Get up paddle boards have change into extra reasonably priced lately, however they’re nonetheless a big funding. Studying to paddle board safely and enjoyably is crucial. Nonetheless, except you wish to be shopping for a brand new SUP each season, you additionally must find out about paddle board upkeep.
This text goes to point out you the important upkeep suggestions it is advisable take care of your paddle board. Learn on, and I’ll show that SUP upkeep needn’t be a chore, and the end result can be a board that can look nice and lasts you for a few years to return.
Important Paddle Board Upkeep Ideas
That is the important upkeep it is advisable do to take care of your paddle board. It doesn’t must take a very long time. Strive to not skip it after you’ve been out, and your board can be in excellent situation in your subsequent journey.
The Appropriate Technique to Clear Your Paddle Board
Washing your board after each journey will assist it look good and shield the board’s construction and parts. Let’s take a look at the important steps for cleansing your paddle board.
1. Rinse The Board
At a minimal, at all times attempt to hose your paddle board with recent water after utilizing it. It’s a good suggestion to do that even if you happen to’ve been paddling in a freshwater lake or river. This water usually incorporates filth and algae that can decompose to discolor your board and make it scent unhealthy.
Should you’ve been out in salt water, you must contemplate washing your board as important. The salt water may cause corrosion to metallic parts and will make supplies and seams degrade over time.
Hose your paddle board down with loads of water, and pay specific consideration to completely washing crevices just like the fin bins. It’s simple for sand and filth to gather right here. Your deck pad also can accumulate grime, so give this an intense rinsing too.
In case your board was fairly dirt-free, then rinsing it is perhaps sufficient, and you may transfer on to drying and storage. If not, then let’s take a look at giving it a correct clear.
2. Clear With Cleaning soap
In case your SUP is a bit soiled, otherwise you wish to give it some additional care, you’ll be able to use a biodegradable delicate cleaning soap cleaner to provide it with a correct wash. Test earlier than you begin that the cleaner is appropriate to be used together with your board’s supplies. It should not have any harsh chemical substances or abrasives. You shouldn’t use harsh cleaners or common dishwashing detergent. They’ll comprise salt amongst different damaging chemical substances.
Observe the directions in your specific cleaner. There are some that you simply spray immediately onto your board, whereas others will should be diluted in a bucket with heat water.
Use a comfortable microfiber fabric or a comfortable bristled brush to softly rub the cleaner onto your paddle board to take away filth. In case your traction pad is particularly mucky, you should use delicate cleaning soap or baking soda in a paste with water. Particular cleaners can be found to take away stains from the EVA foam. Whichever you employ, just be sure you don’t aggressively scrub the deck pad as it’s simply broken.
Cleansing your board with a gentle detergent will take away salt deposits. It should additionally assist to stop stains from mildew or micro organism showing on the floor.
3. Rinse The Board
After cleansing, give your SUP one other full wash with a hose or a number of buckets of unpolluted water to take away all of the detergent. Once more, just be sure you completely rinse out any hard-to-reach areas just like the fin bins.
4. Dry Totally
After rinsing, you must dry your board. It’s good to maintain some clear previous towels round for the job. Try to dry your board as totally as attainable, significantly if you happen to’re going to be packing it away for a very long time. Should you use your board in robust daylight more often than not you’ll be able to apply a coating of UV resistant spray for added safety from the solar’s rays.
5. Lubricate Metallic Components
It’s a good suggestion to periodically use a lubricant to scrub and shield the metallic parts, together with the D-Rings and fin field components. Correctly made stainless-steel compartments shouldn’t rust. Nonetheless, lubricating every now and then will hold them wanting shiny and dealing easily for an extended interval.
Nonetheless, it is advisable take care to not get the oil onto your board. So in case you are utilizing a sprig, apply it to a fabric after which fastidiously rub it onto the parts.
6 a. Clear a Exhausting Boards Vent Plug
Exhausting boards usually vent plugs inbuilt to launch gasses from inside their foam core. Some boards have self-regulating vent plugs, and it is advisable be sure that these are free from particles whenever you clear your board earlier than you retailer it.
Different boards have screw cap vent plugs which can be closed throughout use however that it is advisable open for transportation and storage. Earlier than washing your board, be certain that a screw cap vent is closed and when it’s dry verify the plug isn’t blocked with sand or related filth.
