Sport Today

I just traded in my 104 liter Veloce for a 95 liter Saxo and now definitely
need a lighter air board for the SF Bay. I was thinking of going to a used
production board in the 130 liter range, but there aren't a lot floating around
the shops and they tend to command a pretty high price even with some mileage
on them. On the other hand, there seems to be a pretty good supply of used
Mike's Lab boards around. Most of the Mike's Labs I hear about are 9'4". One
prior post on rec.windsurfing stated that the posters Lab was a 9'4" at 100
liters. Does anyone know if that is pretty typical? What size Mike's Lab will
plane up in the same wind it takes to get a 130 liter production board up and
planing? Do Labs come in the 120-130 liter range as well? Any advice would be
appreciated.

Peter

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- - I don't know what your level of ability is, but I wouldn't recommend a used
Mike's Lab as a general purpose light wind board. BTW, I'd say the same thing
about a used ASD racing board. It's not a knock on Mike's Lab, but on racing
boards in general. I've known quite a few people that have gotten "stuck"
at the intermediate level precisely because they bought a used racing board.

- - Booker C. Bense

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Try one of the swap meets.  Windsurfing Warehouse tends to have the biggest ones.
Usually the first one of the season is in March or April.

What Booker says is true for older Mike's Lab boards. However, he has
made many boards in the last few years that are more user friendly. Mike
puts the manufacture date on the board. Also, in most cases you can
check with the previous owner about how the board peerformed, what were
the design goals, etc. A '96 or '97 vintage board should be very nice.
If you sail one, you won't want to buy a Bic.

Bob Jacobson

I have been sailing on Mike's boards for a number of years.

Here's my two cents-

They are the fastest boards on the water (with fast riders).

They are very fragile but with very careful handling they can be maintained.

The boards go up and downwind better than nearly any others on the water.

They gybe fairly well, given the amount of floatation in the back of the
board.  On a wide smooth arc, they gybe well; do not expect the boards to do
a fast tight planing gybe.

If you don't want to spend much for a Mike's race board, drop me a email
since I have an older board which is still very light and fast.  As long as
you do not race competively it will work fine.

Don