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ikw777

QLD
Australia

1105 Posts
Posted 02/02/2012, 2:57 pm        Report  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I am about to pack three boards for international travel. They will be traveling as unaccompanied baggage along with six sails, two booms and three masts (yikes!) It's going to be expensive as it is so I'm keen to minimise board damage.

All the boards have bags so I was going to remove the footstraps (to make more room in the bags), wrap the boards in a few layers of bubble wrap and place them inside the bags. I'm not sure whether this will be enough to protect the rails from damage however.

Has anyone got any tips on packing boards so as to prevent damage?

seanhogan



New Caledonia

331 Posts
Posted 02/02/2012, 3:08 pm        Report  Show Profile  Reply with Quote


open the vents....

col5555


WA
Australia

61 Posts
Posted 02/02/2012, 3:20 pm        Report  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
What I have done in the past is to get some 3mm MDF and cut into the shape of the board then section it and attach the "sections" with webbing. This enables it to be folded up when not in use. I then lay this over the bottom of the board and tape to board and use that pool noodle closed cell foam on the rails.
I also have some sheets of those aerobic matts folded in half and cabled tied together and slip over the nose and tail,it's the same materil as the noodles.

Downside is it add's weight.

scarrgo


WA
Australia

110 Posts
Posted 02/02/2012, 4:20 pm        Report  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
when we receive boards at Windforce and Auswind they are wrapped in 1 or 2 layers of bubble wrap then a piece of cardboard runs around the entire rails and last of all they a placed in a very snug fitting cardboard box
thats all and there are very few that are damaged, but i don't know exactly every step of the boards journey so no guarantee's

Waiting4wind


NSW
Australia

1182 Posts
Posted 02/02/2012, 5:07 pm        Report  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I ship a few boards country and I normally add some bubble and rail protection in addition to the bag. it does depend on the quality of the bag.

Wrap two layers of bubble around the board. Then get some double wall carboard and cut it into long strips 15-20cm wide. Score the strips down the middle with a phillips screwdriver, bend the strips along the score. Then tape the strips to the bubble along the rails. You may need to cut some slits in the carboard for a snug fit around the curve of the rail. if the bag is thin you can add sheets of carboard to top and bottom.

if the bag is tight you may need to add the packing around the bag as it may not fit inside.

The other option is to double bag the board if you have a larger board bag as well.

Pugwash


WA
Australia

1981 Posts
Posted 02/02/2012, 5:15 pm        Report  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
seanhogan said...



open the vents....


...and clsoe them before you sail

FormulaNova


NSW
Australia

1716 Posts
Posted 02/02/2012, 6:25 pm        Report  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
You can buy PVC plastic right angle strips from the hardware store. They are about an inch in width, and 2.4m long. You then use tape to tape it against the rails for the whole length of the board.

If you can be bothered, you can cut notches in it to let it curve around the rails better, or use a heat gun to soften it up while you bend it.

If you don't cut the notches or heat it, it will take up more room, and near the nose and tail, it provides a bit more protection this way.

One year I didn't do this, and got a huge crack in the rail...

racerX

NSW
Australia

169 Posts
Posted 02/02/2012, 6:44 pm        Report  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I always protect the rails on the largest board (in a double board board bag combo), using some closed cell foam that I got that is shapped to fit around the rails). The larger board provides some protection for the smaller wave board, it all comes to 20kg, in a custome double bag, Done about 10 + trips this way without problems.

I once forgot the rail protection and got a ding!

ikw777


QLD
Australia

1105 Posts
Posted 02/02/2012, 7:40 pm        Report  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Lots of good advice here! It's made me think harder about protecting the rails for sure.
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ikw777


QLD
Australia

1105 Posts
Posted 15/02/2012, 9:06 am        Report  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
How's this look?

raffaeu



Bermuda

161 Posts
Posted 15/02/2012, 9:14 am        Report  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Man you rock! I am leaving Bermuda in few months and I will bring my gears with me and I was struggling too on how to pack my 145. Now I have clear view!

