How to reduce the number of boards in quiver

stringp · Joined: 20 Aug 2000 Posts: 176

I have a bad habit of going to swap meets and buying windsurf boards for a song. These boards all have distinct properties and are very good at what they do. The problem being that I like to sail various sites from Stevenson to Rowena and each site requires its own gear. So, I load 4 boards to the truck depending on where I'm sailing and off I go. This drives the SO crazy as she is a minimalist and thinks all one needs is two boards, and she would like to start traveling in the same rig. I've heard that new boards are more versatile so I investigated the Tabou 3S which is supposed to do everything. The 2014 model sells for a whopping $1700 in the cheap construction. I'm used to paying $80 with a bag. What's a hoarder to do to minimize without spending a small fortune.

biffmalibu · Joined: 30 May 2008 Posts: 556

There is no one board that does it all, really. I think one needs at least two, unless you are an absolute wind snob (then only a small one will do). Despite the hype, NONE of the big fat stiff Chinese/mega-neospoon boards are any good for nuke but probably OK for general 15-30 conditions.

Make a judgement call before you load up with TWO of your most likely to be utilized boards. If the conditions are not what you expected, DEAL WITH IT and become a better windsurfer. Adapt your sailing style and rig right; learn to sail a different pattern or go to a different site. Do not undervalue the presence of a hottie for your trip! There are HUNDREDS of lone wolves in the Gorge who would DIE for a windsurfbabe in the passenger seat. Or even as the driver!

Time to go shred...

uwindsurf · Joined: 18 Aug 2012 Posts: 968 Location: Classified

I have one board that I use in the Gorge - 74 liter Starboard Kode. I weight in at about 145 lbs. I have two fins for it and sail it in 2.8 to 4.7 conditions. My minimum wind threshold is 20 mph average. Anything less, I do something else. I sailed my 2.8 three times on the Kode this year and was sailing the Kode on "Super Tuesday" at the Hatch this year. I find switching to a smaller fin when it is 2.8 and 3.2 makes a big difference.

It works for me. Your experience may vary.

anderson · Joined: 16 Apr 2009 Posts: 22

I also only use one board in the gorge - and I am here from early-June to Labor day in September. I weigh in at 150 and am 5'10", .

78 litre Quatro Wave 2013 (just bought the 14, yeah) oh, and also a quiver of 2014 goys gurus don't hurt either.
I have sailed 3.0 to 4.2, (and in desperation, a 4.7 twice this year). And I am not a wind snob....but if it is under 20 kts, I too will go do something else.

This makes life simple - it blows my mind to see people with more boards than sails in their quiver. Just get an amazing/semi new board instead of junk from swap meets and you'll be really happy and surprised at how rangy it can be. Staying current with your gear rocks.

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

cgoudie1 · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 9:43 pm Post subject:

The easy answer is to take 4 or 5 of them and give them to the CGWA
(or me). Problem solved.

I have 3 boards here in HR, and I only travel with 2 (and often 1). I use
whatever predictive knowledge is available to decide which boards I travel
with. 2 boards is plenty. My custom 80 ltr will carry sails from 5.7 to 3.7,
which is pretty much also what I travel with (though I have sails on
either side of that range). That gets me from solid 18 to 40 MPH.
I weigh 180 lbs.

You might need 3 boards if you were sailing the coast, and then sailing the Gorge in the same day, but some wave boards are pretty good Gorge
boards, so, back to 2.

If you have 4 boards, and need them all for specific Gorge venues, they
are all probably too specific in design.

-Craig

GuyT · Joined: 13 Sep 2002 Posts: 182

knifeonwater · Joined: 25 May 2000 Posts: 51

Two boards, both Tabou Da Curves, 74 and 85 Liters. They carry everything from a 3.1, only on Super Tuesday, to a 5.2, only at the Coast. The break is at 4.2, steady = little board, holey= bigger board. Both are three+ years old. Youwindsurf is spot on about changing fins to broaden a boards range.

The potential with a board like the 3S, and I love Tabous, is that it will do many things okay, but nothing really well. You will have to pick your poison. Bigger than 5.2 you would probably have to add something in the 100 liter range or a kite. Yes, I am a wind snob and damn proud of it.

BTW, I am 5'10", 170 pounds, brown and brown, and love sunset walks on the beach.

GuyT · Joined: 13 Sep 2002 Posts: 182

hilton08 · Joined: 02 Apr 2000 Posts: 506

"He who dies with the most toys wins" is my motto.

I am close to having one windsurf board per sail size.
Of course the boards will all easily handle 1-2 sail sizes bigger or smaller than their ideal size, and I usually just bring 1 or 2 boards to the beach on any given day based on the expected conditions. I think I would get bored always sailing on the same board.