Hi, has anyone here tried to do some temporary modification to a board so that it has a centrefin for a young rider? (8yo)

I can't currently afford to fork out for a JP Young Gun, but thinking that if I could get some sort of suction cap mounted centre fin onto the bottom of one of my boards this may be able to hold him over for a while or just until the next season perhaps?

Anyone tried this? Bad Idea?

Suction cups won't work. You could try a wider fin to help stay up wind. Other option is to use side fins. A mount across the deck over the board from mast track to two side fins. See older go boards for their side fin setup as an idea

www.windsurfingmag.com

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red said...

www.windsurfingmag.com

Aha!!! Bookmarked!

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Gear-for-Kids/

some piccies in here also..

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red said...

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Gear-for-Kids/

some piccies in here also..

Great!!!

The collective knowledge of windsurfers on this forum is a force to be reckoned with!!!

There's been a few threads over the years about how to start kids out, as well as kit issues - do a search and you should pick them up. I think there was a guy in the ACT who had a really helpful and detailed process.

I remember that he said you needed a smaller fin though - not a larger one - because of the smaller sails kids use. He'd actually cut down a fin to get it the right size.

No he doesn't,you just have to walk the board back upwind for him!

Check out the thread "windy kindy"



In any case, it is very hard to steer a board with a 1 metre sail but as the child progresses to a 2 metre, it becomes easier. I therefore tend not to worry about steering too much and just let them go downwind at this stage of their learning (5 and 6 year olds particularly using 1 and 1.5 metre sails). For the same reason, I think the centre fin is not necessary. If they steer upwind (because having a centre fin allows this), they tend to get overpowered in the gusts and the sail gets ripped out of their hands. If they go downwind, this will be avoided and they can be taught to let go with their back hand and then grab hold again. It is good practice for kids to learn to lean the rig forwards to go downwind to get going.



also don't worry about tacking, only gybing .Practice the hand movements(boomshaka) at home so they are ingrained in muscle memory.

P.M. me if you need any info or possible solutions for overcoming hurdles.

only here for one more week before we go back to Bonaire.