Bic 293d vs kona one

DEF358F0-DB05-4226-A8954ABAD2FC2F95 · Joined: 08 May 2014 Posts: 1

I am working to get in the sport and need some advice on boards. I am 200lbs and sail on small lakes in the midwest. I own a pandera and struggled on it last summer. I am looking at newer boards. I found a 7 yr old bic 293d for about $850. I have talked to others that a kona one is a better option. The kona seems a bit sluggish and the bic seems more responsive. Which one would be easiest to learn and develop on? I haven't found any used konas and not sure if I am ready to spend $2000 on a new rig. Any suggestions?[/code]

KevinDo · Joined: 02 Jul 2012 Posts: 426 Location: Cabrillo Inside

coachg · Joined: 10 Sep 2000 Posts: 3550

$850 for a 7 year old Bic 293d is a little over the top I think, especially if it was used. You might get that price if the board sat in the box for 7 years and was never used.

Coachg

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

perhaps at $850 it comes with more than one fin and full rig in good shape ?? ie ready 2 go

the Pandera is somewhere around 170 , long and narrow
even my 94 cm wide 170 liter FreeFormula was NOT enough for a heavy-weight friend to try

at 205 liters , 79 cm width with a dagger - you should be good to go
i am VERY interested in the results - did u get it - did it work out, etc

on the auzzie forum there was a post where people posted about how they started and which equipment worked vs what did not
perhaps such a post or discussion would be of interest on iwindsurf ??

Sailboarder · Joined: 10 Apr 2011 Posts: 656

I chose a Kona One to restart over a 293 and don't regret it. I prefer the more slender Kona for low wind performance, even if it's a bit less stable. At our weight (I'm 210#) a bit more volume always help too.

The step tail is not a gimmick, it really helps to change the board peformance while on the plane. It's more nimble than appears, and the step tail eases getting in the straps (because you don't have to walk as far back). There's also no need for an adjustable mast track = more reliable.

Finally, I now have a collection of fins that I really use. It would have been much more difficult and expensive with the now disappearing trim box fins.

Advantages I see with the Bic: There are beating straps for non-planing use. The skin is also tougher than the EVA on the Kona.

24185FCB-EDFC-6151-3BBD424353C3BA39 · Joined: 22 May 2014 Posts: 1

it comes with a 15yr old sail/mast etc. What is the difference in the different fin boxes? Does the older model not have something that makes the new model better?

Sailboarder · Joined: 10 Apr 2011 Posts: 656

At 15 yo, the sail maybe close to unusable. Monofilm becomes brittle with UV exposure and the sail might start ripping apart. Dacron ages much better. Please ask others about how to assess the remaining life of a sail, I don't know how to help...

The Trim box system for fins is probably as good, or close to as good as the Powerbox system. It has the distinct advantage of allowing the fin to be adjusted fore and aft. Whilst I don't know the reasons it's out of fashion, it is. I don't think any board is built with this anymore, and the fins are much harder to find.

I learned while restarting that fins are critical for enjoying the sport. They are not for displacement sailing, but they are for planing. They need to be in good shape. You need them in sizes proportional to the sails you are using. This extends your board range, instead of switching boards... I use 3 sizes with my Kona. It's not fine tuning at all, they allow me to sail when the other fins wouldn't work.

If you sail in weedy area, you may instead need weed fins. At my local spot, it's just impossible to sail 100m with the Kona fin without catching so much weed that you spin out.

And finally they break. Most often if you hit a hidden rock at full speed. I thought fins would last forever, but it's not the case. My Kona 46 broke in it's 4th year.

For these reasons, it can make sense to find a Powerbox board. But for sure, if you can get a great price on your kit, it will compensate for the extra hassle and cost of getting Trimbox fins.

swchandler · Joined: 08 Nov 1993 Posts: 10588

It's important to note that True Ames Fins still carries a number of fins, including weedfins, with the Trim Box base, so one has a number of different great choices available.

http://trueames.com/t/wind/mount/trim-tr

spennie · Joined: 13 Oct 1995 Posts: 975 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA

I have a barely-used Kona for sale for $975. Windjunkie@windjunkie.net

boardsurfr · Joined: 23 Aug 2001 Posts: 1266

I have sailed the 293 for many years, and recently sailed the Kona One at the Kashy/WET spring regatta. Which board to get depends on what kind of sailing you intend to do. Both boards work in 5-30 mph, but the fun factor differs. The 293 will be more fun in 18+ mph winds once you figured out how to plane. The Kona is a lot more fun in lighter winds.

For learning, the length of the Kona will make getting back upwind easier, although the 293D does go upwind well enough. The soft top of the Kona is a big plus when learning, and for light wind play. It's amazing how much fun you can have on the Kona in 5 knots on a warm summer day doing light wind freestyle. If you think you may want to get into fun races at some point in the future, the Kona One is the way to go (unless you are a teenager).

The asking price for the 293D is too high. The 15-year old sail is useless, and will make your life harder if you try to use it. The 293 is durable, but it may eventually crack at the seams, and repairs are harder than on other boards. I think you'd be better off buying new 293 OD for $1400 than spending anything close to $800 for a 7-year old 293.