After just 2 seasons I can now confirm that windsurfing has taken over my life, The final transition happened just prior to winter when I sold my car and purchased a van. The conversion is now complete and I'm ready for the new season to start, the fitout took a weekend, a few beers and about $400.
The van in the current fitout can store upto 4 boards, 4 masts, 3 booms, 6 sails and all the other associated bits and pieces as well as having room for a bed.
Bring on the summer seabreeze.
Jason, just a tip, and you may have fitted it already, one lad over here, purchased a pool liner type cover, and fitted it to the floor of his van, and up the sides a few inches. Stopped any water rusting out the base, and easy to clean out without causing damage. Park up hill, and hose out
Yours looks a good set up.
We windsurfers are among the few types of people who drool over other people's vans.
To us, a nice VW Transporter is way more desirable than a brand new 911!
Nice, very organized !!! Heres mine.
I've actually tidied it up a bit since then to fit more stuff in.....
hey JH2703
NICE VAN - Black Magic!!!!
Have you been windsurfing on Lake Burleigh Griffin when it snows?(that is one experience i will never forget)
GCMOZ
Real nice, I know its early days but how do you find the Iload, is it petrol or deisel.
I have been looking at the iload myself and it seems to tick all the boxes, just the right wheel base, safe, good towing capacity, 5 year warrenty and is great to drive.
Jman, I have the turbo diesel(5 speed auto) and its been awesome...has heaps of power and is very good on petrol. I looked at the VW and the Mercs(secondhand) but decided on a new ILOAD and am very happy about my choice.
To answer some of the other question, the bed is located on the drivers side..you can see the sleeping bag in the side view. It doesn't look like there is a lot of room but i can stretch out and still not touch the equipment racks located at my feet.
As for being neat and tidy, after a weekend it looks like Richies van...Just being new I tidy it up after each sail, I'm sure it will wear off(i have a draw for the empty bottles).
During construction the floor was treated with a rust proof treatment, then rubber mat was laid, the rubber mat can be removed at anytime for a deep clean.
The whole racking system comes out in about 30 Mins if required, I can also remove the bed and this allows for the mountain bike to be loaded.....It's my all-in-one sports van, just have to pick out some mag wheels and tint the windows and drive to WA for the summer and I'm done.
GCMOZ, you must feel lucky to have been able to sail the swamp, no snow this year but last year i did get some snow flake landing on my shoulders as i was blasting along. I've never had brain freeze like that before and could swear my hands had permanently closed around the boom...oh what fun.
Thinking about these wheels, what do you think?
JH2703,
Great setup. Very jealous. Been hearign good things from owners of the I loads. Whats the length of the cargo area. i.e. what size max mast sections can you fit/longest mal for no wind days?
Cheers,
Ello
definately, will look hot.. and will be a good purchase, the steel stokers will rust at the beach, no the alloys.. well that would be a good excuse..
Always wanted to build in a wind meter into the roof of my van, just park at the beach and know instanly how wind it is..
Nice job on the fitout jh...
...personally, I'd prefer Ritchie's...it sums me up better - a little dis-organised - ugly (or is that ruggedly handsome?) - and a little bit dirty!
Maybe you're a sharply dressed good looking young guy though, in that case, you got my green thumbs! haha.
Ello, the longest board I keep in the van is a 145L fanatic(was, Its now up for sale), at 268cm it fits with no dramas along the floor. I've had an SUP in there a few times but i have to put the passenger seat down for it to fit in, Good if i'm not taking anyone with me. I think i'm going to get some roof racks fitted for this reason, also to take the kayak as well.....Thankyou all for the good comments, I've ordered the wheels today.
jh2703 that is one hell of a cool ridebut are windsurfer's in general that neatanyways still up there regards
That really is a nice looking set-up! But being black does it get hot? I keep all my gear permanently in my van and I reckon some of it has deteriorated prematurely because it gets baked every day in summer, and my van is white with a whirly vent on the roof.