QLD
500 posts
I'm noticing small chips and the odd tiny nick on the trailing edge of my carbon foil. I don't get how it happens. Foil is well treated and in a bag all other times.
Can it be friction? Grit or sand in the water?
The leading edge is perfect.
Any ideas?
QLD
742 posts
Manufacture issue ?? Seems very hard to believe that any 'wear and tear' can affect the traling edge, the trailing edge is fine / sharp and may not have got the full dose of resin (air pockets that let go) ? - Im thinking more likely beach / car handling. What brand of foil and how old is it?
QLD
500 posts
It's a lift 2016 the old style, the mast had never been in the water when I got it. I'm pretty careful with handling and storage that's why I'm asking the question.
The only thing I can think of that has possible damaged the trailing edge could have been the rope off a crab pot the I didn't see due to the glare off the ocean it wrapped around the mast and pulled me up pretty quickly.
It's not stopping me riding it, I was just wondering why it's happening.
QLD
1600 posts
You might want to upgrade to an alloy foil, no chipping problem
307 posts
I have seen a Moses carbon mast with trailing edge wear where water hits it constantly
WA
858 posts
Even though your being extra careful if the foil and mast are being transported in one piece it will be bulky and the fine edges are left much more exposed, even though covered with a bag.
My guess would be transportation damage.... even resting a fine edge against something hard can mean a chip when it gets slight movement or vibration it your car.
VIC
71 posts
The trailing edge is usually very resin rich, as you can imagine its hard to make the carbon go to such a fine point so there is always a lot of resin. This can be brittle and anything over time can cause the problem you are having. You will loose nothing by Lightly sanding with a block and 400 grit wet / dry. Sand back to about 1mm thick and it should be more durable safer and you wont loose any speed.
VIC
5124 posts
Bit of grit in the bag? Does the bag have a zip running up the length of the trailing edge? Zips don't give much padding and can chip stuff.
My normal maintenance for carbon chips is to rub on a little epoxy paste, maybe thin it down with metho. Sand it with something coarse then finish off with 800 grit. Maybe paint it with a rattle can.
I prefer that to sanding away the carbon.
QLD
555 posts
Defiantly cavitation , the America's cup boats in San Francisco, every night after racing they were repairing the trailing edges of all their foils , carbon being very soft is pron to wear caused by the introduction of air, read somewhere that the big ac 72's we're going that fast that the foil slicing thru the water would boil the water behind the foil ,which causes air bubbles and therefore wear on the trailing edge.
