A SUP lasts many years if you look after it properly , the inflatable iSUP in particular likes neither salt nor lasting heat. A few minutes after every tour are enough. Here’s the honest routine, part by part: what to use, what to watch for, how to dry, and where to store it over winter.
The 5-minute routine after every tour
- Rinse: board, paddle, leash and wetsuit with fresh water, salt and sand off.
- Get the sand out: of the fin box, the valve and the paddle clamps.
- Dry: airy and in the shade, never leave the wet board inflated in blazing sun.
- Don’t pack it wet: dry fully first, then roll , or you get mould and odour.
The iSUP board
- What to use: fresh water, a soft sponge, the right valve tool.
- What to watch for: valve clean and tight (the most common leak), seams and drop-stitch for damage, no scraping over stones and shells.
- Drying: dry both sides completely before rolling , a board rolled damp smells and grows mould.
- Storage (winter): slightly deflated, loosely rolled or flat, cool, dark, dry. Don’t store fully inflated in the heat , overpressure kills the seams. Safe from mice.
Mum says: Let some air out of the board in storage and never leave it fully inflated in the sun. Heat plus overpressure is the surest way to burst the seams.
Paddle, fin & leash
- Paddle: fresh water into the adjustment clamp, sand out, check carbon for cracks, dry and store it taken apart.
- Fin: fin box and screw clean and tight, check for cracks.
- Leash: your safety item , check for cracks and a firm fit, replace when in doubt. On open water, nothing works without a leash.
Pump & wetsuit
- Pump: keep it free of sand and salt, check hose and seal, store dry.
- Wetsuit: rinse cold with fresh water, dry through completely on a wide hanger in the shade, never on the heater. More in the wetsuit calculator and under removing musty smell.
Storing it away: the winter check
- Dry everything completely, roll the board loosely and slightly deflated.
- Paddle taken apart, pump dry, wetsuit on the hanger.
- Store cool, dark, dry and not in the heat.
- In spring: check valve, fin screw and leash, keep a small repair kit (PVC glue) handy.
In short: what really matters
- After every tour, rinse with fresh water, sand out of valve and fin box.
- Roll the board only when dry, never fully inflated in the heat.
- Paddle clamp salt-free, fin and screw tight, check the leash.
- Rinse the wetsuit cold and dry it gently.
- Keep a repair kit handy, go over everything in spring.
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