You have just bought a brand-new paddle board and you want to keep it as nice as possible! Although cleaning your board can be painful when you get back from the water and just want to relax, its vital for the longevity of the board. Modern SUPs are tough and resilient however cleaning your board is important for keeping the board in good condition and avoiding ugly stains.

Tips for Avoiding Damage

Although tough and can be repaired, SUPs are still susceptible to punctures and damage through incorrect usage, with proper maintenance/care they can last a long time.

The best way to avoid this damage is to follow these tips:

• Dragging the board -

Despite technology making modern inflatables more robust and resilient against punctures and damage, they can still puncture/delaminate if dragged across rocky/sandy/rough ground. The best way to avoid this is by using the handle and carrying the board over the ground, and then putting it down in water/soft ground. This avoids puncture/damage to the board, lengthening its lifespan.

 
• Chucking the board around –

Throwing the board around can damage the board leading to cracks or punctures.

 
• Leaving it out in the sun –

Inflatables if left in the sun can delaminate due to expansion and melting glue. The colour will also start to fade if left for too long. To avoid this just pack the board up at the end of the session. If you are at the spot all day you can deflate them just a bit or find some shade which will reduce the wear however overtime can be damaged.

 
• Storing still wet –

You shouldn’t store an Inflatable paddle board still wet as it will facilitate mould growth and leave marks on the board.

Cleaning your board

 
Step one – Remove fins and give a proper rinse

• Remove fins to ensure a good clean
• Rinse of general salt, dirt, gravel and debris from the whole board including fin box and valve.
• This will get rid of most the dirt and general rubbish on the board, if you are paddling on fresh water, it is not necessary to completely wash the board, just get any grime off.

 
Step 2 – Clean

• To clean the plastic, a non – chemical soap works without damaging the plastic or glue, any natural washing up liquid works with warm water and a sponge to clean any more difficult stains/dirt

Top Tip – be careful when scrubbing the tracking pad to reduce wear and tear on the pad

Step 3 – Rinse again

• Rinse any soapy water of the board to ensure all soap residue is washed off

Step 4 – Dry

• It is best to keep a paddle board dry when storing, so after washing your board down it is best to dry the board as much as possible. This can be done with an old towel, if you are paddling often, it doesn’t matter too much, however if storing for a long time it’s very important to dry the board.

Packing up

Often at a SUP spot you see learners trying to pack their boards as tightly as possible in order to make them more storable. However, the longevity of the board is increased if they are loosely packed which is gentler on the seams.

Many people leave their inflatables inflated, this doesn’t cause any damage as long as the board is away from the elements and slightly deflated to avoid any expansion if there are large temperature changes.

Transporting

One of the benefits of an inflatable SUP is the portability of them, to keep the board safe, the best option is to wash and dry the board completely and pack it into the bag – this will reduce the storage size as well. The bag acts as a protector to the board, protecting against any damage and knocks.

Alternatively, if you want to leave your board inflated, you can put the board on a roof rack, ensure it is tethered down safely with roof rack straps. The only issue is theft, and you can avoid this by buying lockable straps. Also just ensure the board is safely strapped down tight, to avoid the board flying off at high speeds.

We hope you have found this helpful, if you have any other questions about maintenance or even purchasing a SUP, please don’t hesitate to call 01202 700503, or email info@pooleharbour.co.uk or even pop into our shop at Sandbanks.

Nonetheless, take a look at our SUP selection here to browse our stock!

We can also provide packages prices on equipment! Just ask!