Looking for info on old Mistral windsurfer

[RainWaves]

 Hi all, I scored this board last week (and 2 rigs), and was just wondering if any of you who windsurfed "back in the day", might have any insight about it? Has a 6 meter sail rig, and a smaller one, but not sure about size. The only markings on the board are for the "TCS Construction".

It is about 20 years old, 12'2", and just what I was looking for when it gets too breezy for upwinding, (uphaulable, retracting centerboard, footstraps, etc.). I started on the old wooden boom Windsurfer back in '78, had a new one in 1980, and the last board I owned was a 1984 Windsurfer Rocket 9'9". It was pain to uphaul, as I never did get my waterstarts down, but, it sure was fast in a good breeze!

Anyway, just thought I'd ask here first (better info than gOOgle)!

[PonoBill]

Those boards were common as belly buttons twenty years ago--the old slide track, a really nasty toe pincher if it let go. Should be a blast with the right sail. I'm thinking Superfreak of course, but I always do.

[gorgebob]

That's a Competion as it says on the deck. I believe it changed to the 'One Design' later. A bit heavier than the Equipe and not as boxy. The Equipe is still a world class longboard like the Ultra Cat by Fanatic. The competition was tougher and a better price. Nice that it has the Dagger board and 2 universals. Leave the Dagger board in for paddling. Lower it and you will get tons of stability.

[RainWaves]

 Thanks for the info guys.  Have enough boards to paddle, want to hang my ass over the water again!

I think I'll go unfurl the sail and see how it looks after being rolled up for who knows how long. Will report back.....

[PonoBill]

Two words: Modern Sails.

I have dozens of ancient sails rolled up in storage. Free to a good home. Everything from classic triradials to split batten slalom, and every experiment in between. I wonder where my old Wind Weapons got to?

Not worth rigging.

[jdmotes]

 Ahhhhhhhhh... I love these trips down memory lane! That one looks to be "perfect"... Just remember the rubber on those UJ's will be rotten even if kept out of the sun. The rubber breaks down from humidity and temp changes (expedited by sun)... 
Go to Exocet-original.com and check out their new Wind Sup 11'8 board... Plus: Aerotech has a 3-size soft-sail line made for easy rigging/de-rigging (under a minute) made specifically for SUP boards with the windsurf option...  Happy sailing and paddle on,         JD

[Ichabod Spoonbill]

Those old longboards have some life in them as low/medium wind cruisers. Their volume and daggerboard gives them a lot of flexibility. I agree with PonoBill about the sails, though. If you can get a semi-modern rig on it, it would be a nice casual sailboard.

[PonoBill]

Sails are like kites. Every time there's a generational change the previous generation sucks. I mean really sucks. I tried a modern kite a few weeks ago and I was amazed. SO much better, SO much easier to use. My old Naish 10 is a wall decoration.

I few years ago when I started to sail my SUP boards I decided to fill out my quiver of one Superfreak with a few old Ezzy and North wave sails I had kicking around. Fugedaboutit. Gave em all to a local kid and bought a full suit of freaks.

The good news is that windsurfers are still the fussy little gear twidgets they always were and you can pick up a nice 5.0 Freak used for a hundred bucks or so in any big windsurf town. All you'll need. A junky skinny mast to match, pop the cover off those extensions so you can stick a skinny inside, drill holes through for a pin to change length, dig up a cheap aluminum boom and you're in Biz.

One warning, it will be more than a casual toy--it will suck a lot of time out of your rec schedule because it's SO much fun sailing old style with a new sail.

[RainWaves]

 Here's what I found, a "Progress Line" 6.3. Doesn't sound all that hot, even from 20 years ago. I do have the battens, so I'll give it a try if it warms up sometime in the next few months. Then I'll be over on Maui for a bit, and maybe Bill can help me find a better one to buy while I'm there?

Will give everthing a close inspection before I try to rig it up, and go for a sail. It looks like our climate has been good to the rubber at a close glance.

Thanks for all the replies, nice to know it sounds like a good board, and not one of the "god-awfull, quirky models" to stay away from.

All I'm after is something to get out on from time to time when the wind is doing it's thing, and then I won't be having any more "I wish a had a windsurfer right now" moments!

[Easy Rider]

The sail would make a nice wall hanging - or a tent - or a tarp for the motor bike.
As Bill said - do yourself a favor and get a new sail.

[starman]

Oh hell no, that is a classic board and the sail looks to be in excellent condition. Use it as-is for the time being. The sail may not last but it's cool because those old sail were very easy to rig. There is an effort going on to design easy to rig sail for the SUP boards that have a mast track/insert.
But if you do go the new rig route you will have to choose a rig carefully as the designs have changed considerably. The new race boards do not look anything like your old Mistral. Your best bet would be to drop a note to one of the sail lofts like Ezzy, Hot Sails, Maui Sails, Sailworks etc. These guys would be happy to suggest a rig for the board. Just be prepared for the sticker shock of a new sail and matching mast/boom.
Lots of used stuff in Maui but it's all for Maui conditions.

[gorgebob]

That is in good shape, but shapes changed. You would need a different mast and boom most likely and that does run up the bucks. I think the sail is the right size or you might go up to a 7 meter. Larger than that you really start talking dollars. I have a couple  dozen used sails and there are summer swap meets in the Gorge where stuff goes cheap. Sail it like it is first.
That should tell what you need to do or not.

[PonoBill]

That sail is ancient, not even a tri-radial. The boom is more modern, a tie-on, not a clamp on, but probably early 90's. All the same, the guy to listen to is Bob, he knows his stuff. But that sail is gonna suck out loud.

[starman]

Not sure I agree with that last comment Bill. The sail may not be modern but when first sold people had as much fun sailing it as any rig made today. Old does not mean bad if you are having fun.

If you found an old Norton I doubt you would be trying to drop an engine from a "modern" Honda into it.

[gorgebob]

It seems to be all original. Step back 25 years and that stuff is awesome. Being its not beat up try it out.
Bob