Caught the windsurfing bug and looking to get some gear. Some people say just hire for a season and then buy. best option??

It seems there are few beginner boards out there (eg Starboard Rios) so thinking about buying new and trading in later. If buy say in UK I wonder if cheaper (on a Virgin flight back so cheap to bring back) than say buying here......anyone had any experience

Cheers all

A rio would be fine on virgin, they are lighter than 23kg! But your not going to save much, if any. Hardly worth the hassle, unless you get a good deal on 2nd hand board that is hard to come by on the 2nd hand market. My 2p

buy in Australia and help the industry keep going, that way in 10 years time , if youve still got the bug, you wont have to mail order from the last remaining shop in the country
given all that , Ive just set up a beginners boad with 2 complete rigs, all secondhand for only $50.

Elviento,

That's an interesting one... With new boards there really doesn't seem to be a very big difference in price anymore. Certainly not enough to justify the extra hassle and expense on a plane.

It's a bit different when you are talking custom made boards from the US. However, the biggest gain there is due to exchange rate fluctuations rather than the gear being cheaper.

Try and call a few shops (eg. Windsurf and Snow here in Sydney, there are several in WA and Melbourne as well) to see if they have some second hand gear in stock. They might also know of people selling the kind of kit you are after.

Personally I would probably buy used to begin with. You'll find that your progress in the first year or two is really fast. Once you progressed to the point where you can sail comfortably from a to b, attempt to do a tack and come back to a as well as starting to use a harness and perhaps even attempt to water start you can start thinking about buying a new boards.

At that stage it will pay off to have a good relation ship with your local shop. They will be able to hock you up with some demo gear before committing to a specific board size. Something you can't do when you buy overseas.

hey, I'm not sure about this but customs may slap a 10% import duty on you!

Customs taxes only apply to posted/shipped items, not stuff you bring with you as luggage excess or normal.

elviento said...

Sage like advice guys

Got an email overnight that says if I buy new I can reclaim the VAT (like GST) and my net cost is $1500 (Virgin will transport it for virtually nothing). Its very tempting as I am restricted to one beach at the moment for hiring. But then again if I can progress quickly is it worth it?

Decisions, decisions,...... keep swinging one way then the other....(only in windsurf decision territory!!!)

will take some more time to think it over

thanks guys!!!
El Viento

RE the VAT:make sure you find out where the little window at the airport in the UK is. get there early on a day that it is open, be willing to qeue,have your tickets,recipts , passport and the unwrapped item for display, . I think there may be a time limit on the date since purchase as well.
we tried it once, and next time just couldnt be bothered

Save your bucks mate, there's plenty of good value used gear that will cop a hiding in its first year of use. Once you've got some time on water and spoken to a few sailors then you will find there's alot more to board selection than what you see on a website. But glad to hear your keen to get up and running.

ps elviento.....your login name would suggest you speak spanish ??

KMAN5000 said...
My bad then, never bought anything over $1k without trying before bringing it back with me , after using it I guess they can't say its new and requires GST, surely they can't charge GST on a used/2nd hand item.

If what your saying is true then that cans my idea of getting someone to pick up and bring back a new custom board from hawaii, then spilt try savings....

Just get them to put the board inside a board bag that looks a bit used...

THX !!!! this forum is top notch

I speak a little Spanish as half South American - Half Pom (yeah dodgy combo ) so thats why chose El Viento as already have a nickname as Windy because I am into windfarms as a job

I figured out if I go 15 times hiring a board over the next few months that will cost me $1200. Thinking that stings a bit given there is no board to then trade in. But then again I have not factored in cost of second hand boom/sail etc.

still no closer to decision yet

moved to vic about 8 mounths ago from the uk. sold all my gear on ebay before the move thinking I could get gear here at a simler price how I was saddly wrong most of my gear was 2007-2008. Here I am lucky if I can get 2003-2004 gear if you can find it.(the only bad thing of the move) I have been looking at the windsurf mag from the uk loads of good deals on kit at the moment. if you buy say 2008 kit on a deal and second hand gear bags from ebay slightly worn then customs cant say the gear is brand new.

good luck

seems like a 2009 model or even second hand from UK could be the way to go then. Keep hiring for a while then April find me first chariot

figured out if I go 15 times hiring a board over the next few months that will cost me $1200

Ask the hire place if you they do better deals, for regular users!

Also if you goal is to sail on smaller gear, I found I could handle a much smaller board
when:

1. I had a few good sessions on the 200l board
2. Could hire a big board when the conditions were more difficult
3. Used the learner board to practise gybe, tacks before attempting on a smaller board (Still use this approach)

i.e. the learner board really helps!

You might get away with ~130l freeride board with approach, [but you got to be keen!].