Hi to all, Ive just joined the group, am new to wind surfing and would really appreciate some help please. My questions and approach may seem stupid, but thats me.



Ive tried researching on the web about equipment, am a little wiser, found your forum and hope that you can help me with some general advice.



Im sorry if this post is long but I will try to give as much info as possible (possibly overload) to help anyone who cares to reply.



My girlfriend and I have windsurfed a few times in the sea, got the basic maneuvers and loved it (last time Red Sea). Im a Brit currently living in Poland. The summer is short but hot (typically 25+C). Theres a beautiful area called Mazury which has a large amount of inland lakes (4000). The region is approx 200KM X 100KM with approx 30% water coverage. The biggest lake is 113 Km2 and 27 Km long. You can navigate lake to lake to a total distance of 90 Km.



Heres a link http://www.msz.gov.pl/mszpromo/en/3_3.htm



We also have access to the Baltic Sea. Typically winds vary from about 0 to 20 knots. Both of us have 10+ years of sailing experience and medium level qualifications.





I am male 511 , fit and 65 Kg, my girlfriend is 54, fit and 63 Kg.

Recently I wanted to rent some equipment in Poland. The only places I could find were very crowded, so on a whim (I know thats not too smart) decided to buy some second hand gear to get us started. The gear I got is as follows:

 Board - Surftech 360 (Says made in Sweden)

 Mast Pink, 4.6 metres, fiberglass?, one piece, kind of black thin bands inside

 Bic plastic board plate

 Bic plastic universal joint

 F2 Lightening Strato pivoting centre board

 Bic aluminium boom with plastic ends

 Sail Energy Comfort 5.5 m2 dacron

 2x Decathlon Tribord shorty wet suits new



I love modifying and improving things. So as much as Im really looking forward to playing with my new toy, Im also looking forward to upgrading for performance improvements and to match our requirements as we get better. Im the kind of guy who loves dismantling and rebuilding engines sad I know.



We plan to leave in around a week to windsurf for a few weeks in Poland. My questions may seem dumb, but even when I go to a surfboard shop, the room for misunderstanding is enormous.



My questions are:

 How do I connect everything up?

 Where should the 2 ends of the up haul be tied to, what type of rope should I use (what I got is of different gauges and has frankly seen better days)?

 How tight should the boom be attached to the mast I guess you insert rubber shims to tighten?

 What determines the height of the boom should it be shoulder high or mid chest?

 How do I safety tie the mast to the board?

 The sail has 3 full length batons. How much should these be tensioned?

 How much tension should there be on the front and back of the sail (there are ropes)?

 What have I missed?

 How do I tune the set up e.g. the board plate for the mast foot has a 1 foot slider where should I position the mast?

 How do I maintain and look after her

 Split in centre board groove epoxy it? Any tips? Is epoxy resin epoxy resin or are there different types. Please remember when I go to a DIY store Im lucky if I can understand 30%.

 There was a rope attached to the front of the board via a screw in clip.. Ive broken it epoxy it back together again?

 Sewing sail some of the stitching is on the go do I need special cotton, do I seal after.

 The foam on the boom is split in a few places - how should I repair it - glue? Replace?

 Repair kit Im off to somewhere where the nearest shop will be 50+ Km away. What spares and repair kit should I take.

 Waxing. Do I?

 How do I upgrade

 Not status orientated, more into functional than the esthetics

 Have a dog (and Im not talking about the girlfriend!) shes a small Alsatian, love her to bits! Any tips on taking your dog windsurfing?





Hope Im not a pain.



Cheers Fletche



Here's a couple of pics of my Polish equipment!

http://www.bigwilly.org/windsurf.htm



P.S. I'm trying to sort out a place to store my board (s). The mast is is one piece, is there a way to cut it in 2 and reconnect it? Also the winter can be quite cold. Will it damage the board if it drops to -40C?

Fletche



hello and welcome to iwindsurf.



Not many questions posted??



It would take an age to answer all your question so I would suggest you do a search on Amazon for Learn to Windsurf in a Weekend, it will answer many of your rigging and setup questions.



As for the others,

 Split in centre board groove epoxy it? Any tips? Is epoxy resin epoxy resin or are there different types. Please remember when I go to a DIY store Im lucky if I can understand 30%

Not sure where the split is but if the outer skin of the board is not broken I would leave it alone. Some epoxy resins can melt the outer skin of a board and also the inner core. If you do attempt a repair you can use a ding stick (fast setting epoxy stick that you can buy in a diy store in the plumbing section) that wont damage the board.



 There was a rope attached to the front of the board via a screw in clip.. Ive broken it epoxy it back together again?

As above



 Sewing sail some of the stitching is on the go do I need special cotton, do I seal after

As long as the sail is not falling to bits I wouldnt wory about some loose stitching. To try to sew it yourself requires special thread and tools, once again do a search on Google.



 The foam on the boom is split in a few places - how should I repair it - glue? Replace?

