How to Care for Your Inflatable Paddle Board
Treat your paddle board like a baby and it will have a long life.
Basic SUP Care
1. Keep it out of the sun (when it’s not in the water)
When it’s not in the water make an effort to keep your board out of the sun. Over time intense sun exposure will degrade the pvc. You don’t want to leave your board laying in the sun for hours.
If I am done paddling I will immediately roll up my board and store in the carry bag for my ride home.
Otherwise I always look for shade. If there is no shade I will cover my board with a beach towel or landing mat.
2. Don’t drag your sup board
Inflatable paddle boards are tough and durable. But it’s a bad idea to drag or drop your paddle board. Carry your board, don’t drag it.
3. Take your fins off when not in use
Lay your paddle board down bottom up
or better yet, take your fins off when the paddle board is not in use
It’s a good to get in the habit of setting your paddle board down bottom up. This is not an absolute rule, but if someone sits or stands on your board while the fins are down they could easily get damaged.
3. Stay clear of shallow water to protect your fins and fin box
In the water, when you get on your board, make sure the water is deep enough. You don’t want your fins to hit bottom. Same thing goes when you paddle into shore. Stay clear of shallow water
Often when a fin box is damaged it cannot be repaired. That means your paddle board is ruined.
Often when a fin box is damaged it cannot be repaired.
4. Consider a landing mat
If you really want to take care of your paddle board get a landing mat. After paddling you can deflate your board on a landing mat keep it free from sand, dirt, pebbles and scratches. You can also use a landing mat to cover your board protecting it from the sun. See the Nixy Landing Mat on Amazon here.
SUP Storage Tips
Make sure your board is rinsed off and clean. Deflate it. Roll it up. Put it in the carry bag. Store in a cool dry place.
Don’t roll up your paddle board tight. Rolling it up tight puts unnecessary stress on the seams and fin box. You board only has to be rolled up tight enough to fit in your carry bag. Roll it up loose.
Can I leave my paddle board inflated?
Yes, you can leave your board inflated. I think it is safer to deflate and it roll up for storage. But leaving it inflated is okay. If you decide to keep it inflated you need to keep a few things in mind.
Element protection
You need to protect your board from the elements. Store your paddle board inside. The elements will take a toll on a paddle board and dramatically shorten its life. Direct sun and intense heat will ruin a paddle board beyond repair. Never store your paddle board in direct sunlight. Not even for a few hours.
Don’t stack, Jack
If you leave your board inflated don’t stack anything on top of it. Even light items. Inflatable paddle boards can get pressure dings. A pressure ding on your deck pad looks bad, but a pressure ding on the bottom of your board will negatively affect performance.
Losing air pressure
If you store your sup inflated it will lose some air over time. So you should check the air pressure before use.
Never store an inflatable in a place that gets extremely hot
Intense heat will cause the air in your paddle board to expand. This will compromise the seams and could even rupture the paddle board. So, never store an inflated paddle board in extreme heat. If your garage gets super hot in the summer it is not a good place to store your inflated board.
SUP Cleaning Tips
Rinse after use
If you are paddling in salt water it’s a good idea to rinse after use. Rinse the salt off your board. Over time salt will weaken the material and compromise the seams. If you rinse with fresh water you will greatly extend the life of your paddle board.
Even when paddling in fresh water you should rinse your board off after use. Rinsing after every use will prevent mildew and bacteria from growing on your deck pad.
Clean when needed
You don’t have to clean your board after every use. But don’t let your paddle board get too dirty.
You don’t need a fancy cleaner. Dish soap, water and a soft brush is what I use. Rinse, wash, rinse and dry with a towel.
Repairing an inflatable paddle board
Inflatable paddle boards are durable and leaks are rare. But if you have think you have a leak don’t worry. Leaks are easy to repair.
If you think you have a leak:
- First, take the air valve wrench and make sure the air valve is tightened down.
- Then inflate the paddle board. Listen carefully and you might hear the leak hissing. Take a sponge with soapy water over the suspected area. Look for bubbles indicating a leak.
- Take a sharpie and make a small circle around the leak.
- Clean the area thoroughly using rubbing alcohol.
- Wait until it is completely dry.
- Take a pvc patch and glue from the repair kit that came with your board.
- Cut the pvc patch if needed. A circle shape is best. Ideally you want 3″ on every side of the hole.
- Apply glue to both the patch and board surface. If the patch has a rough side apply glue to that rough side.
- Press and hold the patch against the board while smoothing out any air bubbles with a spoon. Press and hold for 2 minutes. Wipe off any excess glue.
- Wait 24 hours before using your board.
Awesome