On my last flight back from surfing trip, I didn't unscrew the valve before I let the board in the airport belt and I was so sad to check my board back home completely delaminated under the deck pad area.
But even so I brought a mountain bike with me too, I do think to flatten tires before flying as recommended by flying crew. Once my bike landed, I have been very surprised to find tires inflated . I should do the same to my board

I hope this post can be useful to Seabreezers

My 6'8" which gave me so much fun for 4 years, so good board!!!

Supmaori said..
Wow..Thanks for the share and sorry to hear about your board..I'm taking my Speeed over to Hawaii in July.. a direct flight..Should I unscrew the vent plug?

Hey Supmaori,

Sunova's run a goretex vent system, this means that the board will be able to breath even when the vent is done up..

I always recommend that customers never unscrew their vents, as this could possibly damage the gortex and allow water to get into the board..

Hope this helps..

Cheers, Dylan

Cheers Dylan big help brother..I won't be touching it
Chur

Tardy, I cant ride any more this board, that's too puffy under my front foot where I step most of the time waiting for waves. Yes, was in hurry packing my 2 boards with 2 paddles and a pack of fishing rods and the mountain bike in an other pack. Finally I have been ready to be pick up by the taxi to the airport...but forget to unscrew that vent.
Opposite of what did happen to you, the skin really release from the EPS core. Next same board which I'm going to build soon will be with a primer coat before laminating with 4 to 6 oz layers of glass or carbon patches. The primer coat apply straight on foam is very souple so it will stick together the foam and the laminate fiberglass. This is a real reinforcement .

Steve, I understand how much you worry about your board without unscrewed the air vent. Your finally safe experience make me think that de-laminate happens on used board areas like the foot print ones.


So this incident forces me to Update my old favorite" BadBoard"

Stev0 said..

Kami said..
Steve, I understand how much you worry about your board without unscrewed the air vent. Your finally safe experience make me think that de-laminate happens on used board areas like the foot print ones.

I think in my case a windsurf board is made way stronger than a SUP. I am amazed some brands do not have vent plugs! My Deep Minion doesn't and I have blown up a board due to heat. Wasn't happy about that for what is supposed to be a well made board!

About windsurf board they way stronger than a SUP built in fiberglass but it's only way stronger to the impacts, that's all. I would be more worry about de-laminate in the windsurf kind of built because some air can blow between layers of material if they are bad glued or exposed at to much heat.
I don't put valve at first on my new board as well Deep does. I put a valve to let the air coming out to fix a ding when needed later on after some use.
As I said before, de-lamination occurs on areas which has been stepped on.

Hope it help.