Tiki tool
 

"4. Tiki Tool: Wide, rubberized moulded handle for maximum torque and grip, even with wet hands. Compatible with all Starboard 2007 board fittings: straps, air-valve, fin bolts and daggerboard plates."

HAHAHA

mine broke after fitting 2 boards with new straps and during the process of repositioning 2 straps.

I like the grip though :)

RE: Tiki tool
 

I heard something about one batch of Tiki Tools missing the eat treatment. Mine have held up well and to really test it I have kept my first one and use it exclusively for all my board work.

Its a pity if you have gotten a faulty product. I sure hope you can solve this with your dealer since a working Tiki Tool is indeed great product. So good I tend to use the manual Tiki instead of my power drills when maounting and unmounting straps.

RE: Tiki tool
 

HaHa, my "dealer" asked me how long it lasted (2 days?). Seem slike he definitely knows the problem, I don't think I'll be getting a replacement, still have 2 more to break.

RE: Tiki tool
 

Not sure what's happened to the quality of the tiki tool. I've got one from Nov last year thats fine, but the 3 i've got this year just broke after movin a few footstraps. Is it possible to get replacements that won't break?:(

RE: Tiki tool
 

I believe you have to be extra careful when using power tools on footstrap screws. I've seen people ruined their screws easily, and many board manufacturers are advising against using power tools.

RE: Tiki tool
 

Well, carefullness is always good, but its not _that_ hard to mount straps with a power tool. In any case, a working tiki tool is a great helper. I've gotten some info the quality is a bit inconsistant, but there are certainly lots of good quality Tikis out there so if you have the chance to exchage a bad one, do it. I just got my first bad one with my latest board, and I have gotten somthing like 15 before.

RE: Tiki tool
 

My first Tiki tool lost some bits of metal from the point as soon as I used it for putting the straps on my Sonic. I got another Tiki tool with my Evo, which I will not use until the other one is still somewhat working.
IMHO it is much easier and safer to use a Tiki tool than a power screwdriver. Only problem, the concept derives by faulty engineering. A "normal" screwdriver has a handle dimensioned in a way that it is difficult to drive more torque than what the point can handle. In the Tiki tool the handle makes it easy to drive a huge amount of torque, but evidently the point just can't handle it. It would need a very, very hard and resilient metal in the point to make it really good, and then probably the shaft would became the problem. I guess in the end a "properly working" Tiki tool would be a rather expensive tool. Anyhow, it is a very good start in the direction of providing an universal tool to set up a board with, and once again one has to compliment Starboard for the (however useful) innovation.

RE: Tiki tool
 

Geo, a power tool's point is not breaking with a much larger handle then the Tiki Tool, so this is not a good excuse. You just get what you pay for.
Mine is not breaking, just rusting away.

RE: Tiki tool
 

One thing that would make the Tiki Tool better would be if it was magnetized. That would make it a lot easier to get the screws out of the holes

RE: Tiki tool
 

Hi Phill104,
Sorry Phill, the austenitic stainless screws used on starboards aren't
magnetic as that would limit their corrosion (rust) resisitance.
Wave a magnet over your footstrap and fin screw "stash" and if the magnet picks up any of the screws you can be sure they are martenisitic stainless with a lot more iron in the material make up.
The martensitic stainless can be heat treated and is magnetic, there fore it rusts.
Austenitic stainless has far less iron, in "non-magnetic", normally cannot be heat treated (except exotics like 17-4PH) so it's softer, but it does not rust at all.
So, a magnetic screwdriver would really not help.
Look for A Fabory P/N U2063.003.350 (#3-150mm Phillips) Chrom-Vanadiam screwdriver (Swiss made) with a heat treated tip with the correct geometry and the right finish to make your footstrap and fin screws last forever and be easy to retrieve from the fin screw counterbores if you only use the Fabory #3 screwdriver so you don't screw up the drive recesses in your screws.
Gedore (Germany) also makes some really top quality screwdrivers but I don't have the part numbers.
Spend the money for a top quality tool, take care of it buy frequently applying a good rust preventative like TC-11 and your footstrap and fin screws will last the life of your board.
Hope this helps,