How to take care of your paddleboard

SUP is one of those water sports that everyone can join in, whether it's for hard training or a quiet Sunday trip to enjoy the surroundings. Especially the latter is one of the reasons why the inflatable SUP boards have become so popular, as they are the most all-round types of boards. In other words, they are suitable for all ages and levels.

In addition, they are extremely easy to handle, as the entire board and all the equipment can be in one bag, which can easily be transported to the nearest open water. Super smart, easy to use and makes the whole experience much more flexible. However, it requires that you take proper care of your board, as otherwise it will quickly become difficult to use.

Where fixed boards are often somewhat more durable, inflatable SUP boards are dependent on air, which can create some challenges. Fortunately, they are easy to overcome, with the right maintenance, which is quite straightforward in the long run. With the right care, you can have your inflatable board for several years without it starting to leak.

Take good care of your SUP board

That guide is only intended for inflatable boards, as fixed paddleboards are often more specialized and therefore require a whole different kind of care. So let's dive into all the technicalities.

The inflatable SUP-boards you find on Watery.dk, is made with a strong 6-layer welding. which holds the layers closer together to avoid leaks. The extremely strong joint can keep most punctures at bay, even if bumping into rocks and other sharp edges. However, it is only as resistant as the right maintenance allows.

If you e.g. if your board dries in the sun or on hot asphalt, these welds will become looser in structure, which in the long run can cause small holes and leaks. Most of the time it is not alarming and most small holes can be patched with vinyl glue - which is also included in the repair kit. That part is easy to deal with, but if you really want to take care of your inflatable SUP board, there are certain precautions you should take to ensure the integrity of the board itself.

Chlorine and salt water are generally quite harder due to the materials swimming and water sports equipment is made of. Not that it directly etches the materials, but over time they will soften them. This does not happen while they are in water, but more so if you let them air dry with chlorine and salt deposits. With lake or brackish water, small deposits of algae will usually accumulate, which usually have 3 consequences:

1. They quickly start to smell

2. They break down the materials and create holes

3. Violent algae growth will not only destroy the welds, but also detach the platform you stand on.

For these reasons, it is better to follow some simple maintenance tips than to have to replace your SUP board every season.

Proper maintenance of your SUP board

Most maintenance and cleaning takes place when you are packing up your SUP board. This is also where you can do the most preventive maintenance, to take good care of the board:

1. Remove dirt, sand, stones and dirt, as these foreign objects will otherwise be able to puncture the board when it is rolled up.

2. Bleed the board, may sound quite simple, but it is a way of ensuring that air holes do not occur, which, when packed together, can only escape through welds and smaller holes in the board. Therefore, it must be rolled from the muzzle down towards the valve, while slowly pushing the air out after each folding.

3. Remember to use the tight strap, which comes with most inflatable SUP boards. This will guarantee that the board is rolled up correctly and does not shift in the bag during transport, so that rubbing and loose parts do not damage the board.

In addition, it is important to tighten the valve from time to time to keep the closure completely tight. You will quickly hear air leaking from the valve when you inflate it, which can be quickly fixed with the tightening tool included in the repair kit.

Proper cleaning gives a healthy board

SUP boards are generally extremely hardy, but if their care is neglected, their condition will quickly degenerate. Fortunately, it is easy to avoid if you just use a little extra care in the maintenance of your board. To make it all more manageable, we have of course listed the most important initiatives:

1. Rinse the SUP board in cold fresh water, and preferably after each use. This removes chlorine, salt and algae deposits that would otherwise settle between the welds and slowly begin to dissolve them.

2. Use a mild scouring pad to remove foreign deposits that should ideally be removed. It is important not to use anything that will "cut" through the layers.

3. Do not use soap but Rodalon if your board needs a thorough wash. Soap will be able to dissolve glue and welds, which will eventually create holes in the board.

4. Allow the board to dry completely before storage, otherwise you will find that the board will mold and thus become more fragile in the joints. This will also lead to gaps.

As a starting point, it does not matter if you pack all the equipment together after coming ashore, without following this advice. It is just important that you go through the maintenance procedure when you get home. If you pack your board straight from the water into the bag and store it for a long time - without cleaning it - you will have a completely different board the next time you unpack it. And not in a positive way!

If you need further information for proper maintenance, you can read more about it here.