Tips for maintaining your Wing Foil equipment

Sun rays, wind, salt spray and poor care are the main enemies of our Wing Foil equipment. Here is a guide on how to maintain your Wing, inflatable board and respective wing appendages.

How to preserve wing, board and foil for optimal performance

Wing Foil equipment gives us many hours of fun in the water and an extraordinary feeling of freedom. But to ensure that it lasts for a long time and is always perfectly efficient during our sessions, it is important to take good care of it, treat it well and store it in the best possible way. Which is also important for safety.

In this guide we want to explain how to maintain each component that makes up your Wing Foil kit, starting with the wing of course, but also the board and its wing appendages, i.e. the foils. This is a complex and relatively expensive piece of equipment, made of technological materials, but also extremely delicate and subject to wear and tear if not handled and stored carefully. Let us therefore see how to maintain them correctly.

Wing: here are the details to watch out for

Let's start with the Wing. The wing for Wing Foil is made of a light and strong inflatable structure covered with a waterproof and tear-resistant synthetic material. It is equipped with inflation and deflation valves, as well as control handles to orient it to the wind while sailing. The most critical parts to watch out for are the outer skin, the seams of the various panels, the inner tubes and the valves. Good maintenance of the Wing starts with its correct assembly before each session.

It is best to always inflate it to the correct pressure according to the technical data sheet provided by the manufacturer and the indication near the inflation valve. The general rule is never to overinflate it by exceeding this measurement, otherwise the inner tube may be damaged, especially in the event of heavy crashes.

Sun, wind and sand are the enemies of our Wing

It is also a good idea, once inflated, not to drag it over sand, uneven ground or covered with debris, sharp stones, sand and branches. When sailing, in the event of loss of control, you must avoid falling weight directly onto the Wing, which could result in tears, holes, cracks and abrasions on the Wing. The same care must be taken not to rub the Wing on the board, especially on the pads, so as not to risk damaging the outer covering and the seams.

One of the greatest enemies of our wings is UV rays. Long exposure of the wing to the sun deteriorates materials, coatings, colour and other details. The wing in general loses rigidity, becomes porous and inexorably loses its performance. The same applies to wind. Leaving a Wing to spin in the wind for an infinite amount of time while parked on the ground is absolutely detrimental and amounts to hours of session in the water in terms of wear and tear. If you have to take a long break, better then to store your equipment to increase its lifespan.

How to store and repair the Wing

It is very important to take care of the Wing once your session is over. First of all, it should be rinsed with fresh water to clean it of salt, sand and dirt, but avoid the use of pressure jets which could ruin the surface and the waterproof coating. Some riders believe that salt left on the wing acts as a natural anti-mould. These are schools of thought and the choice is yours.

Before storing the Wing in its bag, you should wait until it is completely dry and completely deflated. The wing should be folded softly, without tension and each time in a different way so as not to insist on folding in certain places which could become more fragile in the long run. If you notice any cracks, holes or abrasions in the wing, you can carry out a do-it-yourself repair with the appropriate repair kits. While for more serious damage, it is a good idea to take the Wing to a professional sailmaker.

Maintenance of the Wing Foil Inflatable Board

The inflatable wing Board is another fundamental component of our equipment. In order to make it last a long time and keep it in perfect working order, a few precautions are necessary, both during set-up and during use and storage. First of all, optimal inflation is also important here. The suggested pressure in PSI is usually indicated in the product data sheet and also stated near the inflation valve. Take care to set any electric inflators to the correct size.

To avoid excessive wear and abrasion, it is also a good idea to handle the board carefully when transporting it and to avoid dragging it ashore, especially on dirty ground full of gravel or debris. Once the session in the water is over, the board should be rinsed with fresh water before being stored, especially on the valves and footstrap. Then dry it thoroughly and deflate it completely. Again, it is best to roll it up, avoiding aggressive folds, and store it in its bag in as dry and well ventilated a place as possible.

Foil: watch out for screws, nuts and threads

The last component of Wing Foil equipment to take care of are the Foils. These foils are made of aluminium or, the best performing ones, carbon. You must always check the assembly screws and their nuts for perfect threads and any signs of corrosion due to salt and dirt. To properly protect them from sand, mould and weather, there are special marine greases or Teflon gels on the market, an oily but dry to the touch lubricant, which can be applied to the surfaces after rinsing them with fresh water.

Finally, it is important if you do not use the Wing Foil for long periods of time to completely dismantle the appendages in all their components, in order to avoid screw blockages that would then be very difficult to remedy without ruining their surfaces and delicate threads.

Photo credit

Photo 1: DUOTONE

Photo 2: NAISH

Photo 3: F-ONE

Photo 4: CABRINHA

Photo 5: NORTH