board size

Question
Hi Dean,
I have been sailing on a long board and tacking. I would like to reduce enjoying cruising this year and learn water start and jibe. I am going to by new equipment. I am living in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and I go sailing on local lakes. My wait is 165 lbs. (Male, 62 years young)

What size of board should I get? Purchasing conditions are limited to swap meet or one local store which carries this stuff. If there is nothing rally good available at the swap meet I will by a brand new stuff. The store now offers a few complete packages.  

Starboard Package Deals:

Go Value Package $2358
?  Starboard Go
?  Powerdrive 6.0 Sail
?  Prolimit Freemove C15 Mast
?  HPL Extension
?  HPL Mast Base
?  Prolimit Freemove Boom
?  Uphaul

Rio Value Package $ 2158
?  Starboard Rio
?  Powerdrive 6.0 Sail
?  Prolimit Freemove C15 Mast
?  HPL Extension
?  HPL Mast Base
?  Prolimit Freemove Boom
?  Uphaul

Go Deluxe Package $2799
?  Starboard Go
?  Sailworks Retro 6.0m Sail
?  Sailworks Joystick 430 Mast (75% carbon)
?  Chinook Extension
?  Chinook Mast Base
?  Chinook Boom
?  Chinook Uphaul
?  Adjustable Harness Lines

Rio Deluxe Package $ 2599
?  Starboard Rio
?  Sailworks Retro 6.0m Sail
?  Sailworks Joystick 430 Mast (75% carbon)
?  Chinook Extension
?  Chinook Mast Base
?  Chinook Boom
?  Chinook Uphaul
?  Adjustable Harness Lines

Please advice.
Thanks,
Jan


Answer
The Sailworks sail is by far hands down the best sail you can buy and the 6 meter size would be good for medium wind. You will never be disappointed with a Sailworks sail.  

If you want to learn waterstarting and jibing I would say you should be looking at a board that is around 135 to 155 liters volume.  The higher the volume the more stable the board to stand on but higher volume means it becomes harder to jibe.  If you don't mind a steeper learning curve go for a board around 135 liters.  I think the Go makes a board around that size. The Rio's smallest size is 175 liters which I think becomes a little to big to learn jibing.

As far as the boom and mast; the more carbon content the lighter and more easily handling the rig becomes. The higher the carbon content the higher the price.

Good Luck and Good Wind
Patrick