I am back into windsurfing after a few years............... 15 to be honest, I had a few short boards then and was a good rider, now I am a bit older and not too fit.

I have a mistral Electron and I can surf it ok, I bought a Isonic 110 and the position of the foot straps is impossible for me (too close to the edge of the board) although I can ride it (sort of) I find impossible to set myself in the straps, (have no prob with the Mistral).

Would it be possible to move the staps inside, need to install new inserts?

Would you know someone that could do it at a reasonable cost in Perth? I could do it myself but the board is almost new and I am not too up to date with the new wood technology and I am scared to ruin an expensive board.
Or should I forget about the Isonic, sell it and get some thing better suited for old windsurfers!
Cheers!

I'm surprised there aren't multiple positions available for the straps. Sometimes additional plugs are there, but hidden by the straps, have a look under the straps. Is this a new Isonic? And when you say the position is impossible for you - what do you mean exactly? You're planing when you get into the straps?

Well I checked and there is no more positions possible, what I mean by impossible is not "natural" I am old school and then the straps were closer to the centre of the board, I can plane the board but as soon as I try to get in the straps I loose controle or get in a catapult!

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felixdcat said...
Well I checked and there is no more positions possible, what I mean by impossible is not "natural" I am old school and then the straps were closer to the centre of the board, I can plane the board but as soon as I try to get in the straps I loose controle or get in a catapult!

Ah ok. Yeah older boards had the straps more centred on the board. I think you'll find you'll adjust in time. What's probably happening is you're getting into the straps and the there is pressure on the rail and the board ends up pointing up wind, knocking you off the plane. I would persevere, I think you will find that after a few sessions you'll get a bit more comfortable with them. Also you can try loosening the straps to give your feet a greater range of movement, it will help you get used to them.

Well it is what happens and it is very frustrating........... I hate been catapulted my idea was to have 2 set of straps and move to the external ones after been established in the centre ones!

Modern boards are wider and use bigger fins, the extra width allows you to control the twisting leverage the longer fin exerts on the board. But if you get into the straps too early, before the fin has developed enough lift, you'll sink the windward rail, same thing if the fin isn't big enough for the board.

I'd try using the board as it was designed, that's how it will work best once you get used to it.
So maybe a bigger fin is needed.

If that doesn't work, you can modify strap position with aluminium or stain less straps.

Here is an example. (and on an isonic)
http://mtbest.net/isonic50.html

Thank you guys............ will persevere!

Hang off your boom.
Older boards had the mast foot way too far forward, which meant if you hung off the boom too much the weight would be too far forward..
Get most of your weight off the boom before you jump in the straps and you should be sweet.

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felixdcat said...
Would you know someone that could do it at a reasonable cost in Perth? I could do it myself but the board is almost new and I am not too up to date with the new wood technology and I am scared to ruin an expensive board.
Or should I forget about the Isonic, sell it and get some thing better suited for old windsurfers!
Cheers!

Steve Stratfold
Unit 15/30 Peel Rd
O'Connor
9314 6566
0421 477 001

Mate, you've come back to windsurfing after 15 years, and jumped straight onto a full blown race board

The best thing you can do, is a get a freeride board, like a futura, and get your straps inside, and slowly move them out as you get more confident.

yes I got all pumped up when I jumped on the Mistral Electron and saw that I still could do it, had a good deal on the Isonic and bought it. Maybe s bit too optimistic! Thank you dinsd" I will call him! Thank objc will try that as well!

Funnily enough, I am currently using an iSonic 125 that I bought months ago. I found it wasn't usable for me in Sydney, as the volume for me is low, and you do need to get out on the straps to get these boards to go. If you are slogging, then the straps are too far out.

Having said that, the board is very good as a light wind board for me, as long as there is 'some' wind. I am currently using it in WA, and it has got me planing far easier than I expected.

I would also agree with Decrepit, that you probably need a bigger fin. Some of these boards just don't work well with a smaller one. Although in the case of mine, having some steady wind means I can get away with a relatively small (34cm) weed fin, without too much spinout.

If you install new inserts, at least the Starboard glue they use on the pads seems to remove itself, so that bit won't be hard :-)

I had a chat with the boys in O'Connors and decidet was not economical to change the straps position ($350-00) also the board may not work well in the new configuration, have decided to sell it and get something more user friendly, more volum and sort of alrounder, if some one want to swap I am all ears! I have it on the buy and sell and will post pics ASAP!
Thank you for the advices!

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felixdcat said...
I had a chat with the boys in O'Connors and decidet was not economical to change the straps position ($350-00) also the board may not work well in the new configuration, have decided to sell it and get something more user friendly, more volum and sort of alrounder, if some one want to swap I am all ears! I have it on the buy and sell and will post pics ASAP!
Thank you for the advices!

My advice is to get a FSW. Any brand would probably do. There are currently two in the buy a sell a JP 112 and a Starboard Kode 113. both of these would be better for your situation.
what is your weight??

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leftfield said...

felixdcat said...
I had a chat with the boys in O'Connors and decidet was not economical to change the straps position ($350-00) also the board may not work well in the new configuration, have decided to sell it and get something more user friendly, more volum and sort of alrounder, if some one want to swap I am all ears! I have it on the buy and sell and will post pics ASAP!
Thank you for the advices!

