Hello. New here. I'm actually in Thailand and yes, I'm Thai. I am considering shipping a board from Sydney to Bangkok. Has anyone had any experience shipping boards overseas? If so I'd really appreciate any info/experience you might share. It's an old Cobra, probably from the mid 80's and if you're wondering why I'm trying to ship a board back to Thailand where they were made.....this one is supposedly made here in Australia...possibly Sydney? Unfortunately I'm not yet able to post pics or links but I can tell you it's a long board/ daggerboard/ 9 footstraps/ AUSSIE Cobra Racer. I'd appreciate any info anyone can share about this board, perhaps you used to have one?....I contacted Cobra here in Thailand and they are not familiar with it!
The freight alone would be worth far more than the board is actually worth, don't think Aussie cobra has made a board for over 30 years.
It is an old Cobra board made in Thailand with I believe Aussie Sailboard products stickers likely added by retailer/boardshop/teamrider in Sydney. Here is more information on the Cobra board designed by Klaus Simmer: www.cobrainter.com/news/case-studies/the-king-cobra
I would not bother shipping the board it would be better and cheaper to get a Windsurfer LT direct from the Cobra factory. Also maybe there are some Mistral One Designs/Equipes/Pan Ams in Thailand which would be cheaper and better.
cobrainter.com/assets/downloads/Cobra-40YearsBook-Jan21-P20_23.pdf
My second board after I built one in the early 80's was a used King Cobra and it was a superb board. The triplane tail meant it could gybe really well, and for the time it went upwind well for the funboards of that time. The fairly soft ride was just lovely for the size of the board and it gybed really well. The quirky front sections had a Euro/divII convex (not concave) bow section for light upwind.
Later in that decade a few rich guys got their hands on the Cobra Race which was thicker, straighter, and had parallel sides with forward double concaves that worked really well, a much faster board. I thought they were all made in Thailand. Little did we know that the Thai factory would end up making nearly every sailboard and sup on the water.
Google finds them all, including here.
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Cobra-1985-Brochure?page=1
Still unable to post pics or links but here's an update.
About the board; worked out that it's made in Thailand, Aussie was probably an importer/retailer. Someone suggested it might be a board brought over from Thailand by a Cobra rep. In any case Cobra Int. here in Thailand confirmed that it's made in Thailand for export. Most probably mid 80s to early 90s. As to why I'm getting this board, my first board was a Windglider, followed by a King Cobra, followed by a Cobra Fun330, all made by Cobra....see the trend? In fact I swapped my King Cobra to Cobra Int. for a board they're yet to release, similar to the LT but with foot straps.
Yes, shipping cost is crazy compared to the cost of the board, but for an Oldschool windserfer such as myself, I couldn't let this beauty go down the "Check out this board I'm going to use as a SUP..." route. So decided I'm bringing this baby home. I'm 62 and only coming back into the sport after a 30+ year hiatus, still finding my feet and yes I did try out the newer boards which I admit are easier, faster and more maneuverable but I found myself being drawn to the older boards and the way they respond...I currently own a 1999 F2 Phoenix340, a 1989 Mistral Custom284, a(year?) 970 Copello and I still have my Cobra330. My newest board is a Fanatic Viper80 which I bought to re-learn windsurfing and I recently sold a 2010 Exocet Warp SL85 because that was the board I was sailing the least. Might sound like a lot (to some) but the whole fleet didn't cost much, mostly boards nobody wanted anymore.
This Cobra Race is going to be my most expensive acquisition due to sipping costs! But I just have to do it. I've worked out how to ship it back to Bangkok but I still have a major problem, how do I get it from the vendor's house to the shipping warehouse? He hasn't a car and shipping agency want to charge me $400 to truck it! So, any help/suggestions/advice most welcome....please.
A word about sails; initially did some sailing on old rigs that came with the boards, mid to late 90s stuff. Then acquired a Point-7 ACX....like dropping a modern turbo charged engine into a classic car....FUN!
A word about Cobra Int; They make a lot of boards for other brands but they don't make Cobra boards anymore as it would mean competition with their clients. Starboard and Cobra are separate companies based in Thailand and yes, Cobra makes boards for Starboard. Just something I've often been asked.
plywoodboy- I regret giving my King Cobra away, didn't realize how much I liked that board, but hey! Guess what? Found another one....in a paddy field no less. Just need to convince the rice farmer now.
I didn't say it might have been a board brought from Thailand by a Cobra rep.
I said IT WAS brought from Thailand by a Cobra rep !!!!!
