As sophisticated as the foils are today, the screw connections still appear to be problematic. Sometimes the screws can no longer be loosened and tear off when force is applied. Even worse is the result when screws shake loose unnoticed and you lose parts or even the whole foil, but the worst trouble can be avoided with a few tricks.
Teflon tricks
Wherever different metal parts are joined together, so-called "galvanic corrosion" occurs. This is a chemical process that repeatedly ensures that the screw connections on foils can no longer be loosened after a short time. Especially those who like to leave the wings mounted on the fuselage to save time and only remove the foil mast after surfing run the risk of the screw connections from the wings to the fuselage corroding after a few weeks.
But this problem can be prevented by treating the contact surfaces - i.e. screws and threads - accordingly.
Normal lubricants such as the well-known WD-40 are less suitable for use with foils and are also harmful to the environment. Viscous Teflon gels, on the other hand, are ideal. Before assembly, simply dip the screws in the grease and then screw them into the thread. The contact surfaces of the steel screws to the thread are now wetted by the gel, which largely prevents "galvanic corrosion". Some manufacturers supply an appropriate gel with their foils. If this is not the case with your foil, you can obtain a suitable product from Tikal, for example. Another alternative that has proven itself for use in water sports is the copper gel from Ballistol.
Teflon tape is also recommended. This wafer-thin tape can be wrapped around the thread of the screw before screwing it in.
Protected in this way, the screws should still be easy to loosen even after a long period of time. However, to be on the safe side, you should also try loosening greased screws every few weeks and apply new gel or Teflon tape from time to time.
On the left tour
It also happens time and again that screws shake loose, for example at the connection between the foil mast and the plate. As a result, the screws bend and eventually break off. The greatest danger here is that you lose parts of the foil. The following therefore applies: Check screw connections regularly and replace bent screws immediately!
If a screw is torn off, there is usually a part stuck in the thread. Unscrewing this is difficult, especially if the screw was bent and is very tight in the thread. However, with the right know-how and a screw extractor with a left-hand thread, you can get your foil ready for the next session within 30 minutes. You can find out how to do this below.
You will need the following for the repair:
- Vice
- Drill with metal drill bits
- Pliers
- Screw extractor - these are available as a set from DIY stores. Cost: 10-25 euros
Manuel Vogel
Editor surf
