Hi guys,
I am new to this Forum and I would appreciate any help and avice re what would be my next board... I am about to buy either a Taboo Rocket 125 or a Starboard Carve (also 125)... what's your "objective" view here ?
I used to ride 20 years ago...(waterstart ok - jibe not yet in place...) I am 92kg and I want to come back to windsurf with a forgiving but evolutive board - sailing in Port Philip bay 90%. Please advise.
Thanks, Pascal

PS: I am also looking at buting 2 sails (5.5 or 5.7 and 6.5 - 6.7 Severne, Neil Pryde or Gaastra ??)

Hi Pascal, just in case you don't know, we have a demo 2012 Tabou Rocket 125 you are welcome to take for a couple of days and test out.

Cheers
Luke
SHQ

Welcome back to the sport!

I'd suggest you take up the offers of demoing gear - it will be well worth it. Otherwise, those gear choices sound pretty good.

Note that it looks like the board size you are choosing, will be about the minimum you would want to get back onto, on the first few occasions. If you have the option, it might be worthwhile jumping on slightly larger, just to get your stability up to speed.


Also, ask around here when/where people are sailing... having other watch and offer some suggestions for technique, always helps. And occasionally you can borrow their gear too.

Welcome back.

I've sailed the bigger Rocket and found it to be one of the easiest boards to sail and great in the chop. the Board never felt maxed out and very safe. (6.0 well powered up)
I'm a Starboard user and still prefer the top end speed of the starboards, they are trickier to get used to but a lot more fun.

That said you must try both and make you own decision and as to sails i've had loads of Pryde's all of which are first class. Never used a Severne but Bjorn uses them so can't be bad.
Gaastra is the only sail you mentioned that i would not use again but things change and lets face it no one makes bad kit just different.

Good luck

both boards are awesome for what you're after, and well suited to Port Phillip Bay.
They both have a good amount of vee, but the rocket also has more double concave forward.

2 things to look out for,

1. the Rockets started in '04-'05, which is around the time the original Carves stopped.
(so if it's an older Carve, you should expect to pay less than for the Rocket)

-recently, the Carves have been reintroduced by SB, so if you're talking about one of those, then the price will be similar.

2. The Rocket has a Power box fin system (1 bolt) whereas the Carves have a Tuttle box (2 bolts), so the board you choose may affect the next brand of smaller board you buy, if you want to build up a range of fins that are transferable.

Hey, Been riding a Rocket for a couple of years now and it is awesome