PRODUCT CARE & MAINTENANCE
BOGA designs products are made at the highest level of quality. We build our boards to withstand the elements as much as possible. Like all boards, and good things in general, BOGA’s do have some care and maintenance as well as general usage guidelines. Following these will ensure your BOGA lasts for many, many years.
- The first and most important thing to know about SUP boards is that although they love to play in the sun, they DO NOT LIKE TO BAKE in the sun.
- All surfboards and stand up paddle boards should not be exposed to prolonged direct sun of 70F or more.
- If a boards surface is hot to touch than it should be moved to the shade. Otherwise the EPS inside a board will break down and melt, this is especially true when cranked down on the roof of your car in the hot sun. BOGA (or any manufacturer) does not warranty sun related damage.
- The sun’s rays will be the most harmful element to your BOGA board so try and keep your board out of the sun wherever possible.
Here is some info on your board and how to keep it in a good condition to enjoy for many years to come.
De-lamination
Since our boards are molded/vacuum bagged this is extremely rare, in fact typically the EPS will melt and cave in before delamination due to the increased bond we we create in manufacturing BOGA’s. However, it’s important to know this information since the core of all SUP boards are shaped from a foam called EPS. EPS foam consist foam, gasses and air bubbles. When your board is left in the sun these gasses and air heat up and expands the inside of your board. If they expand too much, the pressure will push on the hard shell of the board and may cause the fiberglass shell to detach from the foam core. This is called de-lamination, and can result in air bubbles being trapped between the foam core and fiberglass shell.
To avoid de-lamination or melted EPS Follow these simple steps to ensure a long life for your BOGA board:
BOGA boards have Gore-Tex® Vent Plug: The plastic Gore-Tex® vent plug is used to keep water out of the core of the board but at the same time allows hot air to vent out of the plug. Because it vents the board automatically, please do not loosen or remove the plug to prevent damage and to ensure it works correctly. Always store your BOGA board in a cool dry place or shady area when not in use. You may also store your board in a well ventilated board bag to avoid direct exposure to sunlight.
Fading
We use UV resistant materials on all our BOGA boards but over exposure to the sun can cause the colors to fade. Fading will not affect the performance of the board but it will affect the look of the beauty of the board that you fell in love with. To avoid fading…Always store your BOGA board in a cool dry place or shady area out of reach of direct sunlight.
Since the invention of foam core surfboards with a fiberglass shell we have had to deal with dings as part of owning a board. A ding is either a depression on the fiberglass or a crack in the fiberglass shell. Just like with your vehicle, some dings in your board’s fiberglass shell are bound to happen with regular use.
Depression Ding This is typically just a cosmetic problem, unless the ding is located on the bottom of the board in an area that could affect the flow of water across the surface of the board. They are typically caused by rough handling of the board and there isn’t really anything you can do about it.
What to do… To avoid dings on the top of your BOGA board, only stand on the board in areas where the deck pad covers the surface. To avoid dings elsewhere, handle your board with care and don’t allow it to come into contact with hard surfaces at a high rate of speed.
Crack Ding A crack ding is a more serious problem. Usually caused when the board comes in contact with a hard surface at a rapid speed. A crack ding may breach the seal between the fiberglass shell and foam core allowing water to enter the foam core. Over time, the water that enters the foam core will damage the foam causing the water-damaged area of the foam to get heavier and softer. This can result in poor performance of your board and may allow the ding to grow in size.
What to do… In the event of a crack ding on your board, remove your board from the water as soon as possible and have it repaired by a fiberglass specialist. You can also attempt to repair the board using a fiberglass repair kit available at some hardware stores or online. Since your BOGA board is made using an EPS foam core, be sure you only use an epoxy resin based repair kit.
Many types of roof racks are available for transporting your BOGA SUP. Some roof rack attachments are made specifically for carrying Paddle Boards. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for using SUP specific roof racks.Other roof racks may be used to transport your BOGA board. Follow these simple steps to help ensure your board is not damaged during transportation.
- Secure the board to roof racks using high quality straps.
- Do not over-tighten the straps, as this can damage the board.
- Place the board on the racks with the fin or fin box facing the sky.
- Place the board on the racks with the the fin or fin box located towards the front of the vehicle.
- Use a cushion on the straps to reduce wear and tear on the board.
- Always ensure that there is sufficient distance between the two racks to securely support the board at high speeds.
- Avoid driving too fast. The boards have a large surface area and driving at high speeds can cause damage to the board or your vehicle.
- It is ideal to travel with your BOGA board in a board bag while traveling to protect the board from scratches and overheating on a roof.
- Avoid keeping the board on the roof of your car for extended periods of time, especially in the heat.
For Boards with Gore-Tex® Vent Plug
The plastic Gore-Tex® vent plug is used to keep the inside of the board (the core) an air/water tight environment. It vents the board automatically, please do not loosen or remove to prevent damage to the plug.
Your BOGA board comes equipped with a standard 10’ Fin box. The fin box is designed to accept the standard BOGA fin as well as most aftermarket fins. Your fin should fit tightly into the fin box.To install the fin, remove the aluminum plate and screw from the fin and slide the aluminum plate down into the fin box and into the recessed track. Position the aluminum plate as far forward as possible (for access later). Set the fin into the fin box by sliding the brass pin into the opening until it bottoms out, then slide the fin as far backwards as you would like. Next, push the front of the fin into the box and attach the fin to the aluminum plate with the provided Phillips head screw. Your fin may be difficult to install the first few times, but don’t worry, this is a good thing. The tighter the fin is in the fin box, the better the board will ride. Your fin box will “open” up over time to allow the fin to slide in and out easier. If the fin is too tight, use light sand paper to sand the inside of the fin box to remove any excess plastic chips or resin that may be present.