Extending the life span of your surfboard
Today i would like to discuss a topic that is very important, especially after you have spent a lot of money on your new Surfboard. The topic is Surfboard Care and how to keep your board in could condition for years to come. After many years in the Surf Industry manufacturing and repairing Surfboards i would say about 30% of all repairs could of been avoided with just a few good board care tips.
First up Surfboard Leashes
Setting up your surfboard leash – When you buy your new surfboard one of the biggest mistakes and most costly repairs is a badly set up Leash string. Tread the leash string through the leash box on your board like picture below shows. This makes sure your leash should not cut through your board when you have a fall. Leashes go through boards like a hot knife through butter and cost a lot to fix.
Detecting dings before they get bad- Every now and again, personally i do this about every 4 months. Take your surfboard somewhere out of any wind and de-wax your board. After it’s nice and clean give it a good check over, looking for any minor dings.
Catching surfboard damage early is key to minimizing damage and the cost of repair. However any part of your board that has a darker patch could be a problem. This usually indicates water leaking into the board from a crack you can’t see or maybe around a fin box that might of taken a slight knock.
Do not use wax to fill a surfboard ding!
If you really need to surf it use a strip of either duck tape or a patch of ding tape. If you have any doubt about the water tightness of your board pop it down to your local repair shop they will be able to spot any damage or concerns. My first stop would be Steve at ND Surfboards 07789764475
Choose a good spot to wax your board- Honestly boards come in all the time for repair,s and nearly all boards have tiny dings on the underside. This is from waxing your surfboard on a hard surface or on a beach with pebbles. These dings can be very hard to see as there can be tiny. Usually the first indication the surfer will get is the dark water patch around the ding.
Obviously this has then got to be removed. Any wet foam also has to be removed witch results in a boards bottom deck covered in small repairs that looks really bad. So just don’t!
Surfboard Bags and covers- Buying a bag for your surfboard is another cost on top of your already expensive new board. However it has to be one of the best ways to lengthen the life of your board. A padded bag is the best option, if your pushed for cash a good quality board sock will help give some protection. When you order a custom surfboard from us at Surf Punk we will give you the option of buying a surfboard bag at Cost price as part of a package deal.
We also have a small range of quality board socks with a padded nose, these are a very affordable option for your new surfboard. Surfboard Bag, Sock
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