Water sports allow people to enjoy the water and get exercise, especially during the sweltering summer months. One of the fastest-growing water sports is stand-up paddleboarding. While similar to surfing, this sport stands on its own (pun intended) and offers fun and exercise on almost any body of water.

As with all sports equipment, you must perform regular maintenance on your stand-up paddleboard to keep it in good condition. Keep reading to learn how to keep your SUP board in tip-top shape.

Transport Your Paddleboard with Care

Most people drive themselves and their board to the water when they want to paddleboard. Even if you live close enough to one body of water to carry your board there, you may want to drive to a different location to experience new waters. Due to the nature of this sport, everyone should learn how to transport their paddleboard with care.

Paddleboard bags are excellent accessories that aid in careful transportation. If you use an inflatable paddleboard, you can easily deflate your board and store it in a bag inside your vehicle. If you use a solid paddleboard, you can still invest in a transportation bag. This bag acts like a cover and protects your paddleboard during transportation until you’re ready to hit the water.

If you are transporting a solid paddleboard on top of your vehicle, secure it with thick straps. Straps that are at least two inches wide offer better security than thinner straps. Make sure that the straps are tight enough that the board can’t move but not so tight as to cause lines on the board.

Don’t Leave Your Board in the Sun

One of the reasons a transportation bag is so important is because long-term sun exposure can damage your paddleboard. While these boards suit outdoor activities, extreme heat and sun exposure can cause delamination. Delamination occurs when a material fractures into layers. It is most common on solid boards since they have more construction materials than inflatable ones.

Even though delamination is more common in solid boards, you don’t want to leave your inflatable board in the sun either. Sun exposure can fade the colors and designs on your board.

Monitor Your Surroundings

Keeping your paddleboard in good condition isn’t just about how you treat it out of the water. How you treat your board while you use it in the water is important too. The best way to take care of your board in the water is to closely monitor your surroundings.

Skidding along docks, bumping into rocks, or accidentally hitting your board with your paddle can all cause damage. While some bumps and hits are inevitable, try to monitor your surroundings and actions as much as possible. Eliminating everything but true accidents will help keep your board in the best shape possible.

Inspect and Clean Your Paddleboard After Every Use

Since those bumps and hits are unfortunately inevitable, you should inspect your board after each use. While this does take extra time, and you’re probably anxious to get to your next activity, the time investment is worth it. If you notice a problem with your board as soon as it occurs, you can fix it faster. The faster you fix the problem, the sooner you can get back on your board and enjoy the water again.

After a thorough inspection, you should also take the time to clean your paddleboard. Rinse your paddleboard in clean water. Even if you just got out of fresh water, microscopic organisms and dirt can still cling to your board, so a rinse is necessary. Occasionally wash your board with a water-based cleaning mixture to prevent dirt buildup and odor.

Store Your Board Away From Sun, Moisture, and Heat

As much as we love to paddleboard, we can’t use our boards all the time. We must put them somewhere when we’re busy with other activities. Properly storing your board is just as important as proper transport and cleaning.

Proper board storage should protect your board from sun, moisture, and extreme heat exposure. Prolonged sun and moisture exposure can damage the shell of your board. Extreme heat exposure can cause delamination. Indoor storage is often the best way to eliminate these factors, but sometimes outdoor storage is necessary. If you must store your board outside, try to find a shady spot with enough coverage to prevent moisture damage.

Repair Chips With Epoxy

Despite our best efforts, damage can always happen. If you notice damage on your board, you have two options. For significant problems such as a damaged fin, you can seek professional help from a board repair expert. For small problems such as chips in the board, you can make repairs yourself.

Repairing a chip in a solid board is easy. Clean and dry your board, then sand around the chip. Remove some of the foam from around the chip. Sanding and foam removal will help the epoxy stick to the board. Mix the epoxy according to package instructions and apply it with a small utensil such as a butter knife or popsicle stick. Cover the epoxy patch with tape so that it will harden flat. Once the epoxy dries, sand away any excess to create a smooth surface.

Perform Annual Maintenance

Hopefully, you won’t need to repair chips often. Even if you never have to repair a chip or take your board for professional assistance, you should perform annual maintenance. Attending to annual maintenance ensures that the overlooked areas of your board remain in good condition.

You should examine your fin, any metal parts of your board, and the vent plug. Use WD-40 or a similar lubricant to keep all your metal parts in good shape. Additionally, you’ll want to check that the vent plug is hand-tight.

Keeping your stand-up paddleboard in good condition is hard work, but having the right knowledge makes the process can be easier. The most basic part of paddleboard care is the word “caution.” Exercise caution during transport, use, storage, and maintenance so that your board can look and function at its best.

If you’re interested in POP Boards to add to your paddleboard collection or you want to start paddleboarding for the first time, RJ Nautical can help. Our selection offers various sizes and colors and even docks, ensuring you can get the equipment you need for this fun water sport.