A recent post expressing my lust for the Exocet Kona has triggered a series of events that now must be addressed. Perhaps "must" is a stretch, but I'm gonna address them anyway.
It all started nine years ago when I lucked into a mid-80's Mistral Superlight. Aficionados know that in a world in which twenty-year old gear invariably belongs only in a landfill, the one great exception is the Superlight. There are three reasons:
1. Racers will tell you how in nonplaning conditions the Superlight is fast and an upwind machine.
2. For several years the board came with an incredibly cool spring-loaded retractable blue fin.
3. They are a lot of fun to sail in 8 knots.
(What does this have to do with the Kona? I'm getting to that.)
I've been enjoying my Superlight for nearly a decade...it's name is Mr. Al...the stupidest of all of my board names. A year ago I broke the spring loaded fin, and finding replacement parts for this antique is quite the challenge. I know what you're saying: Put in a standard finbox and get on with your life! But you don't understand the pull that this little gimmick can excert (on me, anyway). And when I contemplate giving up the trick fin, I suddenly find myself drawn to the youthful beauty of the Kona Style. That board is hot! It speaks to me.
What to do? What to do?
Putting in a standard finbox will cost about $200 to have done properly. A thrifty, mature, and green choice...keep my old honey humming! BUT I could take that $200 and put it towards the sexy Kona (after saying a respectfull good-bye to Mr. Al and then taking it to the dump.) A forward-looking and exciting choice, though I'm on a budget, and would prefer to blow big money on a new high-wind board in the fall. Then it hit me: If Mr. Al is dumpable, why not just jam the old blue fin into the finbox, whip up a batch of epoxy yourself, slap it all together and see what happens? (Somewhere Eva the Board Lady smiles and says "knuckleheads like this keep me in business.")
So I did.
Some West Systems epoxy and filler produced these fine results (all credit due to the epoxy), which sailed beautifully on its maiden voyage this Saturday afternoon. Now that the board sails I'll need to clean the thing up a bit, for its own self respect. But sweet it was in North Sea Harbor!
Filthy yet sweet, my rejuvinated Superlight "Mr. Al" (all twelve feet and 250 liters) needs a scrub. She's no Kona, but she's paid for, and da fin works fine!
Glad you fixed your board. However, I say go buy the Kona. That thing is hot as hell. It looks like what a "real" windsurfer should look like.
The problem is once you get it, you will need to have an equally hot sail. Something unique, definitely custom.
Go ahead and buy it. You know you want it!!!!
Fred
Posted by: Fred | July 16, 2007 at 02:01 PM
Hot Sails Maui does some crazy things with their Superfreaks. The thing is, I already own a blue and white Superfreak that would go just fine with the Kona Style's color scheme (you can see it here as my friend Jeff fools around with it.) If I was sailing more lakes I would DEFINITELY pick one up, but I'm thinking about waves in the fall, and I need a new high wind ride. I trust you have a Kona yourself?
Posted by: Michael | July 16, 2007 at 02:40 PM
Nope, I don't have one. Wish I did. Much like you I have a budget. Sometimes it's fun watching other people spend their money and have fun!
The Superfreak looks great! That would work well with the board.
I'm from Minnesota, so we sail on relatively small lakes. Maybe in the next year or two I will pick up a Kona!
Cheers
Posted by: Fred | July 16, 2007 at 08:00 PM
Miss Eva is awesome, Mr. Al is pretty cool too.
Posted by: Joe Rouse | July 17, 2007 at 04:35 AM
When Mistral first came out with this board it was hoooooooooooooot! And very fast cos it was so light at 18 kilos!! I'm afraid I agree with you - I would rather spend my money on some high wind gear or even on marginal gear rather than light wind.
Posted by: Bunty | July 17, 2007 at 11:03 AM
I hear you, Bunty, but if I didn't already own the Superlight, there'd be a Kona in my life. I love any wind that doesn't knock down my house.
Anyhow I own eight boards, and should probably sell one or two before I get that new highwind ride!
Posted by: Michael | July 17, 2007 at 11:11 AM
I just lucked into a classic Superlight in great condition, except the fin box is damaged, and the daggerboard looks like it's missing one of the nubs that holds it in track.
Can you recommend the fin size you used for your artful and permanent low-cost repair?
Thanks,
Daniel
Posted by: Daniel Seltzer | September 03, 2007 at 03:02 PM
Daniel, I just jammed the fin from the broken finbox into a mess of epoxy. The original fin (mine, anyway) is 10.5", and rather high aspect when compared to modern fins (take a look at the photo). I think any 10-11" fin will do the job...it's not like the Superlight is a shortboard. The demands on that fin are minimal. I would go to the next convenient swapmeet and look in the "junk" fin box (don't all swapmeets have them?) And/or your local shop should have the same collection of unwanted fins, many of which would get your Superlight humming.
