CARE & STORAGE
How to ensure my board will have the best lifespan:
1. Don't leave it out in the sun
2. Rinse it off with fresh water after each use
3. Let it dry completely before putting it away.
This especially means letting the foam deck pad dry
4. Store in a dry, cool place. In other words, don't let it bake in your hot car
5. Do not drag it, drop it, smash into things at high speed with it.
How do I best take care of my board?
Whilst our inflatable SUP Boards are extremely durable, they do require a little TLC (tender loving care). With proper care, and maintenance, your XTERRA BOARD can keep up with you for years! If you want your board to last, and live through some crazy adventures then here are some do’s and don’ts
Do
- Keep your board out of the sun when not in use, drape a towel over it or put under shade.
- Store your board correctly, it’ll last longer. Deflate it, roll it up, put it in your XTERRA backpack, and voila!
- Make sure the storage area is cool and dry, and definitely isn’t in direct sunlight. Sun, rain and wind will take a toll on your board.
- Clean your board, water, dish soap and a soft brush will get the job done.
- Always, always, always rinse your board and paddle after use.
- Take removable fin’s off every time after use.
- Break down you paddle after use. Separate all 3 pieces, rinse and dry.
Don’t
- Let it drag over gravel, rocks, debris or even sand when carrying your board in and out of the water.
- Stack anything on top of your board, even seemingly light items. Boards can get pressure dings. Dings cause an uneven surface, which results in a slower, bumpier ride.
-
Drop Your Board, a serious drop can lead to a crack. If there’s a crack, water leaking inside isn’t too far off.
- Tie your board down too tight, when it comes to strapping your board on top of your car. This can cause bulges and lead to popping.
- Store Your Board Outside, weathering doesn’t help, but a stolen board is not covered under warranty. Keep it in a secure, locked place while it’s not in use. If you must store it outside, locking cables with steel cores do the job.
- Let your board get too dirty, if not cleaned after every use, debris can corrode the board.
- Get on the board if the fin is not in sufficiently deep water. This can damage the fin, and although is replaceable, damage to the fin box is not repairable.
- Take your paddle apart in the water.
Will the sun damage my board?
YES. This is true for all boards, both epoxy/hard, soft-tops and inflatables. The sun will damage mostly anything left in the sun for prolonged periods of time.
If you've inflated your board and it's just sitting out on the sand or grass, drape a towel over it. Or, put it under some shade.
Here are some side effects if left out in the sun other than when you are boarding:
- the sun will fade your deck pad,
- cause the rails to bubble at the seams (while we have not seen this on our boards, it can happen),
- cause the glue on the deck pad to melt, and the logo on the bow can bubble (we've seen this happen).
Where should I store my board?
Ideally, store your board clean, dry and free of any debris; somewhere secure to prevent theft, and in a cool, shaded, dry place.
Many people choose to inflate and deflate their boards each time they go out. That's the beauty of the boards - they inflate and deflate quickly, and they store nicely in our car or garage.
Please note that if you are inflating and deflating the board a lot the deck pad edges may need a little glue (provided in your repair kit).
Some people deflate their board slightly, folding it in thirds and storing on a shelf in their garage.
Can I keep my board inflated when storing?
Yes. Although we recommend deflating, and rolling up the board and packing it into your XTERRA Backpack, you can inflate your board to the recommended PSI, and leave the board inflated for as long as you like.
Make sure if not in use, it is stored in the shade, and in a cool dry place. As well as away from any potentially harmful objects, to prevent any damage to the board.
How best to store my board over the winter?
In the winter months, if you use your board, before inflating, make sure to bring your board indoors, and give it time to warm up to the rooms temperature BEFORE inflating. This will prevent the board from cracking. The cold weather can harden the board.
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Can I use an electric pump on my board?
Yes, depending on which board you have. Contact us with your order number, so we can determine which board you have, and make a recommendation.
What pump do I use for my board?
This double-action pump (with integrated pressure gauge) is designed for W-Style Boards and Valves.
