It’s no secret that surfboards can take a beating. From rocks, reef and even people out on the water, to simply transporting from place to place, there are plenty of chances for your board to get scraped up.
One of the big consequences of these scrapes is when you head out into the water with them. They let water seep in which can weigh your board down and lead to foam rot.
Luckily there are things you can do to fix and avoid this, but how do you even tell if your board has water in it? The easiest way to tell if your surfboard is waterlogged is to check if it has gained weight and to look for evidence of water leaks after your board has sat for a day or two.
Waterlogging of your surfboard comes from water entering your board through dings and cracks. These injuries to your board can happen both in and out of the water.
When they aren’t fixed or maybe go unnoticed and you head out to surf, these dings and cracks begin to fill with water.
Not only does this make your board heavier, making it harder to surf, but saltwater trapped in your board will cause irreparable damage if left unattended.
It’s fairly easy though to check and see if your board has taken on water.
The first and simplest way is to weigh your board before a surf session and then again afterwards. If your board has “gained weight” then you have a ding somewhere allowing water to worm its way in.
Another way to check if your board has become waterlogged is to completely dry it and set it in a cool dry space.
After a couple hours or a day, look for any accumulation of water or moisture, along with any forming salt crystals along your board.
A ding may be small and taking on water slowly so it’s important to be thorough in your examination. You can also try applying pressure to your board where the crack is to see if any water comes out, although be sure to take care to not harm your board further.
These are the easiest ways to see if your board has taken on any water.
Fixing Dings
Once you’ve identified any dings or cracks to your board, it’s time to repair them. In cases of major damage, you should go to a surfboard repair shop and let the professionals take care of it.
Unless you really know what you’re doing, in which case you don’t need this article anyway.
For the rest of us though, it’s best to get help with any major damage. When it comes to minor dings though, you can fix them yourself at home.
Make sure you have the tools you need by getting a surfboard ding repair kit at your local surf shop. It will make the process of repairing your board much easier.
First things first, you need to dry out your board. Lay it in a way that the waterlogged area is pointing to the ground to allow better drainage.
Place the board in a cool, dry area out of the sun. A short amount of time in the sun is fine but leaving your board out in direct light for an extended period of time will cause damage.
Leave it to sit until it’s dried out. This can take a few hours to several days depending on how much water you’ve taken on, so be patient. Again, if your board is severely waterlogged, it’s a good idea to take it to a pro and see if it’s salvageable.
Once your board is dried out, prep it for repair. Fully clean off any and all wax near and around the damage. This will help the repair materials bond properly to the board.
Also rinse and clear the board of any salt water. Salt can hold onto moisture, degrading any new repair.
After drying and preparing your board, the first thing to do is sand the area to be repaired so that it’s smooth with no jagged edges.
You may have to cut away some fiberglass or foam depending on what you’re fixing. If you have to cut away foam, you’ll need to fill the area in your board with a product designed for this fix, like q-cell.
Without filling in the gap left behind, your board will warp.
Next is resin. Fill the ding with your resin and set to cure. It may need UV light to cure and you can set it in the sun for this.
Apply a second coat to ensure everything is filled in and that you’ll have a smooth surface. Once you’ve finished with your resin, lightly sand your repair to make sure it’s flat and flush with the rest of your board.
Surfboard Care Tips and Tricks
You may be able to fix the dings that cause your board to become waterlogged, but it’s easier to prevent damage than it is to fix it. And with your surfboard being the biggest investment in the sport, you want to take good care of it.
Here’s some best practice tips for caring for your board.
Keep Out of the Sun
While your board obviously spends time out in the sun, prolonged exposure will cause it harm. UV light will cause damage and discoloration. Not to mention, your wax will melt.
But it’s really the heat to watch out for. Heat is a killer when it comes to your board, so store it out of direct sunlight.
Don’t Store Your Board in the Car
Unless it’s raining in the middle of winter, the inside of your car gets seriously toasty. Especially during those sunny months that most of us want to go out surfing.
Leaving your surfboard in the car to bake can cause some of the worst damage, melting foam and even warping your board.
Sometimes it’s unavoidable. In these cases, look for somewhere shady and leave the windows cracked if you can.
Be Aware of Your Board
It can be hard to get a sense of your dimensions when carrying a surfboard.
It extends far behind and in front of you, so it’s important to remember as you turn corners or turn to look back.
It’s incredibly easy to accidentally smack your board on a wall, tree or railing if you’re not paying attention, leading to major cracks.
Clean Your Board
Over time, salt water will cause deterioration of the resin on your board.
To help prevent this, hose your board down after every use as part of your routine. You can use the showers at the beach or the garden hose in your yard if you’re headed straight home.
Put Your Board In a Bag
Get a surfboard bag to store your board in. You can find them at any surf shop.
While it may seem like an unnecessary accessory, keeping your board in a bag will save it from a myriad of dings related to transportation. In fact, more dings happen during transport than actually in the water.
Using a board bag will help provide a little cushion around your board to help keep it from avoidable damage.
De-Wax Your Board
At least every couple months you should be fully stripping your board of wax, cleaning it off and re-waxing it.
Not only does it help your performance by making sure your wax is doing its job of sticking you to the board, but it’s the perfect time to look for dings you may have missed.
After scraping away and removing leftover wax residue, inspect your board for any small dings or cracks you weren’t able to see before. Repair anything that needs repairing.
Use Your Leash Properly
When transporting your board, loosely wrap the leash around it. Don’t leave it dragging through the ground.
Not only will it get filthy if left trailing the ground, you’ll wear out and cause it damage, meaning it won’t be able to do its job of keeping you connected to the board.
When you go out to ride, make sure your leash is at the proper length. As in, make sure the rail saver on your board is actually on the rail. This is meant to protect your board from rail damage, and if it’s too long you can end up with severe cracks near your tail.
Invest in Some Ding Tape
Ding tape is an awesome product that looks kind of like a sticker. It’s made with marine glue so it can create a watertight seal on a minor ding.
While not a replacement for actual repair, it will hold you over until you’re able to fix it. Keep some with you in your bag to use in case of emergency during a session.
While on that note, don’t use duct tape on dings. The strings in duct tape are water absorbent. So while it may look sealed tight, it’s actually leaking even more water into your board.
Instead, go for something actually meant for surfing.
Related Questions
How Long Does a Surfboard Last?
How long a surfboard lasts depends greatly on the type of surfboard and how it’s cared for. Some boards will last six months to a year, while other boards can last a decade.
In general though, even a well kept board will see the degradation of the materials it’s made of. Most boards will last you a few years.
Can a Surfboard Sink?
Surfboards are meant to be buoyant and float easily. While they won’t sink to the bottom of the ocean, they can sink a bit.
If you notice your board is sinking, it could have become waterlogged, adding extra weight to the board. It can also be that you’re using a board that is too small for you, your weight is too much for the board to stay above.
Or, your technique can even cause you to notice your board sinking.
Why Do Surfboards Turn Yellow
Although they may start out bright white, epoxy and resin boards turn yellow over time thanks to heat and UV exposure. Some boards have resin with UV filters in them, but even these with enough heat will begin to yellow.
You can slow this process by keeping your board out of direct light as much as possible.