Show your SUP the respect it deserves! Like almost anything, the more you take care of your stand up paddle board, the longer it will last. Let us explain a few things to do, and not to do to extend your SUP's lifespan. Put these tips into practice and your stand up paddle board will thank you for it.
Don’t Stand On Your SUP Unless You Are On Water
Sometimes we get pictures from super stoked customers that have received their new board in the dead of winter, and they are standing on the board in the house! Of course we instantly contact them and advise against it as standing on your board anywhere other than in the water is a no-no. With your weight on the board, it may cause denting as boards are not designed to be stood upon on hard surfaces.
Don’t Paddle Board in Water That is Less Than Knee Deep
The fin of your board takes up about 8-10 inches of water, and if that catches on something like a rock, you will stop instantly. Since this wasn’t an expected stop, you likely are not ready for it and will most likely end up going right into the water. This is really rough on your fin, but can also be really rough on you as well. When you call your tendency will be to try to stop yourself with your hands, which could lead to cuts, or broken bones. Keep your board in at least knee deep water!
Pro Tip – Gently use your paddle to test the water depth!
DON'T IGNORE THE PRESSURE VENT
Not all boards have one, and they are not all the same, so make sure you understand the style you have. Our entire selection of Rigid/Non-Inflatable SUP boards have a self regulating pressure vent and actually require very little maintenance.
Just make sure it is clear of debris so it can do its job, which is to regulate the air pressure inside the board.
Pro Tip – Noises coming from a self regulating vent are normal. As the vent regulates are pressure inside the board, air will pass into or out of your board, and can cause hissing sounds.
DON'T EXPOSE YOUR BOARD TO EXCESSIVE UV
We are not suggesting you need to not use your board on sunny days, but limit the exposure to UV by:
Not storing it on the roof of your car unless you are going to, or coming from paddling
If your board is white on the bottom, always try to make the bottom face the sun when not in use. This will keep the sun off your deck pad and prevent fading, but white absorbs the least amount of UV.
When you will not be using your board for sometime, find a place to store it that is shaded. For example, if your board lives at your cottage, put it in the shade when you leave on Sunday night as opposed to still on the dock in the sun.
Pro Tip – Try a board bag. Not only do they protect your board from impact, but also help keep your board cooler in the sun if equipped with heat reflective materials. Also, give the heat warning that comes on most boards a read over.
DON'T LET YOUR BOARD HIT THINGS
Accidents happen, and they happen to all of us. However, do your best to prevent your board impacting on anything solid. A few tips are:
- Make sure you are in deep enough water. From above, we suggest knee deep
- Be careful when walking to and from the water. Don’t let your board hit objects like rocks or docks
- Be careful when paddling near others. If you hit another SUP board hard enough, there is a pretty good chance that your board will be damaged, as well as the persons you hit.
- Pick a storage spot that is safe from accidents. I once had the misfortune of watching my kids bike fall over on my badly stored board. Not Fun.
- If you do have a small bit of damage, don’t panic. A lot of small cracks you can fix yourself like we outline in this handy tutorial
Pro Tip – Make sure you have good grip on your board. Slow down on your way to and from the water. We know you are excited to get out paddling, but a little prevention can go a long way. If you have the option of a quick rocky launch vs a little slower sandy launch, always pick the later. Explain to others that might borrow your board how to take care if it properly.
Protect Your SUP!
Your paddle board is amazingly tough, but even the toughest boards can’t withstand abuse or neglect. Treat your board with some respect and common sense and you will have it for years to come.
Did we miss something really important? Just let us know by commenting below or emailing us at info@cruisersup.com
Glenn Morton is Customer Experience Manager at Cruiser SUP, as well as chief content creator. Glenn has been stand up paddle boarding and windsurfing over 20 years, and has been with Cruiser SUP for over 15 years. When not on the water, Glenn can be found on his road bike, a ski hill, or raising his 12 year old daughter Nora. Glenn is an expert in all things paddle boarding including paddle board technique, SUP safety, and all paddle board products. Customers rely on Glenn's expertise to help guide them in their purchase of the best stand up paddle boards for their needs. Glenn helps equip thousands of paddle boarders each year, and is ready and waiting to help you.