W-Style boards include:
- 10' red
- 10' white mayhem
- 12'6" red
Our M-Style Boards/valves are:
- 10' Black Board
- 10' White Board (4" thick) (Not Mayhem White)
- 6' & 7" surfboards
XTERRA BOARDS' High-pressure pump & gauge - Inflate board to 15 psi using the industry-best high-pressure double-action pump with integrated pressure gauge. Inflation takes 5 minutes for most boards. Our pump is a dual-action so pumping is fast & easy.
For the first 100 pumps or so, you will want to have the "pressure plug" in the base of the handle. This allows for inflation when you lift the handle as well as push it down.
After about 100 pumps it will become more difficult to pump. At this point unscrew the "pressure plug" and let it hang to the side. Inflation now only occurs when you push down on the handle.
Why is my gauge not working?
There are three reasons your pressure gauge may not be working:
- It's defective - we put this first, because that's probably what you are thinking
- You board isn't inflated enough to get a reading - 90% of the time, this is the reason
- The needle is stuck at zero - 10% of the time, this is the reason
So, let's work backwards to see if we can figure out the problem.
3 - The needle is stuck at zero - All packages are sent with a new pressure gauge. Like some new things, there are stuck parts that need to pop loose and then they will work fine thereafter. So, pump up your board with 225 long strokes. You need to count them and make sure that you go all the way up & down - 1 stroke - while counting.
2 - Not inflated enough - We say it should take four (4) minutes or less of steady pumping. Taking many breaks longer than ten seconds doesn't count as your four minutes. So, instead count your strokes. You need to do 225.
1 - Defective - we keep track of all the gauge problems. Out of every 100 boards we sell, one is a defective gauge. We'd expect the number to be a bit higher, but that's where it is right now. So, we're happy to replace the defective gauges and we're sorry this happened to you.
GAUGE WILL NOT REGISTER UNTIL REACHING 7 PSI
Please note that there is no way to over-inflate or damage the board with the XTERRA BOARDS pump. It takes 7 PSI of pressure in the board before the gauge on the pump will register. While your board may look and feel rigid, continue to pump until the gauge reaches the recommend pressure of 12-15 PSI. The pump will offer a significant amount of resistance the closer you get to the recommended pressure.
Also, the gauge on your board can be screwed on and off. Be sure to screw the gauge tight so that it registers the pressure.
My pump is broken, how can I repair my pump?
Before declaring your pump is completely unusable please check your pump for the following:
- Make sure your gauge is tightly screwed in. It can come loose, and although inflates your board, the gauge will not read the air pressure. If, your gauge still does not read the air pressure, we can send you a new gauge.
- Unscrew the top of the pump, from the bottom cylinder. The Top piece (with the gauge) has a silver piston attached, at the bottom of this piston is an off-white flat cylinder. This cylinder should have a black rubber band around it (the gasket). If this is worn out then contact us to purchase a new one on XTERRA OUTLET at a great price. Your pump will work like new again.
- Make sure the gasket is lubricated. If it is not, you can purchase white lithium grease on amazon.
Please email at info@xterraboards.com if you need any further pump assistance.
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Inflation instructions manual here.
What is included in my XTERRA BOARDS Inflatable SUP Package?
- Board
- Board strap
- Removable center fin
- Pump, hose and gauge
- 3-piece Travel Paddle
- Repair kit (includes patches and glue)
- Backpack
Please refer to the specific product page for the latest contents of your package.
If all these items are not in your package, or if they are damage, please contact us immediately and accept our apologies ahead of time.
How do I choose the right board for me?
It depends, the beauty of SUPing is anyone of any age and skill level can SUP. There are so many boards to choose from,
- Our 10’ SUP is our most popular board, it is a great all-round board, very stable, perfect cruising, fishing, playing, exploring, you name it.
- Our 10’, 4-inch thick SUP, is a great lighter option, it has more rocker, and is great for small wave surfing.
- Our 11’ KAHUNA, is our most stable, great for cruising, and has weight capacity of 330 lbs. It sells out every time we release it.
- Our 12’6 Touring SUP is great for speed cruising, exploring. It goes faster, and is more stable at high speeds.
- Our 13’ HAPUNA, is a large cruiser.
- Our 14’ is our fastest board, great for long distance paddles.
- Our 18’ MAUNA LOA is our biggest Inflatable SUP at 16’ x 6.5’ x 6”, you could have the whole family on it, it’s that big, and that awesome!
