Finally Finished...My 1986 F2 Comet wind surfer converted to SUP!

[mindtriped]

So I was browsing craigslist for months trying to find a cheap SUP to get into the sport when I came upon this black 10' 6" windsurfing board. I checked it out and scored it for 120 bucks with a 9" Curtis Fin.
Then came the long process of sanding down the black spray paint that these punk kids put on and discovered graphics that said 1986 F2 comet! I couldnt believe how old it was (only 3 years younger than me) but in great condition minus the black spray paint. I pad sanded and polished the board back to its original white finish and then filled in the mast box, binding brackets and dagger board slot with foam and sealed it with marine-tex.
I purchased an OAM traction pad and converted a kayak paddle into a stand up paddle that my friend found floating in our canal.
The boards dimensions are 10'6"X26"X5" with the tail tapering out pretty freakin thin. The board is pretty tippy in the chop and I haven't had a chance to surf it, but am getting used to it. I'm 6'4" and 165 and I've been using it in the canals around Pompano Beach, FL and it has worked great in the calm stuff.
For $120 for the board, $100 for the traction, about $30 for material, and a free paddle, I got into the sport for about 250 bucks with a board that looks and paddles pretty sweet.
Let me know what you guys think!
John

[mik911]

That's a kickin' job you did. Way to go!
Great ingenuity, and nice work.  I like the black accents on the clean white board.

Is that a rubber nose guard on the tip?
I have something similar made by Surfco for my surfboards, but never seen one that shape.

Have fun on your inexpensive creation.

[Chan]

I would like to see a full retro 80's outfit to match the board vintage.  Can you take some shots sporting short shorts and a flock of seagulls hairdo?

[mindtriped]

Yeah, the tip is a hard rubber that F2 built into the board, it works really well to protect the nose.
The quiksilver logo I made out of traction because I have a crate with rod holders that I put on the board and the traction makes it stay put and not slide around. We have a straight SUP/Longboard fishing tournament coming up that has already been postponed twice due to nasty weather just south of Hillsboro Inlet in Pompano Beach,FL. http://www.boardfish.com Should be the first of its kind! I just need time to practice on my new board.
As for the short shorts and flock o seagulls cut...I think not!

[beaglebuddy]

I love it !
This is what surfing is all about, just keep paddling man, no reason you can't get good on that set up.

[surfpainter]

Great idea! I did the same thing a few years back. I paddled a 12' Mistral Superlite, chopped off the end of a plastic kayak paddle and used that system for a whole summer. When I finally bought my first standup board, I was so dialed in and loving this new sport.

[PonoBill]

Very, Very cool. I knew I should have hung onto that 10'2" Aitken that was under my beach house in Manzanita. The guys that helped me clean up all the trash said they were going to build a SUP board from it. Hope they did it.

I love the look, very fine job, and Chan is right, some high thigh gym shorts and a wifebeater T or a vintage Ron Jon rash guard and you'd be stylin'.

[stoneaxe]

Nice job...I was headed for that route until Bill gave me his 12-6.

[DavidJohn]

I also have a Cobra windurfing board that works great as a flat water SUP.

My friend has been using it until he can afford to buy his own... It goes great.. and very fast.

I've been thinking about doing what you have done to it.

DJ

[riverrat]

Nice work!  I was given an similar F2 Comet in bad shape.  Patched the holes with MarineTex and Bondo Supreme.  Removed the centerboard box and covered with white duck tape.  Then, glued a $20 Nike yoga pad on for traction.   Total cost = $21 and about an hour of labor.  I leave it on the dock at my sailing club, and can paddle it after work without advance planning (since my office is about a mile away).  It's so ugly I don't need to worry about theft.  It's light and actually pretty fun to paddle with decent glide.  It's narrow and tippy, but because it is very thick (abou 5"), it has a lot of reserve bouyancy.  This board got me thinking about the relationship between thickness (volume) and width for race boards.  I don't think the rocker is right for surfing though.

[SUPer Dave]

Very Cool.. Mistral Talola was my first convert...It worked but the rails were soooo sharp....I ended up bringing it to the dump....
That Comet looks like it could double as a big wave gun....
Check out the fourm fish tails there are alot of boards and fig rigs for you to check out....Welcome to the fourm...  Dave