6 b. Clear an Inflatable Boards Air Valve
You probably have an inflatable, you must at all times wash and dry the SUP with it totally inflated. Be sure that the valve is totally clear outdoors. When it comes time to deflate it, verify that no sand has managed to get into the valve stem earlier than you shut it for storage. Fortunately the air stress launch will clear most filth.
Storing Your Paddle Board
Retailer your paddle board in a spot with a steady temperature, away from a warmth supply or direct daylight. Defend it from freezing temperatures. Keep away from massive air temperature modifications. Retaining a tough board in a location with robust temperature fluctuations may trigger it to delaminate.
Be sure that the board isn’t resting on something sharp or a stress level that will harm it. Don’t retailer something on prime of your board. Take away the fins to allow them to’t get knocked. A board bag might help hold your SUP clear whilst you’re not utilizing it.
It’s best to often retailer inflatable boards of their storage bag. When your inflatable SUP is totally dry, you’ll be able to deflate it totally, take away the fins and roll it up. Take care to not roll the SUP up too tightly. Whether it is in storage for a very long time, you must unroll the board often to launch any stress and verify the PVC materials for mildew.
You may retailer an inflatable arise paddle board inflated. This can be a good possibility if you happen to’re going to be utilizing it once more quickly. Nonetheless, you must let a few of the air out to make sure there’s room for enlargement if the temperature goes up and the air stress inside will increase.
A industrial paddle board storage rack is a wonderful technique to retailer your boards. They’re designed to carry your SUPs off the ground and could be wall or ceiling mounted. The arms are padded to guard your board.
Repairing Your Paddle Board
You probably have harm on a inflexible board, it’s usually greatest to take it to an expert for restore.
You may repair minor stress dings or holes utilizing an epoxy syringe, tape flex patches, or epoxy putty. You will need to be sure that the board is totally dry earlier than beginning any restore. Observe the producer’s directions totally.
You may repair an inflatable arise paddle board utilizing the restore package that the majority SUPs embrace. Sometimes, if you happen to hear fastidiously, you’ll hear the air hissing out. But when not, you’ll be able to often discover a gap by inflating the board and making use of water with cleaning soap to the suspect space. It should bubble because the air escapes.
Utterly clear the world to take away filth, physique oils or different residues. Make it possible for it’s completely dry earlier than you proceed. Observe your restore package’s instructions to connect a PVC patch onto the leak. All the time observe the instructions completely, significantly when it says how lengthy to go away the patch earlier than inflating. Normally, this can be for no less than 24 hours.
9 Upkeep Ideas for Your Paddle Board
Widespread sense goes a protracted technique to defending your board from harm. Check out these tricks to hold your SUP in excellent situation.
1. Don’t Go away Your Stand Up Paddle Board in Direct Daylight
Whereas all of us hope for good climate after we’re paddle boarding, leaving your board standing in direct daylight is basically unhealthy for it.
Even when it’s not highly regarded climate, the excessive temperature from direct daylight may cause inflexible boards to delaminate. Inflatable SUP boards left within the solar can shortly exceed their max air stress. This will result in extreme harm to the seams, valves, and even the board catastrophically bursting.
UV rays in direct daylight also can trigger the graphics and colours in your SUP to fade. Go away your board within the shade when it’s out of the water, and also you don’t have to fret about solar harm.
2. Watch Out for Sharp Objects
Trendy paddle boards are fairly exhausting carrying. Nonetheless, you continue to must take care when shifting or storing them to keep away from coming into contact with something sharp.
By no means relaxation your paddle board on something sharp. When carrying your SUP, transfer slowly and acknowledge that it is advisable take additional care of what’s round you on account of its massive dimension.
3. Safe Your SUP for Transport or When Leaving it Standing
All the time tie your arise paddle board down, even if you happen to’re solely transporting it a brief distance on a cart or car. Equally, if you happen to’re leaving your board standing, you must tie it in place to keep away from it falling by accident.
4. Raise your SUP, Don’t Drag
Get assist if you happen to’re struggling to hold your board by yourself. Dragging a board can shortly harm the floor on inflexible boards and trigger leaks on an inflatable SUP.
