If you use an item of outdoor sports equipment frequently, it may develop scratches, scuffs, and gouges.
All boards are susceptible to being dented or damaged. It’s nearly a certainty that the board will get a ding over its lifetime. If your board has been penetrated through the exterior epoxy/glassing skin, you must have it repaired before returning it to the water. If you don’t adequately seal your board before getting back into the water, you risk irreparable water damage to the foam.
Fortunately, you can manage your SUP scratches and repairs by yourself. Serious surfers and SUP riders have most likely repaired a few minor scrapes and dings on the bottoms of their boards. They learned SUP repair skills instead of taking it in for repairs to save money and get back in the water as soon as possible.
This article will drill you through some simple SUP management strategies; how you can handle scratches and repairs yourself. Continue reading to find out more.
How Can I Manage Damages To My SUP?
Unless the board has been smashed against some rocks, you may not detect scratches or small dings until it has been cleaned before being stored. Surface scratches may not require immediate attention, but cracks, dings, and small gouges on the board should not be overlooked because they can worsen.
A SUP should be inspected while rinsing or cleaning it after a day on the water. During inspections, scratches, dents, and dings may be discovered, and if the foam core can be seen, it should be fixed right away.
Perform a “suck” test in addition to a visual inspection to see if air has leaked into the board. Sucking on a scrape or dent to check for air and moisture is the suck test. If the board contains air or water, it should not be returned to the water until it has been fixed.
Allow the board to drain if there is any water before repairing the damage.
Assemble Materials for Repair
If you’re a seasoned paddleboarder, you should always have materials on hand to fix your SUP. Purchase a ding repair kit to keep in your car or garage instead of buying the ingredients separately.
Epoxy putty and a 60-240 grit sand pad for stripping the board to allow for repairs are commonly included in repair packages. If you’re repairing your board at home, you can use the sand pad by hand or buy the same grit sandpaper and use a hand sander.
Many repair kits include putty that doesn’t need to be mixed, allowing paddle boarders to repair their boards immediately. On the other hand, other kits include epoxy and other chemicals that must be combined.
Cloth sticks for mixing and applying the putty and other items for attaching the board are also included.
Examine the Damage
Assess the damage to the board before attempting to fix it yourself, especially if you’ve never done so before. While some of the damage appeared minimal and just affected the paint and epoxy shell, larger cracks or dents may have caused harm to the board’s fiberglass or foam core.
The aforementioned suck test is a useful approach to gauge the damage. Place your lips over the damaged region and pour some water over it to check if you can suck out any air or water.
If bubbles appear on the board, the damage is frequently more serious than it appears, and the board must be resealed.
Remove Compression Screw
The compression screw on a SUP must first be removed before it can be repaired. A change in air temperature might alter the pressure inside the board, resulting in additional damage. If the screw is left in, it will be nearly impossible to repair the board because air will enter through the ding or hole.
The presence of air inside a SUP can cause the surface to delaminate, causing the material to become brittle and quickly break when subjected to pressure. SUPs commonly have an air vent to relieve pressure induced by variations in altitude or the sun’s heat.
To avoid delamination, open the vent after being out on your Paddleboard.
Quick Repairs
If the damage to the Paddleboard is small and no bubbles appear during the suck test, you can get back in the water in a matter of minutes using a roll of clear ding tape. Use the tape to seal dings, minor cracks, and holes in the board after inspecting the damage.
Clean the affected areas and allow them to dry in the sun or wipe it off to dry them. Then, apply the tape over the crack or dent, pulling it tight so no air can get under it.
Leave the board to set in the sun for about 15 minutes before getting back into the water for more fun.
How to manage Ding Repair Using Epoxy
If the scratch, dent, or gouge on the board is severe, use an epoxy repair kit to patch it. Depending on the repair kit you’re using, you can conduct this type of SUP repair right after the board has been damaged or at home. If you need to mix the epoxy, do so at home to avoid contaminating the putty with dirt or sand.
Surface sanding
If the damage has penetrated the board’s layers and reached the fiberglass or foam core, use the grit sand pad to remove the layers until you reach the fiberglass or foam. The damage might have just reached the fiberglass if there were no bubbles during the suck test.
If this is the scenario, sand the board until it reaches the fiberglass layer, then fill the damage with epoxy. After curing, spray paint the surface to match the board’s color and conceal the repaired area.
If bubbles appear, clean the region and enable air and water to escape the board. Before sanding down to the foam core, remove any material that has come loose or has sharp edges. To fix the board, you’ll need a kit that includes epoxy resin, hardener, fillers, and fiberglass cloth.
Making use of material
Follow the directions to ensure that the necessary materials are properly mixed and applied. To avoid breathing toxic chemicals while working, wear latex gloves and a mask. Because preparation is the key to a good repair, take your time removing damaged materials and sanding the layers off of the board.
If the damage is too serious, you might need to look for a SUP repair shop near you by typing in “SUP repair near me.” A boat repair firm may be able to assist you if you are unable to identify a business that repairs SUPs, surfboards, or wakeboards.
The majority of boats and paddleboards are composed of the same materials.
Repairing Carbon Fiber
A stand-up paddle board’s surface is made up of carbon fibers that are woven together, and if the board is damaged, it may need to be sanded down or the material removed. Although someone with experience may be able to repair their carbon fiberboard, those who are new to the sport may need to seek professional help.
Purchase a carbon fiber repair kit if you want to mend the board yourself. The board will be repaired similarly to a fiberglass board with carbon fiber cloth instead of fiberglass.
While epoxy can be used for short repairs, you’ll need a carbon fiber kit to waterproof the board and replace the fabric surface to restore its integrity.
Conclusion
By now, You should be able to fix minor SUP issues and get out on the water as asap. But, it is also possible to avoid damages by properly caring for it.
When you’re not on the water, attempt to find a sandy location to lay down the board. UV rays from the sun can damage a board’s surface, and heat can cause the air pressure within to rise, resulting in delamination.
Lay the board on a solid, hard surface like asphalt to avoid scratching it, especially carbon fiberboards, which are more vulnerable to damage. Avoid rough areas when taking the board out into the water to evade scratches. Don’t go on the board until you’ve walked out into deeper water.
Rinse the SUP with fresh water to eradicate bacteria and examine it for damage before storing it. If you discover damage, analyze it to determine what paddleboard repair is required before attempting repairs.
Thanks for reading to the end. We wish you plenty of fun!