FormulaNova


NSW
Australia

1716 Posts
Posted 15/02/2012, 11:18 am        Report  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Just remember that the luggage handlers are more likely to rest the board on its nose or tail, so make sure there is enough padding there.

Have you left the rails unprotected around the footstrap area?

I have had one board damaged on the tail, and another damaged on the rail just behind the rear footstraps.

ikw777


QLD
Australia

1105 Posts
Posted 15/02/2012, 12:57 pm        Report  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
It's two layers of bubble wrap all over with single layer of cardboard or the rails amidships. Had trouble squeezing this all into a pretty tight board bag. If there was more room in the bag I would had added more. Protection on the nose and tail is six layers or more (very thick).

husa


VIC
Australia

22 Posts
Posted 15/02/2012, 1:35 pm        Report  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Take up kiting

ikw777


QLD
Australia

1105 Posts
Posted 15/02/2012, 1:55 pm        Report  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
husa said...

Take up kiting


Thanks but nah, I prefer a real sport.

Sailhack


VIC
Australia

2727 Posts
Posted 15/02/2012, 2:19 pm        Report  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
ikw777 said...

It's two layers of bubble wrap all over with single layer of cardboard or the rails amidships. Had trouble squeezing this all into a pretty tight board bag. If there was more room in the bag I would had added more. Protection on the nose and tail is six layers or more (very thick).


Bubble wrap will fail on edges & corners, if it's tight in a bag should be ok, but I'd definitely put cardboard around the rails (to spread impact across the bubbles).

CJW


NSW
Australia

1088 Posts
Posted 15/02/2012, 2:25 pm        Report  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
NeilPryde heavy duty board bags...I've broken enough NP gear to know most of it is worth avoiding but their board bags are the business. Just got back from a trip to WA, took 2 boards didn't even wrap them at all apart from a towel/wetty around etc around the nose of each...sweet as. They also have square sides as opposed to just sewn together so if you wanted you could fit a HEAP of stuff in them. I know this probably doesn't help you now but worth considering for the future.

RE what you've done, looks good but i'd make sure the cardboard covers the entire rail if your bag is at all suspect.

Ian K


NSW
Australia

735 Posts
Posted 15/02/2012, 2:27 pm        Report  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
FormulaNova said...

Just remember that the luggage handlers are more likely to rest the board on its nose or tail, so make sure there is enough padding there.



Resting the board! That's the best case scenario. The worst case is when they throw it on top of the luggage trolly and it falls 6 feet onto runway concrete.

And the worst way for the board to land is on its rail directly amidships. The rail of a board is shaped like the outside of a banana. You can drop a banana from 6 inches onto a table and see that the biggest thump is when it lands amidships. That's when the most damage will occur, it's a direct stop. No easing into it with a rotation. So that's where to concentrate the protection, on the rail amidships.

A drop to the nose is not so bad, the board is able to flex, reducing the peak force of the impact . Also, to get a 6 foot drop you've got to raise the centre of the board to 10 feet, so it's less likely.


swoosh


QLD
Australia

1317 Posts
Posted 15/02/2012, 2:44 pm        Report  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I reckon its most important to protect the planing area of the board, and the rails from about midway back. The rest of the board if it gets dinged ain't a big deal. Bubblewrap+cardboard sandwiches work well. I reckon those plastic corners someone suggested would work too, but you would still want something like bubblewrap. I usually cover the bottom with one of those really cheap 10mm foam camping mats for good measure.

CJW said...

NeilPryde heavy duty board bags...I've broken enough NP gear to know most of it is worth avoiding but their board bags are the business. Just got back from a trip to WA, took 2 boards didn't even wrap them at all apart from a towel/wetty around etc around the nose of each...sweet as. They also have square sides as opposed to just sewn together so if you wanted you could fit a HEAP of stuff in them. I know this probably doesn't help you now but worth considering for the future.