5. Consider Your Fins
Maintain your fins, and keep in mind that harm to the bins is hard to restore. All the time lie your board down with the fin going through upwards.
To keep away from damaging your fins whereas carrying your arise paddle board, contemplate becoming detachable fins as soon as you might be safely within the water.
6. Know How Your Inflation Valve Works
The valve on an inflatable board works in a selected method, and it is advisable function it appropriately when inflating and deflating the board. Just remember to completely verify how yours works earlier than utilizing it to keep away from damaging the valve.
7. Take Care in Shallow Water
Shallow water carries an elevated danger of damaging your paddle board on submerged rocks, corals, or branches. Contemplate wading out together with your SUP into waters no less than waist deep earlier than you get on. Steer clear of paddling in shallow water except you might be assured that nothing may trigger harm.
8. Solely Inflate with a Hand Pump or a SUP Electrical Pump
By no means use an air compressor designed for car tires to explode an inflatable SUP board. They’ll produce air stress far greater than an inflated board wants and will simply trigger harm.
All the time use a hand pump or electrical pump designed explicitly for inflatable arise paddle boards.
9. Use Your Board Ceaselessly
Lastly, keep in mind that arise paddle boards are designed for use, not saved. The extra you employ your board, the extra you’ll get pleasure from it. Don’t go away it wrapped up in a board bag any longer than it’s important to.
Paddle Board Upkeep FAQs
These are my professional solutions to a few of the mostly requested questions as regards to SUP board upkeep. Observe the following tips and also you gained’t go unsuitable.
How Do You Keep an Inflatable Paddle Board?
You keep an inflatable paddle board by washing it with recent water after each use. Clear it if crucial with delicate cleaning soap. Rinse with recent water and dry it completely earlier than storing in its bag. By no means go away an inflatable arise paddle board in direct daylight that might harm it.
How Do You Clear a Paddle Board?
You clear a paddle board by rinsing it completely with recent water. Wash it with delicate cleaning soap utilizing a soft-bristled brush whether it is soiled. Just remember to clear muck and sand from the fin mounts. Rinse the cleaning soap off and dry the board completely earlier than storing it.
Is It OK To Go away Inflatable Paddle Boards Inflated for Storage?
You may go away an inflatable SUP inflated for storage as long as it’s out of direct daylight. It should even be away from warmth sources and shielded from freezing temperatures.
By no means put any objects in your paddle board when storing it as they might deform it. Launch some stress in order that the board can deal with a slight temperature improve inflicting the air inside to develop.
Do You Must Wash a Paddle Board After Use?
Sure, it could be greatest at all times to clean your paddle board after use. Washing your board with recent water will take away salt water deposits and filth that may trigger the floor of your board to degrade. It should additionally hold it wanting and smelling recent.
Ought to You Wax a Paddle Board?
No, you don’t must wax most paddle boards as they arrive with a foam traction pad that offers you all of the grip you want when paddling. The one paddle board that wants wax is a tough board and not using a traction pad.
What Do You Clear Paddle Boards With?
It’s best to clear a paddle board with recent water and a gentle cleaning soap or a specialist paddle board cleaner. All the time rinse it totally and dry earlier than storage.
Can You Go away an Inflatable Paddle Board Exterior?
It’s greatest to not retailer your inflatable paddle board outdoors. It’s important to guard your board from direct daylight, UV rays, and freezing temperatures. If it is advisable go away your inflatable SUP outdoors for a short while, be sure that it’s within the shade. Test that it gained’t get too sizzling or chilly, and might’t fall over or get in any other case broken.
How Lengthy Do Inflatable Paddle Boards Final?
A correctly taken care of inflatable arise paddle board ought to final for no less than 5 years, relying on how usually it’s used. A ceaselessly used board that’s stored clear ought to final between three and 5 years. Should you don’t clear your new board and retailer it correctly, you’ll severely influence how lengthy it lasts.
Last Ideas
I hope that you’ve got loved my paddle board upkeep tutorial. I really like paddle boarding as usually as attainable. I’ve discovered that placing in just a bit upkeep effort after every journey has resulted in my board wanting higher and lasting longer.
Let me know what you consider the following tips within the feedback. Are there any essential factors that I’ve missed? Lastly, please be at liberty to share this text with anybody you assume may discover it attention-grabbing. Get pleasure from your paddling.