An opportunity may come up to buy a SUP from an in-law who is thinking of downsizing. I am considering buying it from him and thinking of fitting a threaded deck insert for the mast foot or a mast track. Which will be easier to do, a deck screw? A screw might be as it's only a plug (and where do I get one)?

I have fibreglass surfboard repair skills but need to switch the way I think and do things as it is epoxy. I checked with him regarding construction and it's 6oz all over with bamboo on the deck + another layer of 4oz. over that + single balsa stringer (not a pop-out). The only concern I have is that what ever deck fitting I use it will need the stringer to be cut which might make it lose some lateral strength which in windsurfing mode (banging over chop) will stress it more than for conventional SUP use? If the wisdom of this forum is as concerned as I am regarding the latter I'll give the idea a miss.

There is a guy in Gerringong that can do this sort of work, I read something on another website where a guy put a mast track into his SUP and he reinforced it with wood stringers on each side of the mast track. I reckon its an awesome thing. I have a Starboard blend 11-2 and if its a little windy i will throw a small sail on it and go for a cruise. This year will be some light wind wavesailing on it.

The older starboard SUPs that appear to have 2 deck inserts for sails actually have mast tracks that have been sealed over if you look under the deck padding.

Actually Pierre they point extremely well between the thruster set up and the long rail line. In light winds I can point extremely high. It is a bit unfortunate that many just don't actually get it. They are not meant to replace a shortboard, they are a long board and should be treated as such. A well made SUP is a great one board solution. For the man days when there is either not wind or very little wind you can still actually be on the water.

Surfing went through all this crap a number of years ago but look how many longboards are on the water now. There will be more SUPs on the water cause they are great fun.

Guys, I'm comparing with boards that actually point up, such as an old Mistral or raceboards or a D2, and a racing Kona.

You'z try to keep up against any of these boards, you'll be at least 10 degrees away.
Man, even an old Windsurfer points higher.

Having said that, they're fun to sail around anyhow in lesser winds (esp. that I got mine free). Also good for the exercise, I agree.

Set a mast track in a bit of divinycell about 300 x 200 x 60mm, route a big hole and set it in, then 3 x glass over top.

Same as a finbox replacement.