hey guys,
im a total beginner at windsurfing but have been surfing for a while now, im down here in Tassie and word is that getting a board and gear is much cheaper up there in Victoria than down here,
i'm wondering if anyone can direct me to an online (or not) store i can get started with..?
also can anyone recommend a particular style board, size sail and fin size and the kind of info i need to know to get started? preferably one that will last me a while but not be too hard to learn on..
any help is good help,
cheers

there are two outlets in Melbourne:
RPS www.rpstheboardstore.com
Sailboard HQ www.shq.com.au/

Don't forget to check out the massive selection of gear online here at Seabreeze - much of it is very learner friendly and interstate sellers will often organise freight to you - at your expense.

I tend to buy most of my gear 2nd hand off these sites. Unfortunately you really need to either have a experienced windsurfer buddy to check these sites with you or at least at the beginning pay more and buy it all from one of the main shops.

http://www.2ndwind.com.au/products-used/used-boards.asp
www.surfsailaustralia.com.au/
windforce.com.au/web/component/option,com_wrapper/Itemid,75/
www.windsurfingperth.com.au/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=123
www.sunshinecoastsailboards.com.au/pre-loved-sailboards.html

Good Luck.

Hey downsouth, I have only been sailing for about 12 months. I bought a complete new kit of gear consisting of a 160L board plus 2 sails (6.1 and 4.9) plus mast, boom harness etc at a cost of about $3500. But I found within about three months as I sailed compulsivley at every opportunity I was ready for a smaller board and dropped down to 105L and now 90L. The problem here in Melbourne is the substantial chop on the bay which makes a 160 board almost impossible to control when the wind is up. Maybe if you live near a nice flat water location you will get longer use out of a big board than I was able to.

The dilemna is that the gear you need to learn with is probably not what you ultimately will want to own. So I would try and borrow or grab any old gear you can to learn with for a few months, or don't buy anything and have a few lessons or hire gear to develop some basic skills, then move into something that you can get a couple of years fun out of.

The other dilemna is that most sailors dont even own equipment they can use to teach beginners with because of the pre-eminence of small volume boards which can only be beach or waterstarted.

This is a great sport so dont get put off if you find it difficult at first, once you get planing there is nothing like it.

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purplehaze said...

there are two outlets in Melbourne:
RPS www.rpstheboardstore.com
Sailboard HQ www.shq.com.au/

Also Torquay...

http://www.coreboardsports.com.au/wind.html
www.stonker.com.au/windsurf.htm

Not seabreeze advertisers (I think), but still places to buy.

Agree with above re; Seabreeze buy'n'sell as a great option for new & 2nd hand.

oh ok awesome,
cheers guys.
so i'd be looking at a 150+L board for starters yeah?
and what size said would be best?
size fin?
haha sorry but i know nothing!
i understand different gear for different conditions as a surfer. like someone mentioned before that big board is hard to control in chop, i recon i'd be in the same situation as there arent that many places we can get no chop with nice wind. i'd be interested in mucking around on waves too so is there an around about size i should be going for or just start big and get comfy and go from there?

Hi Downsouth,

rightly or wrongly, I am just about to buy a new learners kit, form SHQ (Hi Paul)
who advertise here. The 160L JP Funster, NP 6.0m bundle gets the nod, listed as a special at around $2,800.

From what i've seen, much of the learners gear is either pretty scarce, or priced pretty close to new anyhow (see how long they've been online for)

I too sail on the bay, and hope it's going to be somehting the family can use for a while.

At this stage, Sunday morning (finally) is when I get a chance to get up there, unless you guys can suggest otherwise.....

hey crusty,
yeah i've had my eye on those too..
can anyone offer anything about this board?
has anyone used it?

reviews seem ok. I like it having a centreboard (GO doesn't), but maybe 160 is still too big.
tell you in one week.

I think your budget is a huge factor. Personally, after getting back into windsurfing for over 4 years if I had beginner gear I would still use it on light wind summer days.

So if you can afford to buy more advanced gear (as well) when you improve then go for the beginner gear, I don't think it is ever completely obsolete. However if cash is not growing on trees for you, then I am in agreement with Purplehaze. Perhaps then buy a board that is still big enough to uphaul comfortably but small enough to handle in windier/choppier conditions. Might be worth telling us how much you weigh, as that will strongly effect appropriate board size.

