How to Care for Your Inflatable SUP
A Glide Inflatable Paddleboard is made to last with it's fusion technology, woven drop stitch and a 3 layers of PVC.
That's quality you want to take care and we're here to tell you exactly how to do it!
Your Glide inflatable paddle board will last many years with proper care. Due to the 4 layers of PVC that are fused rather than glued and the reinforced woven drop stitch as opposed to knitted drop stitch, means that you have purchased an extremely high-quality board (learn more about that here). Here are a few tips and tricks to make sure that your investment lasts.
Cleaning your Inflatable Paddle Board
Regular cleaning of your SUP will keep it looking vibrant. We recommend using a brush or cloth and a mild (not abrasive) cleanser such as dishwashing soap or Onit Pro Blue Goo.
It’s especially important to clean your board if it’s been out in the ocean as salt water tends to stiffen the PVC material. A high-pressure washer can help clean stubborn stains off the bottom of the board.
If there is debris in the fin box, try using a shop vac or a compress air duster to get it out. Both will work for the valve seal as well.
For our deck pads we suggest using Onitpro Deck Pad Cleaner or Revive Pro Cleaner with a light brush. If those don’t do the trick, a light wire brush or 150 grit sandpaper work well on tough stains.
Dry the board with a towel or let it air dry in shade as leaving the board in direct sunlight isn’t recommended as it’s not a friend of the PVC that makes up most of the board or the foam pad.
Don’t put your board away damp as mildew thrives in warm, damp conditions.
Sunscreen for your Board
The PVC material on our boards is very UV-resistant, but it it’s a good idea to treat your SUP a couple of times a year with 303 Aerospace Protectant which is an excellent sunscreen for gear. Using the protectant more than a couple times a year is overkill and could cause damage to the board.
Check the Valve Regularly
It’s perfectly natural for your valve to some a bit loose from time-to-time. For this reason, we include a handy dandy tool for tightening the valve in the little orange cannister that comes with each board. Just be careful not to tighten it too much.
We’ve set up a tutorial on how to accomplish this: Tightening the iSUP Valve
Storing Your iSUP
Store your board at room temperature and keep it away from high temperature and humidity. Make sure the board is dry. If you must store the board in direct sunlight which is not recommended, deflate it to around 10 PSI. Don’t store items on top of your iSUP as even light items can cause pressure dings.
Transporting your iSUP
It’s perfectly fine to transport your inflated iSUP on your roof but we suggest that you deflate it by a few PSI because you can never be too sure how hot it will get.
It’s suggested that you transport it pad down to minimize wind resistance and you will want to put some padding down on the roof to prevent scrapes on the roof and keep the vibrations from wearing a whole in your SUP.
If you are driving a long distance it is recommended that you pull over occasionally to check the air pressure.
When carrying your board to and from the water, make sure that you never drag it.
Conclusion
Follow these simple tips and your inflatable paddle board will last you through many seasons of epic paddling!
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