Hi this may stir some winter thinking. I was wounderin what everone thinks the best board and sail brands are? also what masts are the best and so-on

Thanx Jesse

Bombora
Lid Guard
Excel
Stack Hat
Oakley

I'm inclined to stay away from any sail that is tied to a particular proprietary non-standard mast. Some of the Severnes only rig on skinnies and the skinnies they are designed for are Severne skinnies and Severne wont divulge their bend description - so they can stick their sails up their bums. I'll pretty much stick to sails that work well on a classic constant curve (76% 64% bend).

Ezzies are ok but any of those full scrim sails rely on good glue bonded seams, more so than mono because the thin laminates seem to pull through the stitching more easily. I've had seam failures on both Ezzy and Aerotech sails. I'm kinda keen to try a dacron sail next (Hot sails freak). Not keen on mono because it doesn't last long enough. I think my favourite sail is my '03 Gaastra Manic 5.3.

The only board I would complain about was a Bic (more properly a Tiga but identical to a Bic). The Power Trim box is a gimmicky incompetent design that is prone to catastrophic failure if the fin hits the bottom. The extruded aluminium mast tracks can be pulled right out of the board with a simple catapult. I think Bic have moved away from both of these misfeatures in recent years. Pity about that board. It sailed really nicely.

Masts - Have had no trouble with masts - never broke one in 11 years however I did have a heavy 30% carbon 430/21 that busted 2 boom clamps. The booms were Prydes with that bifurcated snap on plastic clip with a hooked edge that the inhaul held on to. Both breaks resulted from garden variety catapults that shouldn't have broken anything. I think that the heavy mast just set up a big whoomping oscillation that busted right through the flimsy clamp.

Booms - Had some Pryde boom clams fail as mentioned above. Had the hinge on an HPL boom head fail recently. I find the twin pin adjusters on the HPL a f***ing pain to undo. The twist adjusters on the Pryde/Fiberspar carbon booms is prone to wear and requires replacement every now and then and its a chore.

Extensions - If I had my time again I'd go for a euro pin system rather than the twin button pins. I'd use those tendons with the stainless steel cups rather than the nylon ones because I've heard they have had some failures. The Euro pin system is a bit more convenient to use and it allows another point of rotation so its even less likely to unscrew your mast foot when you gybe.
I've had a few failures of those tiny bolts that hold the uni tendon in its cups. As a matter of course now I always put in bolts one size bigger than standard. I also have a mechanical uni which has 2 great features 1)Its very reliable 2)You can easily clip a rig to it even on the water, something that is very difficult with a tendon because you can't bend the things over. These are safety features. I like to use that uni when I'm cruising.

My Fav's for Speed/Slalom.

Boards - Kinetic Gladiator. It is a great board for heavy weights as it has the width but handles great through the chop. I also like the JP's but IMHO they can be a bit fragile.

Sails - KA Good value and extremely fast. (Australian Owned)

Masts - Powerex

Booms - Has to be carbon KA or Pryde. I just ben the Alloy ones.

Farmers Union Iced Coffee





Extensions - Chinook, I have never had one fail.

Good onysa you last two, Iced Coffee, your on the money here.
Couple of mates work in Indo and it took them two years of hassle to get it shipped to them (Masters Iced Coffee)
The Yanks they work with reckon it was the best thing since sliced bread, and they now need to triple the monthly order.
Wonder if its just Aussies who go off about this stuff?
I know from trips, its not an item found any where else, or if it is, it taste like its made with old Sunshine powered milk (now their’s a blast from the past) and low grade bottom of the barrel coffee.

wally windsurfer are still the best

Sails - Ezzy (in my book).

Board - Kinetic Gladiator

Sail - Ezzy. The NP V8 I had before was s**t quality.

Boom - Chinook, although the alloy ones don't seem to last as long anymore I will get a carbon next.

Mast base & extension - Chinook always.

Cheers

...and stuck on the hook like glue. Pity fish didn't like it eh!