Let's talk about foiling

[adam2]

Hi Rich,

I have just been using marine grease for the last three years, it has been just fine. I apply it twice a year. I also back off all the bolts once I get off the water, which I think is just as important. I haven't had any issues.

[Mike]

Hi Rich,

I have just been using marine grease for the last three years, it has been just fine. I apply it twice a year. I also back off all the bolts once I get off the water, which I think is just as important. I haven't had any issues.

Do you also back out or remove the wing screws each session or leave that assembled?

I've left my kite foil greased and fully assembled without problems (checked recently). Mind you I've used it about 3 times in the last 2 years so not really a valid indication.

[adam2]

Hi Mike! I am loosening the bolts half a turn or so. I figure this way if the grease doesn't do its job I can still get things apart. I guarantee if I disassembled things each time I would lose bolts or crossthread something.

[JonathanP]

I left my slingshot wing assembled for a few months at a time. Bolts smeared with marine grease came loose fine, but the fuselage was a little tricky to pull out of the wing though. So might want to check that your parts can still release every once in a while. One trick to loosening bolts that might be seized is to actually tighten them a tiny bit before trying to loosen. That way you can break the bolt free without stripping it in the loosening direction.

[john m]

I have had problems breaking loose the mast to fuselage bolts if I waited too long to loosen them.The front wing bolts need to checked for tightness but don’t over tighten because the front wing bolts will bottom out in the mast cap and strip the threads.

[Richi]

Thanks for the advice guys, sounds like I will stick with the marine grease, I didn’t really want to shell out $40 for one ounce of tef-gel. I will definitely crack all bolts half a turn every session, seems like a smart maintenance routine. Cheers, rich

[telus022420]

I use Teflon tape and petroleum jelly/Vaseline on all screws. PJ on the wing/fuse connection points. Wing screws loosen one turn.
Take mast and fuse apart. For SS water gets trapped inside the mast.
Rise with water hose after each use.

[shmish]

If any of you figure out who I am and catch me at the beach, I can give you some tefgel for your bolts if you’d like. I have a lot and I suspect one coat will last a long time. It seems quite tenacious.
Doug

[shmish]

Tuesday morning at Jericho might be ok for foiling, I’ll be there if the forecast holds. I’ll be the one mostly in the water, or the one just about to fall in the water.

[Michael]

First flights behind the boat today. Plus my son and daughter trying out their new board.