Does anyone take there vent screw out between use ? I read some advice and it mentions hot countries I live in the UK and havent bothered.
Not just hot, but the difference of around 35 degrees.
And sea level to above 3,000 feet.
Boards inside a vehicle.
If I sailed at sea level I would probably not take out.it could deteriorate without being removed. And then leak.
imwould check every now and again.
Slightly off topic, but how tight should you have the vent plug screwed in? How do you know when it's just right? Is there much margin for error?
Too tight will stuff the o-ring, just firm should do it.
Wether it's necessary or not is a lottery. If the core foam is fatigued by pounding in chop, or there's a dry layup. It doesn't take much pressure to start a delam happening, once there's even a small bubble of air in there, just taking it for a sail will squash that bubble out making a bigger delam, before you know it the whole bottom has bubbled off.
I think it's safer to err on the side of caution and undo it after every sail, and do it up before sailing. No matter the temperature or pressure difference
I had one of my boards delaminate after being in a board bag on a hot day in the sun all day as the vent screw was in. Since then, I always remove the screw when not on the water. If there happen to be any moisture in the board, it will air out if you're not in a humid climate.
Select to expand quoteMagicRide said..
I had one of my boards delaminate after being in a board bag on a hot day in the sun all day as the vent screw was in. Since then, I always remove the screw when not on the water. If there happen to be any moisture in the board, it will air out if you're not in a humid climate.
The only season I didn't loosen the vent screw, one of my boards delaminated, so I went back to loosening them.
I have never taken vent screw out in 20 years , but I noticed two of my board say to it on them?
I did some googling and it looked like it was more for hot countries and air planes, but I keep my boards in car now and in a -3 dc garage so maybe should start doing it
Or high altitude. Since I am forever driving up over 5,000 feet to get to some venues, I always loosen the vent screw.
always remove in hotflorida, always store vent screw in used plastic vitamin jar "with" the fin screws so it always falls in my hand when inverting jar to get fin screws.
