When you buy a board, check the vent plug

[DanWeiss]

On my boards I write, "Vent Plug stupid!" On the hull bottom next to fin box. Can't miss it if you remove your fins each sail. Otherwise that goes right on the deck.

Learned that trick after watching Nevin Sayre write the same on each board after failing to close the vent. Good ideas often require surrender of one's ego.

[isobars]

[isobars]

[isobars]

I've been delaying setting the board in the sun to vaporize the water because that will also disperse it, but maybe it's about that time. The vacuum pump water output has slowed considerably after pulling out maybe 15-20 teaspoonfuls in belly-up 24/7 operation for several days. I probably have little to lose now with upright solar heating plus vacuum to boost extraction from the vent, followed by a wick for the long haul between days of use.

If I thought it would really dry out the board, I would drill a small, easily repairable, hole at each end so vacuum at the vent hole could pull air through the entire core. I once did that with a wet board for months, however, and was still pulling some water out. Apparently EPS's affinity for water precludes complete dehydration, so it's probably not worth the hassle, as even a small amount of vapor can still delam a hot board.

That plan is all educated speculation. Can anyone shoot any of it down? If not, it goes back on the river soon to die doing what it loves doing.

[ctuna]

I kind of have mixed feelings on the vent plug removal.
The more times you mess with it the more times you can mess it
up . So I try to only remove it if its to hot or if it goes into storage
for the the Winter. One thing Eva the board Lady pointed out is if
you put your board in a bag with wet straps it like a sauna and the
the moisture can migrate from the straps to inside the board
with the vent plug open. Also if I am driving through fog with the board
racked but not bagged I will always have the plug in.

[isobars]