This is a follow up on this thread: www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/vents-the-goretex-change-over

I have an old Carbon Art SL52. It's a great board, fast and gybes well - I love sailing it.
I decided recently that it was feeling a bit heavier and that the Goretex vent plug needed closer inspection. I bit the bullet today and tried to remove it, broke the posts to the top cap immediately, oh well, better pull the whole thing out. Off to Bunnings to find a suitable plug while I stuck the SL52 upside down in the sun.

I found some nice M12 nylon bolts, which I intended to fit with a rubber washer as a conventional plug All was going well, screwed straight in. Tried to screw it out again and something's not quite right, oooh the plastic insert is spinning inside the hull. Bugger! Looks like I should have done this job a while back.

Meanwhile plenty of water seems to be draining out the hole. Hardie, this extra weight is my excuse for you regularly kicking my butt at Liptons (well that's my story and I'm sticking to it )

What's the action plan? I guess the right thing to do is to cut the insert out and fibreglass it back in properly? But being a master at dodgy 2nd rate repair jobs, im wondering if I might get away with something simpler. Plus, the forecast for next Saturday is looking good and I don't want to miss out!

Ideas:
1/ I have some marine epoxy putty, I'm wondering I might secure and seal the insert using that
2/ putty the whole lot up and get it fixed properly in a few weeks time
3/ silastic the whole lot up and get it fixed properly in a few weeks time.
4/ tape it over just to get through the weekend
5/ buy a new board - no forget that, I'm a tightarse.
Any suggestions appreciated?

Anyhow, my message for today is that if you have a goretex plug in your board that's more than a couple of years old, pull it out NOW and replace it with a new one or seal it with a bolt.

See if you can find a design drawing for a Goretex plug just to check that it is not part of the plug still in the board

Select to expand quote

elmo said..
See if you can find a design drawing for a Goretex plug just to check that it is not part of the plug still in the board

Nup, I'm pretty sure it's not. The plug is black, the insert is white with a moulded recess and female thread for the plug. I'll post a photo tomorrow.

Contact James at Carbon Art, he's very helpful and will have the right answers.

Gortex vents are fine for new boards without any water in them. But I've found once wet on the inside, they stop venting!

I'm fairly sure I have a standard plug here, it's a fairly quick fix to swap them over.
If you can't get it to me in time, seal it with the epoxy putty, don't put the vent back in, and don't leave the board in your car in the sun!

Stretch did you ever wonder if your plug was sabotaged, and water deliberately injected into your board while you werent looking? MWA HAHAHAHA

Thanks guys.
i have a plug that will screw into the insert nicely. I just need to get the insert secured and sealed as it is has separated from the deck and foam core. I'll have a go with putty

very funny Joe!

Select to expand quote

Stretchy said..

very funny Joe!

There is no stopping me now, I will do anything to top the speed rankings in the Manbra Mob for 2017, your repair will only be a temporary reprieve, until my next dastardly deed MWA HAHAHA

ok, here's what I did. First of all, disclaimer: this is a dodgey brothers repair, provided only for the amusement of those with real skills who know what I should really be doing.

1/ The vent plug 'insert'. Its just floating in there, I can push it down with my finger against the foam


2/ The Nylon plug and nut for my repair


The nut with epoxy putty, I figured doing it this way, I could push the insert down and get more putty under the skin of the board to lock everything in


The bolt screwed in with a rubber washer and plumbing tape. It sits a bit proud - shouldn't be a problem unless I hit it with my foot going for the back strap. Another option is to rely purely on the plumbers tape and cut the head of the bolt off, cut a slot in what is now a stud to enable removal


Will be interesting to see if this does the job. My next concern is whether my tuttle box is compromised???

Applause now please!

SO, if your putty goes all the way round the plug. Did you drill a hole through to the foam after it set????????????????

I think I'd go for cutting the head off and making a slot in the shaft. Any knock on the bolt may undo all your hard work.

The centre of the plug is clear to drain freely Mike. The photo shows a bit of excess putty that fell in, but I cleared it out with a screwdriver. Yes I might cut the head off