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TECH HIGHLIGHT: THE VENT SCREW WHEN TRAVELLING BY PLANE
Should you remove the vent screw from your board when travelling by plane?
The vent screw on our boards is automatic and should only be unscrewed in very special cases, such as travelling by plane. See our recommendations below.
Good to know: The principle of a vent screw on a full-sandwich board (like our wing, SUP, kite or surf foil boards) is to equalize the board's internal pressure with atmospheric pressure. The air trapped inside the board can expand or contract in response to significant variations in temperature or altitude. If the internal pressure becomes too high or too low in relation to the external pressure, this can cause deformation or structural damage.
The vent screw: automatic but limited action
GONG boards are equipped with an automatic venting screw, featuring a membrane that lets air escape to balance pressure variations, especially during changes in temperature or atmospheric pressure (as in an airplane).
However, this membrane has a limited flow rate. This means that in the event of rapid pressure variations, such as those encountered during a flight or very high heat exposure in a vehicle, it may not be fast enough to evacuate all the necessary air, which can create excess pressure.
Also, it's important to note that a screw can become clogged and be less effective at doing its job. The consequences are thus quite random.
Why remove the screw when on a plane?
The main risk of not removing the screw before a flight is not an immediate explosion of the board (fortunately!), but rather progressive damage to the board's internal structure.
Repeated micro-shocks can weaken the bonding and cause invisible damage, reducing the board's durability over the long term.
While this type of damage may go unnoticed in the short term, it could have an impact on the strength of your board in 5 or 10 years' time.
Recommendations for air travel
We therefore recommend removing the vent screw during plane transport to avoid any risk of internal overpressure. It's a simple precaution that can prevent future delamination problems.
Once you've reached your destination, remember to reinstall the screw before returning to the water to avoid any water infiltration. And remember to have a spare screw 😉
Why might opinions differ?
The tips of some pro riders may be biased by the fact that they regularly change their equipment. They have fewer constraints on long-term durability. On the other hand, a rider who wants to keep his equipment for several years has every interest in maximizing the longevity of his board by following factory recommendations that have a long-term perspective.
In short: yes, we recommend unscrewing the vent screw before a flight to avoid any risk of over-pressurization, even if the membrane is there to manage small variations in pressure. This ensures maximum long-term preservation of the board.
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Vent Screw
This de-pressurization screw cap can be used for GONG boards after 2011.
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1 comment
Beaucoup plus simple et bien mieux sur le tres long terme = ne pas prendre l’avion.
Sinon il y a l’option GONGflable – tres bien aussi = plus facile à l’embarquement – bonnes performances sur le spot …