We need advice to buy a windsurfer for our situation.

konajoe · Joined: 28 Feb 2010 Posts: 517

Hmmmmm. I wonder why the original posters don't seem to have any interest in what is being said? Where are you?

jingebritsen · Joined: 21 Aug 2002 Posts: 3371

on the cheap look at a link: http://www.exocet-original.com/link.php

money no object? look at the carbone: http://www.konaone.com/the-boards/kona-carbone/

all are great choices. the carbone sails like a dream.

shreddbob · Joined: 31 Mar 1987 Posts: 361 Location: Hawaii

The Mistral Superlite as a lake board works very well, especially if you can get the large "race" sized dagger like I have.

Like Windswell says, just bolt a US cup to the stock mast foot so you can use any modern mast extension and easily downhaul a modern sail.

To put on the US cup I did:
Heated the old stud (at top of OEM foot) in 150 degree water (old cooking pot on stove) and used vise grips to remove it. Use a metric 6mm bolt (Edit: 8mm U-joint hex bolt more likely...http://www.windance.com/Windsurf-Windsurf-Parts/?subcategory=Chinook&page=2) and washer, with some RED Loctite thread locker, to install the US cup onto the threaded hole where you removed the old stud. Tighten bolt until snug, but not so tight as to prevent cup from swiveling.

windsurferic · Joined: 09 Apr 1998 Posts: 1

I bought a RRD Longrider a few years a go and absolutely love it. I am an experienced sailor that sails in all wind conditions. I would rather be on the water then sitting on shore waiting for the wind. The Longrider has allowed me to enjoy light wind sailing and exploring. It is also fun to ride in plaining conditions do to its step tail.

Currently I am restoring an early 90's Seatrend longboard which is similar to a MegaCat. I am expecting better light wind performance because it has a flat rocker and sharp rails but I am curious to see how the 2 boards compare as far as the fun factor. Will the more technical race board be more fun then the user friendly Longrider? Time will tell.

ittiandro · Joined: 22 Nov 2009 Posts: 294

cgoudie1 · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2015 11:14 am Post subject:

Greetings Ittiandro,

Longboards are defined by having a center board. A BIC Core 293 is
a hull designed for planing, with a center board to
help in displacement mode, but it is not really
designed like the old Ultra Cat or Lightning raceboards. Those
boards were designed to work well in sub-planing conditions (and they're
not bad in planing conditions if you're headed in a straight line either).

The Core will be more stable when sitting in near windless conditions,
because of the width, but the raceboards will be much more fun
to ride in sub-planing conditions, where their hull design is more
conducive to efficient displacement mode operation.

Personally, I'm not a big displacement mode fan, and I'd just move to
a place where it's short board windy most of the time, but if you want
a board that you can glide around on, in 5-8MPH winds, with occasional
forays into 12-20, a raceboard style longboard is hard to beat, and
more suited to it than a BIC Core.

-Craig

swchandler · Joined: 08 Nov 1993 Posts: 10588

In sub-planing winds, nothing beats a pure displacement hull, and it will excel using a relatively small sail (6-6.5sm). While the classic raceboards, like the Fanatic, F2 or Mistral, will perform quite well in sub-planing and planing conditions, it's a compromise that favors planing. In my view, the pure displacement hull and older raceboards will both outperform the Bic in the lightest of winds.

joethewindsufa · Joined: 10 Oct 2010 Posts: 1190 Location: Montréal

This summer I plan to meet Ittiandro on Lac St-Pierre near Montreal.
I have a BIC Dufour, Fanatic Ultra CAT and Mistral Equipe I.
The plan is to compare and let Ittiandro try these boards for himself.

I am sure these old boards will do better in sub-planing than the BIC 293.
What about early planing winds 15-16 knots ???
And in bigger winds ~20 knots ??

Wouldn't the CAT and Equipe do "better" in all conditions ??

We are hoping Sailboarder will join us with his KONA ONE !!

cgoudie1 · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2015 9:14 pm Post subject:

Hey Joe,

It depends on what you like in windsurfing. Those raceboards just aren't
surfy, so if you want a lot of ripp'n and shredd'n then the Bic will be more
fun in 15-16, and I never liked long boards above 20, there's just too much
board that can fly out of the water when you're planing and in the
back straps. I never had the chops for it. Raceboards are a nice
Swiss Army knife, until you realize you want a Katana instead. ;*)

-Craig

p.s. I had a BIC Dufor wing, displacement hull only, you could sorta get the
thing planning, but it was less than great.

p.p.s I can't believe I'm even commenting about this stuff, I think
centerboards are best used to kill beach vermin, GT is probably laughing
until he pukes reading this.