[Waves be Good]

One of my go to boards has been getting heavier and I finally found out why. A tiny inherited crack beneath a shoddy inherited coating of glass has been taking on water. 


Now, ordinarily, I would open this crack up and let it dry for a week or so and then repair it normally. But, right now, my shoes are molding, my backpack is molding, my ipod case is molding, and my rashguards are molding. I feel like opening the crack will do nothing, except perhaps encourage my surfboard to mold. I don't have access to AC. What do I do?


Should I just patch the water in for the next three months and fix it properly in the dry season? Should I open it and not be able to ride it at all for the next three months?


Since boards are hard to get here and since I love this one, I want to do the right thing. Advice?

[skSURF]

Put it in the furnace room.

[Waves be Good]

i don't think there is a building with a furnace anywhere in this country. a few pizza ovens, yes, but furnaces, not so much.

[Crackie Onassis]

Did shenzi bring a hair dryer?

[UNCLE!!]

I think the Ding Repair Lady has set up suction pumps (vacuum Bagging) to pull out the water. Google search her and ask her advise directly.

Other than that... you got any more boards??

[little_nasty]

you could try hunting down this crystalline pebble stuff that absorbes moisture - i used it on my sailboat.  maybe open the crack up and get those granules and bag it around the spot.  they should suck the moisture out, then patch it up as best you can on a semi-dry day.
 
http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1%7C311%7C72870&id=15456
 
alternatively, I believe the active ingredient is just calcium chloride (CaCl₂) a common drying agent i.e. maybe nab some of those little packets from a cosmetics store or something (those are usually silica based).  Be very careful though w CaCl₂ b/c the absorption process can create quite a bit of heat - possible enough to warp your board or something.
 
you could also bang your brains on this list: http://www.mallbaker.com/techlib/documents/americas/3045.html

 
If you can't get ahold of something like that - well then you can go old school - us local boys just use rice which i assume you can find in that part of the world.  Pack a bunch of rice around the spot, but the key is to really really seal it up good.  Let it sit for a few days at least.  Don't unseal until you're completely ready to go - i'd advise doing all your sanding and prep work before sealing it up.  Hope that helps.

[skSURF]

Got it

Giant plastic bags Dump a bunch of sea salt, cornstarch and baking soda in. Just make sure the boards not in direct contact. I don't think there would be a reaction but why take the chance. it should at least make the board smell fresh. Minus the salt its an old school deodorant.

[tummee]

Lots of good advice. Another suggestion... is newspaper readily available? You could open the ding a bit and stuff the newspaper in to wick out the moisture, changing the newspaper when it gets too wet.

[Waves be Good]

thanks all. those are some inventive solutions. i'll let you know how this turns out.

[little_nasty]

i would advise against using salt or anything that actually readily dissolves in water (but is hygroscopic).  Otherwise, you'll risk sealing some of that up in the board where it will attract moisture, eventually leaving a soft dark spot which which eventually delam.

[SeaCliff]

This is a pretty resourceful thread!

[UNCLE!!]

This is a pretty resourceful thread!

If you live in a rain forest... in Africa which has no furnace room

I like the news paper idea, except I think the general humidity might make the paper a bit soggy... Good luck homie!

[Shacky]

I'm in a similar situation.  My rocket fish, the best board of all time, is like an aquarium in the tail, and I didn't realize it either until one day i picked it up and it was a heavier in the ass section. The thing is, the only time i really ride it is in the summer so I'd hate to spend this time drying it out.  Is this a mistake? 

[little_nasty]

yes

[the Kook]

I'm in a similar situation.  My rocket fish, the best board of all time, is like an aquarium in the tail, and I didn't realize it either until one day i picked it up and it was a heavier in the ass section. The thing is, the only time i really ride it is in the summer so I'd hate to spend this time drying it out.  Is this a mistake? 

Dry it out, fix it this week and you will be good to go the next time we see waves!