WindFoiling - Base Plate Shims

General discussions. Please keep the topics weather, windsurf and kiteboard related. See the Off-Topic forum for other topics.
Post Reply
DavidM
Contributor
Contributor
Posts: 149
Joined: Thu Apr 24, 2008 6:02 pm
Location: Pipers

WindFoiling - Base Plate Shims

Post by DavidM »

Has anyone been shimming their foil base plate to get the best alignment of the foil blade with the bottom of the board?

If so, what have you been using?

Foilmount do sell a shim kit with (3) 1 deg. shims and articulated t-bolts so bolt alignment has 100% bearing. $59 USD for shims and bolts plus shipping.

Looking for options others are using.
User avatar
juandesooka
Website Donor
Website Donor
Posts: 704
Joined: Mon Jun 07, 2010 3:44 pm
Location: Sooke
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 11 times
Contact:

Post by juandesooka »

I have done this on most boards, if they are not purpose built foil boards with flat bottoms.

Option 1): stainless steel washers under the base plate

Option 2): plastic fibreglass spreaders as they are already tapered, roughly 2mm thick, just drill holes for the bolts (bondo brand is most common, 3 for $5)

You can measure the degrees out of whack using a degree measuring tool at the board midpoint and the fuselage. Or a construction level can get it close enough.

Your bolts may now be just slightly too short to grab the T-nuts in the slot. Here's a trick: get one longer 8mm bolt, screw in a few turns and then lift the nut up in the track. Put an L allen key under the nut to hold it up, then remove the long bolt and screw in your regular one.
DavidM
Contributor
Contributor
Posts: 149
Joined: Thu Apr 24, 2008 6:02 pm
Location: Pipers

Post by DavidM »

Thanks Juan.

I was wondering about those fiber/plastic shims they sell at home depot. They are used to shim doors frames and thresholds etc.
User avatar
Atomic-Chomik
Website Donor
Website Donor
Posts: 127
Joined: Wed Apr 24, 2013 11:12 pm

Shims

Post by Atomic-Chomik »

Like Juan said-laminating squeegies or floor laminated shims work great too.
User avatar
renegade
Posts: 20
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2015 4:13 pm
Location: North Vancouver, BC

Re: WindFoiling - Base Plate Shims

Post by renegade »

Starboard now includes a 1.5 shim with their top plate masts. Seems to give a better angle when measuring with an electronic angler measurer.
Attachments
thumbnail_IMG_4918.jpg
Post Reply