Just got a new board, putting the foot straps on and heard a loud crick as I tightened the last bit.
It's got the plastic non twist plates on it (the ones that have locator pins through the other two holes on either end of the foot strap) I'm guessing what I heard was related to the the molded plastic, maybe an excess bit being broken off as things moved against it.

But new board nerves have got me wondering, how deep is a foot strap insert? They give plenty of space for the screw right? Using the supplied screws of course. I tend to get the screws in as tight as possible with a screwdriver, then retighten again after a couple of sails once the foam has compressed.

I'm being stupid right?

Could always take the screw out, stick something down the hole until it hits the bottom then compair that to the length of your screw minus washers, webbing etc

Good thinking, i'll give that a go

Sounds like the insert could have cracked, have you checked the diameter of the hole (you can test with a drill bit) compared to the screw.
ive cracked one once and then noticed the the insert holes on that particular board is not as wide as the standard 5mm.

Use a toothpick, measure then you deduct (roughly) strap + washer thickness then you know what length screw to use. Usually they are quite deep.

Sometimes they have dirt, be sure to clean them and check each hole. They can be different!

Standard is 23mm so they are actually not deep enough. You only need good pad compression and dispense with the washer and ur in danger

15mm of screw in the hole is enough if it's the right screw and allows for 5mm pad to squash

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Mark _australia said..
Standard is 23mm so they are actually not deep enough. You only need good pad compression and dispense with the washer and ur in danger

15mm of screw in the hole is enough if it's the right screw and allows for 5mm pad to squash

Thanks Mark. What do they usually put down the bottom to seal it? Something that would give way easily? Or would it give some resistance?

it's a new board, so hasn't got wet yet, but it does have a goretex vent (my only gripe with an otherwise awesome board) so i'd hate to find out in the middle of summer that its cracked open and taken some water the hard way.

www.surfsailaustralia.com.au/product/4-hole-adjustable-foot-strap-inserts#surf-sail-clothing-hardware
Chinook Sailing 5-Hole Micro Adjust Footstrap Insert: - 52. 5 x 12. 5 x 24. 5 mm -

That's out side height, hopefully the bottom is 1mm thick

Ok, so after all that pretty sure i found the source of the crick. The plastic non twist plate has a split down one side

easy fixed problem everything considered

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powersloshin said..
www.surfsailaustralia.com.au/product/4-hole-adjustable-foot-strap-inserts#surf-sail-clothing-hardware
Chinook Sailing 5-Hole Micro Adjust Footstrap Insert: - 52. 5 x 12. 5 x 24. 5 mm -

Almost all inserts are the 1" deep as above. That's external internal is 23mm deep holes

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Mark _australia said..

powersloshin said..
www.surfsailaustralia.com.au/product/4-hole-adjustable-foot-strap-inserts#surf-sail-clothing-hardware
Chinook Sailing 5-Hole Micro Adjust Footstrap Insert: - 52. 5 x 12. 5 x 24. 5 mm -

Almost all inserts are the 1" deep as above. That's external internal is 23mm deep holes

So... if you strip a thread , don't go a longer screw. I think it's totally OK to go up the next size stainless wood screw. Grind the sharp end off.You may need to drill the hole out 1 mm smaller than the screw. It will still fit through the plastic foot strap end plates. I've done this on old flogged boards and never had a problem. I know ideally a plastic thread screw has a wider thread pitch. But a 6 mm wood screw will have more strength than a 5 mm plastic perfect screw. Nerd, I can't help it.
Ps, I've cracked those way too tight double plate and pin things from Starboard. Why are they so tight , they don't have to be ? Id bet my left one that if you tried to seperate them on a set of straps with a screwdriver or something , that you would at least break one , if not two. Still best straps in the business .
Pps, I've always wondered what happens at those overseas hire centres when they constantly change foot strap positions. Cos , when screwing into plastic plugs , you're cutting into the plastic, not following a thread. So after a few goes the hole has to be munted. What do they do ?

Not gonna help much now but I never over tighten vents or strap screws. Someone who knows more than me warned me against this due to cracking the plastic.
If you are worried you could inject resin an redrill

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Gestalt said..
Not gonna help much now but I never over tighten vents or strap screws. Someone who knows more than me warned me against this due to cracking the plastic.
If you are worried you could inject resin an redrill

You make your own boards . Double screw plugs are the bees knees. Finger tight

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Gestalt said..
Not gonna help much now but I never over tighten vents or strap screws. Someone who knows more than me warned me against this due to cracking the plastic.
If you are worried you could inject resin an redrill

After this little adventure i can see where you're coming from. But the anti twist plates kinda need to be down tight to do their thing.

Am such a tight arse I'm using singles.

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Subsonic said..

Gestalt said..
Not gonna help much now but I never over tighten vents or strap screws. Someone who knows more than me warned me against this due to cracking the plastic.
If you are worried you could inject resin an redrill

After this little adventure i can see where you're coming from. But the anti twist plates kinda need to be down tight to do their thing.

Agree. So I just don't do the last turn or use a drill with low torque

I wish they would insert mould with a brass M6 insert. You would never have an issue....

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Imax1 said..
Pps, I've always wondered what happens at those overseas hire centres when they constantly change foot strap positions. Cos , when screwing into plastic plugs , you're cutting into the plastic, not following a thread. So after a few goes the hole has to be munted. What do they do ?

Aren't a lot of boards relying on the anti-twist thingoes, so the actual screw is not under that much tension?

I suspect that even though the screws are biting into the plastic the first time around that the next time you thread it back in, the screw finds the thread created the first time and follows that. I.e. not biting in to create a new thread each time.

I used to be annoyed by twisting straps and then I fitted my favorite boards with new inserts and used two (smaller) screws in each strap end. Suddenly twisting was not an issue. Who would have thought!

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FormulaNova said..

Imax1 said..
Pps, I've always wondered what happens at those overseas hire centres when they constantly change foot strap positions. Cos , when screwing into plastic plugs , you're cutting into the plastic, not following a thread. So after a few goes the hole has to be munted. What do they do ?

Aren't a lot of boards relying on the anti-twist thingoes, so the actual screw is not under that much tension?

I suspect that even though the screws are biting into the plastic the first time around that the next time you thread it back in, the screw finds the thread created the first time and follows that. I.e. not biting in to create a new thread each time.

I used to be annoyed by twisting straps and then I fitted my favorite boards with new inserts and used two (smaller) screws in each strap end. Suddenly twisting was not an issue. Who would have thought!

I hear what you're sayin. However..as much as I think I have a lady's touch , gently following a plastic thread insertion with a hand held screwdriver, with deft touch that romantic novels are made of , this is not what I think happens in this situation with a power drill , shoving it in with gay abandon. Those plugs have got to feel at best slutty.

Metal treaded inserts 2 at each end, machine screws and all problems solved. This is how my board where 30years ago and never had an issue. The starboard system on my ultra sonic seems to work ok, after much messing around I got the one on my fox to stay put but my falcon was a rear pain.

Cos I'm an engineering nerd , double plugs seem obvious. But single screw twisting straps form to your feet. As long as they don't let go , it's probably better. The thing is , sometimes they can unthread themselves. No one has time to check those screws every six months.

Double inserts with Torx screws is the ideal. The Starboard system is an okay second best and they are now shipping with Torx.
I've heard that the metal inserts had issues with grit and salt jamming them but I agree they'd be a sweet option.

Flikka uses metal inserts.