The Trouble with Longboards.

[GURGLETROUSERS]

No company makes one specifically for comfortably cruising long distances in a range of wind and sea states.

I've always kept a longboard for journeys since 1982, (Hi Fli 555 through several others, to Kona 1 today), but each of them has had good and bad points.

As everyone knows, in light winds you often have to struggle for balance, especially off headlands with confused swells and backwash, and it's even worse if you have to make dead run with next to no pull in the sail, while being flung about.

I realise it's a very limited market, and no company is going to take it seriously, but it's nice to make a wish list. My ideal cruising longboard would need the planing comfort and ease of the present Kona, (the best I've had), the stability off the Hi Fli 555, (thin and wide), the upwind stuffing ability of the Fanatic Cat, (very important for cruising - fed up of being way outpointed by yachts), and the non planing glide of the Serenity.

And oh yes, enough space and volume to carry minimal camping gear, along with the split kayak paddles and stuff bag that I already carry.

Does anybody else 'do' cruising, and if so how do they manage?

[d0uglass]

That's a tall order.

I think an extra large raceboard like a Fanatic Cat would be about the best you could get for cruising. If you tried to tweak it to improve any one of your desired aspects of performance you would inevitably be taking away from some other aspect of performance.

Of course I've sometimes wondered if a thinner-foiled daggerboard and less dramatic tail step might help my Kona ONE's displacement-mode v.m.g. without taking away its nice feel. Could be worth experimenting.

[LUCARO]

Have you seen the expedition windsurfer?

http://www.lbwindsurfing.com/cruising/the-expedition-windsurfer/

[GURGLETROUSERS]

I hadn't spotted that one Lucaro. Thank you for pointing it out. That's the kind of thing I had in mind.

I second the Kona 1 feeling nice dOuglass, especially when up on the plane. I wondered if a scaled up version would still feel as nice, while being better at cruising? The worst thing I find with the present one is its tippiness, especially when reaching or running in a bouncy swelly sea with minimal pull in the sail. Talk about sweating buckets! Perhaps a couple of stabilizing swing out arms might help!!

[jingebritsen]

some coming very soon in a container for the western hemisphere:

http://www.kona-windsurfing.com/products/kona380E.asp

[3-phase]

Hi John, looks nice, why is the front so wide It seems it would be easier to have a front like a Mistral Equipe that catches less wind?

Jurg

www.kasail.com
www.a-h-d.com
www.windsurfdeal.com

[NickB]

[windward1]

I want one.

[GURGLETROUSERS]

Great for racing, but sadly not for cruising stability or comfort with that narrow drawn out tail and straps and mast track all pulled back.

[jingebritsen]

jurg, I dunno, I'm just a peon.

Gurgle, the thing has a spec of 65 cm wide. Why does anyone want such a long waterline? Upwind grinding on the leeward rail. By-product is cruising, just ask any IMCO enthusiast.

Stuff was placed on the board for reasons that suit open class long boarders. Dunno about that weight spec. We'll see soon enough won't we?

Specs;
Volume 310 litres
Length; 380 cm
Width; 65 cm
Weight; 13 Kg
Fin size and box; 40 cm Tuttle box
Mast track; Adjustable
Sail size; 6.5 to 9.5

My guess is the weight must be without all the extras, straps, dagger, and fin. Still, that's really light.....