Sport Today

Isn't there a tradeoff between puling the plug every day versus never
touching it? I'm concerned about not getting the plug seated properly,
wearing out its O-ring, or simpky forgetting it, thus drowning the board
next time out. After all, one serious vent mistake WILL ruin a board but the
delam issue is a MAYBE. So I've never played with the plugs except when
driving across the Rocky Mountains (I don't fly with my boards). My vented
boards range from 3 to 7 years old, and have been unplugged only twice per
year. They live outdoors in my van year 'round, so get temp swings from well
below freezing to probably 120 degrees F (white van). One's a Bailey (tough
as iron), one's out of the Cobra factory, and neither has ever shown any
problems.

But now that I own a Flow, should I change my tune? Do we really gotta plug
and unplug and  plug and unplug these damn things, oris the main risk from
foot impact on the deck -- an easily solved problem?

Mike \m/

--
To reply directly, remove the SpamDam.

Apart from this, they just stay in.

 R.

--
Website: www.botanybay.cjb.net

: This Naish and Flow delam threads got me thinking (worrying, actually)
about
: heat and vent plugs and delams and mass-production boards.
:
: Isn't there a tradeoff between puling the plug every day versus never
: touching it? I'm concerned about not getting the plug seated properly,
: wearing out its O-ring, or simpky forgetting it, thus drowning the board
: next time out. After all, one serious vent mistake WILL ruin a board but
the
: delam issue is a MAYBE. So I've never played with the plugs except when
: driving across the Rocky Mountains (I don't fly with my boards). My vented
: boards range from 3 to 7 years old, and have been unplugged only twice per
: year. They live outdoors in my van year 'round, so get temp swings from
well
: below freezing to probably 120 degrees F (white van). One's a Bailey
(tough
: as iron), one's out of the Cobra factory, and neither has ever shown any
: problems.
:
: But now that I own a Flow, should I change my tune? Do we really gotta
plug
: and unplug and  plug and unplug these damn things, oris the main risk from
: foot impact on the deck -- an easily solved problem?
:
: Mike \m/
:
: --
: To reply directly, remove the SpamDam.
:
:

Tauras
www.surfingsports.com

So all it takes is a little water in the board and a little heat to ***
it. I ALWAYS leave the vent open
off the water. I never forget to close it when I get on the water however I
can see how this
would be easy to do. I haven't had any problem with the seal failing as far
as I know.
I think the moisture content of the board tends to approach equilibrium with
the atmosphere if
the vent is left open all week between sailing sessions. I know that this
implies that there will be
a little condensation in there when It is dropped in the cold water, however
that seems to dissipate
during the week. It certainly doesn't seem to be accumulating.

Just my experience
Wal

One trick I use so I don't forget to plug it in before sailing: I turn
the plug upside down and put it in the Chinook mast base plate and
lock it with the quick release gizmo. This way it can't be lost and if
I forget to plug the board, I will be reminded to do it when I try to
connect the sail to the board.

Slalom

On Sat, 13 May 2000 19:45:08 GMT, "Mike F"

I'd be interested to hear from anyone in the board manufacturing and retailing
business who may have more insight.

By the way, when I do undo the plug I cover this area with a large piece of
duct tape, which will remind me to close it, since I can't miss it when I
attach the rig to the board. I sail often after work, with limited time, and am
concerned that I would be in such a hurry that I would forget it.

I took the plugs out on a hot day, left the boards sit in the sun for a couple
hours, and then put the plugs back in - on the theory that excess outside
pressure isn't as harmful as excess inside pressure.    

If I took the plugs out in the dead of winter and then put them back in while
the boards were quite cold, I'd worry about those summer days....
-----------------------
Pete Cresswell

Alot of productions have a vent plug which is integral with the
mast box and its not unknown for the vent plug to not be drilled
through to the polystyrene.

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Then >when I do undo the plug I cover this area with a large piece of
duct tape, which will remind me to close it, since I can't miss it when I
attach the rig to the board"

Wow ... TWO excellent solutions in one day. Since the Flow uses a
substantive *** washer instead of a flimsy O-ring, mangling the ring
should not be a problem. And a spare washer is easy to buy and store.

***... now I gotta MAKE A DECISION. Remove it and hide it, or loosen it
and mark it? Remove and stash, loosen and mark? Remove, or loosen?***it;
I'm goin' sailin'! Oops ... 3.7 or 4.2? 3.7 or 4.2?

Ya can't WIN!

Mike \m/

...Yeah, I've seen that in quite a lot of boards too.   'Blind' vent plugs,
or vent plugs that get sealed by resin during layup.

 Check your vent.  Poke a knitting needle down it into the styrofoam.

  R.

--
Website: www.botanybay.cjb.net

: re: vent plug on flow - question may be moot. Some of the early
: ones (vomit green) had vent plugs that went nowhere.. I saw 2 at
: least which had a faux vent plug. I seem to recall the early
: F2/277 were the same...didnt they have a marketing inspired vent
: plug too?
:
: Alot of productions have a vent plug which is integral with the
: mast box and its not unknown for the vent plug to not be drilled
: through to the polystyrene.
:
: * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet's Discussion Network
*
: The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet - Free!
:

There is no need to remove the plug just a few turns will vent any
pressure inside the board.  If you inspect the***it has a channel
that runs through the plug where the air vents when it is loosened.   I
was putting some more non slip on my board yesterday and left it in the
sun to dry.    I vented the board and a lot of expanded air came out.
Negative pressure in the board is more than ok but pressure will lead to
delam.

Will
--
William Oscroft