Wakeboarding is an exhilarating water sport, and your wakeboard needs proper care and maintenance to ensure that it lasts for many seasons. Adequate storage is essential to wakeboard care, especially during the off-season.
To care for your wakeboard, rinse it with fresh water after every use, keep it out of the sun, always check for damage, and keep foreign chemicals away. Proper storage forms part of caring for your wakeboard, and you should have a rack for long-term stowing.
Wakeboards are easy to maintain, and a little care goes a long way. We’ll cover everything you need to know on how to store and care for your wakeboard and bindings so it remains in tip-top condition – ready for your next ride.
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How To Take Care of a Wakeboard
To keep your wakeboard in its ultimate condition, you should do a few things to take care of it. It’s easy to look after for your wakeboard, and it can last for many seasons if you do so correctly!
#1 Rinse You Wakeboard After Every Use
When you’re finished being in the water, you usually rinse yourself off, rinse your wetsuit, your helmet and so on! Well, your wakeboard deserves the same treatment. After every use, you should rinse your board with fresh water to clean off salt, sand, and other debris. Saltwater can corrode your wakeboard’s metal and chrome fittings, so be sure to rinse every nook and cranny! Always dry your board thoroughly with a towel to prepare it for storage.
#2 Keep It in the Shade
Your wakeboard doesn’t like direct sunlight or extreme temperatures because it can cause delamination, warping, and discoloration. When you’re out on the water and not using your board, you should keep it in the shade so that harmful UV rays don’t cause discoloration or deterioration. You can invest in a wakeboard sock or bag for ultimate sun protection.
#3 Check for Damage
It’s crucial to check your wakeboard for any signs of impairment before and after you use it. Any damage, such as cracks, scratches, or loose bindings, are a quick fix that will keep your wakeboard usable for many seasons – a little fix goes a long way for your board’s durability.
When you check for damage, the most prominent spots are around the fins, boots, and bindings. Damage usually starts as a small tear; if you fix it before it becomes an issue, you’ll save your board and money! To fix a small crack or tear, you can use epoxy to seal it, but it’s best to take your broken wakeboard to a professional.
#4 Keep Funky Chemicals Away
Your wakeboard only requires a simple rinse for cleaning, nothing more and nothing less. You should also remember that if you’re lathered in sunblock or oil, you should wait until it’s completely absorbed and keep it away from your wakeboard. Also, you should never wax the board – it’s not a surfboard! Any foreign chemicals can harm your wakeboard and its structural integrity, so steer clear!
#5 Make Sure Your Wakesurf board is the Right Size for YOU!
Riding an inappropriately sized wakeboard will shorten the lifespan of your wakeboard. If you’re a bigger guy, make sure you check out our best wakesurf boards for big guys article, and get yourself the perfectly sized wakesurf board, this one simple step can really ensure the longevity of your board.
Top Tips for Wakeboard Care
To summarize the tips for wakeboard care, these are the golden rules:
- Rinse your wakeboard thoroughly after every use.
- Dry it with a towel.
- Keep your wakeboard in the shade.
- Use a wakeboard sock and bag if you can.
- Always check for damage before and after you use your wakeboard.
- Don’t use wax or let any oils or chemicals near your wakeboard.
How To Store a Wakeboard
The second half of proper wakeboard care is storing it well. When storing your wakeboard, it’s essential to stow it properly to prevent damage or warping. The ideal wakeboard storage location is in a dry and cool area, away from sunlight and extreme temperatures.
You should install a rack, preferably one designed for wakeboards, anywhere you intend on keeping it – especially in the off-season. If you don’t keep it on a rack, the uneven weight distribution, and exposure to other elements, like being knocked, will cause damage, leaving you disheartened when the next season arrives.
For transport and temporary storage, you should get a padded wakeboard bag. The bag protects the board from dings and scratches during transit and makes carrying other accessories easier. You can also buy a wakeboard sock to protect it from UV rays and other elements when storing it.
Where To Store a Wakeboard on a Boat
If you’re on a boat, you can install wakeboard racks specially designed for them, so they don’t take up space on the boat deck. Wakeboard racks can be mounted on the tower or sides of the boat and come in various sizes and shapes that accommodate different wakeboard sizes and styles.
How Do You Put A Wakeboard On A Rack?
Putting your wakeboard on a rack is straightforward, but it’s crucial to do it correctly to protect your board and the boat. You should remove any fins or accessories from your wakeboard and secure the bindings to stop them from flapping.
Place your wakeboard in the rack with the bottom facing down so the rack bars don’t scratch or damage it. Ensure your board is secure, especially when the boat moves and has to endure waves.
How Long Does a Wakeboard Last?
The lifespan of a wakeboard depends on how often you use it, how well you care for it, and the quality of the wakeboard. Generally, a decent, well-looked-after wakeboard can last five years or more, depending on the aforementioned factors.
Your wakeboard may wear out quicker if you intend to use it frequently because it gets exposed to harsh conditions, such as saltwater, extreme temperatures, and rough handling. If you ride often, the board will likely lose its spring after two seasons. Nevertheless, if you properly store and care for your wakeboard, you can prolong its lifespan and enjoy it for a longer time.
Top Tips for Wakeboard Storage
To ensure you store your wakeboard correctly, these are the top tips:
- Ensure your board is dry before storing it.
- Store your wakeboard in a cool, dry place.
- Install a wakeboard rack on your boat, and anywhere you plan on storing it.
- Get a wakeboard bag to protect your board in transit.
- Remove accessories and secure bindings before storing your wakeboard.
- The wakeboard should be placed facing down on the rack.
Conclusion
Looking after your wakeboard is easy, and you can keep it safe off-season with a wakeboard rack. With these care and storage tips for your wakeboard, you’re ready to look after yours and prolong its lifespan!
Torsten Bjord is a talented and adventurous waterman from Western Australia, passionate about surfing, stand-up paddleboarding, hydrofoiling, skimboarding, snowboarding and skateboarding. Torsten has spent countless hours mastering his skills and his dream is to one day represent Australia as an Olympic athlete.
