I’ve got a 150l/85cm-wide Starboard Start and 102l/62cm-wide JP FSW board, and would like to get something that is roughly halfway in between those two in terms of stability and comfort in going through Lake Michigan chop. I figure the ideal mid-point would be roughly 125l/72cm-wide. My budget is pretty low at $200-$300, so I’m likely looking for something 10-15 years old that’s had a repair or two. Ideal pickup location would be somewhere off interstate 294 near Chicago.

If you have a board that meets those criteria and would like to sell, please let me know.

I have a tired but watertight Jp Xcite Ride 120l from around 2008. It's not pretty and has a delam bubble on the bottom about midships, but doesn't leak. I was planning on cutting out the bad skin and bagging new PVC tand glass on it this winter, but it works fine as is if you wanted a board it's size for a low cost.

If your largest sail is 8.5 or under, IMO a 115-125 L board 66-74 wide is the most-used board for Lake Michigan by a country mile, use 90% of the time and a good one planes earlier than the big wide Start in light conditions, is often more fun than a small FSW in high winds when it is gusty, inconsistent, or difficult shorebreak. It's worth it to make it the best board in one's board collection.

KM, thanks for the information about that board. It’s condition is exactly what I’m looking for in a board. I had seen the ad you posted for it a while back. At only 5.5 cm wider across than my FSW board, I was a bit concerned that it would be too bit too similar to what I already have.

Hear me out: we add some Moth style hiking wings? Kidding, good luck onthe search. Before i got a new board I was always on the lookout for used gear and it seems like everything good or good value is out on the coasts.

So a few boards just showed up in my marketplace feed, and I was wondering if anyone in the peanut gallery has any comments on them. The first is an F2 X-Speed that's 145L with a width of 75cm. The other is a Bic Blast that's 140L having a width of 74 cm. They're both slightly wider than I was looking for, and have about 10L more volume than I was hoping for, but the prices seem reasonably good (e.g., $100 for the F2 including fin). Anyone have a suggestion as to which would be the better choice for being an intermediary between my 150l/85cm and 102l/62cm boards?

I would try to get less distorted pictures of those 2 boards. From a different picture that I saw of the F2, it might be from the era of "no-nose" boards that were trendy for a very short period of time, the short time being because those boards really sucked. F2 went all-in on no-nose design for a couple of years. If the F2 is a raceboard, another reason to stay away. Bic shape might be after that era, more normal outline and freeride shape. Looks like the nose has been chopped off, probably not an issue. Bic has always been middle of the road design.

David Mark wrote: Here are some clearer images. Would you say that F2 is a no-nose board?

F2: www.ricardo.ch/de/a/surfbrett-f2-x-speed...280-b-75-1129091798/


Bic Blast: www.windsurfing.pl/equipment/1068,bic-blast-74 , youngwindsurfers.skyrock.com/887520318-planche-guillaume.html

So I would say that the F2 is recovering from the worst excesses of the no-nose era. Its racy intended to be sailed full-on on the edge of the rails (footstrap positions). Would be nice if you could try before you buy.