Foils: the future of kiteboarding | Photo: Slingshot

Learn simple preventive measures that will make your foil last longer. Slingshot shared some helpful tips on keeping your gear in top performance.

You've made your splurge, and it's your new favorite toy. Like anything that is worth something, your new foil needs some tender, loving care.

Proper maintenance, both before and after using your foil, is an essential step in prolonging its life.

This is especially important with saltwater exposure.

Following these simple steps regularly will minimize corrosion and prevent the components of your foil from fusing together:

Maintaining a Foil 101

  1. Rinse your foil with fresh water after every use;
  2. Disassemble and clean your foil regularly;
  3. Before assembling, coat all areas of your foil and hardware that are touching each other with Lanolin oil or a comparison;
  4. Coat all bolt hardware with Lanolin oil and wrap with Teflon tape before assembling your foil;

How to maintain your foil

To minimize sand and dirt exposure, it's important to assemble your foil in a clean, sand-free area.

If transporting your foil fully assembled is not an option, assemble as many components as you can ahead of time.

In a clean, sand-free area, carefully coat all bolt hardware, bolt holes, and all connection points with a layer of Lanolin oil or comparison.

Coat anywhere that parts each other to prevent them from corroding and fusing together.

Don't forget the inside of your front wing. A cotton swab works well for this.

How to maintain your foil

Lanolin, or wool's wax, is a natural oil that acts as a lubricant and water repellent.

If you have an allergy to wool, be sure to take precautions or use a different oil.

Wrap all bolt hardware in a thin layer of Teflon Tape.

This will be a little tricky with bolts covered in a layer of Lanolin oil, but it acts as a second layer of protection to prevent your bolts from corroding and fusing with other components of your foil.

How to maintain your foil

Wrap the tape tight so it feeds through the threads of the foil properly without peeling off.

After these steps, assemble your foil as directed.

Follow these steps every time you assemble your foil.

For saltwater exposure, we recommend repeating this process every time you foil to maximize protection against corrosion.

Learn how to kite foil.

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