You can repair it using in impact adhesive like Evostick



 Repair kit Im off to somewhere where the nearest shop will be 50+ Km away. What spares and repair kit should I take

Impossible to answer this as you dont know what will break. The most usuall spares are, rope for outhaul/downhaul, spare UJ, spare harness lines, spare mast and boom. If anything else breaks I would suggest packing up and going home



 Waxing. Do I?

No, it hurts like hell, if you have to use a razor!!!!!!!



With regards to cutting your mast in two, no you cant!!!! But you could buy a two peice mast.



You also mention upgrading, I would suggest that you take some time learning the basics before splashing out on another whim. If you do decide you want to realy get into the sport then I would suggest you find a good windsurfing shop in Poland, you will need to talk to the guys in the shop, tell them your ability etc and they will help.



Looked at your pics!!! Think these belong in a fetish section!! Rubber, dogs!!!! Only joking, I love spending the weekend encased in tight rubber, if possible I might even put on a wetsuit and go sailing!!

Oh boy !



I'll have a go......



 How do I connect everything up?

Briefly: Roll out sail, put mast up luff tube, insert mast extension or cup into bottom of mast and thread rope through rollers and eye at bottom of sail - put a small amount of tension on and cleat off. Put boom on mast at appropriate point (about shoulder height) as tight as possible - show us a picture of the boom end and we'll tell you how to get it tighter - there are lots of diferent sorts. thread rope through boom end and eye at clew of sail & pull some tension on & cleat off. go back to downhaul and pull lots more tension on - you will think you're going to break something but you should be able to pluck the sail at the boom insert point and it should be very taught. go back to outhaul and pull until there's a nice amount of curve in the sail but is should not be touching the boom at any point.

Hopefully there should be a clip or some type of joining between the bic board plate and universal joint - again show us a picture and we'll help !





 Where should the 2 ends of the up haul be tied to, what type of rope should I use (what I got is of different gauges and has frankly seen better days)?

3 or 4 mm rope - change regularly - this is the most common point of failure.



 How tight should the boom be attached to the mast I guess you insert rubber shims to tighten?

as tight as possible - again show us a picture if you can - post it up to the public gallery.



 What determines the height of the boom should it be shoulder high or mid chest?

? neck ? - personal taste but anywhere in that range



 How do I safety tie the mast to the board?

most people don't bother these days



 The sail has 3 full length batons. How much should these be tensioned?

A little - it's not critical if they're tapered



 How much tension should there be on the front and back of the sail (there are ropes)?

As mentioned above - lots on the front/uphaul. just enough on the outhaul (on the boom) to get the shape



 What have I missed?

I'm worried that you don't mention a mast extension or cup to go in the bottom or is it part of the 'bic universal joint' ?



 How do I tune the set up e.g. the board plate for the mast foot has a 1 foot slider where should I position the mast?

Similar to a boat trim - further forward increases water line length, good for going upwind, further back for downwind. further back for smaller sails. If in doubt put it in the middle same for the fin.



 How do I maintain and look after her

If the board is very old (I don't recognise the model) it may be plastic - you can melt it with a soldering iron.... Otherwise epoxy but get the right type - do a search on these forums it's been well discussed before.



 Split in centre board groove epoxy it? Any tips? Is epoxy resin epoxy resin or are there different types. Please remember when I go to a DIY store Im lucky if I can understand 30%.

as a bove



 There was a rope attached to the front of the board via a screw in clip.. Ive broken it epoxy it back together again?

do you need it ?



 Sewing sail some of the stitching is on the go do I need special cotton, do I seal after.

yes - I think a nylon thread ?



 The foam on the boom is split in a few places - how should I repair it - glue? Replace?

Known as car park rash - does it bother you ?



 Repair kit Im off to somewhere where the nearest shop will be 50+ Km away. What spares and repair kit should I take.

rope, rope, rope.



 Waxing. Do I?

fatboy said it ! - I don't know do you

(the answer is no - that's for surfers)



 How do I upgrade

Spend money !



 Not status orientated, more into functional than the esthetics

Good



 Have a dog (and Im not talking about the girlfriend!) shes a small Alsatian, love her to bits! Any tips on taking your dog windsurfing?

I have done it on calm days - get her to stand on the board in front of the mast but try not to drop the rig on her



Let us know if you want more detail......



Bert

Fatboy and Bert thanks a ton!



Newbies can be a real pain I know After 10 hours of research Im even irritated by my extensive list of how do you walk questions!



Im a bit of an anal retentive when it comes to detail. My school motos got too well engrained only my best is good enough for me, to fail to prepare is to prepare to fail..



Got the epoxy thing.



Got the waxing thing, Im a skier my idea of a good night after knocking back a few is, with a girlfriend, to sharpen our edges, wax our undersides.. and anyway were getting back to rubber and dogs.



Ive posted my pics of my gear in the public section http://www.iwindsurf.co.uk/modules.php?set_albumName=Newbie-in-Poland&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php as requested.



Thanks for the help.



If you guys are ever in Poland, need a place to stay, fancy a ride on a supertanker (not the girlfriend) etc give me a shout.



Cheers Fletche