RE what you've done, looks good but i'd make sure the cardboard covers the entire rail if your bag is at all suspect.


That's what you said about their booms 2 years ago... 3 broken booms later? Should have learnt your lesson!

That said, the bags do seem fairly well padded!

p.s. question to the formula sailors, how the hell do you fly with formula gear?!

Waiting4wind


NSW
Australia

1182 Posts
Posted 15/02/2012, 3:06 pm        Report  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
swoosh said...

p.s. question to the formula sailors, how the hell do you fly with formula gear?!


A heavy duty board bag will work in many cases. You can be lucky or unlucky. I work in the freight industry and I've seen some really badly packed gear come through ok, but seen plenty of examples where it hasn't.

MikeyS


VIC
Australia

977 Posts
Posted 15/02/2012, 3:13 pm        Report  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
The rail of a board is shaped like the outside of a banana. You can drop a banana from 6 inches onto a table and see that the biggest thump is when it lands amidships.



I was just about to say, "Don't pack any bananas with your board, as it only encourages the baggage handlers to act like gorillas" (having been the victim of gorilla handling in the regions where you didn't have cardboard in your photo, i.e. rail near the tail). But Ian is right- maybe they think it's a big banana and get all excited.

(Sorry to any gentle baggage handlers out there).

Pack some epoxy repair stick.

ikw777


QLD
Australia

1105 Posts
Posted 15/02/2012, 6:27 pm        Report  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
You guys are scaring me. More card going on tonight if possible.

Zachery


SA
Australia

214 Posts
Posted 15/02/2012, 6:38 pm        Report  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Definately cardboard rails from nose to tail, decent strong cardboard like a fridge box, in hawaii i watched all boards being thrown from the plane onto the tarmac , some were landing flat (mine luckily) some on the tails and rails, plus make your own nose and tail cone from something good!!

racerX

NSW
Australia

169 Posts
Posted 15/02/2012, 7:22 pm        Report  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
ikw777 said...

How's this look?









If it was me I would use more protection around the rails at the ends of the board. I do something similar except I don't use duc tape, just electrical tape straight on the board (duc tape will leave glue on the board). When they throw the board which they will! and it lands flat, I reckon the flat shape of the board cushons the impact, but if lands on its ends it will come down hard.

I would not bother with the bubble wrap on the deck, especially as it adds volume and weight to the whole thing.

I would only use the cardboard on the bottom of the board for a fragile board, I would not bother if it was a wave board etc.

I can get two boards in a coffin bag for 19.5kg that way.

When I stack the boards the footpad from the bottom board and shopping bag on the front of the desk seems to be enough to protect the bottom of the top board.

The ligher the better, I reckon as it less likely to come down hard onto something even harder.

bobjc


Australia

14 Posts
Posted 18/02/2012, 8:38 pm        Report  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Its Awesome! Thanks For Sharing Great Information!

ikw777


QLD
Australia

1105 Posts
Posted 21/02/2012, 4:13 pm        Report  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
2nd board ready to go into the bag:

choco


SA
South Sandwich Islands

2152 Posts
Posted 23/02/2012, 10:08 am        Report  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I recieved a board couple of years back and it had 2 fork lift fork holes in it, best way to send board is in a box with styrene spacers on rails, bottom ,top so the board doesn't contact the cardboard at all.

NordRoi


Canada

80 Posts
Posted 23/02/2012, 10:27 am        Report  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
What i reslise while traveling, the heavier the bag, the heavier they will drop it. So if it's light enough for one person but heavy, if they take it from the tol of the shelf they will drop it on nose or tail, if they can carry it on their heads they will drop it from there. Check if it cost to ship more by 3 bags or just one big bag, i would prefer seperate lighter bag.

choco said...

I recieved a board couple of years back and it had 2 fork lift fork holes in it, best way to send board is in a box with styrene spacers on rails, bottom ,top so the board doesn't contact the cardboard at all.
   
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