Advice needed on first board purchase.

[JSmith]

Hey.

On-line a guy is offering to sell me a freestyle duralite,13ft aprox,and 2ft 3 wide, sial, mast and keel. He has not mentioned boom yet. Thinking he forgot. We shall see. Dont know how old. All for the "low low" price of $300. I already have a couple of sails and booms and a extention. So i am leaning toward passing on this one and continue to try and pick up a free used old board to match up with what i already have. I think it would be wise to save my money for the "next" board when i know what i want with some experience. But then again maybe this is a sweet deal i should not pass on to get started right away? Hmmmm

What do the pro's out there have to say about this offer?

Thanks for the help.

Jeremy.

[winddoctor]

Hi JSmith,

I've never heard of that brand (not a good sign), and judging from the dimensions of that board, it will provide you with hours of wet and wobbly frustration. $300 sounds like a lot as well for what I'm guessing is an older style longboard. Try to find the widest (width is your friend) big board you can get your hands on at first. Width should be minimum 70 cm, I'd say, with a volume of at LEAST 150 liters (go way more if you are heavy). Try to find an old Go board even if it costs you a little. Small sails on a big board for learning work very well at first. Stick with reputable brands like Starboard, Mistral, Fanatic, JP, and Naish.

Try posting this under the windsurfing discussion board rather than the buy and sell; you'll get more replies.

[JSmith]

Thanks for the advice. Ive read a lot online about Go boards. I will see if i can pick one up.

J.

[TomS]

Hey JSmith

That board sounds like a "Windsurfer Freestyle". Check with the seller that board would be circa 1984-85 with a fixed daggerboard. If it is a Windsurfer brand Freestyle it is not a bad starter board for flat water "Elk lake etc".

TomS

[Windsurfish]

This is a board for life type investment - used mine on Friday.... Check the sailing logs....

[Windsurfish]

I think I have seen your duralite board in a pile behind a friends shed. It will give you a good start on the same kind of pile => avoid the frustrations it will bring and (if it is at all affordable) go for the Go (or another 150L of the same type design).
Start off havin fun and progressing rather than cursing etc - life is too short....

Chris

[Windsurfish]

Just to clarify, I am not a pro = see my online profile (it says amateur - lol)