How do I know my board is fully inflated?
- Make sure the pressure gauge is screwed in tightly to the pump.
- Clear any debris from around the valve, even a little sand will let more air escape - hence, the hissing sound. Make sure your valve is nice and tight. Use the wrench to tighten, if you hear air coming out, and there is no debris.
- The pump is at 15 psi (or about 12 psi if you weigh under 125 pounds)
- If you do not have your air pressure gauge (and you don't necessarily need one), you will need to pump up your board until it is as hard as a rock. When the board is fully inflated it will not bend under your weight when you are on the water. After 200 pumps your board will be hard. After 225 pumps, it will be rock-hard and perfect. One "pump" is a full stroke up & down; this does not count as two pumps.
How do I deflate my board?
It should take about 3 minutes to properly deflate and roll up your board.
- Rinse off your board with fresh water.
- Remove the center fin. We recommend putting it in the mesh bag with your pump, or the front pocket of your board bag.
- Rinse off your board, or at least get all the sand off
- Dry around the valve
- Gently push the valve extender down to let the highest amount of pressure out. Let little bursts of air escape for about 10 seconds. Then, push down the valve extender and turn it clockwise. This is the opposite of what you want when you pump up the board. Air should now start to escape.
- Push down on the nose to start getting air to come out, and to flatten out the tail section.
- Start rolling the board from the nose towards the tail, with the top deck on the inside.
If you're storing your board for more than a couple of days, you should let it dry (especially the foam pad) before putting it away.
How do I attach my center fin?
"Slide & Snap" fin, designed to be easy and efficient.
- Simply slide the fin into the fin box, the side with the clip first.
- Once it is all the way in, slide the clip into the little key whole. This will lock/snap the fin into place.
- When removing the fin, repeat these steps in reverse.
Here's a little Snapguide: http://snapguide.com/guides/install-a-fin-on-an-inflatable-sup-i-sup/
Deflating board
We recommend deflating, and rolling up the board and packing it into your XTERRA Backpack and properly storing it in a cool dry place. If you can't, you can inflate your board to the recommended PSI, and leave the board inflated for as long as you like. Make sure if not in use, it is stored in the shade, and in a cool dry place. As well as away from any potentially harmful objects, to prevent any damage to the board.
What PSI do I inflate my board to
Anywhere between 12-16 PSI. 15 PSI is recommended.
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What do I do if I have damaged my board?
If you are within your warranty period, and believe the damage is a warranty claim, please visit our warranty page for more information.
After your warranty period has ended, if you need any major repairs due to damage, we highly recommend contacting a boat repair store. We can make suggestions on how to make small repairs only. More complicated repairs will need to go through a certified repair store.
How do I repair a hole or small tear on my Inflatable SUP?
How do I remove and replace the inflatable SUP Valve?
My pump is broken, how can I repair my pump?
Before declaring your pump is completely unusable please check your pump for the following:
- Make sure your gauge is tightly screwed in. It can come loose, and although inflates your board, the gauge will not read the air pressure. If, your gauge still does not read the air pressure, we can send you a new gauge.
- Unscrew the top of the pump, from the bottom cylinder. The top piece (with the gauge) has a silver piston attached, at the bottom of this piston is an off-white flat cylinder. This cylinder should have a black rubber band around it (the gasket). If this is missing, we can send you a new one. Your pump will work like new again
- Make sure the gasket is lubricated. If it is not, you can purchase white lithium grease on amazon.
Please email at info@xterraboards.com if you need any further pump assistance.
Learn more about our High Pressure Pump here
Is there a repair kit with my inflatable SUP? What's included?
Yes. It is the orange cylinder tube that comes with your Inflatable SUP Package.
The repair kit includes:
- valve wrench
- small screw for paddle latch
- 1 tube of glue for minor repairs
- a couple patches for minor repairs
What is the grey or black plastic wrench in my repair kit for?
The plastic wrench is for your valve. Sometimes the valve can come loose, and air escapes. Simply use the wrench to tighten the valve.
Is it normal to have a big bubble on my board? What about clusters of little bubbles?
Bubbles occur as a result of sun damage, and is not covered under
warranty. These are just aesthetically unappealing, and should not affect the performance of your board.