SUP MAINTENANCE GUIDE

STARTING THE SPORT WITHOUT ANY KNOWLEDGE?

Your SUP is an investment and your board frequent exposure to salt water, sunlight, and other elements of the outdoors can significantly shorten its lifespan.

Check out guide for looking after your board while in on and off-season including transportation do's and don'ts as well as storage tips when packing away your beloved SUP.

SUP’s trained staff who all paddleboard are always keen to help you, but first, check out our most commonly asked questions to get you started.

If you have a question that hasn't been answered here - you can simply call us on +44 (0) 121 544 2778 and we will be pleased to hear your query!

HOW CAN I KEEP MY SUP HAPPY?

PROTECT FROM UV RAYS:

Over a season your SUP can be exposed to intense sunlight over both short and long term periods and can severely damage your board.

The core of your SUP is composed of an expanded polystyrene (DPS) water-resistant foam. This foam holds gas and air that can overheat, expand, and put pressure on the fiberglass and epoxy skin, thus creating bubbles, cracks, and splits on the exterior of the board.

For inflatable SUP's, there can be an increase in air pressure when being ridden under the sun in all day. As the pressure on your SUP is already high, the pressure might can increase and have some negative effects. So if your max air pressure for your SUP is reported to be 15 PSI foir example, you can pump it to 13 or 14 PSI on the hotter days.

When riding in the winter, the pressure in your inflatable SUP can decrease so would be best to consider increase your PSI slightly to compensate.

Your sup is at it's best between 4 and 40 degrees celsuis air temperature.

RINSE AFTER USE:

Cleaning an SUP is simple. Simply hose it with fresh water after every use. It is one of the easiest and quickest ways to stop salt and bacteria getting into your board. Occasionally you can also use mild soap solution to clear any build up of salt deposits, sun tan oils and microbes.

DRY YOUR BOARD:

A simple drying off between session will prolong your board's life. Bacteria loves moisture and when your SUP is stored, they will thrive. A simple dry down with a micofibre towel or cloth will keep your SUP in perfect condition. Ensure a throughout dry-down is made though if you intend to store your board for a long period of time.

DON'T DRAG YOUR BOARD:

Although SUP's can be tough it still makes sense to protect it as much as possible. One of the best ways to do this is to carry it to and from the water and avoid dragging it on rocks, gravel or over sharp debris when at all possible.

Sand or moisture that’s not supposed to be inside the SUP can cause problems slowly from the inside allowing moisture for bacteria to grow.

CHECK FOR DEBRIS:

Check regularly for any sand or debris surrounding or in the fin boxes or valve seals. Using a vacuum, canned air or warm cloth can help this issue.

CHECK THE VALVE:

Over time, the inflation valve can get loosened up over time. Simply use the valve wrench included in your SUP in a clockwise motion to get things back to shape.

HOW SHOULD I STORE MY BOARD?

It is important that when your board is not in use, that it is stored away in a dry and cool place.

STORING OUTSIDE:

If you keep your board outside then it is recommended to cover it with a tarpaulin or similar protective cover in order to protect it from falling debris and exposure to the elements. Also check the air pressure again before each use as the pressure can lesson over time. Ensure your SUP is stored dry and in a shaded area.

STORING INSIDE:

Ensure your board is dry and clean and not stored in humid conditions where any bacteria on your board can grow.

When stored inflated, do NOT place items on top of it, even if they seem lighter objects – inflatable SUPs tend to form pressure dings that you will feel when paddling which will eventually become weak points for the SUP’s integrity as a whole.

If you do decide your inflatable board inflated, releasing a few PSI just in case the area will help from damaging the seals of your board if the room becomes too warm.

Deflating and rolling up your board may cause some wrinkles in the board, but these will iron out when your board is reinflated.

Remove your fins for winter storage and if you have the glued-on fin system these may become slightly bent, this is easily fixed with some warm water.

HOW CAN I REPAIR MY BOARD?

