Advice on Sailboard for Girlfriend

[morrison]

20170709_112029.jpg (788.41 KiB) Viewed 9883 times

105 lb rider needs first sailboard with a fully retractable daggerboard.
I'm thinking 165l JP Explorer?
Any advice and thoughts welcome.

[ezzylover]

I would skip the daggerboard step, it is a very short step and it may confuse her more than anything when switching to windsurfing board with fin as rotation point.
My advice a 140 L ish board with big fin to start, she will use it for a while , probably a season or two (probably less) and move to smaller board.
I saw her sail the other day she is doing quite well already.
2nd advice don t hesitate to ask others to help her or teach her a little bit, having multiple teachers does really help progress faster.
last advice, get the Beginner to winner video it is great ! ( I can help you with that too)

cheers

[grantmac]

Do you see her as progressing to a high wind/high speed sailor or more likely to enjoy warmer days with less wind?

I second skipping the wide board with centerboard, they do nothing well. But not ruling out a proper longboard.

[morrison]

I invested in a 11'6" bic windsup this year to teach sailing and use as a paddleboard. this season I'm kiting 10% max and windsurfing 90% , I have used the windsup 30% of the time when wind is to shitty to kite.Forgot how much fun lightwind sailing is.
Yes a daggerboard is required.
I already have 122 isonic, 104 futura etc.
The old Alpha 165 comes to mind but I havnt kept up on current equipment.

[Brian C]

I like the windsup idea as a teaching tool that you can have other fun with too. I wouldn't recommend an old longboard like the Alpha because they were very narrow and unstable in comparison. The Alpha 160 was actually meant as an intermediate/advanced board (in it's day), for those progressing from true longboards like the Alpha 220. Most of the very old longboards were over 200 litres and still unstable by today's standards. That's why it took us old-timers so long to learn the sport !

[ezzylover]

there is a nice 2011 carve 131 for sale in squamish , might be worth trying it and see if she likes it
https://vancouver.craigslist.ca/nvn/spo/d/starboard-carve-131l-windsurf/6237354799.html

I d go with $500 for the price though, 600 is a bit too much