I have an issue with footstrap screws working their way out of their holes. I have tried stuffing matchsticks into the hole and tightening. This seems to work for a while, but eventually the wood seems to soften and give up.

Before I try to source oversize screws, has anyone a suggestion for an alternate solution? I was thinking of maybe plumbers tape applied to the threads, a denser wood, or possibly liquid nails into the hole.

Tips? Thanks.

I haven't tried it , but someone suggested whipper sniper chord . I have no idea if it works and accept no responsibility. Sounds like a good idea and worth a try . It would have to be better than a matchstick. Plumbers tape would be bad because it's Teflon which is a super slippery plastic . Threadlocker or liquid nails , which I am a fan of ,or any of that kind of stuff won't work because nothing sticks to the kind of plastic strap plugs are made of . If your needing a matchstick or something like that , it means your hole is flogged out and really need to go up a size . It's a fix on the beach kind of thing .
I just use the next size up stainless wood screws , they still fit in the recess of those plastic foot strap plates . You may have to slightly increase the hole size in the plug and the clearance hole in the strap plates . I do this with all my boards and never have a problem . Why they don't just come with bigger screws to start with is a matter of 30 gms or so .
Plastic screws have a wider thread pitch which is stronger in plastic , however because of this the thread is on more of an angle making it easier to unscrew itself as the strap twists back and forth . Some boards have those anti twist plastic washers with a lug that goes in the next hole . That stops the strap twisting and unscrewing the screw .
Twin plugs are ace .

#1 I'm assuming you have done this (unless you have starboard)



#2 We need to tighten the screws holding the screw driver as in the photo below:



This lets us squeeze the extra torque needed to keep the screws tight. It needs to be fairly difficult. Then stop! Do it in stages as to not overheat the insert. I prefer not to use any sort of lube to avoid over tightening them and getting the best feel for tightness.

Check for depth, check screw length - strap thickness, clean the hole.

#3 As an absolute last resort, use a larger screw, only if none of the above works.

#4 when enlarged or hurt, I had great success with wall anchors roughened up, epoxied and gently but firmly pressed in. I used a washer below the strap to keep the anchor from riding up as the screw is tightened.

#5 when available, you may use the neighboring hole to add a level of safety by grabbing the corner edge of the strap with a toothed washer.

Stick a drop or two of araldite, or epoxy resin in it. Just a little, then screw the screw in....

I had same issue with brand new Goya. Turned out that plastic anti-twist washer they used with 2021 models are just crap.

So if your washers look like this (www.unifiber.net/windsurf-gear/spare-parts/footstrap-spare-parts/cobra-plastic-anti-twist-washer-m6-set-5825d1b6362e6615c44ecfcb) switch to metal jaw at top (www.tustablas.com/en/windsurf/accessories/footstraps-pads-goya-jaw-footstrap-screw-p-3345.html) and anti-twist washer at bottom (www.tustablas.com/en/windsurf/accessories/footstraps-pads-goya-anti-twist-washer-footstrap-p-3692.html).

That might just do the trick without any extra hassle.

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kalak said..
So if your washers look like this (www.unifiber.net/windsurf-gear/spare-parts/footstrap-spare-parts/cobra-plastic-anti-twist-washer-m6-set-5825d1b6362e6615c44ecfcb)

These ones will work great to reverse and use as in the video linked just above.

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Imax1 said..
. . . suggested whipper sniper chord .. . .

Thanks, all, for the advice. I put a short piece of whipper snipper cord in each screw hole, and it seems to be nice and snug now.

Can elaborate on the procedure ?