For sale Bic Techo 2, 148 ltr., mast base, mast estension, mast, and very used Ezzy 7.5 sail for $595. Only thing missing is a boom and you can get a used one from Gene's consignment for low $$

Every thing is in new to very good shape except the sail. Sail is very used. So that makes it ok if you fall on the sail and tear it up. No much lost.

Just post here if you are interested.

That Techno is much too small of a board for a 260lb guy to learn on.

Jeff -- check out this link from one of the local dealers. It will give you a good overview of what type of gear you should be looking for. http://www.whitecapwindsurfing.com/rental/05firstgear.html

Also, most people don't start learning till the warmer months. You would actually be starting waaay early! It really, really helps to have one lesson though. The Atlanta club usually does a clinic in early summer, and Chuck Hardin at Whitecap gives small group lessons as well. http://www.whitecapwindsurfing.com/instruction/instruction.html

from one 200+lb guy to another

Since your a beginner I wouldnt go with a overly huge sail to start out with, since the winds are light in the summer a 10.0 really isnt going to help much anyway, it's just going to be really hard to uphaul, maybe a lightweight 6.0~7.0 to start out with.
Board wise there are different schools of thought ...longboard or wide style. Personally I would find something wide and cheap, dont invest alot of money in it because you will outgrow it soon and end up needing something just like davids techno..... @148 liters and 75cm wide it would probably become your most used board around here.

I'm sure gene or chuck could help you find what your looking for

http://www.windsensewindsurfing.com/

http://www.whitecapwindsurfing.com

Sails are measured in size - sqaure meters. A square meter is about 10 square foot. The stronger the wind, the smaller the sail. A normal set up might be 8 meters (or more) in light winds and 5 meters (or less) in strong, with in between winds, for in between sails. For someone starting out, you normally learn on smaller sails in lighter winds, and as you learn more go to bigger sails and stronger winds. At your size, to get planning on a 7.5 meter sail would probably take 15 mph or more. (Just a guess) But, you have to learn to walk before you can run.

I'm posting a longboard on the for sail page. Its probably not the best way to go for a person who hasn't sailed before (particularly a "big-un"), though. (Just trying to not add to the confusion.)

I don't agree with Speedsailor's philosphy of "don't invest alot of money in it because you will outgrow it soon". If you plan on sailing in mainly warm weather (i.e. light wind season), a higher peformance beginner board may be the only board you will need for years to come (something like a Mistral N-Trance or an Excocet Kona). These beginner boards are quite capable of higher performance in light and medium winds. Your beginner board does not have to be a board that you outgrow!

An overlooked resource is the Frequently Asked Questions page of this website. It can provide some helpful insights.

http://windsurfatlanta.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=FAQ&file=index&myfaq=yes&id_cat=2

It is a little out of date. Windsense also has rental gear suitable for a beginner to learn on, though its not listed in the FAQ.

My 2 cents (may not be worth quite that): Don't buy anything yet. Take a lesson. Chuck Hardin aka The Sultan of Stoke is in Augusta... It's worth the trip. I think Chris Pyron still teaches in Atlanta. Even if you get your own gear you should take a real lesson from a real instructor. It really makes a difference. I liken it to snow skiing. Nobody would tell a friend what the best skis to learn on are and leave them to figure it out solo. A lesson (or 2) is the fastest, best way to start enjoying windsurfing.

chris v makes a good point, take a lesson first!

I still say go used for your first board though because you are probably going to beat the crap out of it. I know I did my first board, I kept it one season then sold it for pretty much what I had paid for it, but granted it wasnt near as good as todays beginner boards, I might have kept one of those for 2 seasons.
You can probably find a good used mistral-n-trance or starboard Start Go or Rio out there somewhere for less than 1/2 the cost of a new board that will do the same exact thing as a brand new one and by chance if you do outgrow it or decide not to get into it you can sell it for close to what you have invested in it, and if you dont outgrow it then you still have saved a lot of money you can invest in your next board or a party for your new windsurfing buddies!

Whatever you buy, please support our local shops.

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. (Moderator, if I posted in the wrong section please excuse, and correct)

Jeff

Yeah, it probably is in the wrong section but we aren't terribly formal around here. Nobody is going to flame you because you wore green socks with a blue shirt.

Do get a lesson. In case, that was unclear, do get a lesson. If I was less than obvious, do get a lesson. I came from a dinghy racing background when I started windsurfing eons ago. I could sail a dinghy literally without touching the rudder. But until I took a windsurfing lesson, I killed myself trying. Ten minutes into my first lesson, it suddenly became obvious and I was off sailing. Windsurfing isn't terribly difficult but, instinctively, your body tends to do exactly the wrong thing at the wrong time. Lessons save you months and sometimes years of trying to sort it out on your own.

I really wish a) I'd taken my first lesson sooner and b) I'd taken my first intermediate seminar sooner.

Good luck - and do get something wide and floaty at your size. Falling isn't all that much fun.

Jeff,

With your weight, you will need a pretty floaty board (lots of volume, probably 200 liters plus), and it's tuff to get a complete rig new in your price range. There is a new 2006 Bic Closeout Techno 293D Classic (tuff) construction available thru my shop WindSense at a good price. It's 293cm long, 79cm wide and has 205 liters of volume and like I noted it's the tuffer construction to withstand the abuse of learning. But to get under your $1000 max, you'd have to find a used sail, mast, boom, extension, and base set up. WindSense's Consignment shop sometimes is able to put together some less expensive sail setups but not at this moment (inventory constantly changes). Also, HiFly has beginner packages, which include everything for alittle more than your budget. You may want to consider their Primo (335cm/78cm/240liters) or their Motion (290cm/90cm/219liters) with their Ride 7.2 sail package. And these boards are also very tuff.

If you can up your budget, there will be alot more options available, and Windsense can get you pretty much any new gear you want, most available brands at very competitive prices. If you decide not to spend much money, WindSense does have in consignment Randy's MIstral longboard package for $150.

DO take lessons, as several people noted, (Windsense is considering offering lessons when the water warms up.) WindSense does rent a Bic Nova beginner’s package but it's alittle small for a 260 pounder. I do suggest to beginners that they take a lesson, then rent my beginners rig to practice alittle bit, then buy new or used gear. That way they can try the sport without forking over the big bucks to start. Randy has consented to renting his long board package until it sells.

Anyway, fellow windsurfers, feel free to comment on my suggested board choices, I know you will. And Jeff, give me a call at 770-967-0104 or 404-735-4944 if you think I can be of any assistance.

Gene
WindSense Windsurfing

Oh, another option, Danny's Kona, 350cm/70cm/220 liters. It's at a ridiculously low price.

I have that bad habit too, I got into windsurfing, but I never get to do it here lately.

In addition to our excellent windsurfing shops you might check
the windsurfing classifieds for used gear.

http://www.windsurfingclassifieds.com/

Jeff,

That gives you all the more reason for taking a lesson before buying anything. Its a good way to figure out if this sport is something you might stick with, or end up with more unused stuff.