31
Special long, course-threaded screws and spiky inserts
are needed to keep the strap secure and to prevent twist
Seven similar screwdrivers but only the middle one is
good for most footstraps
I see screws being damaged all over the place by badly-fitting
screwdrivers. A damaged screw with sharp burrs can also cut
through the neoprene flap which is supposed to be covering
the screw to provide comfort as you step on it.
Footstrap washers
Unless you have the less common footstrap with a double
screw at either end (sometimes used on a wave board for the
back strap), footstraps come with a single screw either end
with some sort of anti-twist washer which locates in one of the
other holes and grips the bottom of the footstrap as the
screws are tightened. If you have problems with your
footstraps twisting into unusable shapes then incorporating a
set of these should help to keep them from twisting around. A
stainless washer is also required on the top between the screw
and the strap. This stops the screw head cutting through the
webbing material of the strap and some also have ‘teeth’ on
the bottom to provide further anti-twist assistance.
When you get your kit out next time why not unscrew your
straps and check that they are in good condition and that the
screws and washers are all present and correct? A trip down
to your local windsurfing shop to get some friendly advice will
enable you to replenish any of the items that are missing or
damaged. Carrying a couple of spare screws and washers is a
good idea in case you move a strap and something falls off
into the sand. You might also be able to bail a fellow
windsurfer out if they have hardware issues in a remote place.
A final tip is to consider storing and transporting your board
using tennis balls or a piece of swimming noodle/woggle to
hold the natural arch shape of the footstrap. This will stop
them getting squashed flat over time and keep them perky
so that your feet can slide in and out of them like a dream…
So there’s plenty of info there to be getting on with.
Remember to try some new things if you can to become a
fluid and informed user of the footstraps.
Next time, to complete the kit setup, it’s all about fins: how
they work, fin boxes, sizes, types, materials, how many you
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Simon Winkley is a RYA Advanced Windsurfing Instructor
and a RYA Windsurfing Trainer.
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Bray Lake Watersports & Spinlock.
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