Stuck IQ foil vertical/mast

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Created by

dohertpk > 9 months ago, 15 May 2021

dohertpk

41 posts

15 May 2021 5:13am

Hi
The vertical section/mast of my IQ foil has become stuck in my Starboard Foil 147. It's a deep tuttle box. Two questions: 1) How do I get it out and 2) how do I stop it happening again? Thanks!

Both screws removed?
Board foil up, step on bottom of board just in front of finbox, rock the foil front to back and lift at the same time.
Did it loosen?
I don't believe in leaving both screws in 7+ threads and tapping the heads with a rubber mallet ot LIGHTLY with a hammer, but I've seen that done.

LeeD

3939 posts

15 May 2021 5:29am

Last resort...go sailing with both screws just loosened ONE turn. Foiling rocks the boxhead and should loosen.

dohertpk

41 posts

15 May 2021 5:40am

There's a bit of play when I rock it back and forth, but it's impossible to get out. It's been getting stickier the past few outings and I can't figure out why. I rinse everything after every sail. I'd be worried that I'd damage the thread in the vertical if I tap the screws with a hammer.

LeeD

3939 posts

15 May 2021 5:52am

I don't like the hammer idea, but I've seen it done by almost pro level sailors.
If you got play, squirter water in gap, step on bottom, and continue rocking forward and back, pulling upward at the same time.
How hard was it to install? Takes as much to remove.

LeeD

3939 posts

15 May 2021 5:55am

Oh, do you have experience with tuttle box fins?
Lots of times, they need sanding on the sides to slip on and off with SOME friction, but not much...

dohertpk

41 posts

15 May 2021 5:59am

I've no experience with sanding them really. Is there a technique to sanding them? I seem to recall someone mentioned once mentioned about rubbing chalk on the head of the fin to see where it's catching. What kind of grit should I use?

LeeD

3939 posts

15 May 2021 6:20am

80 grit on a flat block, sides only, check it after 20 strokes
Did you get it out?

Swindy

456 posts

15 May 2021 8:30am

Before you sand it, try it in again with some lube. I use lanolin grease.
That is assuming you got it out yet.
80grit is quite aggressive so go easy on any sanding if you use it. If the head went in the box all the way without breaking anything it probably only needs a fraction taken off.

LeeD

3939 posts

15 May 2021 9:24am

I would lube with water.
Light, circular sanding strokes.
Should be easy wiggle push in fit.

Sandman1221

2776 posts

15 May 2021 10:29am

spray WD40 into the box around the stuck head (board bottom facing up), let sit overnight, then wiggle loose in am. Next, lightly lube head with silicone grease before inserting, do that for a while until it comes out easily, then stop lubing it.

Steve Charles

QLD

1240 posts

15 May 2021 4:24pm

Coconut oil is good for when you put it back in. When you get it out you will need to lightly sand the head as Leed said. Use a sanding block too.

RuddeBos

136 posts

15 May 2021 3:07pm

There may be some carbon grit / dust in your box which is binding the 2 parts together...similar to when your 2 part mast decides to bond itself together.
When I wiggle my mast in the out of the board, there's a bit of water + carbon that comes out.
it sounds as though the faces of the Tuttle head are just too tight in the box.

dohertpk

41 posts

15 May 2021 5:00pm

Thanks all. Heading out for another session today. Bringing the mallet and some WD40.

dohertpk

41 posts

16 May 2021 2:13am

WD40 and lots of cursing got the job done.

Sandman1221

2776 posts

16 May 2021 7:28am

Select to expand quote

dohertpk said..
WD40 and lots of cursing got the job done.

good to hear, now keep 'er lubed

Searoamer

NSW

301 posts

16 May 2021 11:44am

Sanding until tight, then McLube Sailkote spray is miraculous, head slides out where before it need a sharp jolt

RuddeBos

136 posts

16 May 2021 4:05pm

Would recommend mclube, rather than wd40

ZeroVix

366 posts

16 May 2021 8:47pm

Select to expand quote

RuddeBos said..
Would recommend mclube, rather than wd40

Or Dupont Teflon non stick dry film lubricant.

segler

1658 posts

16 May 2021 11:24pm

+1 for the McLube. That's what the Sailworks crew uses.

Sandman1221

2776 posts

16 May 2021 11:40pm

Select to expand quote

Peter Hands said..
Sanding until tight, then McLube Sailkote spray is miraculous, head slides out where before it need a sharp jolt

From what I can see, McLube is PTFE, an environmentally harmful long-lived chemical. Silicone grease is not environmentally harmful as far as I know. You are putting it in the water that fish live in, sooner or later you are going to be eating PTFE!

CrazyFoil

10 posts

17 May 2021 1:45am

Try to take it out before you disattach the fuselage. So use the fus to apply more pull power. That helps a lot.

dohertpk

41 posts

17 May 2021 2:49am

All I had to hand was WD40. I'll order some McLube.

Awalkspoiled

533 posts

17 May 2021 3:03am

You can use non-hydrogenated Coconut Oil for almost anything you could use WD-40 for. It's available in grocery stores in spray-cans - intended for cooking but very useful for applications like these. Pretty good natural lubricant for all kinds of things and neither smelly nor harmful.

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