I have a Fanatic Blast and I'm having a hard time tightening the footstraps. I think the fanatic system is probably similar to several other brands. The straps have a single bolt on each end, and each end has an anti-rotate plate. It's a plastic plate with a bunch of bumps/spikes around the screw hole that grab onto the board's foam deck. I've been really aggressive tightening the screws and the straps still rotate quite easily. I've never had a problem like this, I'm already applying way more torque than I've had to on other boards. Removing the straps indicate that the bumps/spikes aren't digging into the foam very much. One possible problem might be that the screw doesn't go through the anti rotate plate freely so while the screw is tightening in the board, the plate isn't necessarily being pressed down enough (similar to what can happen when screwing two wooden boards together without having a free running pilot hole in the top board).

This can't be rocket science but I don't want to mess with it too much for fear of rounding the philips head or stripping/damaging the threaded insert in the board. There must be a common set of steps that people use when installing straps like these, other than just putting the screw in and tightening the heck out of it.

thanks

I had a similar issue with a fanatic footstrap a few weeks back, one end of a footstrap wouldn't tighten. I undid the screw so it was just out of the hole and pushed down hard as I screwed it back in. After a few attempts the strap was tight, not sure why ?

The screws are generally a tight fit through everything, but they should ultimately be able to rotate in the footstrap when they bottom out. Never had one refuse to do it.


I always make sure the screw is sticking out the bottom of the foot strap as well before lining them up on the board. Failing that, maybe you have the wrong length of screw and its bottoming out on the bottom of the insert in the board. Definitely worth checking before forcing it.

Get a bigger screw driver, if it's as tight as it goes, the screw is too long, put a couple of stainless washers on and try again, or get slightly shorter screws.

Check the depth of the plug with a matchstick, its not unheard of that they arent deep enough, it happened to a fried of mine with his Falcon a couple of years ago.
Put the screw all the way through the anti-twist plate (if you use it) and footstrap before screwing it into the board. If it is tight fit you could end up turning the screw and it not going deeper into the board ruining the plug.
My old 2009 falcon didnt have anti-twist plates with spikes, just a rectangular plate which is enough. My Exocet dealer told me they sometimes break and its hard to get the bits out of the plug the tab sits in. So I dont use those, just the plate and its fine.

Also, do this if reusing a plug, 45 seconds into the video

For single-screw footstraps like that I always switch to square-drive screws. The square driver fits down into them deep enough that they never slip or round out the holes. Also, I can then really cinch them down hard so that they never twist.

Torx is good for this, too.

It means, of course, that you have to find the screws and driver. That requires some effort and patience. Up here in the Pacific NW of USA, the best source for this is Tacoma Screw.

I had same problem with fanatic and felt the screw was too long..so shortened it a ml or two with grinder which allowed me to tighten one more turn or two and problem solved .no more twist...

In going to order 100 footstrap screws in Torx drive and convert all of my boards.
Ideally I wanted them to be the same size as my foil (T30) but not it seems that T20 or possibly T25 is what's available. Either way that will give me a much better ability to move them around without stripping.

Severne hex4 are great. Philips head screws are always a pain unless you have the right size driver

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Grantmac said..
In going to order 100 footstrap screws in Torx drive and convert all of my boards.
Ideally I wanted them to be the same size as my foil (T30) but not it seems that T20 or possibly T25 is what's available. Either way that will give me a much better ability to move them around without stripping.

Have you found a supplier? My footstraps screws look to be M7 self tapping, very different from my older boards that have metal inserts and take machine screws.

Plenty more here: windsurfing.lepicture.com/tips-and-tricks/

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shmish said..

Grantmac said..
In going to order 100 footstrap screws in Torx drive and convert all of my boards.
Ideally I wanted them to be the same size as my foil (T30) but not it seems that T20 or possibly T25 is what's available. Either way that will give me a much better ability to move them around without stripping.

Have you found a supplier? My footstraps screws look to be M7 self tapping, very different from my older boards that have metal inserts and take machine screws.

They are thread forming screws specifically for plastic:
www.mcmaster.com/torx-thread-forming-screws/stainless-steel-torx-rounded-head-thread-forming-screws-for-plastic/

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Grantmac said..

shmish said..

Grantmac said..
In going to order 100 footstrap screws in Torx drive and convert all of my boards.
Ideally I wanted them to be the same size as my foil (T30) but not it seems that T20 or possibly T25 is what's available. Either way that will give me a much better ability to move them around without stripping.