You don't need a special beginner sail, as you can use them in all conditions and you'll eventually want a whole quiver of sail sizes. It's the board that will change with your skill.

ok cheers Leman,
weight is around 75-80 kg as my dad want to learn too.
im at Uni so money isn't all that abundant..
as i said before im a surfer so the balance is good so does that effect the shape i would want much?
i also want to get into the wave side of it too which a big fat board would make it hard..
it seems i would be better off getting a board like the funride, and upgrade when i feel the need, yeah?
cheers

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Leman said...

Perhaps then buy a board that is still big enough to uphaul comfortably but small enough to handle in windier/choppier conditions.

what sort of size we talking about? less than 130L? 150? 180?

At 75-80Kg a board of 130 I think would be fine. It will still be quite steady and a little more usable when the wind gets up. You will have a very slight advantage at the beginning with a larger starter board but if you learn fast this advantage will become a disadvantage, as a smaller board will progress easier from uphauling the sail to beach and waterstarting.

But to answer your earlier question, even a 130L board will eventually be replaced by a smaller one, although you would be more likely to use the 130 in lighter winds than a 150+ later down the track.

Pros and cons for each board starting
150+ board: Pros - very easy to learn all your basic skills, turning, uphauling and basic sailing. Very steady. With a centreboard you can go upwind much easier. Great for teaching others on.

Cons - You will outgrow it faster than a smaller board. Possible but not much fun learning to waterstart. Larger the board, harder to control in windier conditions. In surfing terms, it's like a Malibu to a shortboard. Useless for wave riding.

120-130L board: Pros - you can both learn to uphaul and other basics skills (although not as easy as the larger board) and learn to beach and waterstart on it. Much better control in windier conditions and usable in small waves and chop. Still likely to use it when your skill improves for lighter wind days.

Cons - Not as steady when learning basic skills, as a result will be slightly more frustrating at the beginning. It will not go upwind as well as a board with a centreboard or larger fin.

Note: some boards will be more steady than others even at same litreage usually due to their shape. All beginner boards are designed to be steady.

At your weight anything above 150+ is just wasted, it won't really make a difference.

oh ok,
thanks heaps Leman,
huge help.
do you have any more places i should look at getting all this from?
cheers

Leman,
what's your opinion on the JP Fun Ride in this deal on: www.shq.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=category§ionid=5&id=24&Itemid=35

I learnt on the jp fun ride 140 litre. I weigh 67kgs. Found it a great board and even handled ok in the chop. Did grow out of it after about 6months and sold it for about $1200 so you get good cash for them if you want to go smaller and can't afford to keep both.

Before you go throwing your hard earned $$ down, how about getting your voice out to the Tas crew (and clubs down there) who might be able to sort you out with either second hand gear or at the least give you a shot on beginner gear.

Just remember that the smaller you go, the longer (and more frustrating) your experience will be.

This was recently proven by a colegue who bought a 130 ltr board and had a tough time getting going (he's around 80 kg). After 6 months of frustration, he eventualy bit the bullet and bought a larger board.

Personally I learned (and still own) a starboard go 175 ltr. The board took me from wobbling start to harness, footstraps and full planing. Soft deck and tough construction means that it's great for bashing around. I've got no intention of selling as I'll still use it as a light wind board.

On the learning point as well, try and find either an instructor or a mentor to help you out. They'll be able make sure your progessing in the right direction.

Have you got a sailing buddy?

Remember that this sport can be dangerous and sailing with either someone or at least someone watching (who knows when your sailing out of your designated sailing area and / or when your in trouble) and know's what to do. I've seen learners down my local sailing spot end up a long way down wind and offshore. Without experienced sailers around these people would have been in serious trouble.

So to recap:

1. Contact either local sailers or club to assist.
2. Find a sailing partner
3. Try a couple boards out before you put your hard earned $$$ down.

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downsouth91 said...

Leman,
what's your opinion on the JP Fun Ride in this deal on: www.shq.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=category?ionid=5&id=24&Itemid=35

Can't go too far wrong with these boards and from what Waggles said sounds like it has excellent resale value.

It's a lot of money though (as is all brand new stuff), so once again it is based on your budget. I learnt my basic skills on an original Windsurfer when I was 10 so I have no personal experience with modern beginner boards. Then came back to the sport on a 131L four years ago but I could already waterstart.

Definately worth talking to folks who began in the last decade.

One thing I will say for certain is get some form of nose protector, as it is only a matter of time before you bash your mast into the nose of your board. Costly to fix.

Echunda had some sound advice, worth following that.

ok awesome.
thanks heaps fellas.

