back as we move into summer most likely sail will be a afternoon seabreeze from the SW which is cross on to the launch site.