Your Inflatable Paddle Board & Heat

Sun's Out! SUPs Out!

But hold on...there are a few precautions you need to take before heading out with your board on a paddle in the summer sun.

Whilst most boards will always be fine, it's always best to take care and be aware. This will help the longevity of your board and more importantly, keep you and others safe.

Science

This simple science is that warm air expands and that means that your board, sat in the sun, will slowly begin to increase in pressure. The temperature is what decides how quickly this happens. 

The rule of thumb is - your board in direct sun between 20º -23ºC will start to increase pressure at around 1psi per hour. There is the argument that the boards are meant to take up to 22.5psi, so what's the drama? The answer is, the heat also softens the glue and can also soften the PVC material which the board is made from - this, along with the increase in pressure means that seams can give way and boards can rupture. 

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Not All Boards

We all know someone who has told us "I've left my board out in 107ºC for weeks and nothing has ever happened" (hopefully you read that in your head in the voice of someone who always knows everything 😉) and in that persons case, they're the lucky one, but they won't be doing their boards any good. 

UV isn't just harmful for skin, it affects everything. So, for the sake of staying safe and looking after your investment - follow these simple tips👇

1. Under inflate your board by several psi - up to 3-psi on hot days
2. Take something to cover it like a towel, blanket or SUP Sock
3. Get it in the water, even if you don't want to paddle it - it helps regulate the temperature

Keep these in mind and your board will live a long and happy life!