Surfing is one of the most popular water sports to take part in for people who live near the ocean. Gliding over the waves on a hot day can feel both refreshing and magical, your board balancing on top of the water. The biggest issue with the sport has to do with its biggest piece of equipment: how to store the surfboard when not using it.
To properly store a surfboard, one needs a surfboard sock and a rack. Racks can be mounted on the wall or stood on the floor. An ideal rack is easy to use and will protect a board from pressure damage. It should be kept out of the elements like rain and sun so it isn’t damaged by heat or salt.
There are plenty of details to consider when deciding where and how to store a surfboard. How close to the beach is it? What all can cause it to damage? What are the best methods for surfboard storage? Here are a few answers to these common questions.
Important Things to Remember When Storing Your Surfboard
Taking proper care of your surfboard is essential for maintaining its condition and making it last as long as possible. That includes storing it properly as the way you store the board can affect its condition, along with exposure to the elements. (Source
)
Protection from Heat Damage
Keep your surfboard out of the sun. This will prevent “yellowing” and physical deterioration caused by the sun’s rays. This is especially true in boards made of foam, where overlong sun exposure can cause the foam to expand and the protective epoxy and fiberglass layers to burn away.
Similarly, never leave your board in the car for too long. It can get really hot in there, causing the board to delaminate in the heat. Prolonged exposure to such high temperatures can ruin your board for good. Keeping a surfboard in a car overnight can also greatly increase the chances of theft. Only use your car to transport your surfboard. You should never store a surfboard in your car, especially during the summer when temperatures are high.
Protection from Salt Damage
Always clean your board before storing it for any length of time to prevent salt from corroding it. Even if you plan on going out for another session the next day, rinse your surfboard off with fresh water and let it dry before storing it for the night.
Along the same lines, the place you store your board should protect it from rain and other weather. Rain is essentially dirty freshwater, so having your board exposed to it will negate the cleaning you did before. Salt from the rain might not be as potent as that from the ocean, but it can still damage your board.
Pressure Dings and Other Damage
Avoid storing your surfboard on any hard surfaces. Keep the rails, nose, and tail off any hard ground so that they are not damaged. Remove the fins and wax when storing your board for a long time: the fins so that they are won’t be damaged, and the wax because an old wax job does not work as well as a new one, and you will be glad for the fresh start when you take your board off the rack after a long wait. If you plan on storing your surfboard for more than a few weeks, remember to first strip off all wax. (Source)
Regardless of where you store your board, putting it in a surfboard sock is a good idea. Some socks come equipped with nose protection, which is a great added bonus for keeping your board in good condition. Bags and cases are also good options for surfboard storage, and they are useful for surfers who frequently transport their boards. Not only do they prevent damage from elements, but they also offer additional protection from scratches and dings.
How to Store a Surfboard in an Apartment
If you live in an apartment, you will have quite a few limitations to deal with in terms of storing your surfboards. You may not have a ton of space, and you may not be allowed to drill holes in the wall if you want to get your safety deposit back, making it impossible to mount what may be your preferred racks.
To combat both of those issues, you will want a rack that takes up minimal space without requiring you to drill holes in the wall. Nonetheless, you have a few different options depending on your circumstance. There are stand-up racks, surfboard slings, and surfboard socks.
A stand-up rack is a vertical storage option for your board that sits on the floor. If you have multiple boards to store, a stand-up rack is best because it can usually accommodate several boards at once. Having a stand-up rack can also be a cool way to show off your boards as part of your home decor.
If you only have one surfboard, a surfboard sling might be your best option. These work best if you hang the sling in a space that you don’t be spending a lot of time in because bumping into the hanging board could end up causing dings. Remember to never hang your surfboard in a hallway or near a door. The corner of a room could work as long as you can be sure your surfboard won’t bump up against the walls and a door won’t hit it.
If all else fails, you can put it in a surfboard sock— or wrap it in a soft towel or pillow— and store it behind a couch or under a bed, but this is less than ideal. You want to make sure that the nose, tail, and rails are safe from pressure dings, though this may be a challenge in such storage situations as this. The bright side is that storing it gently on its side is one of the most secure ways to store it as there is less risk of the board falling down. (Source)
How to Store a Surfboard in a Garage
If you want to store your surfboard in a garage, you have a lot more options simply because you have a lot more space to work with and fewer restrictions about how you can use that space. However, no one’s garage is completely freed up for surfboard storage, so you are going to have to decide on what to use to store your surfboard based on the amount of space you have available.
