How to Look After Your Paddle Board: Cleaning, Storage and Repairs

Quick answer: Rinse your board, fin, leash and paddle with fresh water after every session (especially after the sea), dry it fully before storing, keep it out of direct sun when not in use, and never leave an inflated board baking in heat without letting some air out. Store inflatables indoors, cool and dry, either flat or loosely rolled with a little air in them. Keep valves clean, patch punctures with PVC glue and give it 24 hours to cure, and stop using a hard board as soon as a ding breaks through the skin.

A paddle board that is looked after can last many seasons. Most damage comes from a few avoidable habits: salt left to dry, boards packed away wet, sun and heat, and over-inflation. Here is a simple routine, based on manufacturer and specialist guidance.

After every session

1. Rinse with fresh water

Paddling Magazine recommends rinsing with fresh water after every use to stop abrasive dirt, salt and grime building up. A hose is usually enough: rinse the bottom, flip it, then the deck. Pay attention to fin boxes, attachment points, handles and the deck pad. Because salt water is corrosive, it also says to rinse your fins, leash, paddle and buoyancy aid.

2. Dry it properly

Let the board air-dry in the shade or wipe it with a soft towel. Paddling Magazine explains that moisture causes mildew, and that storing a board somewhere cool and dry is key. If water gets inside an inflatable, you can dry it by locking the valve open and blowing air through with a pump or a vacuum on exhaust.

3. Set it down fin up

Paddling Magazine calls the fin the most fragile part of an inflatable and says to always set the board down with the fins facing the sky, and never to put weight on a board resting on its fin.

Sun, heat and pressure

This is where most inflatable damage happens. Paddling Magazine explains that an inflated board left in hot sun heats the air inside, which expands and over-inflates the board, risking leaks and ruptures. Its advice:

Keep the board in the shade when you are not on the water.
Know your board’s maximum recommended pressure and check it through the day.
On a hot day, or when carrying it inflated on a roof rack, let some air out first so there is room for expansion.

On pressure generally, REI says a quality inflatable is designed for 12 to 15 psi, and the RNLI stresses pumping to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure, or the board will be hard to paddle. Some boards are rated higher, so go by the figure on your own board.

Pumping

If you use an electric pump, Paddling Magazine says most manufacturers recommend finishing the last 10 to 20 percent by hand to avoid over-inflation, which it calls the most common cause of inflatable board damage. It also says never to use an air compressor: too much air, too fast, and it can introduce contaminants and void your warranty.

UV protection

Inflatables use UV-treated materials, but Paddling Magazine says they still break down with prolonged sun. It suggests a UV protectant spray on the deck, rails and bottom once or twice a year, and warns against applying more often. Hard boards benefit from shade too; some premium hard boards, such as the Starboard All Star, are sold with a UV board sock.

Cleaning

For stains and river scum, Paddling Magazine suggests mild soapy water (washing-up liquid, or dish soap in the US) and a soft brush, avoiding scrubbing the graphics, then a thorough rinse. Tougher marks on the PVC can be tackled with a non-abrasive PVC cleaner, but not on the deck pad or graphics.

Valve care

Dirty valves cause slow leaks. Paddling Magazine suggests pressing the valve stem briefly on a fully inflated board to blast out debris. If that does not work, lock the valve open and clean around the sealing surfaces with a cotton bud. A loose valve can also leak; many repair kits include a valve wrench for tightening or removing it.

Storage: short term and winter

Paddling Magazine’s advice for long-term storage of an inflatable:

Make sure it is completely dry.
Store indoors in a cool, dry place out of the sun, to avoid moisture and temperature damage.
Many manufacturers recommend deflating to about 5 psi and storing it lightly inflated and loosely rolled, which reduces the chance of folds and seams becoming weak spots.

If your board’s manual says something different, follow the manual.

Before winter: rinse and dry everything, clean the valve, check for any damage and repair it before the season rather than when you next want to paddle.

Repairing an inflatable puncture

First find the leak. NRS suggests listening for escaping air or spraying soapy water and looking for bubbles. Then follow the board maker’s instructions. Starboard’s repair guide gives these steps:

Clean around the hole with acetone and dry it.
Cut a patch, mark its outline and tape around the area.
Apply glue to both the board and the patch and spread it evenly.
Leave the glue 5 to 10 minutes, until it does not stick to your glove.
Place the patch, warm it gently with a hairdryer, and press out air bubbles firmly.
Add weight on top and allow 24 hours for the glue to bond before inflating.

NRS adds that round or oval patches peel less than square ones, and to extend the patch well beyond the damage. Wear gloves and work somewhere well ventilated, as these adhesives contain toxic, flammable solvents.

Repairing a hard board

Tower Paddle Boards warns that if a ding penetrates the outer layer, you should get it sealed before going back in the water, or you risk permanent water damage to the foam. Its guide uses a UV-curing resin: remove loose fibreglass and foam, fill the hole, cure it in direct sunlight for about five minutes, then sand it to shape. If you are unsure how deep the damage goes, ask a board repair shop to look at it.

Look after the pump and paddle too

Paddling Magazine suggests opening a hand pump occasionally, clearing sand from the chamber, and greasing or replacing a dry plunger O-ring.
Rinse adjustable paddles well. REI notes sand, silt and salt water can damage the adjustment mechanism.

Quick care checklist

Rinse everything in fresh water
Dry fully before packing
Shade, not sun; let air out on hot days
Fins up when setting down
Clean valves, check pressure
Store cool, dry and indoors
Repair early, and seal hard board dings before paddling