How to look after your SUP gear.
THE ELEMENTS
Do NOT store your board in direct or indirect sunlight while not in use!
Store in a cool and dry, protected area that is not exposed to direct and indirect sunlight and heat.
Try to keep your board out of the sun as much as possible when not in use. The sun is the most damaging force on the planet, and the NZ sun is one of the harshest in the World.
If at the beach on a warm sunny day, we advise that you lower the boards PSI level by at least 5-10 psi. As temperatures increase and the air inside your SUP heats it will expand. You will need to provide room for it to expand in to. An increase in pressure will result in a board putting increased strain of the seams of the board. This may cause the boards seam to split.
CLEAN YOUR BOARD REGULARLY
The majority of New Zealanders live within a short drive of the beach and will often use of our Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Boards in the Ocean.
Rinse the entire board with fresh water to remove dirt, gravel and debris.
You do not need to rinse your board after using it each time if you are paddling in fresh water, unless you want to quickly clean off debris.
However if you are paddling in salt water it is important to rinse your board with fresh water to remove the salt. Salt can corrode the material and weaken the seams over time. Rinsing with fresh water will prolong the life of your board.
With this in mind we suggest that you wash down your board with a small amount of biodegradable dish washing liquid. Ideally rinse your board first, then using a soft bristle brush gently wash the deck and bottom of your board. Finally rinse once more and allow board to dry out of the sun before you either pack away or store undercover.
Cleaning will stop the growth of bacteria which will breakdown glue and the outer layer of the board.
LEAVING THE BOARD INFLATED
Many people ask whether they can leave their board inflated instead of deflating it after each use. The answer is yes you can BUT please store it away from the elements, in a cool area out of direct sunlight and ideally off the ground.
All inflatable paddle boards will lose some air pressure over time if the board is left inflated day after day. Therefore before taking the board out again it would be wise to quickly check the air pressure with the gauge on your pump as you may need to top it up.
HAZARDS
Our beautiful beaches are often separated by rocky outcrops. These outcrops are prone to sharp shellfish and rock oysters, which can easily cause nicks and cuts. Give yourself some extra room when paddling around rocks.
We also suggest being aware of the water depth as you near the shore. We advise dismounting the board at around knee deep. This will ensure that the fin and fin box doesn’t receive any damage.
REPAIR TIPS
Scratches and scuffs are very common and considered normal wear and tear. They are rarely a big issue.
Deeper tears or leaks can happen when your board comes in contact with sharp objects such as rocks, corals, nails, or sharp sticks.
If a leak does occur don’t panic! Follow these few simple steps to solve the problem:
- Check for leaks by applying fresh water over the area. If you see bubbles that means air is escaping.
- Deflate the board and clean the area properly.
- Let dry completely.
- Apply glue from your repair kit to the leak liberally.
- Wait 20 minutes then apply another layer of glue.
- Wait another 20 minutes then apply third layer of glue.
- Take a PVC patch from your repair kit and cut it in a rounded shape a little larger than the area with the leak.
- Apply a little more glue to the patch and press it down over the leak.
- Keep pressing it for 2 minutes then wipe away any excess glue. Apply something heavy like a weight or a clamp.
- Wait 24 hours before inflating your SUP again.
Another option besides the glue in your repair kit is using Aquaseal. That stuff works great, is extremely wear resistant and totally waterproof.