Ding in Middle of Bottom -- Getting Water Out?

[Roger]

I just noticed a substantial exposed ding on the bottom of my Hellfire -- it is in the bottom of the board right over the Hellfire insignia. From prior damage, I know the danger of failing to get all the water out of a Firewire.

Here is my question... The place with the damage is not a place where it can easily drain out. Indeed, I haven't seen any water come out of the crack at all. However, I am leery of patching it up without a thorough drying.

Should I patch up the ding and drill a hole in the back to allow any water to drain out using gravity?

Or should I just use board bog for the next few days and then remove the temporary repair and let it air dry for a month or so when the waves are smaller?

Or should I drill out the existing hole to allow more water to evaporate?

Or something else?

Feedback appreciated. Oh, it is an FST.

[Slowman]

Get a saw and cut it in half longways and separate and leave to dry! Sorry, seriously I think from the sound of it the ding is pretty much at the lowest point of the rocker line. I'm sure with some adjustment at either end you can arrange it so that it is the lowest point and leave it in that position to drain/dry out for a couple of days. These boards weigh about 2.5kg if it is around that weight it's probably all out. Some slight suction might also help by sticking a suction cup over the hole, if you can get one to fit.

[Chris]

yeah use a bit of paper towel too, it can help draw the water out. Just takes time and gravity. do your best to get you ding at the low point and be patient.

Hope this helps a bit!

[iggy]

Time is your most important friend now!!!.Make sure the board is completely dry before patching that up!!!.The worst thing you can have is water trapped in there!!!.Try to limit the damage to the existing one.

[prjwebb]

Try some rice too. That's good for drawing out water.

[Roger]

Thanks everyone. I will try these tactics. I am traveling soon, and can leave it stored for about 45 days with the hole at the lowest point.

Chris, what is the approximate dry weight of a 6'8" Hellfire FST? (I am assuming it is a bit more than Slowman's 6'2)

By the way, the Hellfire is the best board I have ever owned. Hellfire and SP is the perfect two board quiver.

[Chris]

hey roger, i don't have that info from where i sit. i would go more by touch and observations of whether water is still dripping out. One way to get a good idea is to put the board in a cold place and then take it out into a room between 70 and 80 degrees and maybe get it a little sun. Doing that causes the air in the board to contract, then expand. during the expansion, if there is water, the ding will bubble and/or drip.

give that a try.

NOTE: don't leave the board in hot direct sunlight for an extensive amount of time. If you don't see any bubbling or dripping after 10-15 mins, chances are the majority of the water is out.

Hope this helps.

[Roger]

This is the odd thing. I am sure the crack goes to the foam, and I am sure I did not crack it outside the water. But, I have not seen even the tiniest amount of water come out. When I heat it up as you suggest and put a paper towel at the spot the towel is totally 100% dry.

My assumptions are either that the water is trapped somewhere else in the board or that someone damaged my board in the garage and didn't tell me. Looks like we get a Hellfire swell tomorrow, so maybe I should patch it up today.

[prjwebb]

If it's dry and it doesn't feel heavy it sounds like that's the case.
Water should move through the EPS fairly easily so if there was some it'd be finding it's way out.

[Roger]

Thanks all. I am also ordering some Board Bog and will let you all know how that works out.