Hi everyone.
It was a long time since the last time uploading an issue.
I hope all are good in health enjoying time at sea.
I just bought a used board and I was wondering how I could check that no water come insite the board from the auto release valve.
This starboatd carve 2022 hasnt the traditional vent plug.
I made a test on it, as I used to do with the oldest board, leaving it under the sun when at the same time I had put some soap-water on the vent plug to see if boobles come out.
Doing that, I notice that when was under the sun no boobles came, however when I put the board in a shady place, boobles start to come out for a while.
Do you know how this valve really works, and how I can check it if it is working properly?
I have 2 photos uploaded for better understanding.
Select to expand quoteManuel7 said..
Is it heavier?
Trully speaking I have a feeling somerhing like that after a session on the water, but I am thinking that this is due to the footstraps, when they are dry and after when they are wet!
The other way is to weight the board without footstraps before and after water.
Select to expand quoteManuel7 said..
Is it heavier?
Trully speaking I have a feeling somerhing like that after a session on the water, but I am thinking that this is due to the footstraps, when they are dry and after when they are wet!
The other way is to weight the board without footstraps before and after water.Select to expand quotemathew said..
... you put water into the vent/hole ?
or just on-top of the auto-vent ?
Actually I was washing it up to remove the sea water and after trying the trick with the soap water so the water had covered the whole vent hole.
However, what is the different?
There's a thermal lag, between putting board in sun and pressure building up inside. That didn't happen until you put the board in the shade. So to my mind the vent is letting internal pressure out.
To test if it's letting water in is harder. weighing it before and after a sail, needs to be very precise, if the valve is leaking water in it won't be very much, (possibly only a few grams) but obviously can build up over time. You may need to saturate the foot straps before weighing, it would be a pain to take them off and on.
Some years ago I tested goretx vents before using them in my boards.
They worked fine until they had water on both sides. Even after thoroughly drying they no longer worked, wouldn't pass air in either direction.
As yours is passing air out, it's probable there's no water inside, as water on the inside of the valve would block air coming out.
It's good to have an idea of the weight when dry. Yes when wet both straps and pads soak up a bunch of water.
If you can easily replace the valve do it, it not, I wouldn't worry about it unless there's a problem obviously.
Looks like the valve is doing its job. It is supposed to let out air when the pressure inside the board builds up.
Select to expand quoteSparky said..
Can you send a photo of what the vent plug looks like? Without the water?
Yeah, tomorrow i ll take a new photo
Select to expand quoteSparky said..
Can you send a photo of what the vent plug looks like? Without the water?
Yeah, tomorrow i ll take a new photoSelect to expand quoteSurferKris said..
Looks like the valve is doing its job. It is supposed to let out air when the pressure inside the board builds up.
I was thinking the same, but didnt really happen when I left the board under the sun, however that happened when i left it the shade.
I thought that the pressure inside would minimise when at low temperature and the bubbles would come out under the sun.
There is another option: the time that I had the board under the sun the water pressure on the top of the valve to be above the air pressure inside the board, and thats why no bubblles appeared at that time and when I moved it in the shade the most water moved away and air released.
Select to expand quoteSparky said..
Can you send a photo of what the vent plug looks like? Without the water?
Yeah, tomorrow i ll take a new photoSelect to expand quoteSurferKris said..
Looks like the valve is doing its job. It is supposed to let out air when the pressure inside the board builds up.
I was thinking the same, but didnt really happen when I left the board under the sun, however that happened when i left it the shade.
I thought that the pressure inside would minimise when at low temperature and the bubbles would come out under the sun.
There is another option: the time that I had the board under the sun the water pressure on the top of the valve to be above the air pressure inside the board, and thats why no bubblles appeared at that time and when I moved it in the shade the most water moved away and air released.Select to expand quotedecrepit said..
There's a thermal lag, between putting board in sun and pressure building up inside. That didn't happen until you put the board in the shade. So to my mind the vent is letting internal pressure out.
To test if it's letting water in is harder. weighing it before and after a sail, needs to be very precise, if the valve is leaking water in it won't be very much, (possibly only a few grams) but obviously can build up over time. You may need to saturate the foot straps before weighing, it would be a pain to take them off and on.
Some years ago I tested goretx vents before using them in my boards.
They worked fine until they had water on both sides. Even after thoroughly drying they no longer worked, wouldn't pass air in either direction.
As yours is passing air out, it's probable there's no water inside, as water on the inside of the valve would block air coming out.
You are propably wright. I ll try to make some weight measerements with and without foot straps.
However, every time I pick the board after some days off use, looks lighter. This is or because the sea water of the footstraps that was dried or because of my strenght that is stronger compared it after a session when I am tired and my arms really heavy.
Select to expand quoteManuel7 said..
It's good to have an idea of the weight when dry. Yes when wet both straps and pads soak up a bunch of water.
If you can easily replace the valve do it, it not, I wouldn't worry about it unless there's a problem obviously.
I tried to find some videos on internet relative to that kind of auto air vent but I wasnt lucky.
Do you know any link that show how to check or replace this type of valve?
Severne have the steps on their website, assume it'll be similar for your board. Scroll down to Replacing the Gore-tex air vent.
www.severnesails.com/product-care/board-care-guide/
But don't be tempted to remove and check it. It's very easy to break the top cover bit off, when unscrewing it. You have to be equally careful screwing the new one in.
You need a very thin walled tube spanner, and you have to hold it very square, so you don't put strain on the top cap. the bottom nut section is also not that thick, you have to make sure it's fully engaged.
Select to expand quoteSparky said..
Can you send a photo of what the vent plug looks like? Without the water?
Here is your photo......
Select to expand quotedecrepit said..
But don't be tempted to remove and check it. It's very easy to break the top cover bit off, when unscrewing it. You have to be equally careful screwing the new one in.
You need a very thin walled tube spanner, and you have to hold it very square, so you don't put strain on the top cap. the bottom nut section is also not that thick, you have to make sure it's fully engaged.
Thanks Decrepit, I will keep it in mind.
Even though, I am not really attempting to change the valve, since does not seem to have any defect.
yes that's a standard Goretex vent. The bit with the writing on top is the bit that breaks off. It's the same hexagonal size as the base underneath, where you need to apply screwing force. There's only very small uprights joining the top and base.
Personally I wouldn't use one after my experiments. They are fine while the foam inside is dry, but once water does get inside, they will stop venting. So carry on as usual until you get a bad ding, that lets water in. After that the water will migrate to the vent as it breaths, then stop breathing, and there goes the bottom of your board, whenever there enough pressure difference between inside and out.
Select to expand quotedecrepit said..
yes that's a standard Goretex vent. The bit with the writing on top is the bit that breaks off. It's the same hexagonal size as the base underneath, where you need to apply screwing force. There's only very small uprights joining the top and base.
Personally I wouldn't use one after my experiments. They are fine while the foam inside is dry, but once water does get inside, they will stop venting. So carry on as usual until you get a bad ding, that lets water in. After that the water will migrate to the vent as it breaths, then stop breathing, and there goes the bottom of your board, whenever there enough pressure difference between inside and out.
Thanks,
So you suggest to replace this with an old fashion type vent plug-oring?
That's what I'd do, but the goretex thread is a bigger dia, it's not a straight replacement. You have to do the whole thing, cut the old one out from the board, with a router. Then bog in a standard fitting, although it should be fine as long as you don't get a ding.
Select to expand quotedecrepit said..
They are fine while the foam inside is dry, but once water does get inside, they will stop venting.
Yes, unfortunately that's how Goretex works.
It can went air through or it can block water from going through. But it cannot do both at the same time in the same direction.
