Ok, you may know that the UK is in the worst recession since the 20's so times are tough and money is short. Combine this with the missus about to go in for an op on her spine tomorrow and not having worked for 8 months we are not "cash rich".
My eldest at 12 is getting really hooked on flat water paddling, he boogieboards and windsurfs so I will bring him to the path of the righteous slowly.
In the intervening time, he wants his own board. Which is cool, but they swing in at £400 for a second hand board which we don't have and he will bang the board into all of the scenery at any break.
So, I am trying an experiment - when windsurfing first started and I was sailing a mahoosive HiFly, when the wind died we used to sit on them and paddle them with a kayak paddle. I have bought a very old Mistral Bermuda, even I can't remember them.
It's big, a bit heavy, unbreakable but has a reasonable shape, square tail just like that new one of DJ's so he can at least paddle. I came with a mastfoot and daggerboard and weird retracting fin which means he can even sail it if the mood takes him.
The acid test will be how he copes on water which will be a couple of weeks until Jane is back on her feet again and we can hit the local lakes/waterways/sea.
Here's a few pics to show what we have been reduced to!!!
The new beast:
Nice square tail!!
Underneath with daggerboard slot and retractable fin.
Errr, I think it should do that!!!