INFLATABLE SUP'S:

If you need to repair your board, your repair kit that comes with your sup will include the repair patches and glue needed to cover the majority of inflatable sup repairs.

Make sure that you perform the repair in a well ventilated area before starting any repair.

  • Make sure that the board is fully deflated, dry and lying flat.
  • Cut a patch that is around 2 inches larger than the tear on all sides.
  • Clean the area where the patch is to be placed using a substance like acetone or alcohol.
  • Apply three thin coats of repair kit adhesive to both the board and the patch, leave 5 minutes between each coat.
  • Place the patch on the the board, rolling it on from one end. It grips immediately so make sure that you place it in the correct position. Use a hand roller to firmly stick the patch down and to ensure an even seal.
  • Wait 24 hours before re-inflating the board
SOLID SUP'S:

For a fast, lighweight, sandable UV-Cure repair, you can use the SOLAREZ repair putty. A mixture of high-strength, fibre reinforced resin and is an amazing solar activated catalyst that activates when exposed to UV rays. There is no mixing required, just use it straight from the tube.

  • Make sure that the board is fully deflated, dry and lying flat.
  • Clean the area where the resin is to be placed using a substance like acetone or alcohol.
  • Rub a rough sandpaper over the crack in the board, sanding an area slightly larger than the crack. Once the fibreglass cloth under the outer coating of the board becomes visible, stop sanding.
  • In a shaded area out of the sun, squeeze the resin into the crack first, and then smooth the resin over the crack.
  • Once the resin is applied, wrap a piece of plastic wrap around the ding. This will hold the resin in place while it cures and molds to match the general shape of the board.
  • Put the board out in the sunshine for 10-15 minutes to dry out and harden.
  • Using the coarse sandpaper, sand back tghe resin filling to match the level of your board.
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HOW DO I REPLACE THE VALVE?

Sometimes after lots of use, the valve is needed to be cleaned or replaced.

First you need deflate your SUP and locate your wrench tool from your SUP repair kit.

  • Unscrew the cap of the valve and then place the tool into the valve. Turn anti-clockwise to unscrew the valve.
  • Once you’ve loosened it with the tool, you can replace the cap and unscrew the valve the rest of the way by hand.
  • Check that the rubber seal on your valve is in the correct position and that the valve opens and closes easily when you push the button on the top side of the valve. If this is working fine, you do not need a new valve.
  • Remove the existing valve and replace it by turning clockwise by hand at first, then switching to the wrench tool to finish tightening it.
  • Make sure that the thread is properly aligned before tightening and be careful not to over-tighten the valve.
HOW DO I REPAIR MY PUMP?

The SUP pump is often overlooked even though every Inflatable SUP user owns one, maintaining your pump is easy.


  • Use a screw driver to remove the screws from the top of the pump. You can then pull the pump apart.
  • Check for any dirt or sand that can be cleaned out.
  • Re-lubricate the pump open the top and spread a thin layer of oil/grease on the gasket and the tube.
  • Make sure the o-ring and gaskets are fitted in place.
  • Reassemble, reversing the actions and attaching the screws accordingly

HOW CAN I TRANSPORT MY SUP?

When transporting your board, it is very important that it is safely secured by means of a rack system. With all racks, make sure to place the board face downwards with the fin facing the front of the vehicle, supported by straps and pads.

When strapping your SUP on the roof of a vehicle, make sure you do not tighten the straps to the point where they could potentially deform your board.

Only use straps recommended for paddle board transport.

Roof rack pads are recommended to avoid damage to the board and vehicle.

Make sure to give adequate spacing between the front and back racks. to support your board.

Watch your speed, as having a large board on top of your vehicle can make you experience wind shear.

Reduce your normal PSI by about 5 to 10, this will reduce the risk of the board becoming miss-shapen around the roof rack straps. If you have a hard board you should open the vent screw.

If leaving your inflatable SUP in your vehicle, release some air to reduce the pressure.

ANY QUESTIONS?

Get in touch and let us answer them for you.