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Goretex automatic vent testing

Created by Mark _australia Mark _australia  > 9 months ago, 12 Apr 2025
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Mark _australia
Mark _australia

WA

23526 posts

30 Apr 2025 10:43am
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
obenebo

NSW

56 posts

30 Apr 2025 12:46pm
Select to expand quote


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
fangman

WA

1906 posts

30 Apr 2025 3:54pm
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
Stretchy

WA

1045 posts

1 May 2025 2:01pm
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
needsalt

NSW

385 posts

3 May 2025 9:35am
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
obenebo

NSW

56 posts

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

SA

4177 posts

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




ptsf1111
ptsf1111

WA

506 posts

29 Aug 2025 12:28pm
So the board lasted 15 years regardless? Not bad so maybe this is not so much of an issue.
decrepit
decrepit

WA

12802 posts

29 Aug 2025 1:04pm
Select to expand quote
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
lemat

188 posts

29 Aug 2025 1:08pm
Select to expand quote
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
ptsf1111

WA

506 posts

30 Aug 2025 10:06am
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
decrepit

WA

12802 posts

30 Aug 2025 11:16am
Select to expand quote
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
Subsonic

WA

3384 posts

30 Aug 2025 2:16pm
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
ptsf1111

WA

506 posts

30 Aug 2025 5:08pm
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
decrepit

WA

12802 posts

30 Aug 2025 5:13pm
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
Mark _australia

WA

23526 posts

30 Aug 2025 5:34pm
Select to expand quote
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
lemat

188 posts

31 Aug 2025 3:27pm
Select to expand quote
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
ducati

QLD

474 posts

1 Dec 2025 12:17pm
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
firiebob

WA

3177 posts

1 Dec 2025 3:02pm
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.
firiebob
firiebob

WA

3177 posts

30 Dec 2025 3:55pm
Thanks Mark

I finally removed the Gore-Tex vent from my 9 year old Carbon Art, it looks perfect to my untrained eye but is difficult to suck/blow air through it, the new vent is easy, I think it must be blocked. I used a Q tip to see if there is any moisture inside and yay there isn't. I think I'll change the vent each year.
Interestingly this board has had mobs of use, spends lots of time on the roof of the cruiser, 46c on the Nullarbor one trip, never rinsed with fresh water except Lake George trips, stored in bag with wet straps and is still in perfect condition, lucky Bob.

Question for those smarter than me, the specs for the original PMF 100320 vent flows air at 450ml/min, the replacement PMF100586 vent from a surfboard shop, that I've now fitted, flows at 4000ml/min. Is this a mistake and I need to source one the same as original ?







SchobiHH
SchobiHH

89 posts

30 Dec 2025 8:51pm
Select to expand quote
Mark _australia said..
So far what I've got from that is they should not be installed where water can pool on them hmmmmm
And they don't suit the size of our larger craft perhaps ... or if they do it's only barely. There's gonna be approaching 50L air in a SUP and even if we say it's much less air, from what I've shown salt completely blocks it so that 4lpm will drop to sweet FA after some use.

they never were designed for our application

Shops saying 'don't touch it' isn't a help. They do need maintenance



I wonder why at gore website you find that case study then, if they were not designed for our use:

www.gore.com/resources/gore-protective-vents-protect-surfboards-damage-sun-sand-and-water
WillyWind
WillyWind

582 posts

31 Dec 2025 1:21am
Select to expand quote
firiebob said..

Question for those smarter than me, the specs for the original PMF 100320 vent flows air at 450ml/min, the replacement PMF100586 vent from a surfboard shop, that I've now fitted, flows at 4000ml/min. Is this a mistake and I need to source one the same as original ?

professional armchair goretex plug expert here. I run into the same issue when replacing my old goretex. I think our boards don't see a lot of air flow through the goretex plugs when heating/cooling, it's more about slow buildup. The biggest fast change in temperature might be when you put the board on the water but in that case the air is shrinking, not expanding. that was my rationale when I put a different goretex in my board and I sleep without fears at night. Plus, in summer we hardly get over 30c :)
firiebob
firiebob

WA

3177 posts

31 Dec 2025 12:09pm
Select to expand quote
WillyWind said..

firiebob said..

Question for those smarter than me, the specs for the original PMF 100320 vent flows air at 450ml/min, the replacement PMF100586 vent from a surfboard shop, that I've now fitted, flows at 4000ml/min. Is this a mistake and I need to source one the same as original ?


professional armchair goretex plug expert here. I run into the same issue when replacing my old goretex. I think our boards don't see a lot of air flow through the goretex plugs when heating/cooling, it's more about slow buildup. The biggest fast change in temperature might be when you put the board on the water but in that case the air is shrinking, not expanding. that was my rationale when I put a different goretex in my board and I sleep without fears at night. Plus, in summer we hardly get over 30c :)


Thanks Willy, if it's just as waterproof I'll be happy, I tend to over think this **
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