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| 28 Apr 2008 11:33:25 |
| bertbarndoor |
| I have decided on a board (almost), opinions on the rest? |
Hi, I think I have my choice of board narrowed down....leaning towards the Starboard Rio. Anyhow, any advice on sails, masts, boom, etc? Mast- For the mast, are they all created equal except carbon content? Are all companies the same? How much carbon should I get. I was told that the more carbon, the lighter, but also more brittle. True about the brittle? As an advanced beginner who is going to be dumping the sail a lot, what should I consider? Money is not a HUGE concern, but it is a variable. Maybe something in between? Does the size of sale relate to the type or size of mast? Sails - What should I be looking for. Open water. Medium winds. Should I get 2 sails? The guy at the surf shop said I should be ok with just a 7.0 for sailing in Ottawa and I could go bigger or smaller after I have gotten used. He said I would have a better idea of what to get after I used the 7.0 a lot. Are all sail companies the same? Relatively speaking? Anything I should stay away from? Boom - I've read that carbon is kind of a waste on the boom? True? Anything else I should be considering? Am I missing anything else? Thanks again all! -Rob |
| 28 Apr 2008 13:46:46 |
| rod.r |
| Re: I have decided on a board (almost), opinions on the rest? |
hi rob my 02 cents the rio looks like a pretty good progression board...nice choice most sails are designed around a particular mast, just make sure you get the mast that is recommended by the sail manufacturer, who often provide their own branded masts. as for carbon content, 75% is good if you can afford it, 50% minimum if you have to if you can afford carbon booms, then get one because they are better than aluminium. if you can't, then get a good quality aluminium, making sure the boom extends for at leat 4-6" longer than the sail needs. if you see something you like, tell us what it is and you should get pretty sound advice good luck rod |
| 28 Apr 2008 15:18:56 |
| Gerry |
| Re: I have decided on a board (almost), opinions on the rest? |
Good comments from Rod. A few more: -Carbon is not "brittle," but there have been some breakage issues over the years. Mostly they are very reliable, especially if the content is less than 100%. - Yes, mast size varies by sail size. A 7.0 will likely need a 460 cm mast - the sail specs will tell you what size mast - it is based on the spec for "luff", which refers to the leading edge of the sail (where the mast goes). You will also need an extension and a mast foot. Note that there are different boom sizes, too - the sail specs will also give boom length. - As for the sail size, either 6.5 or 7.0 is a good size to start with. You can add as you need to - most likely the next one you get will be bigger, unless you are in a windy locale. - I would suggest a no-cam "free ride" sail - examples are Sailworks Retro, MauiSails Switch or Ezzy Freeride, lots of others too. As Rod said, the sail will dictate the mast, and they will normally recommend models with varying carbon content. If I were you I would go with "full x-ply" since in my experience they are more durable and you will be falling on it a lot. Both the Ezzy and Retro are, but again there are others too. We all have our favorites. Stick with it - this is a fantastic sport!!!! Gerry |
| 28 Apr 2008 16:12:28 |
| rod.r |
| Re: I have decided on a board (almost), opinions on the rest? |
a couple more things... 1. don't make the mistake of buying lesser quality stuff or lower carbon masts just because you are at the beginner stage. most gear can last a long time if looked after and the cost to sell and upgrade can be a lot. 2. if you can, as gerry says, get all xply sails or even dacron like my superfreaks...i just won't buy a mono sail now. 3. ditto for no cam sails...almost a must for someone at your level 4. try to plan a complete quiver and buy it in stages....a 6.5 may fit a better long tern quiver than a 7.0, (consider things like a 7.5 is often the biggest sail that can go on a 460, so getting a 7.0 may not be optimum) |
| 28 Apr 2008 21:11:06 |
| Re: I have decided on a board (almost), opinions on the rest? |
Not sure if the others considered this, but if you are a beginner you are uphauling still? Learned to waterstart yet? Anything over about 7 m is a bear for me to uphaul, and several top racers have ended their careers with back issues from uphauling 10 or 11 m sails (probably frantically in a race environment where they didn't feel it). The 6.5 may be a better bet from this point of view. If you are learning to waterstart, though, you want all the power you can get so if you sail in light wind the bigger sail would be better in the long run. Its probably easiest to take a holiday somewhere warm and windy and learn there! |
| 28 Apr 2008 23:39:09 |
| James |
| Re: I have decided on a board (almost), opinions on the rest? |
Rob- With regards to booms, the difference in performance between carbon and aluminum is pretty minor for sails smaller than 8.0. So if I were you I would go with aluminum and invest the extra money in a better mast and sail. -James |
| 29 Apr 2008 02:09:36 |
| John I |
| Re: I have decided on a board (almost), opinions on the rest? |