Have you found a supplier? My footstraps screws look to be M7 self tapping, very different from my older boards that have metal inserts and take machine screws.

They are thread forming screws specifically for plastic:
www.mcmaster.com/torx-thread-forming-screws/stainless-steel-torx-rounded-head-thread-forming-screws-for-plastic/

Too bad McMaster doesn't have the right screws. To fit most Cobra built boards what you need ideally is M6X30 Torx in A4/316 SS .... like hens teeth. Closest I have found are only available in 18/8 A2.

Boards don't use M6 for footstraps, that's a machine screw size.

It's a shame that phillips head screws are still so commonly used. As I understand it they were developed for assembly-line work to intentionally cam out so as not to over-torque (before driver clutches were developed). I moved on to square heads, but now Torx/Star drive are even better.

Try correct Phillip's bits.
Wrong size torque or hex won't work at all. I've installed thousands of ph footstrap screws and never had a problem.

Seems Starboard is going torx for all screws in 2021 (fin/vent/straps)
Clever move

Hex would be even better. Everyone's got a 4mm hex laying around somewhere

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Ben1973 said..
Hex would be even better. Everyone's got a 4mm hex laying around somewhere

Hex you get a bit more life out of. but when the head strips, it strips properly. you have to drill it out to remove it. At least with a phillips head it only strips in one direction.

I can't say ive ever had necessity to move a set of footstraps more than three times. Once i've found the correct spot thats it. Phillips head is fine for that when you use the right size driver.


but if you like to change their position around for tuning, i'd use a torx head.

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Subsonic said..

Ben1973 said..
Hex would be even better. Everyone's got a 4mm hex laying around somewhere

Hex you get a bit more life out of. but when the head strips, it strips properly. you have to drill it out to remove it. At least with a phillips head it only strips in one direction.

I can't say ive ever had necessity to move a set of footstraps more than three times. Once i've found the correct spot thats it. Phillips head is fine for that when you use the right size driver.


but if you like to change their position around for tuning, i'd use a torx head.

You can slot the head and use a flat screw driver, superglue/epoxy the tool in the head, pair of grips on the outside of the head or worse case left handed drill bit. same works with torx but only the slotting way works with philips.

also can't slip out of hex or torx and put the tool through whatever your tightening.

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seanhogan said..
Seems Starboard is going torx for all screws in 2021 (fin/vent/straps)
Clever move

Very smart move. Hopefully T30 driver like their foils.

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Grantmac said..
Boards don't use M6 for footstraps, that's a machine screw size.

Yes I meant 6mm ... I deal w/allot of machine screws so always have those on the brain... I believe the Cobra standard(s) are actually Delta PT 6mm x 28/30/32mm, Though I hear some of the double screw boards are using Delta PT 5mm.

I lost my screwdriver and almost purchased a #2 Philips head, it didn't look right, then I found the #3 Philips screwdriver and it fits the screws on my board perfectly.

The screw was too long for the insert. I had a nylon washer kicking around that I put under the screw head and once I did that, the strap tightened no problems. Unfortunately the washer was squished pretty easily and I don't have any more of them.


The washer size required is pretty odd. OD=13 mm, ID=7mm, and about 3mm thick. The closest I could get locally was still too big on the OD, but it works nonetheless.



I ended up 3D printing a set of washers with ABS. They fit well and I'll see how long they last.









For what it's worth, I've been removing/adding my back footstraps as I switch between foil and fin. I'm hoping to soon have a set position for them in the back and then I won't have to touch the straps again.

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shmish said..

Grantmac said..
In going to order 100 footstrap screws in Torx drive and convert all of my boards.
Ideally I wanted them to be the same size as my foil (T30) but not it seems that T20 or possibly T25 is what's available. Either way that will give me a much better ability to move them around without stripping.

Have you found a supplier? My footstraps screws look to be M7 self tapping, very different from my older boards that have metal inserts and take machine screws.

I use 304SS M6 30 hexagon socket button head self tapping screws, available on Aliexpress for US$4 for a lack of 10. Might take 4-6 weeks to arrive from China

www.aliexpress.com/item/32920019122.html

Self tapping is the wrong thread type for footstrap inserts. It will work but isn't as strong.
Probably okay for double inserts.