Paddle boards come in a variety of different designs and colors. However, after using a paddle board for some time, they start to look dull. So, if you want to customize your old board with colors and patterns and give it your desired look, you might wonder, “Can you paint a paddle board?” You will get your answer in the article.
You can paint your standup paddleboard. First, you have to decide which paints work best with water and whatever design you want to create. Then, you can start painting and give a new look to your old paddleboards.
However, whether you intend to ride the waves on your painted paddleboard or hang it on the wall as room decor, you’ll want to make sure the colors and design last for a long time.
So, you have to paint your paddle board the right way. That’s why, in this article, I will discuss how you can paint your paddleboard, along with a few tips to make it look perfect.
What Materials Do You Need to Paint Your Paddle Board?
Besides acrylic and spray paints, you would need different sizes of brush, mixing tray, acetone, sandpapers, masking or painter’s tape, etc.
With the correct materials, you can expect your paddleboard painting task to be smooth and simple. Here is a list of some materials you must collect before starting to paint your paddleboard-
- Acrylic paints
- Spray paints
- Paint pens
- Brushes of different sizes
- Color mixing tray
- Painter or masking’s tape
- Acetone
- Sandpapers
- Face mask
- Eye mask
- Hand gloves
Apart from the materials mentioned above, you might also need newspaper, cleaning rags, stencils, a whiteboard marker, and an electric sander.
How to Paint Your Paddle Board?
To paint your paddle board, first of all, you have to collect all the required materials and clean the board properly. After that, you have to draw the design’s outline and start painting.
The following are the steps for painting your paddleboard-
Step 1: Collect Required Materials
The first step is to acquire all of the necessary equipment and supplies for painting your paddleboard. First, decide on the kind of paint you will use to paint it.
Acrylic water-based paints are perfect for paddle board touch-up paint. It is because these paints adhere to your board’s fiberglass without harming it, and provides a long-lasting sheen, and is water-resistant.
Spray paint is also a good choice. But acrylic brush-on paint is the safest choice in my opinion. However, don’t use enamel-based paints on a paddleboard. Your board will be damaged, brittle, and discolored as a result of using enamel paints.
Once you’ve gathered the paints and all of the essential materials, you can proceed to further steps.
Step 2: Clean Your Paddle Board
Wiping the entire body of new paddleboards is sufficient. However, if the board is old, dewax it first. Place the board outside for 5 to 10 minutes to let the sun heat melt the wax.
Then, with the help of a wax comb, remove the old wax. After that, use a cleaning towel and be certain to get rid of any dirt, as they can degrade the painting’s quality.
Well, although scraping removes the majority of the wax, it still leaves a thin, waxy layer that can prevent paint from adhering to the board. So, you have to rub acetone on the board with a towel until there are no wax or stain residues left.
But your overall cleaning work is not finished yet. As the smooth, shiny texture of a fiberglass paddle board doesn’t allow the paint to adhere very well, you have to sand the polish off your board.
It will help you get a textured surface that will take paint much better. And don’t worry, at the end of the procedure, you’ll be able to restore that gleaming top coat.
Step 3: Draw the Outline and Paint the Base of Your Design
Now, you have to use a marker to draw the outlines and shapes. If you are still unsure about the design, you might sketch it out using a pencil so that you can repair any errors before applying the colors.
As you want to avoid overflow and maintain neat border lines, tape the edges of the design and any other areas you don’t wish to paint.
Besides, you can produce cleaner lines by using long pieces of tape instead of multiple short strips.
After that, you have to evenly apply the acrylic paint as the base color. To get a uniform covering, keep the spray paint at a distance of eight to nine inches.
It would be best if you spray many coats equally and let the paint dry before beginning with the next step to get the smoothest finishing.
Step 4: Start Painting
Now comes the fun part! At this step, you have to add extra colors using paint pens and acrylic paints. Well, acrylic paint is ideal for larger sections, while paint pens would work great for smaller designs.
Begin by using paint pens and permanent markers to fill in the key colors of your image. To get a clean, crisp outcome, try to color within the lines you sketched as much as possible.
Now, to make your design look more eye-catching, add black shadowing and light shades to your painting to give it a sense of depth and grab your viewer’s attention. You can also draw black outlines to make each color look distinct and livelier.
Step 5: Dry and Seal Your Painted Paddle Board
After you are done with painting, leave the paddleboard outside to dry. This step is a bit time-consuming. You must therefore leave your board outside for a day or twice. When the paint is fully dried, you can carefully peel the tape off.
Now, you have to spray a glossy clear finish on your painting, which will keep it from discoloring while also giving it a beautiful shine and consistency.
Furthermore, you must sand the board again after applying a clear coat to polish the surface. To maintain the good condition of the paint, apply gentle sandpaper.
After the paddleboard is dried, it’s time to recoat, sand, and wipe it down. It would be best to repeat the step three to four times to ensure that the painted region is even and merges in with other areas of the board.
Bonus Tips for Painting Your SUP
Painting a paddleboard is an enjoyable activity that you can achieve with only a little effort. However, with a few tricks, the task becomes a lot easier.
The following are a few tips that might help you while painting your SUP-
- When painting your paddleboard, if possible, use the same brand of painting supplies. It can help to eliminate color mismatches and also prevent bad reactions to the products.
- It is a good idea to make a mockup on paper before painting the board if your design is very complicated.
- Be certain that the tip sizes you use are appropriate for painting. A good design tip can result in an output that is exact and detailed. Larger regions benefit from thick tips, whilst smaller areas benefit from fine tips.
- Before sanding the paddleboard, remember to put on both your facemask and an eye mask to avoid any unwanted events.
- To avoid skin irritation and allergies from the materials, wear hand gloves.
- Paint your paddleboard outside or in a well-ventilated place. It will not prevent the formation of toxic gas, but also help your painting to dry fast.
Conclusion
As a paddleboard owner, you would always like your paddleboard to look beautiful and unique. By now, you’ve got your answer to the question, “Can you paint a paddle board?” You have also got to know the proper way to paint your paddleboard.
So, what are you waiting for? Start playing with the colors and make your paddleboard look colorful and fascinating. All the best!