Appreciate help strapping a 4'5" 32L Casey Pilot that came without inserts. Takes months to get freight to where I am, and its tradewind season now, so macgyver it is.
Thinking of using DIY stick-on strap plates - M6 hex nuts embedded into a thin resin/chopped roving/Qcel plate mold.
Figure I start using those 3M adhesive pads gopro mounts come with to move things round til just right, then Sika the plates on once positioned nicely, that way easy enuf to move/remove later.
The board is their 'Vapor' lightweight build, so once placement sorted will put a two layers of 4oz underfoot and the plates. Unable to bag it, but will sponge out excess resin and compress the layup,, try keep things light and tight.
Lifetime of wavesailing & towsurf experience with straps, and realise once strapped the temptation to pop airs and destroy 4kg board is strong, but main objective is to be able to pop the tiny board up, and to control board & foil when winging top-to-bottom down the line reef pass waves. Have a 5'11" Carver to cruise strapless on and for the light stuff.
32L for 80kg rider tiny for winging i realise, but can't afford another board, and using this board for towing and prone so real familiar with it on those same waves.
Any advice from someone who's tried this, greatly appreciated. thanks!

I've really hammered on my vapor builds and while I wouldn't say you have absolutely nothing to worry about, I'd also say you don't need to be afraid of it. They are still far beefier than some standard production models out there!

If you're proficient with resin and q-cell why not put proper inserts in? If it's the freight time go get chinook style 5 hole blocks, find a dead windsurfer to take them from? (Board .. not person )

Use NSI stick on inserts, theyre great. I find the 3m adhesive pad they come with strong enough but if in doubt, use 2 part epoxy adhesive.

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Mark _australia said..
If you're proficient with resin and q-cell why not put proper inserts in? If it's the freight time go get chinook style 5 hole blocks, find a dead windsurfer to take them from? (Board .. not person )

thanks Mark! yep, bit of work drilling resin and q-cel out of those old inserts, but come in bloody handy for towboard strap setups
am going with stick-on solution to nail the trial+error in locating the straps on this little Pilot. Might go with inserts once sorted, but sika/fixtech does stick like **** to a blanket on fresh epoxy, and can just slice off if change mind.

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Mikedubs said..
Use NSI stick on inserts, theyre great. I find the 3m adhesive pad they come with strong enough but if in doubt, use 2 part epoxy adhesive.

thanks Mike, good to hear those NSI plates work, actually used that design as template. Would take months to get them here from overseas.
DIY actually real easy, cut up old carbon freedive fin blade for the plate, M6 SS nuts lying around, chop up some glass fibres, dump the epoxy resin on, tidy up with dremel, voila!