Posted by: Michael | September 04, 2007 at 10:13 AM
I own a Kona One/Style and yes it is an awsome versatile board. I really do like it. I did most of my sailing in my youth on Mistral Competitions/Superlights/Bermudas, infact I reakon my main board used to be the 1985 Bermuda (similar paint job to your superlight). Not as light as the Superlight but they came out of the same mould. I loved the Mistral Competition line of boards in the original design and infact I want one again for light wind sailing, despite owning a Kona. Whatever you do, my advice is don't get rid of your Superlight providing it still works. In time it may be worth while replacing the skeg with a similar sized skeg and get the job done properly. It may be an antique but it's a classic and in sub planing conditions as a displacement hull, I still don't know of any other board that can beat it with the standard 6 metre sail. You can have the fun of taking your antique to the local windsurfing club and then kicking everyone's arse in low wind conditions, particularly upwind. The Superlight is a beautiful board to sail. Mistral made huge mistakes in abandoning this line of boards and modifying the design to the modern teardrop shape. As you are probably aware the Windsurfer One Design still has a following but it is a dog to sail compared to the Mistral Competition/Superlight line of boards. If only they had standardised the design, frozen it and continued to manufacture it as a budget One Design Board.
Posted by: KonaAus | April 25, 2008 at 09:16 PM
I own a Kona One/Style and yes it is an awsome versatile board. I really do like it. I did most of my sailing in my youth on Mistral Competitions/Superlights/Bermudas, infact I reakon my main board used to be the 1985 Bermuda (similar paint job to your superlight). Not as light as the Superlight but they came out of the same mould. I loved the Mistral Competition line of boards in the original design and infact I want one again for light wind sailing, despite owning a Kona. Whatever you do, my advice is don't get rid of your Superlight providing it still works. In time it may be worth while replacing the skeg with a similar sized skeg and get the job done properly. It may be an antique but it's a classic and in sub planing conditions as a displacement hull, I still don't know of any other board that can beat it with the standard 6 metre sail. You can have the fun of taking your antique to the local windsurfing club and then kicking everyone's arse in low wind conditions, particularly upwind. The Superlight is a beautiful board to sail. Mistral made huge mistakes in abandoning this line of boards and modifying the design to the modern teardrop shape. As you are probably aware the Windsurfer One Design still has a following but it is a dog to sail compared to the Mistral Competition/Superlight line of boards. If only they had standardised the design, frozen it and continued to manufacture it as a budget One Design Board.
Posted by: KonaAus | April 25, 2008 at 09:17 PM
I just made a down payment on an old Mistral Comp. looks like a early 90s model with the strakes on the bottom. Will the mast foot take the extra strain the newer sails put on it with the downhaul tension? the owner says the board is 14 ft long, seams a little on the long side. My old Nash board is 12.6" and that thing is Huge. He must have a problem with a tape measure.
Posted by: Tim Olson | May 12, 2008 at 05:04 PM
Just stumbled upon a very nice Mistral Competition today at a Garage Sale in Kansas City...it was just sitting out in the front yard.....snapped it up for $150 with all original parts. No oxidation or dings. Great graphics (if you like the 80's)
Feel lucky because I had been looking for a Superlite for about year now and gave up. Remember wanting to buy one of these when I was younger but could not afford the price. Can't wait to rig it up and take a ride.
Anyone know the volume of the Competiton?
Posted by: Boo Boo | August 13, 2008 at 07:50 PM
I am looking for a Mistral Comp Superlight. I live in the doldrums that is the UAE. No wind generally. Anyone know where I can find one?
Jeff
+971-50-340-4259
Posted by: Jeff | April 13, 2009 at 03:57 AM
I have an old Mistral Superlight and need a mast base. Does anyone have one or will I have to convert? All I have is the mast and the board. The board has 2 mast holes in it if that helps. If I can't find parts then I'll probably just part it out on ebay. Thanks, Mike O.
Posted by: Mike O'Laughlin | May 11, 2009 at 12:33 AM
Jeff,
Tinho at Calema Windsurfing carries a custom made part to replace
the mast foot on the old Mistral Superlight...I have not seen it. I believe he wrote that the part is the same as the center metal piece of the "mini track mast base" sold at Murrays Marine. I have the Murrays Marine mini mast track as a backup, but am using the original mast base converted to Chinook....
You can check out the advice on Calemas windsurfing forum.
Search "Mistral Superlight Two-holer Mastfoot" in the "Technique and Technical Help" section of the Calema forum.
"
Good luck, luv my Superlight!
Mike Harrison
Posted by: mike harrison | July 16, 2009 at 10:03 PM
Hey I have a mistral competition superlight 12 foot board that looks like Mr. Al (with the retractable fin too). I need a mast foot. Any idea on where I can find one for this board? Most of the ones I have seen are the track type and mine doesnt have a track. Thanks for any info.
