Taking care of your sports equipment during the off-season is important for its longevity. If you have a stand up paddle board or SUP, it is important to store it properly, so it is out of the way and will not sustain damage. Here are some suggestions for how to store stand up paddle board.
Where to Put Paddle Boards
The main problem with storing a stand up paddle board is finding room for it. They are tall boards as they measure from nine feet to 12’ 7” tall depending on the type of board and size of the rider.
For people with inflatable SUPs, they don’t need to worry about storage because they can be deflated, folded into their storage bag and placed anywhere it fits. However, for solid boards made from foam, wood, fiberglass, or plastic, you will need a room with the ceiling height or wall width to store a SUP standing upright or on a rack.
While storing a paddle board inside is ideal to protect it from the elements, people don’t always have the necessary space for one in their house or apartment. In this case, storing a board outside is fine if it has protection from the sun, heat, and rain.
Outdoor SUP Storage
Protecting your board from the elements is important because:
- The sun’s ultraviolet rays can discolor and cause damage to a board’s shell.
- A wet board can produce mildew or mold, which will also damage the shell.
- Extreme heat from the sun or another source can damage the materials inside of the board or delaminate the surface material.
If you need to store a SUP outside, make sure it is in a shaded area to avoid damage to it. If there isn’t any shade available in your yard, create some by hanging a tarp over the board. A tarp can also protect the board from getting wet when it rains or snows. It is important to keep the tarp from touching the board to keep it from sustaining damage.
Paddle Board Racks
The best way to store SUPs is to use a rack, either inside or outside of your house, garage, or apartment. To properly hold heavy boards and prevent damage to them, most racks are made with steel frames covered with foam padding. Other rack options include using board straps or racks made from wood.
There are several SUP rack options to choose from for indoor or outdoor storage.
Ceiling Racks
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Storing a SUP in a garage is probably the best, most convenient option, for most homeowners. A ceiling rack allows you to store the board out of the way and it can keep water, sand, or dirt out of the house. If hung at the right height, you will be able to store your board(s) by sliding it onto the rack when you get home after being on the water.
There are many adjustable ceiling rack designs to hold more than one paddle board at a height that most people can reach. Adjustable racks are made with a steel frame, but many use straps to hang boards from the ceiling.
A strap frame can also be mounted to the ceiling on a patio, porch, or inside your home if you don’t have a garage or shed large enough for the board. They are easy for most people to install and are less expensive than a solid steel frame.
If you need to store your board outside and securing it is a concern, you can purchase a locking mechanism for your SUP. Most board locks are coiled cable locks that are difficult to cut off. They can easily be installed if your board as a leash plug or, if there isn’t one, then many brands come with a cleat to secure the board. Board locks use either a combination or padlock to prevent boards from being stolen.
Wall Racks
Another option for how to store stand up paddle board is to mount a rack on the wall in your garage, shed, or inside your house. The rack can be mounted at any height by attaching it with screws to the studs inside the wall. The wall studs will provide the necessary support for holding 50 to 100-pound boards.
Some wall racks will hold up to four boards in a shelf-like configuration, as long as the rack is anchored securely to the wall. You could easily store your family’s boards on the rack or store surf- or boogie boards along with your SUP if you enjoy those watersports as well.
Other options for wall racks are single board racks in the shape of a hook. The hook shape racks allow you to hang a board either horizontally or vertically in your garage or inside your home. Some of the hook-shaped racks come with straps to keep the board from touching it, so it doesn’t damage your SUP.
Along with keeping your boards out of the way, mounting a rack on the wall of your home will allow you to display a SUP as a wall decoration. If you have a customized board or one with nice colors or design, then it could look great displayed in the living room or bedroom as a work of art.
Vertical Racks
Another storage option is to mount a vertical rack to the wall of a garage, shed, or inside of your house. Vertical racks can hold from one to five boards, depending on the style you choose. The boards on a vertical rack are suspended slightly, so the ends don’t rest against the rack or the floor, which prevents damage to them.
Along with mounted vertical racks, you can purchase freestanding ones, which is a good option if you rent an apartment or house. You won’t need to mount the rack to the wall, and it can be put anywhere there is room for the boards.
If you need to store your board in your house, then you can select a nice looking wood rack to display your SUPs. Many racks look utilitarian, so if you want something nice to add to the décor of your home, a dark or light wood tone rack will display your boards beautifully.
Instead of buying a stand up paddle board rack, you can design and build one based off instructions for DIY vertical surf board racks. To reduce the cost of materials, select recycled wood and PVC to build a rack instead of buying a new one.
Transportation Racks
To avoid permanently mounting a rack to the roof of your car when going paddle boarding, you can attach a rack made with suction cups to secure it. The rack has two pieces that lock onto the roof, and the board is secured with straps.
The SeaSucker Paddle Board Rack has two bars on which the board rests when it is mounted to the roof of your vehicle. The bars extend from 22″ to 44,” and they are padded, so the board doesn’t get scratched or dents while taking it to a river, lake, or ocean.
It has a total of six suction cups, four on which to rest the back of the board and two for the front bar. The straps to secure the board onto the rack are also included. It mounts to the hull of a boat to hold your board when transporting it to open water.
Paddle Board Storage Tips
Whether storing a paddle board for a day or during the off-season, its weight needs to be distributed evenly. If it lays or stands with too much weight on any point of the board, then it can warp. Make sure to lay it on a wall rack or use straps to balance the weight correctly.
Avoid putting too much pressure on any point along the board. If you store it leaning against a wall, try to make sure it touches the wall at several points along the board. Don’t strap it down too tightly when it’s being stored or don’t store it in a tight space. Putting pressure on the board can cause it to become deformed.
Before putting it away, always clean your paddle board. If it’s going to be put away for only a day or so, rinse it off with clean water to remove any dirt, grime, and sand from the surface. If it’s being put away during the off-season, clean the entire surface with a mild detergent, so it doesn’t mold or mildew.
Use a UV protective spray on your SUP once or twice a year to prevent sun damage. As a SUP deck is made from a material that prevents sun damage, don’t use the spray too frequently or the chemical can damage its shell.
By knowing how to store stand up paddle board, you can help your board last longer, ensure it performs its best and keep it looking great. Read more about these storage options and choose one that best fits the space in your garage or home.
Last update on 2023-03-23 at 08:02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
