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Goretex automatic vent testing

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Created by Mark _australia 8 months ago, 12 Apr 2025
Mark _australia
WA, 23432 posts
30 Apr 2025 10:43AM
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Careful. They don't state pitch and our vents are unconventional thread bring 1.5 - seems only used on some car fittings (thus the race things previously posted) and goretex vents

obenebo
NSW, 56 posts
30 Apr 2025 12:46PM
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Specs on that M12 show the pitch is 1.75

The goretex plugs are M12 x 1.5

I've posted this before, but here it is again. Cheap ($13.99), readily available, direct drop in aluminium replacement:

www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/aeroflow-metric-port-plug-m12-x-1.5/SPO3820905.html?srsltid=AfmBOopW6vOx-UNrW-RxyX6FolKbgTfV3IoyAMrUIXFLtLQ_18g5B4hq







fangman
WA, 1903 posts
30 Apr 2025 3:54PM
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As per Obenebo, the pitch required is 1.5. So whatever you buy/make just make sure the standard used is DIN 961 which specifies a fine pitch metric thread of 1.5.
(The more common DIN912 specifies 1.75pitch)

Stretchy
WA, 1036 posts
1 May 2025 2:01PM
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I used Nylon bolts from Bunnings on my old Carbon Art SL52. I think they are 1.75 pitch also, but they screwed straight in and never gave any problems. Ignorance is bliss I guess.

needsalt
NSW, 385 posts
3 May 2025 9:35AM
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Select to expand quote
obenebo said..




Specs on that M12 show the pitch is 1.75

The goretex plugs are M12 x 1.5

I've posted this before, but here it is again. Cheap ($13.99), readily available, direct drop in aluminium replacement:

www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/aeroflow-metric-port-plug-m12-x-1.5/SPO3820905.html?srsltid=AfmBOopW6vOx-UNrW-RxyX6FolKbgTfV3IoyAMrUIXFLtLQ_18g5B4hq








Do you run these like a normal O ring vent screw obenebo? Or epoxy in?

obenebo
NSW, 56 posts
3 May 2025 12:49PM
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Screw in the same as a standard vent plug. Remove after each use if you wish, but that's another topic.

choco
SA, 4175 posts
29 Aug 2025 9:28AM
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I took this Gortex valve out of an old carbon Art board(15 years old) the membrane had a solid crust of salt.




ptsf1111
WA, 454 posts
29 Aug 2025 12:28PM
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So the board lasted 15 years regardless? Not bad so maybe this is not so much of an issue.

decrepit
WA, 12761 posts
29 Aug 2025 1:04PM
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ptsf1111 said..
So the board lasted 15 years regardless? Not bad so maybe this is not so much of an issue.


maybe it didn't heat up too much or travel in an airplane hold.
some makes don't install any vents at all, they are confident in their construction.
As far as I'm concerned you're playing Russian Roulette with Goretex vents.

lemat
184 posts
29 Aug 2025 1:08PM
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ptsf1111 said..
So the board lasted 15 years regardless? Not bad so maybe this is not so much of an issue.


Yes. I see goretex vents at this stage after 6 months of use, surfboards, no care, never see clear water.
Surftech longboards don't have vents, firwire stop used them, both used very light eps core, may be it's venting that is not so much necessary, only in specific conditions ?

ptsf1111
WA, 454 posts
30 Aug 2025 10:06AM
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Yeah and also wonder how much air is in a board really. There's not much room for air and sure there is some expansion and contraction going on, but maybe it's fine if the construction is sound. Better to have a vent for sure, but maybe it's not that critical?

decrepit
WA, 12761 posts
30 Aug 2025 11:16AM
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ptsf1111 said..
Yeah and also wonder how much air is in a board really. There's not much room for air and sure there is some expansion and contraction going on, but maybe it's fine if the construction is sound. Better to have a vent for sure, but maybe it's not that critical?


It's only critical when you blow the bottom off the board!
Loads of people leave the bung permanently done up regardless,
So a good percentage of the time you'll get away with it.
I've heard a theory that getting water in the board will increase the problem, due to vapour pressure or something?

Subsonic
WA, 3354 posts
30 Aug 2025 2:16PM
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I really wish i'd snapped a pic of my mates board when it ballooned. Make no mistake, the air in the board is enough to increase its size by at least another third. You've gotta remember that eps is the weak point. one flaw in the lamination and the air expanding with nowhere to go just rips the eps apart.

ptsf1111
WA, 454 posts
30 Aug 2025 5:08PM
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Interesting and that would have made for a cool video! If the pressure gets that high, I'd imagine even a vent that is mostly blocked with salt would eventually let some air through.

decrepit
WA, 12761 posts
30 Aug 2025 5:13PM
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Just sailing it with a very slight delam, perhaps even microscopic, will pump the air to the weak spot. Evert time you hit a bit of chop the problem gets bigger, until the whole bottom is gone.

Mark _australia
WA, 23432 posts
30 Aug 2025 5:34PM
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ptsf1111 said..
Interesting and that would have made for a cool video! If the pressure gets that high, I'd imagine even a vent that is mostly blocked with salt would eventually let some air through.


No. As per my test rig I can pump up a salted vent to a pressure that would stuff a board, and no venting at all overnight.

Your board sees 60deg in a car or a bag...... and some cost $4000.

lemat
184 posts
31 Aug 2025 3:27PM
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Mark _australia said..

ptsf1111 said..
Interesting and that would have made for a cool video! If the pressure gets that high, I'd imagine even a vent that is mostly blocked with salt would eventually let some air through.



No. As per my test rig I can pump up a salted vent to a pressure that would stuff a board, and no venting at all overnight.

Your board sees 60deg in a car or a bag...... and some cost $4000.



Same for me. Vent screw and user education is the more effective (and cheap) way to avoid problems.

ducati
QLD, 474 posts
1 Dec 2025 12:17PM
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Found these at Autobarn and Auto pro M12 x 1.5mm pitch made from T6 ally
Also Shapers on the Gold Coast have M12 x 1.5P Goretex vents for $13 which severne reckon should be replaced every 2-3 years if you wanna go that way







firiebob
WA, 3172 posts
1 Dec 2025 3:02PM
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Select to expand quote
ducati said..
Found these at Autobarn and Auto pro M12 x 1.5mm pitch made from T6 ally
Also Shapers on the Gold Coast have M12 x 1.5P Goretex vents for $13 which severne reckon should be replaced every 2-3 years if you wanna go that way








Thanks for the link, I just ordered a new Goretex vent for my 8 year old Carbonart. It'll be interesting to see how the old vent looks, this board is the only board I use for slapping so it has had it's fair share of use.



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"Goretex automatic vent testing" started by Mark _australia