Care and Maintenance: With great fun comes great responsibility. Not really, but it is extremely important that you follow a few simple maintenance habits to prolong the life of your Stand-up Paddleboard. By following the maintenance steps listed below, you will be protecting your investment and prolonging the fun and adventure that await with your new SUP!
The following care tips will preserve the life of your SUP:
1) Store board in a dry, cool environment.
2) Keep board out of direct sunlight as much as possible (especially the deck pad).
3) Set board top-down when outdoors to keep deck pad out of sun.
4) Do not leave in hot environments (cars, outdoor sheds, etc.).
5) Do not store in damp environments (ie. board bag).
6) Close vent plug before each use, Open vent plug after each use.
7) Periodically inspect vent plug for wear or cracks.
8) Remove and store fins after each use.
9) Be vigilant to avoid dings & cracks.
10) Exercise caution at all times. Your board is a fragile piece of equipment.
The Board
Respect your SUP. Sun, sand and saltwater will degrade any man-made material over time.
Direct Sunlight may destroy your board.
Even mild sunlight can damage a board if left in the direct sunlight for a period of time. On a mild day in the mid to high 70′s, the inside of a car can reach 170 F. The same is true inside your SUP, never leave exposed to direct sunlight when out of the water, always keep in the shade when not in the water. At approximately 165 F all EPS foam begins to out gas and become unstable. If you must expose you board to direct sunlight during transport or temporary storage it is safest to keep the white (bottom) pointing up. Never leave a deck pad exposed and pointing to the sun if it is dry. The effects of heat absorption are amplified when Deck pads are left pointing to the sun. Overheating your board is not covered by manufacturing warranty!
Do not store your paddle board in the board bag for extended periods of time.
Bags are intended to be used for transportation protection, not full time storage. Prolonged storage of a wet board in a wet board bag will have adverse effects on the finish of your board, leading to the possibility for mold, and osmotic blisters if left in hot moist environments. Storing your boards in direct sunlight in a board bag is not the same as putting them in the shade. Board bags will collect heat and potentially cook your boards inside the bags.
Vent Plug (SUP)
The air plug is located above the center fin and along the stringer. It regulates the air pressure contained within the water tight skin of the paddleboard. It is very important that you:
Close the air plug before each use.
Open the air plug after each use.
Regulating the internal air pressure of your paddleboard is the most important maintenance task involved with your stand-up paddleboard. Opening the air vent allows air to escape freely to avoid over pressurization. Neglecting the air vent maintenance may compromise the integrity of the water tight skin or cause severe de-lamination. Leaving the air vent open while in use will allow water and moisture to enter the foam core resulting in a heavy, “water-logged” paddleboard.
The Fins
A healthy fin is a happy fin. Keep your fins in good condition by removing them after each use. Storing your fins in fitted bags is an excellent way to keep them damage free. A damaged fin may dramatically reduce the paddleboards performance.
Damage to the fin incurred while attached to the paddleboard may result in severe damage to the fin box, the water tight skin and the foam core. Attach the fin firmly before you go riding.
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