board exposed multiple times

sundowner · Joined: 30 Sep 2015 Posts: 81

Long story short an epoxy sandwich board had 2 - 3 sessions in salt water with no vent plug in at the end of 2010 season. This same board then sat in furnace room/attic for two years and was subject to 100+ F temps at times (with no plug in.) Odd thing is the board is now weighing in at only 1 LB over stated manufacturers weight (manufacturer says 17 and it weighs in at 18.) It SEEMS to have zero structural soft spots and seems to have been spared of water damage. I really dont want this board to delaminate... what should I do?

swchandler · Joined: 08 Nov 1993 Posts: 10588

It wouldn't hurt to start using a vent plug again. The way I see it, there's no good reason to stretch your luck. However, by using a vent plug again, you would realistically be into the open/close regimen until the death of the board.

feuser · Joined: 29 Oct 2002 Posts: 1508

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20936

I can think of only three practical options.
1. Leave it in the attic so it will not be further damaged.
2. Sell or give it away (with full disclosure) so it's no longer your problem.
3. Sail it.

If you choose #3, use the vent plug religiously, because once water gets in a board is much more vulnerable to temp swings. You'll get somewhere between 7 and 1,007 sessions out of it before it falls apart.

Yours is a perfect example of why I never touch my vent plugs except when I'm pumping air through a board wet from leaky footstrap screw holes or cracks I hadn't spotted.

Mike \m/

sundowner · Joined: 30 Sep 2015 Posts: 81

thanks mike/chandler/fueser. def going with option #3. what factors come into play when a board delaminates? how can i avoid this? Could a gore tex vent plug be the perfect solution for me? I've tried to find these online and it seems id have to order it from the manufacturer and customize it for my plug.

http://www.foamez.com/casica-vent-plug-selfventing-p-779.html

Is this what I am looking for?

DanWeiss · Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Posts: 2296 Location: Connecticut, USA

Sundowner, you may have dodged a bullet. Sail the board and have fun.

A GT vent plug has three immediate advantages over the regular versions.

1. No need to remember to tighten/loosen.

2. Constant pressure regulation rather than intermittent.

3. Largely idiot-proof. No gasket to over-tighten because of no incorrect use of rubber O-ring for compression and the risks inherent therewith. No maintenance to the GT plugs, as far as I know.

Still, the standard works pretty well.

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20936

Yup ... Goretex plugs require board mods, as of a year or so ago anyway. I have only one board with a Goretex plug, and its outer skin is lifting from its carbon strength layer in spots after just a year. The problem may remain cosmetic or may lead to deck failure this season or many years from now; that's the gamble I took when I bought it at 25 cents on the dollar primarily for that reason.

cgoudie1 · Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 5:15 pm Post subject:

If your board has gotten water in it, the best way to deal with it is to keep
the board from heating up (like leaving it in the shade, and not leaving it
inside your vehicle on a warm or hot day). You'll also want to use the
vent plug religiously from here on out, so crack that baby open when
you're done riding (or changing elevation), and don't forget to put it
back before you hit the water.

It's only a matter of time though.

Good Luck,

-Craig

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20936

Did you see this site, Sundowner?
http://www2.swaylocks.com/node/1027651
It makes installation look pretty easy.

Mike \m/