Website design By BotEap.comMainly, the care of your surfboard is in the handling of it when entering and exiting the water. Most damage to boards occurs during transport in and out of the water. An epoxy stand up paddle surf requires the same delicate handling as traditional long and short epoxy surfboards. The difference, of course, is the size of the board, so more care must be taken to avoid bumping into things and causing it to fall to the ground. New boards have a handle for easy transport, if not, it is recommended to install a handle or strap system for easy transport. It is also important to remember that the size of the board is a hazard in strong winds and makes it much more difficult to manoeuvre. Avoid high wind situations and if you can’t, order a second pair of hands.

Website design By BotEap.comThe second most likely cause of damage is taking it to and from the beach. Due to the size of these boards, a rack system or truck with a tailgate pad is recommended. Make sure the plate is attached directly to a rack. Soft roof rack systems do not work well unless the board is placed directly on the car with a towel between them and the soft roof rack straps wrap around the car roof and dash. It is still inadvisable to have a more fixed shelving system, especially if your travel distance is greater than a few miles or if there is any freeway travel. High speeds with a board this size can spell disaster if the board is not “attached” to your vehicle properly.

Website design By BotEap.comLastly, the stand up paddle board can be damaged by the elements outside of the water if not cleaned properly with fresh water and allowed to dry. Subsequently, keeping it away from direct sunlight and in a moderate temperature environment will prevent the core of the plate from expanding and contracting and causing delamination. Newer paddle boards, due to their sheer volume of foam, need unidirectional venting to allow pressure to escape from the core, but also to keep water out. To help keep your board clean from the elements, use fresh water to clean the board and allow it to dry completely before loading it into any bag. Most beaches have a supply of fresh, clean water to make cleaning up on the spot easy. That is the best way.

Website design By BotEap.comFollow these simple instructions for the care and protection of your stand up paddle boards and epoxy surf boards.