Just wanted to get people's thoughts on whether it's possible and/or advisable to try and get a kit and get into windsurfing for under $500.

Also what do peolpe recommend looking for in a cheap secondhand kit?

And if you know someone who wants to offload some gear maybe you could drop me a line...
Cheers

Getting into it for under 500 is a big ask...
But one thing to keep in mind is where will you want to take it? Speed/waves or freeride..

If you invest in some good gear you will learn quicker (lighter = easier). You don't need the best gear, just reasonably new gear. Don't bother with old tight leech sails and make sure you have a reasonably good mast/sail/boom. As was said, getting a good cheap board is harder.

A larger freeride board is a good choice as you can learn on it and once you get to a reasonable level, it will be a good light wind board.

You don't want cams when you are learning, they are too heavy. They are now only used for dedicated speed sails and slalom gear. You want lighter gear as you wont get tired as easy.

Loose leech sails have been around for about 7 years I think? When they are rigged the leech is loose so they depower themselves. The older sails tend to load up and refuse to de-power. You can pick them as they have a very long top batten, sort of a square top, tight leeches are more like sailing sails where the top batten doesn't extend much.

By lashing out from the start and getting a decent mast (probably 430mm long - very common mast size), sail (around 5.8 also depends on conditions) and boom, you will keep it forever and you will also learn a lot quicker.

I was lucky enough to be able to borrow a starboard (www.star-board.com) Go for 2 months while I was learning, then I purchased a carve 121 to progress further. It worked out well because the guys in the shop knew I would buy the carve demo once I was ok on the Go board. I still have my carve and I don't think I would ever want to sell it. Although it was expensive to start off, I went through the learning curve quickly.

Hi,
I have a North Sails Convertigo 5.7 Wave/Slalom sail for sale. North is one of the leading brands. It is not the newest one, but it is still in reasonable good conditions. I think this would be perfect for beginners. Good in handling, easiy to waterstart and to gybe, not too small and not too big. It has a vario camber, which means you can either sail it with or without the cam (I used it always without the Cam, however on the river it can be helpfull). I would sell it for 80$. Fits on a 460 Mast and a medium sized boom (both not included). That will definitly be fun even when you are more advanced.
Dr.F.

Also, beware of people trying to flog off their old ****ty gear that is worthless (especially ones with cams coz they suck to learn with). Basically any sail that is tight leeched is worthless (or close to..) as hundreds of people have them clogging up their garages.

It doesn't mean you can't use them but I wouldn't want to pay much for them. They may be ok if they are light (no cams!), but you will soon notice the difference once you get planning.

Like I paid $150 for an old wavesail, now that I know where to look I could get a 2 year old one for around the same price. Keep checking this forum and ebay, some real bargins come up, but try to talk to someone that knows what to look out for.

A big problem that beginners have is that too many people that know how to sail sell off their crap gear (that they can't sell to people that know whats going on) and beginners can't progress on it because it is so hard to learn with.

Hi mr. consumer protection Ryan121,
your criticism can only be aimed in my direction. So let me tell you this. This is a good sail and not one of this crappy garage sails and it is not a classical camber sail, but you as expert know that anyway. It is still in good conditions and certainly I do not need to get rid of it, I simply tried to help. And by the way, in my second mail where I gave the advice about not buying any crappy stuff from ebay I was talking about boards (just a hint) and I was not trying to talk anybody into buying my sails. I stand behind what I write.
Dr.F.

No need to be so defensive, it was not aimed directly at you. It's just that so many new windsurfers get shafted by experienced windsurfers trying to flog off their old heavy gear, it is impacting on the sport. Some people that could learn in a few sessions screw around with old gear for months! Eg. Old slalom board with a fine tail..

But surely you must agree that cambered sails are a lot heavier, and the sleeve fills up with water, making it very hard to waterstart.

quote:

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Once you have that first planning run, feet in and hooked up. You will be finding money quicker than a St kilda street worker with the shakes.

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Amen

That was me today, feet in, harness on, feeling the board skate along under my toes, marvelling at how much a 6m sail can haul me along, wondering how much new kit costs. If an old clunker of a rig like mine can go that fast, how much better must new kit be?

Time for a visit to the (not so local) shop, methinks

I just got a pile of brochures for 2006 from the importers.

Mistral, F2, Fanatic, North sails.

Ponder Ponder drul drul say no more.

Those F2 Missile 11"s just look SOOOO! horny.
What's this.....a GPS in the deck
OK; see through nose on a slalom board, That's a bit radical.

Now! I know my wallet is empty but perhaps if I squeeze it hard enough?????????

best winds
Tony L

Luke

I have had one full season, so I am a beginner myself. The most important thing I found was having a couple of lessons before I went anywhere near buying some gear. This is a very small investment and the amount of relatively unbiased information you get is great.

I have watched quite a few people turn up with something out of someone's back shed (the old yacht sail on the long and very narrow board), then procede to struggle to just get on the board. You only ever seem to see them the once, which is really sad.

I had my lessons on a very large Start board. Then when I realised that I really wanted to get into it - like the following day, I decided to get myself a Go board. This came highly recommended by a few people. I also got a lot of comments about how I would grow out of it in a couple of months.

I went through a whole season with the Go and learnt of lot of the basics, as well as consolidating some technique. At the end of the season I got myself a 105ltr Mistral, which feels like a match stick, but is better in the heavier winds - and no, I still have the Go and continue to use it in the lighter winds. Horses for courses really.

So all being equal, I would start on a large friendly board, something like the Go, even though this is going to cost you a bit more.

Mind you, I am talking flat water type sailing. If you want to go jumping waves then this may not be the right approach, although I suppose everyone has to start with the basics.

Bottom line is - listen to all the advise then do what suits you and your circumstances and don't look back.