Remember that most sites here probably have more kit available than they list, or their online list might not be up to date. So asking around when you arrive is the way to go, but from these listings you can still get an idea of the range and price of the available gear.
Craigslist - lots of great deals on here.
Neil Pryde Maui - used and ex-rental Neil Pryde boards and sails
Hot Sails Maui Shop - used, prototype and closeout Hot Sails gear
Naish Maui Specials - ex rental and closeout deals.
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Second Wind board & 2 sails - 7 days $290, 14 days $522, 28 days $783
Maui Windsurf Company board & 2 sails - 7 days $319, 14 days $561, 28 days $890
Kanaha Kai - board & rig - 7 days $290, 14 days $529, 28 days $820
Pritchard Windsurfing
Naish Maui - boards & 2 sails - 7 days $290, 14 days $495, 1 month $795
Hawaiian Watersports - Board & rig - 7 days $279
Obviously this is a pretty competitive market, so the prices don’t differ that much between places. So it’s the details that make the difference, it’s worth checking
- That they have the kit you want to sail.
- How close they are to your accommodation and preferred spots - Kanaha Kai for example is right near Kanaha - so you can change kit easily.
- What your situation is if you damage kit - do they offer insurance, how do they assess replacement value and so on.
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If your serious about your windsurfing then you’ll care a lot about the kit you will have in Maui.
Rentals
For intermediates who plan to improve a lot, I think hiring is an obvious choice - you can change board every day if you like, and work your way down from bigger boards to wave kit if needed. For short stays, with no time to amortize excess baggage costs, and when you want to be on the water almost every day regardless of the conditions, it makes sense as well. You should be able to get 30 days rental (1 board, 2 sails) for about $800 for 30 days, which beats buying kit, and comes close to bringing your own.
Bringing your own kit
If you already have gear you’re comfortable with, and you are staying long enough that excess baggage fees don’t worry you then bringing gear with you is a good option. However it’s worth considering that the reason Maui is so attractive is probably that the conditions are different to home! So your normal gear might not be what you want to sail on Maui - a combination of bringing gear and renting by the day when conditions don’t suit can work well.
Buying in Maui
If you’re happy to buy second hand kit, Maui is paradise. There is a huge supply of gear, from ex-rental gear, local pros, photo shoots and the local sailors. It shoudn’t be hard to turn up with nothing and have a full complement of kit in a day or so. One big advantage is that the second hand gear for sale is going to be matched to the local conditions. There’s also such a glut of gear that there are some great deals available. If you’re staying more than a month it starts to get cheaper than renting, and if you go for a mix of bringing gear and renting even more so. e.g. if you bring some sails and buy a board.
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