I got Starboard 2001 155L three years ago, in great condition, with a 6.6 rig: $800 , maybe thats not typical. I wanted c. 130L really but, hey.
I can't say I've grown out of it, don't want to get skunked in my scarce free time.
When I bought a smaller board it was to increase wind range upward, not to abandon the lower end.
Before I bought smaller I took 155L/6.6 out in everything 2008 offered

Surely many of you learnt on old 80's polyboards?
I did about 4 years ago, full setup was 40 GBP ($65 AUD now!)
Admittedly that was on flat water, but i learnt all the intermediate stuff on that
(but not the carve gybe so much)

i think, arguably, the start of the learning curve on a longboard would be steeper
(because its thin and tippy c. 60cm wide) but then transition onto a lower width shortboard (c.60cm) should be easier than from a modern wide (c.75-80cm) lightwind/learner board. downside is your not going to get planing as soon.

nice thread too downsouth.

What would the concensus be then, on 'upper wind limit' of beginners 160L Funster using a 6m. In know thats a bit open ended, but if you were:

. say 85-90kg
. 'basic' skill level (sail on all points, uphaul ok, no harness, no waterstart and not much of a gybe(!))
. bay sailing, onshore and 10-15knts.....

oh yeah I forgot, it's 28-30degrees, water temp around 25, free all day carpark right outside, grassy rigging up area, and esky full ready for debrief session....

Is that about the right match up between board size and wind conditions?
I expect the next purchase would be a smaller sail maybe 4 or 5m, but when do you need a smaller mast length?

bollox!! gear in VIC is EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE !!

SA is the place to buy from.

I recently bought just under $5,000 if kit for $1,200 from Adelaide.

Drove there and back in one day just to snag it.

VIC is a RIP.

Nasi i got a price from SA, still the same, round $3k

VIC gear is no different than anywhere else in AUS.

Yeah sometimes its free in Melbourne!

I have heard on this forum that some guys just dump thousands of dollars of gear at Kite beach and leave it there.

Booms, masts and harnesses are literally scattered all over the place at Green Point, they are a hazard!

Full rigs just wash up on the beach sometimes!

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K Dog said...

VIC gear is no different than anywhere else in AUS.

Yeah lately I've been ordering 2nd hand gear from WA. Seems to be more of a 2nd hand market over there.

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Leman said...

K Dog said...

VIC gear is no different than anywhere else in AUS.

Yeah lately I've been ordering 2nd hand gear from WA. Seems to be more of a 2nd hand market over there.

Done the same, even with freight have saved hundreds on the local new price.

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crustysailor said...

nice thread too downsouth.

What would the concensus be then, on 'upper wind limit' of beginners 160L Funster using a 6m. In know thats a bit open ended, but if you were:

. say 85-90kg
. 'basic' skill level (sail on all points, uphaul ok, no harness, no waterstart and not much of a gybe(!))
. bay sailing, onshore and 10-15knts.....

oh yeah I forgot, it's 28-30degrees, water temp around 25, free all day carpark right outside, grassy rigging up area, and esky full ready for debrief session....

Is that about the right match up between board size and wind conditions?
I expect the next purchase would be a smaller sail maybe 4 or 5m, but when do you need a smaller mast length?

First thing... get yourself a harness - if you can sail across the wind, then you can use a harness... you wont be disappointed.

There isn't really a "limit" to any gear -> you can use a 3m sail on a 160l if you really wanted to - and it will ok provided you are only cruising back and forwards in 5knots. The max wind strength for that combination is probably around 15-18 knots -> any windier and the board wants to fly away, in which case you would get feel more comfortable using a smaller board.

Mast length is determined by the size of the sail, ie: the smaller the sail, the smaller the mast. Note however that some sails have an adjustable head strap so that it can be used on a longer mast.

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NasiGoreng said...

bollox!! gear in VIC is EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE !!

SA is the place to buy from.

I recently bought just under $5,000 if kit for $1,200 from Adelaide.

Drove there and back in one day just to snag it.

VIC is a RIP.

Nasi,

Didn't you buy that kit on eBay? If so, I doubt you can claim that SA is cheaper. I was under the impression that WA was the best place to buy cheap kit, but I know a couple of people that have compared & found that local shops were better priced.

thanks Mathew,
at this stage, it will be board, NP mast,NP,boom,6m Fusion,uphaul,mast base,mast protector,mast base protector, new wetty, boots, and maybe shallow water fin in the first purchase.
I think the kids will still want to eat, so a decent harness and lines may have to wait, along with a board bag. The old lifejacket I have actually has a hook (possibly for trapezing on a dinghy), maybe I can try that if Im game enough.