by Because of the overwhelming number of requests for instructions on
regripping booms I am including them here.
Althought I've only done 2 sets, both came out really nice. I just
picked up the boom regripping kit from Sailboard Warehouse. Their
ad says "have fun regripping at home". Yeah, sure.
1) Remove the tubes from the front end. The new grip will actually
go up into the front end a little so scribe around the tubes where the
old grip ends. This mark will be referred to later.
2) With a razor blade, scraper, exacto knife, or other sharp
instrument, and with a lot of patience, start at one end and scrape
off the old grip. This is the slow step. Scrape down to the old glue
as this is hard to scrape. The *** does not come off cleanly but it
does come off. Remove all of the old grip material, leaving some of
the old glue. This can be sanded off with 60 grit paper. Some of the
old glue can probably be left on but I remove all of it so I get a
smoother surface.
3) Cut the new grip material to length to fit the area to be covered.
The grips in the first kit I bought were a little short while the ones in
the second were about the right length. It helps to unroll the
material and let it lay out for a while to keep it from curling.
4) Starting at one end, cover the new grip with the contact cement
supplied with the grip. I've also used industrial type cement. Apply
it up to where the line was scribed in #1. Lay it on pretty heavy.
Don't worry about small lumps. We'll take care of them later. The
cement has dries in about 1 millisecond but don't brush back over it
or it may pull off. Try to cover the first time being careful not to
leave dry spots. Once dry, the cement will only stick to itself. This
is referred to as a cohesion as opposed to adhesion. No, there won't
be a test.
5) Repeat #4 for the boom tubes.
6) With the grip material lying flat, lay the tube with the scribed line
up to the edge of the grip material with the rear end of the tube
raised. Try to lay the tube down onto the grip keepint in the center
of the ***. This will keep the final seam on the inside of the
boom.
7) Going back to the front end, wrap the grip around the boom on
one side first. Press down with the palm rather than the finger tips to
keep out as much air as possible. Press firmly at the edge to get a
really good bond. This edge will be important later. Continue down
the length of the boom.
8) Using a razor blade, cut a 45 degree bevel down the length of the
grip where it is bonded to the boom all the way to the end. Along
this bevel apply contact cement.
9) Again, using palm action, roll the grip around the tube,
overlapping the bevel, along the length of the tube. Go back and
press firmly over bevel to make a good seal.
10) Use a razor blade to trim excess material, leaving as little extra
as possible.
11) Sand this raised strip with 60 grit paper util smooth. Excess
glue will also sand off. You should be left with only a barely visible
thin line. If you feel the seam you probably haven't sanded enough.
12) Press on any lumps of cement under the grip with your fingers.
It should smooth out easily.
13) Reassemble booms to front end. Grip should slip under edge of
front end. Attach harness lines and rear end. Just add water, wind,
and waves.
Glenn Woodell
NASA/Langley research Center
Mail Stop 473
Hampton, VA 23681-0001
(804) 864-1510
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