Posted by: bobbi | August 10, 2009 at 10:23 PM
As per another comment up above, apparently Tinho Dornellas at Calema sells the hardware. For myself, I had a local guy gouge out the old system and install a chinook box (basic mast track). Ten years later and it works like...well, like a mast track. It's great...I recommend it to all owners of ancient Superlights, which will be fun to sail for fifty years!
Posted by: the editor | August 11, 2009 at 09:27 AM
actually I contacted them and was told that no he does not have this part so I guess I am out of luck :(
Posted by: bobbi | August 12, 2009 at 11:24 PM
It's a blessing in disguise...paying for a modern mast track to be put in allows you to use your standard mast foot and extensions. While it seemed extravagant at the time (I paid more for the modification than I did for the board!) it's been well worth it. I'd do it again in a second.
Posted by: the editor | August 13, 2009 at 10:05 AM
Thanks for all of the information. I truly appreciate it. :)
Posted by: bobbi | August 13, 2009 at 08:31 PM
I have a mistral bermuda, but the end of the boom cracked. Anywhere to buy that peice that joins the two parts together?
Posted by: Barbara | March 12, 2010 at 08:45 AM
Barbara, it's highly unlikely you can find that part. Meanwhile for what you'd be charged you can buy a much better boom used at any swapmeet. The old Mistral boards are still fun to sail, but the rig that came with it is another matter.
Posted by: the editor | March 12, 2010 at 01:53 PM
Do you have a recommendation on type of boom to replace it with? Something affordable? :)
Posted by: Barbara | March 14, 2010 at 08:32 AM
You should be able to find a used Chinook or Windsurfing Hawaii or North aluminum boom in good shape for $75 or less. Any of those will perform much better than your Mistral boom did the day you bought it.
Posted by: Michael | March 14, 2010 at 09:09 AM
I have an old Hifly 300CS windsurfer that is missing the fin. I've never used it and I am new to windsurfing (sail, mast and boom have been updated). I was wondering if anyone knows where to buy an old one or if Hifly 300CS is something that can be interchanged with something else. Looks like it should just slide in from the back and somehow lock? Thanks!
MH
Posted by: Mamie Holst | October 15, 2010 at 03:37 AM
Mamie, in all likelyhood you can use any "A box" windsurfing fin. Most windsurfers have a few old ones kicking around in their junk boxes, garages etc. You need the fin, fin screw, and nut to lock it in place. I'd recommend connecting with some local windsurfers and see if one of them can't set you up.
Posted by: Michael | October 17, 2010 at 09:33 AM
Just inherited a mistral competition board. Any tips info. Have surfed, but never windsurfed.
Posted by: Dave | May 09, 2011 at 12:36 PM
Hopefully you have a friend who windsurfs who can show you how to rig the sail and teach you the basics. Trying to learn windsurfing by reading is tough...invariably you'll end up grossly misundertanding things that would seem obvious to you if you could watch someone do it (or have them tell you what you're doing wrong.)
Posted by: Michael | May 10, 2011 at 11:12 AM
Hello. I have a Mistral Surfer Competition Club with a retractable fin the my boxer dog chewed on--I am trying to find a replacement. What is left of the fin still retracts, but the fin is a nub. Is it that important if I am using a centerboard?? The board is ancient and about 12.5 feet long--but it sails wonderfully--but I want to make sure I make it back to the shore with a chewed down fin. Thanks.
Posted by: Shawn | July 05, 2012 at 03:29 PM
Shawn, I suppose it depends on the size of the "nib"...your remaining fin. A centerboard without a fin...I don't know anything about sailing like that. I do know that finding replacement parts for the old retractable fin is tough (you might try on iWindsurf's forum).
While I liked the retractable fin, I haven't missed it since I glassed in a fin. As you like how the board sails, my suggestion is to simply remove what's left of the retractable box and glass in a cheap used fin. Or go online and search for parts. Or try sailing the thing as is in a very safe place!
Posted by: Michael | July 07, 2012 at 09:30 AM
I have two Mistral Superlight boards for sale. Excellent condition, original sails and booms plus shorter booms and fully battened 5.2 sails. Located in Vermont
Posted by: Richard Meyer | March 12, 2016 at 03:54 PM
Mast foot for the original Superlight can be found at https://isthmussailboards.com/base-parts.html
I purchased a hybrid that has a Chinook adapter.
Works great.
Posted by: Adam Locke | June 03, 2018 at 10:01 AM
Hi. I just came across your old post. I am hoping to do the same procedure on my old Mistral board. I broke the fin off while trying to park under a tree with the board on the roof... How did the epoxy work out for you longterm? Do you remember the types of epoxy & filler that you used?
Thank you
Gabi
Posted by: Gabi | July 22, 2018 at 04:44 PM
Hi Gabi. The fin is still in there eleven years later. I used the basic West System epoxy and filler they were selling at the hardware store. It's lasted just fine!
Posted by: Michael | July 23, 2018 at 06:49 AM