Missing Mast Bases on Mistral and Hifly Boards

Question
Want to resume windsurfing after a 15 year hiatus and recently brought out some circa 90's windsurfing equipment only to discover that the mast bases (the integral part!) are strangely missing from my Hifly 500 (manufactured in Germany in 80's?) and Mistral TCS Competition (from the '90's?).  The Hifly has 2 approximately 1-1/2" holes/sockets and the Mistral has a single smaller 1/2" socket.  Know where I could find/get replacement parts??!!  Any help sure would be appreciated - otherwise, I have a lot of useless equipment!  Kim

Answer
Hey Kim,

I'm not sure how to help you with the Hifly. The mast/board connection you describe is pretty much obsolete and I have yet to find a resource for old Hifly parts. Back then the manufacturers made the mast/board connection any way they felt would work and most are not interchangable.

Good luck on the Mistral though. If it is how you describe, the small hole should be a threaded insert that will accept any new mast base. Around the late 80's everyone started making things universal and so you should be able to replace the mast base quite easily. I'm guessing that the way you describe the Mistral that it is very likely that you have a movable mast track. Look for a black pedal that will flip forward at the back of the track. Once you flip up the pedal you should be able to push forward/down and then the plastic part with the insert should slide forward and back.

Look for mast bases and extensions at any of these links;

http://www.chinooksailing.com/products/  Check out the single bolt bases and US cup extensions. You could go with the euro pin type but US is more popular and universal.

http://www.bigwinds.com/wind/category/5  Extensions can be found by clicking on the link to the left

http://www.windance.com/  Check out new bases/extensions under windsurfing and used  ones under used gear. Their rating system is right on or half a point low. Great place to buy gear from.

http://www.oceanairsports.com/cat/Windsurfing5.cfm  Another place for new stuff and misc parts for a variety of boards.

Hope this helps.
Keep on sailing,
Windlover