Variations in internal pressure due to temperature (stored in the car on a sunny day) or environmental variations (air travel, etc.) can quickly lead to major delamination problems. To avoid this phenomenon on boards with sandwich construction, which are the most sensitive to it because they are very rigid, we provide a depressurization screw.
Many of you will ask yourself this question when you receive the board. A golden rule about this screw is: DO NOT TOUCH IT, IT WORKS !!! When you receive your board, this screw is already tightened correctly.
To optimize its action, this screw is positioned as close as possible to the center of the board to ventilate the foam as much as possible following a change in temperature causing a change in pressure. In this case, the decompression screw works automatically thanks to a membrane that lets air escape while preventing water from getting inside 😉
Some advice to follow
1- If the screw doesn’t move by manipulating it only with your hands, there is already a good chance that it is correctly screwed in.
2- If you really want to be assured, you can test the tightness of your screw by using ONLY a 16 mm 12-sided wrench with edges thin enough to go deep into the hole and take the body of the screw and not just the cap. Finally, if you observe any resistance when tightening by hand, it means that the screw is tight. 99% of tightness problems on conventional screws come from over-tightening which twists the seal and makes it loose its tightness. So a decompression screw tightens down but not fully, Never should you force it You just have to pressurize the gasket, nothing more.
3- You can rinse it with clear water every few months months. Salt can eventually crystallize and clog the pores of the membrane. But this is a long process that would only slightly prevent your screw from doing its job 100%. You will also avoid the accumulation of dirt on the membrane, all the more so if you have evolved in muddy waters.
4- It is necessary to touch this screw in exceptional cases. For example during a transport by plane, in full sun without a cover on the roof or in the car… In short, all these situations that your Board hates.
On these occasions, be sure to remove the screw with a 16mm socket wrench with 12 sides. This screw is located on the deck of your board or inside the carrying handle.
Don’t forget to put the screw back in before going back in the water to prevent your Board from getting waterlogged. Please note that GONG cannot be held responsible for any damage caused.
In case of loss of your screw, please consult our “spare parts” section on our online shop: gong-galaxy.com.
