How to Know When to Patch a Surfboard
- 1). Inspect your surfboard to see how extensive the damage is. If the board is clearly broken, or the fiberglass ripped and shattered so that foam inside is exposed, then the board definitely needs repairing. Such damage is usually from being hit by a heavy wave, rock or reef, which can break your board in half, or at the nose or fin.
- 2). Determine whether your ding needs to be repaired by going out for a surf session. After leaving the water, squeeze the ding to see if water squirts out. If it does, then repair is essential. If you allow water to soak into the foam, it increases surfboard weight, causes discoloration and can affect performance.
- 3). Look for dings periodically to ensure no water is infiltrating the foam core. Areas of the deck may become dented over time from exposure to waves and weight. If you don't see any sign of fiberglass shattering, rips or holes -- continue surfing.