My advice is to get a FSW. Any brand would probably do. There are currently two in the buy a sell a JP 112 and a Starboard Kode 113. both of these would be better for your situation.
what is your weight??

Well I am about 95 kg........

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felixdcat said...

leftfield said...

felixdcat said...
I had a chat with the boys in O'Connors and decidet was not economical to change the straps position ($350-00) also the board may not work well in the new configuration, have decided to sell it and get something more user friendly, more volum and sort of alrounder, if some one want to swap I am all ears! I have it on the buy and sell and will post pics ASAP!
Thank you for the advices!

My advice is to get a FSW. Any brand would probably do. There are currently two in the buy a sell a JP 112 and a Starboard Kode 113. both of these would be better for your situation.
what is your weight??

Well I am about 95 kg........

I'm about the 95 Kgs mark and my small board is a 107 Litre JP FSW.
Its got plenty of float and you can have the straps well in board. I use a 5.2 and 6 m sail on it. Maybe one of the guys with more experience might want to speak up cause I've only ridden 3 boards and I don't wantt to give you a bum steer.

You are right, the volume is not my problem, it is the straps position and I have no space to move them!

Hi mate,

May be a silly question but are you still using your 15yr + rigs on the new board? The geometry/relationship between straps/mast/fin positions have changed a bit so perhaps borrow/hire a couple of newish RAF rigs and try them out with a suitable fin.

Altering strap positions does seem the wrong approach considering the reasonable price of second hand rigs(try the very helpful crew at 2nd Wind Sailboards).

Also there is another guy doing high quality board repairs and alterations NOR in Perth, he has a woodworking, boatbuilding and composites background. He used to build custom race fins and worked part-time at Wind Tech Sailboards doing repairs/alterations etc.

Good luck and happy sailing!

Adam Prince
Man Over Board
0415271184

Regarding choice of another board, what kind of sailing are you wanting to do? Flat water free ride, ocean bump & jump or maybe a bit of both?
How good is your waterstarting & gybing?
What wind strength are you wanting to go out in?

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Windxtasy said...
Regarding choice of another board, what kind of sailing are you wanting to do? Flat water free ride, ocean bump & jump or maybe a bit of both?
How good is your waterstarting & gybing?
What wind strength are you wanting to go out in?

Well I can waterstart no prob, I like flat waterfree ride, I can (could) gybe, and wind strenght is no prob will adjust my sail size, I have my eyes on a JP x-cite 160 it is in mint condition and has good possibilities to adjust the straps (that was my big prob), has good volume as well for my fat middle aged body. I sold the Isonic.

160L will be waaay to big and you'll get bored with it too quick.
A 145L funster or funride will be more adaptable for you to use.
If you can already water start and gybe the the 160L is definitely not the ideal board - unless you still use it with the kids and missus.

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felixdcat said...

Windxtasy said...
Regarding choice of another board, what kind of sailing are you wanting to do? Flat water free ride, ocean bump & jump or maybe a bit of both?
How good is your waterstarting & gybing?
What wind strength are you wanting to go out in?

Well I can waterstart no prob, I like flat waterfree ride, I can (could) gybe, and wind strenght is no prob will adjust my sail size, I have my eyes on a JP x-cite 160 it is in mint condition and has good possibilities to adjust the straps (that was my big prob), has good volume as well for my fat middle aged body. I sold the Isonic.

I think a Futura would suit you perfectly. They have inboard and outboard footstrap settings, and are a fast early planing freeride board that is good in chop. You can even use them in the ocean. They come in a variety of sizes to suit your weight and the wind strength you most often go out in (93, 101, 111 ,121, 131, 141). The main problem is that people like theirs so much second hand ones don't come up for sale very often.
I don't think you said how much you weigh. How was the 101 iSonic in terms of volume?
The 160L will be an easy reintroduction to windsurfing but soon will be too big, slow and unchallenging for you.

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Windxtasy said...

felixdcat said...

Windxtasy said...
Regarding choice of another board, what kind of sailing are you wanting to do? Flat water free ride, ocean bump & jump or maybe a bit of both?
How good is your waterstarting & gybing?
What wind strength are you wanting to go out in?

Well I can waterstart no prob, I like flat waterfree ride, I can (could) gybe, and wind strenght is no prob will adjust my sail size, I have my eyes on a JP x-cite 160 it is in mint condition and has good possibilities to adjust the straps (that was my big prob), has good volume as well for my fat middle aged body. I sold the Isonic.

I think a Futura would suit you perfectly. They have inboard and outboard footstrap settings, and are a fast early planing freeride board that is good in chop. You can even use them in the ocean. They come in a variety of sizes to suit your weight and the wind strength you most often go out in (93, 101, 111 ,121, 131, 141). The main problem is that people like theirs so much second hand ones don't come up for sale very often.
I don't think you said how much you weigh. How was the 101 iSonic in terms of volume?
The 160L will be an easy reintroduction to windsurfing but soon will be too big, slow and unchallenging for you.

I agree with you........... nothing much on the second hand market, I bought the 160 l, I tried and like it for now and it is easy, plane really early and the straps can be moved to centre of the board........ will be a learning option to be able to change the position, also the Futura are nice and expensive and out of my reach, budget.
Thank you for the advices, I will comment on my like dislike of the JP!