Transport and storage - Safety gear

The fact that our rigid boards are built using full PVC sandwich construction means that if you take care of them, your board will still be part of your quiver twenty years from now! Just look at the pictures our customers send us of boards from product lines that disappeared from our catalog long ago!

Key habits to extend the life of your board:

Protect your board from extreme heat

No matter the type of construction your board has (monolithic or sandwich), the laminate does not tolerate prolonged exposure to high temperatures.
Keep in mind that resin starts to degrade when exposed to temperatures more than 30°C above its curing temperature. If your board wasn’t oven-cured at 55°C like we do at GONG but was cured at room temperature, you'll quickly run into problems.
That’s why you should never leave your board in a hot car. Interior temperatures can hit 50°C even when it's only 20°C outside. Even worse, direct sunlight (on the beach or under a windshield) can raise your board's surface temperature beyond 90°C in just a few minutes! It can literally melt.
So always store your board in the shade, in a well-ventilated place, no matter the brand or technology. It might sound excessive—sure, not all boards bake in the first ray of sun—but even if damage isn’t immediately visible, UV and heat will age your board ten times faster. Extend your board’s life—for yourself or someone else—by keeping it out of the sun.

Protect your board from moisture

Contrary to popular belief, boards don’t like moisture. Leaving your board inside a soaked board bag for days can seriously damage the finish layers. They’re designed to go in the water, but not to stay in it.
Even a gelcoat-finished board, like a boat, will have accessories (like a deck pad) that won’t respond well to being constantly soaked.
So when you get home: let it dry out!

Protect your board from impacts

Full PVC sandwich means the entire board is covered with a 3mm layer of high-density, hydrophobic PVC foam. And 3mm is a lot—especially compared to a wood sandwich, which is only 0.6mm thick. At GONG, our sandwich also includes the rails, giving them better resistance and watertightness in case of moderate impacts.
If the damage is superficial, repairs are done just like on a non-sandwich board—only on the surface layers. Simple and quick.
If the impact is strong enough to damage the PVC layer, professional repair is required. The advantage of sandwich construction is that it’s durably repairable. The underlying structure is thick and solid, so repairs won’t deteriorate over time. That’s why full sandwich construction allows full restoration even after heavy damage.

Basic rules:

Protect your board from all kinds of knocks

Deck pads and wax naturally protect the top of your board. But the rails are especially vulnerable—to paddle strikes or damage when handling your board around rocks or in parking lots.
That’s why we recommend applying rail savers to your board. These are adhesive strips that protect your paddle board’s rails and increase durability, without affecting glide.
They absorb paddle impacts and help keep your board in better shape longer. Replace them every 2 to 4 years as needed.
Before applying, be sure to clean the rails thoroughly with alcohol or mineral spirits.

Use a board bag

Most damage happens on land—during transport or storage. That’s why a protective board bag is essential for your rigid board.
There are bags for every type of board, from short SUPs to wing boards. What matters is choosing one that fits your board well. A bag that’s too loose won’t protect as well against daily bumps and will flap in the wind on your car roof.

Protect your fins

Fins often get overlooked, but they make up 50% of your board’s performance. Worse—chipped fins are dangerous. Fiberglass splinters can cut like glass and leave jagged wounds that are hard to stitch.
Store your fins in a pouch, and repair them by adding some resin and fiber to restore their shape.

Have a repair kit handy

To seal a water entry point, having a repair kit nearby means you don’t have to wait days to get back on the water.
After sanding the ding, apply the repair material, then let it dry in the sun (UV rays will do the job!). Once dry, sand again to get a smooth surface.
It’s a quick and super-effective way to get back on the water fast.