Sanding a damaged trailing edge

Reduce the risk of cuts on chipped fibers of the trailing edge by sanding it with a sanding block.

 

The trailing edge and the tips of your front wing or stab are the thinnest parts and therefore the most sensitive to contacts. An unfortunate contact with a rock when launching or in the parking lot can chip the carbon fiber on the trailing edge.

We offer a sanding block for trailing edges of front wings, stabs and masts of all brands which allows you to sand a damaged part cleanly, safely and at a perfect angle. This angle will also reduce potential whistling and improve speed.

 

The GONG sanding block

The sanding surface is inclined at 30° to bevel your trailing edge from the underside of your front wing or your stab, as well as your mast. Impossible to mess up the angle, this tool is super easy to use. A tool as simple as it is essential.

Its ergonomic shape perfectly protects the fingers of the hand during sanding to avoid cutting yourself on the foil during handling.

The 30° bevel will allow you to create a Donaldson trailing edge if your foil is too flat. This will attenuate the whistling of a noisy foil.

The hand sanding block is equipped with an EVA coating which will avoid leaving marks on the foil during sanding. It comes with 2 discs of 25mm grain P180, easily changeable thanks to the velcro present on the tool. Sanding discs are standard and sold in tool stores.

Soften a trailing edge

If you think your trailing edge is too sharp, you can sand it lightly to soften it. Wing foiling has entered an era of performance at all levels. A few years ago, a whistling foil was not a big deal because it was not sharp. Now it is considered a defect by the majority of customers. Their expectations have evolved towards more silence and glide. We adapt to it with an adequate finish. But this must be handled with care, or softened.

If you want to do so, you must sand it with an angle of 90% to erase the part you consider to be too sharp and make a square edge on the trailing edge. A few passes with a sand block are enough to clearly soften the sharpness of the trailing edge.

Be careful with excessive sanding which could profoundly modify the shape. On the other hand, there are no restrictions on sanding because our trailing edges are full. You are sanding a noble material. During this operation, be sure to use a sand block and gloves because one clumsy pass is enough to cause a cut!

Regular maintenance should be done on the trailing edges and your foil wings in general. First to remove all the splinters and snags which are the worst danger. Then to smooth it in order to maintain its glide. A black tinted polyester putty is sufficient for 95% of scratches and other snags. Remember to finish with fine grain at 90° to the water flow for better glide (wet sand in 1000 to 5000).

Note that if this light sanding reduces the risk of cuts when handling a very thin profile on land, it does not protect you against more violent contact when launching in the waves or wiping out. In the event of a violent fall on the foil, whatever the finish of the trailing edges, the risk of cutting will be approximately the same.

On the other hand, making the sharp end of a less than one millimeter thick trailing edge flat greatly reduces the risk of cuts during handling, when the foil slips out of your hands for example. But if you hit your head on it while diving into the trunk of your car, the cut will be almost obligatory. So only cautious behavior will protect you. Attention.

Concerning the finish with a Donaldson trailing edge in imitation quarter round or beveled at 30°, quite frankly it is impossible to tell the difference on the water and on the risk of cuts. Both suppress noise provided the trailing edge is less than a millimeter thick with this finish. You understand that with the violence of the shocks, below the millimeter everything is sharp and dangerous. Protect yourself. Do not put yourself in danger to avoid a whistle or to gain 0.5 knots.

Foiling is an extreme sport which involves risks no matter what. Serious accidents are fortunately rare but small cuts are not exceptional. We therefore invite you to be careful and equip yourself seriously. A wetsuit is a good protection against cuts and we recommend the use of a helmet, an impact vest and booties.

USAGE PRECAUTIONS

Sanding the trailing edge of your foil can make it very sharp. The probability of cutting yourself on contact with your trailing edge could be greatly increased. You must exercise the utmost caution. Never take unnecessary risks: a whistle is better than a cut. This tool is mainly intended for the repair of your foil, not to make it dangerous. Wear the appropriate protection when going out at sea. Keep in mind that a foil can also cause injuries on land, so handle it with care. The risk of cutting your hand when sanding the foil is real, be careful when using the hand sanding block by putting your fingers where they need to be, and do not put excessive effort into the tool. Sanding a foil is irreversible, be careful not to remove too much material at once. Excessive sanding will result in delamination of the trailing edge. It is recommended to lightly sand your foil and repeat the operation if you deem it necessary. Despite the presence of an EVA patch, the presence of sand or dirt will scratch your foil, be sure to use the product only on clean foils, ideally rinsed before sanding.

DISCLAIMER AGREEMENT

In return for the purchase and/or use of this GONG product, you acknowledge having read and understood the information and instructions mentioned above and you accept the following terms of this contract, to the maximum extent permitted by the law, either:

• To waive all present and future claims against GONG SUP 1 SARL, or one of its agents, resulting from the use of this product and any of its components.
• To release GONG SUP 1 SARL, or one of its agents, from any liability in the event of loss, damage, injury or expense that you, a relative or any other user of this product may have to bear and resulting from the use of this product, and this whatever the cause, including the negligence or the non-respect of this contract by GONG SUP 1 SARL, or one of its agents, relative to the design or the manufacture of this product.

In the event of the death or incapacity of the buyer, this agreement will remain effective and binding on his heirs, relatives, executors, administrators, assigns and representatives. By using the GONG product, you assume and accept all risk of known and unknown injury to you or any third party while using this equipment. The risks associated with this sport can be considerably reduced by respecting the safety and use instructions and by exercising common sense.