Whether you choose to paddleboard on serene lakes or choppy seafronts, your board will need maintenance. Each element it is exposed to, from coarse sand to salty water, has an impact on the board’s condition and quality, which will, over time, impact its performance on the water.
Taking care of a paddleboard goes beyond waterside habits and requires consideration at home too, especially when it comes to storage and transportation. So, if you’re wanting to ensure that your paddleboard is kept in great condition, supporting your performance on the water, then here are the fundamentals of maintenance.
Wash Your Board
Getting into the habit of washing your board is crucial. Each time it is brought out of storage, a board is likely to interact with various elements that will tarnish its surface. Sand, for example, is a common issue because, if it is not removed from a board, can more easily wear away at the board, fading designs and reducing grip. The residual salt from seawater has a similar effect.
Part of the washing process also involves drying and paddleboards should be completely dry before they are put into storage. This is because wet boards can become mouldy, leading to ugly stains and crude smells. Be sure not to use any strong chemicals on your board as these can easily affect its design. Instead, soap and warm water will be absolutely fine.
Dark And Dry
The conditions within which your paddleboard should be stored are dark and dry. A dark room, or at least one that is free from direct sunlight, is important because changing temperatures and sunlight can both compromise the integrity of a board’s quality, especially if it is an inflatable board. Dry conditions are important to mitigate the aforementioned issue of dampness and keep your paddleboard looking great.
Regardless of whether you have a solid board or an inflatable board, one that you choose to deflate and compact, it is recommended that a paddleboard is concealed inside a case. Cases help not only to protect the board from environmental changes but also against knocks that can otherwise dent or impact the board’s surface.
Inflating And Deflating
There is an ongoing debate about whether to inflate or deflate a paddleboard when storing it. The general consensus is that keeping a board inflated is absolutely fine and helps those who want to take theirs out regularly save the time otherwise required for preparation. The board may, over time, lose air pressure when kept in storage but this can be remedied with the addition of air just before taking to the water. It is useful to have a paddleboard inflator that also measures PSI for the purpose.
Those who deflate their board are also unlikely to experience any issues, aside from the task of inflating a board each time it is needed to be used. Many, in fact, prefer inflatable boards for this reason, as they can easily be compacted into containers and bags to be stored or transported.