The best options you have for storing your board in your garage are wall-mounted racks and stand-up racks. Wall-mounted racks take up wall space, and stand-up racks take up floor space. However, you do have other options.
Ceiling Racks
You could also use ceiling racks. They keep surfboards safe and out of reach of anything that could hurt them. On top of that, these types of racks do not take up any floor space.
However, it is risky getting surfboards up and down from ceiling racks, as you will likely need a ladder to do so. Dropping the board from there could damage it badly. Dropping it on your head could hurt you and damage the board.
While hanging storage might be a good option for long-term storage, you likely won’t want to climb a ladder every single time you want to use your surfboard.
Wall-mounted Racks
Wall-mounted racks, as the name implies, hang your board from the wall. Most will hold 1-2 boards and are designed to support the board’s weight and hold the fins outward so they don’t bump against the wall. A wall rack is a sturdy place to store your surfboard, and it creates a nice display so you can show off your surfboards, even during the off-season.
The problem comes when you go to put your board on the rack or take it down: it can be slightly difficult to reach depending on where it is, making it easier to drop and damage the surfboard. So, when you mount the rack on the wall, keep in mind how you will get your board on and off.
If there is stuff in the way that will make it harder to store your board on the wall, rearrange the stuff or pick a different spot. The lower the spot you choose, the easier it will be to get your board on and off, even though this may end up defeating the purpose of saving floor space.
Whether you can use a wall-mounted rack depends on whether you have a lot of wall space available in your garage. Some garage walls are covered by shelves or boxes, which means there is little to no wall space to use on surfboard storage.
Stand-up Racks
Stand-up racks are usually made for multiple boards, so they should be your first choice if you have more than two boards that you need to store. They take up quite a bit of floor space, so they are not really worth having if you don’t have the boards to fill it.
On the other hand, there are some out there that are made for just one board, and these take up only the amount of space needed for that one board.
When using a stand-up rack in a garage, ensure that the rack is in a place where the surfboard won’t get bumped around. If your board gets bumped around, it could get dings. Along those lines, when choosing a rack for your board, try to find one that will protect the rails and tail so it doesn’t get pressure dings.
Can You Store a Surfboard at the Beach?
If possible, find a safe place to store your surfboard at or near the beach. Reducing the distance the board must be transported reduces the chances that it will be damaged while being transported. If you live near enough to the beach for this to not be an issue, that’s great! However, for those who have a bit farther to travel to hit the waves, there are options.
Many beaches have personal surf lockers available for rent, either for short or extended periods of time, where you can safely keep your board while away. These provide all the necessary protection a surfboard requires while being mere steps away from the beach, which is perfect for an active surfer. You can also find a storage facility nearer to the beach than your own home if no surfboard-specific lockers are available on your favorite beach.
Other companies, like The Quiver, offer to store your surfboard in a kind of exchange program. You can use them to rent or share your board when not using it. Such companies also provide protection against theft and can help you find a cheap surfboard to rent if you don’t own one, but still want to go surfing.
Can You Keep Surfboards Outside?
Though it is not ideal to keep your surfboard outside, you can if you have to. You just need to keep in mind all the different things you need to protect the board from if you want to keep it in good condition. You can never be too cautious in how you store surfboards.
Try to at least get it under a roof so your surfboard won’t get rained on. Rain can cause damage to your surfboard over time. The roof should also protect it from the sun and any heat or sun damage that may cause. You should use a surfboard cover to help protect you from both of these risks. If you absolutely have to, you could alternatively cover it with a waterproof tarp, though this may cause scratching.
If you have the option, you could use a wall-mounted rack or stand-up rack. This helps prevent pressure damage and any damage that comes from knocking the surfboard over when left unsecured. A good place for an outdoor rack is underneath an overhanging roof, a porch wall, or under an awning. Any added protection from the elements is better than none.