Maintenance & Care

You’re going to love your new board, and we want you to preserve that investment for years to come. The elements can cause havoc on any item over an extended period of time – especially salt water and sunlight. Your boards are, of course, made to be enjoyed in the outdoors so we offer some guidelines for it when not in use.

SUN DAMAGE

The elements can cause havoc on any item over an extended period of time – especially salt water and sunlight. Your boards are, of course, made to be enjoyed in the outdoors. But when not in use, some rules should be followed for proper storage. Your epoxy board is constructed of a beaded foam core enclosed in an epoxy fiberglass skin. These foam cores hold gas and air, and prolonged exposure to direct sunlight outside of the water can raise the core temperatures to super high levels. This can cause rapid expansion of the gas and air, putting excess pressure on the fiberglass epoxy skin and forcing it to peel away from the foam core. This is known as delamination.

GOLDEN RULES TO AVOID HEAT DAMAGE

• Never transport or store your board outdoors in the bubble wrap included with your shipment – it can cook your board.
• When not in use, never leave your board exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods of time.
• Always keep your board in a shaded area when not in use.
• When not in use, never leave your deck pad exposed and facing the sun.
• If you must leave your board in direct sunlight for any amount of time, a reflective bag is recommended.
• A board bag is not meant for long-term storage or transport in direct sunlight. Don’t use board bags for this purpose for prolonged periods of time.

VENT PLUGS

With extreme changes in temperature and elevation, pressure can build within the foam core. Vent plugs allow air to escape freely from the core via a water tight GORE-TEX seal in the vent plug.  Air may pass out, but no water gets inside. This keeps your board safe from delamination and water damage. 

TIPS REGARDING VENT PLUG

• The vent plug is maintenance-free. Once it’s installed tightly, it never needs to be adjusted.
• Check your vent plug periodically to see if it’s secured tightly and clear of sand or debris that could block the venting.

DINGS & WATER DAMAGE FOR EPOXY BOARDS

Your boards are constructed from a foam core enclosed in a fiberglass epoxy shell. Extreme force on the outside shell may cause pressure dents, cracks, and dings to occur. Pressure dents are small, concave indentations to the outer skin. They can occur from knees, elbows, or any items exerting lots of pressure over a small area. Other than a small dimple, they cause no harm to your board. Cracks and Dings are typically caused by extreme blunt force, and can open up the foam core of your board to the elements. We recommend that these be immediately repaired and sealed watertight. Failure to do so weakens the overall structure of the board, and opens the core to the elements. Water Damage will slowly add weight to your board as water seeps into unrepaired cracks and dings. This can cause discoloration, especially when sun exposure is combined. Over time, your board will slowly gain weight as the sand and water penetrates deeper into the core. All dings should be repaired and sealed before re-entering the water with your board. There are many epoxy ding repair kids sold online and in hardware stores, but we recommend that you take your board to be repaired by a fiberglass and epoxy specialist. In the event you do it yourself, you must use a Fiberglass – Epoxy Ding Repair Kit.

INFLATABLE BOARDS DAMAGE

Your inflatable board is constructed from military grade PVC and can withstand most abuse. However, contact with very sharp object such as rocks, glass, or edges can puncture the outer skin, you may need to seek professional repair from a boating facility.

TRANSPORTATION

There are many types of racking systems for transporting your board by vehicle. We recommend using the Isle Surf and SUP soft racks and straps for all transport. However, if you choose to use another brand or rack system please read all instructions to make sure it is appropriate for paddle board transport. In order to avoid board damage during transportation, please follow these tips.

• Only use straps recommended for paddle board transport.
• Pads are recommended to avoid damage to the board and vehicle.
• Always place the board face up on the racks, with the fin facing forward towards the front of the vehicle.
• Do not over tighten the straps, as this can cause damage to the board.
• Make sure to give adequate spacing between the front and back racks.
• Watch your speed, as having a large board on top of your vehicle can make you experience wind shear.

FINS & FIN BOX

All boards come with a set of standard removable fins and/or center fin box. These are standard boxes that will accept your included fins or any other standardized aftermarket fin. Always keep your fin box free and clear of sand and debris, and never over tighten your screws. In some cases, you may notice your fins fit tightly in your box and can be difficult to install. Don’t worry; your fin box will gradually widen over time and you can use some sandpaper if it’s still too snug to remove any excess resin from your fin or the interior of the box. This should allow you to slide it in. To install your center box fin, remove the screw from the aluminum plate and slide the plate toward the front of the box. Set the fin into the box and depress it flush to the deck using the brass pin protruding from the sides to slide it into the track. Once the fin is secured, slide the fin plate back to align both the fin hole and the hole in the plate. You can now place your screw into both holes and tighten snug with a flat head screwdriver.