novice w/ some questions

[COACHG]

Yes, it can damage your mast. Better to damage the nose of your board because it can be fixed. A broken mast can't be fixed. The item you are talking about is called the Deviator.

Coachg

[Roger]

Hi Eric B,
The 244 boom will work on the 8.5 m2 rig just fine. You only need an extra 10 cm for adjustments. But the larger Course boom would be a good upgrade.
Before we go any further, what size boards and sails are the other sailors at your lake using.
I based my suggestion for the 8.5 m2 rig purely on the size of the board and I'm not sure how/why you selected the Futura 141.
As far as the mast extension, just get the mid size 28 cm.
Putting too much mast base up inside you mast can cause mast breakage and interfere with the mast bend on some sails at the lower batten creating bottom batten rotation issues.
The device you are talking about ( as Coach suggests) can be hard on masts, has been know to "rip" the mast box out of some boards, and to me it's just terrifying. If you ever got a finger, toe, arm or leg caught on top of the wheel think of the forces 20 feet of mast could exert at about 3" from the pivot. Scary!
Also, when you get to waterstarting, the Deviator will be totally in the way.
I like the multi-density foam nose pad which you can remove once you get beyond the catapault stage.
Check with the other sailors at your lake, and make sure that the Futura 141/8.5 m2 rig is a good combination for the conditions there.
If not, you might consider a smaller board and rig.
Hope this helps,

[eric b 125]

thanks for the replies guys.

the people that sail at the local lake ride boards that are similar in size to the 144, with sails from 7.0 to 10.5's. so i feel like i'm at a comfortable medium sail-wise. from the reviews i've read on the futura 144 i get the impression that it will be the best direction for me to take... or am i just jaded by all the marketing hype?

[Roger]

Hi Eric b,
The Futura line of boards are quite good. I don't thnk you can go wrong with
the Futura 141 and your skill level.
The Futura will be more fragile than your old Ultra Cat, but if you take good care of
it (most damage occurs off the water except for nose dings from catapaults), keep it
in a bag to minimize transport damage, it will serve you well.
Hope this helps,

[eric b 125]

it will be okay on a roof rack in a bag, though, wont it?

[Roger]

Hi Eric,
Absolutely!

[eric b 125]

perfect... now if only they're not sold out in 3 weeks...

[joe_windsurfer]

hey eric B
also saw your post on windsurf mag
it was i who suggested this site to you ....

one question - what is the rush to buy ??
you have months to surf the web, non ??

if you find a local w/s shop , they will have price-less info!!!

also, some more technical details - not just ANY mast goes with the sail
it is HIGHLY recommended that you purchase the matching mast with sail

and as i stated, sailworks 7.0 works with a 490 as well
for me my go-to sail @ 100 kg is my MauiSails Pursuit 8.5 in 20 to 40 kph
each person and each location has different criteria
@ same beach i saw a fellow use a 4.x sail in huge winds
i did NOT go out that day - way too much for me

chatting on-line is one thing, but discussions @ the beach and @ the w/s shop helped me immensely
some places have training/courses - or if you have the funds, now is the time to go SOUTH
there are spots set up for just that - w/s and more w/s
nothing is guaranteed and my w/s guy told me about one year where it did not blow @ all %^&*
he never knew his w/s customers could swear so much and drinks got expensive:-)
all that to say - keep reading , asking and try before you bite - if you can
(although one cannot knock the Futura !!! nor the iSonic for that matter)

[joe_windsurfer]

hey...

just re-read an article in windsport on boards in the 130 range

perhaps you could consider futura 133 ?? or isonic 131 ??
since you are already an aggressive snowboarder

if you are crazy like me - snowfer or windski and start in the winter

[eric b 125]

joe_windsurfer: first let me thank you for sending me this way! i've gotten a lot of info here as well as the other forum. i had one hell of a time trying to find windsurfing forums that had active users to get info from.

i'm in no rush to buy, because like you said, i still have months until the lake thaws! i'd love to head south for a little, but i'm in nursing school right now and my next break isnt until april. i would like to get the board relatively soon, only because i see online stores selling out of them quickly.

there are no w/s shops around pittsburgh... there's simply not a high enough demand around here. i've learned, through my saltwater hobby, that the best place to get information is from hobbists (or in this case windsurfers) who are not looking to get commission on a sale. i could be wrong as far as this sport goes, but so far i've gotten some great information.

i was thinking of considering a 133 if the 144's are sold out. but at my weight ~90kg, my experience level, and the fact that i do most of my sailing in pittsburgh where there isnt tons of wind all the time, i think the 144 would be my best bet. i get the impression it will be big enough for my novice sea-legs, but agile enough for when i am able to throw it around. i guess i have a fear of going too small. considering i am upgrading from a 20 year old 12', 248 L beast, a 144 seems tiny in comparison.