On Apr 29, 1:39 am, James <d0ugl...@hotmail.com > wrote: > Rob- > > With regards to booms, the difference in performance between carbon > and aluminum is pretty minor for sails smaller than 8.0. So if I were > you I would go with aluminum and invest the extra money in a better > mast and sail. > > -James http://www.aerotechsails.com/ Phantom, or Freespeed are great. Epic Gear aluminum booms are a great value and I've mauled mine in the surf bunches. PowerX matches most sail manufacturers best. Watch out on low carbon masts below 55% though, they are definitely cheap feeling. Patrice is sailing long boards on huge Brittany waves with Phantoms, but they work great as cross venue sails too. |
| 30 Apr 2008 12:01:16 |
| bertbarndoor |
| Re: I have decided on a board (almost), opinions on the rest? |
Thanks for all the advice guys. |
| 01 May 2008 12:47:38 |
| bertbarndoor |
| Re: I have decided on a board (almost), opinions on the rest? |
I am probably going to be uphauling exclusively and for a while. I can't see water starts for a while. I was thinking of getting the dakine ez-haul (something like that) that let's you lean with your harness to begin the uphaul process. I guess if I went with the 7 that'd be a good idea??? I already have a marginal back, fyi... Thanks for the info btw... -rob On Apr 29, 12:11 am, morefor...@hotmail.com wrote: > Not sure if the others considered this, but if you are a beginner you > are uphauling still? Learned to waterstart yet? Anything over about > 7 m is a bear for me to uphaul, and several top racers have ended > their careers with back issues from uphauling 10 or 11 m sails > (probably frantically in a race environment where they didn't feel > it). The 6.5 may be a better bet from this point of view. If you are > learning to waterstart, though, you want all the power you can get so > if you sail in light wind the bigger sail would be better in the long > run. Its probably easiest to take a holiday somewhere warm and windy > and learn there! |
| 02 May 2008 09:02:53 |
| Craig Goudie |
| Re: I have decided on a board (almost), opinions on the rest? |
My back has been marginal (or worse) for about 25 years. You should seriously consider accelerating you waterstart instruction. I don't know how well the easy uphaul works because I've never tried one. You might want to consider a crank (or some other mechanical contrivance) for downhauling your sail also. On May 1, 1:47=A0pm, bertbarndoor <bertbarnd...@gmail.com > wrote: > I am probably going to be uphauling exclusively and for a while. I > can't see water starts for a while. I was thinking of getting the > dakine ez-haul (something like that) that let's you lean with your > harness to begin the uphaul process. I guess if I went with the 7 > that'd be a good idea??? I already have a marginal back, fyi... > Thanks for the info btw... > > -rob > > On Apr 29, 12:11 am, morefor...@hotmail.com wrote: > > > > > Not sure if the others considered this, but if you are a beginner you > > are uphauling still? =A0Learned to waterstart yet? =A0Anything over abou= t > > 7 m is a bear for me to uphaul, and several top racers have ended > > their careers with back issues from uphauling 10 or 11 m sails > > (probably frantically in a race environment where they didn't feel > > it). =A0The 6.5 may be a better bet from this point of view. =A0If you a= re > > learning to waterstart, though, you want all the power you can get so > > if you sail in light wind the bigger sail would be better in the long > > run. =A0Its probably =A0easiest to take a holiday somewhere warm and win= dy > > and learn there!- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - |
| 02 May 2008 22:25:53 |
| Cliff Frost |
| Re: I have decided on a board (almost), opinions on the rest? |
Ditto for my back, including having missed the last 2 seasons to surgery. But I'm back on the water this year. Hooray! I have an easy-uphaul and I do recommend it for those cases when you can't waterstart. But I agree with Craig that there is no substitute for waterstarting if you want to protect your back. Cheers, Cliff Craig Goudie <ccgoudie@yahoo.com > wrote: > My back has been marginal (or worse) for about 25 years. > You should seriously consider accelerating you waterstart > instruction. I don't know how well the easy uphaul works because > I've never tried one. You might want to consider a crank > (or some other mechanical contrivance) for downhauling your sail > also. > On May 1, 1:47?pm, bertbarndoor <bertbarnd...@gmail.com> wrote: > > I am probably going to be uphauling exclusively and for a while. I > > can't see water starts for a while. I was thinking of getting the > > dakine ez-haul (something like that) that let's you lean with your > > harness to begin the uphaul process. I guess if I went with the 7 > > that'd be a good idea??? I already have a marginal back, fyi... > > Thanks for the info btw... > > > > -rob > > > > On Apr 29, 12:11 am, morefor...@hotmail.com wrote: > > > > > > > > > Not sure if the others considered this, but if you are a beginner you > > > are uphauling still? ?Learned to waterstart yet? ?Anything over about > > > 7 m is a bear for me to uphaul, and several top racers have ended > > > their careers with back issues from uphauling 10 or 11 m sails > > > (probably frantically in a race environment where they didn't feel > > > it). ?The 6.5 may be a better bet from this point of view. ?If you are > > > learning to waterstart, though, you want all the power you can get so > > > if you sail in light wind the bigger sail would be better in the long > > > run. ?Its probably ?easiest to take a holiday somewhere warm and windy > > > and learn there!- Hide quoted text - > > > > - Show quoted text - |