Take a look at http://www.whitecapwindsurfing.com -- it is a local shop in Augusta that has some good beginner info (what type of gear to look for, etc)...

Michael,
Chuck will have some good ideas on his website.  

My personal $.02:
Given the advances in beginner boards in the last couple of years (as well as the whole "wide board" phenomenon), you owe it to yourself to check out the new stuff.  Given your size, where you sail, when you sail, they are _so_ much better than what came before (with the exception of the Hifly 335, which while not as versatile as the newer stuff is a good beginner platform).

The current crop of 80 plus centimeter wide boards from Starboard, Bic, Mistral and others make much more stable learning platforms as well as giving you a wider variety of sailing options (beginning to light air planing).  A modern rig, likewise, makes those beginning moments easier due to it's light weight and better design while retaining the ability perform over a wider range of conditions when you move to the intermediate stage.

Since others will read this thread in the future, who unlike you, may be considering learning on some antique that sits in their friend's garage:
Can you learn on it? Yes.  But the chances of you a) enjoying the process b) sticking with the sport c) not having to dump everything in 6 months and then buy the stuff you should have in the first place decline dramatically.

Lastly, before you spend a cent on equipment, get lessons if you already haven't done so.  The biggest predictor of success for a beginner is getting proper instruction.  You mentioned begin able to sail- that's only part of it.  The foot/handwork on a board and body position are often completely counter-intuitive.  when you want to rock back on your heels, you should be on your toes, etc.  It's the little things an instructor can show you that make all the difference and shave years off your learning curve.  I came to the sport as a reasonably proficient dinghy racer.  The first three times windsurfing were tragicomedic.  Then I got past my ego, took a lesson and was windsurfing within a half an hour.

-wf

p.s. Just got my copy of June's "Windsurfing".  Great article comparing learning on old stuff vs new stuff.  Not that you have to get those specific boards in the article but it does demonstrate how profound the advantage is.  Even committed, very strong and physically adept young men found it difficult on old stuff.

Now for some ironic humor.  At the time of the last post, my wife and I were handing over 80 bucks for a pair of once used obrian sail boards. All the gear is in good to very good shape, and since the condition of used gear is often a big contributer to a newby getting frustrated, I decided it was worth an investment of 8O dollars.

After loading the two monsters into the back of the truck, we headed out to my slip on Percy Priest.  The plan was to drive out to Lu Auw (I know I slaughtered the spelling) island and spend the day learning.  As luck would have it, I had forgotten the gas line for my out board, so I just fiddled around on the board, and assebled the gear for practice.  

My hope is this, with determination and practice, and some lessons when those fail, I will be able to use the funds I had intended on using for my first board to purchace an intermediate board in the future.  

I think I have the right disposition for leaning the hard way: I taught my self guitar, sailing, inline skating (unitill I nearly crippled myself), and I am not afraid of a little pain and extra effort.

Ill check back in and let you all know how its going.

Pray for me

Michael, michael, michael, my dear michael,
You, sir, may well have the appetite for "a little pain and extra effort"

Your wife likely does not.  She may say she does- only because she loves you very much.  She says she'll do this with a smile.  On the outside.  Inside, she's plotting to get her revenge and one day she _will_ have it.  You will wake up one morning and either she will have run off with the tennis pro or she will have cut something up.  If you are lucky, it'll be the O'Brien's sail.  If you aren't lucky, you'll be singing alto in the church choir.

You are 215 lb and uphauling those old sails will be a task for you.  For her, she'd rather have a root canal.  Really.  Root canals hurt much less than strained backs.  

Okay so you have half a deal.  Now go get her a Start, wide Bic or Hifly, a Prodigy or something modern and wide.  Then get her a nice 4.5-5.5 to learn on.

How much is you marriage worth?  This women will be  holding your hand when you are old, gray and not so darn good looking.  (And it happens to all of us).  Don't tell me the love of your life isn't worth a decent beginners board and the old O'Brien ain't it.

Really, go read this month's Windsurfing.  You seem like a really nice guy.  Your wife seems like a sweet and loving woman.  For the next twenty years, when you want to go to a God-forsaken spot like Cape Hatteras to go windsurfing (in Nov, it ain't exactly honeymoon central), you want her to look at you, smile and say, "Sure honey."  This is your chance to get it right.  

Really. Honestly.  No kidding.  

I think DeBeers says that a young man should buy his wife windsurfing equipment equal to one month's salary.  (I could be wrong on this  ;)  )

wf