How to Repair Surfboard Dings and Protect your Surfboard

It’s inevitable that your surfboard is going to get a ding at some point. It’s just the way it is. The sooner you accept it, the better. There are just too many factors at play for it not to happen. You’ve got the boot of your car, roof racks, air travel, rocks, reef, other surfers and just general clumsiness when moving from A to B. Thus, it would be remarkable if you went your whole life without damaging your surfboard. Period. Luckily, it’s not the end of the world. Far from it in fact, as there are products out there that can fix your surfboard, on the condition that it’s not snapped in half.

At Wetsuit Outlet we carry a range of our favourite repair products for wetsuits, drysuits, and surfboards. Simplicity is key, and most of our products are a matter of applying correctly to the ding, either with the accompanied tools or a scrap piece of plastic, and waiting until it’s cured. 

Sand down the patch so it’s flush again with the fibreglass of your board, and it’s almost as good as new! In most cases, you will have to wait a longer period of time before the resin is completely cured, but good things come to those who wait!

 

 

There are other surfboard repair products which do the same job. Such as the Phix Doctor Zero G UV Foam Filler accompanied by the Phix Doctor 9 LED UV Curing Light. If you plan on surfing during the deep depths of winter then this is the perfect solution to your ding problems. Similar to Sun Cure, you simply apply the resin to where the ding is, then shine the UV light over the top for no more than 2 to 3 minutes. It’s that simple. 

When surfing, accidents can happen

Now, when you’re surfing it’s just you, your board and the ocean, plus whatever lies underneath, so there’s no real answer to avoiding hitting rocks, reef or God forbid someone’s surfboard. You just have to try your best to surf the way the wave is meant to be surfed and eject yourself off the lip and out the back when you feel the need to do so - to assure not only your safety but also the safety of your surfboard. Just know that when you do hit something and a ding occurs, you don’t need to panic, as the above products are there to help. 

 

 

Protecting your surfboard while travelling

When you’re travelling to that golden place filled with endless waves, there are methods to help protect your board, although there have been times when I’ve been driving/flying to go surfing and I’ve arrived at my destination only to see that my board bag (or sock) has let me down. Lucky I always have the resin on me right!? But don’t be disheartened because 9 out of 10 times your board bag will provide the proper protection - trust me. 

I personally prefer a board bag such as the Northcore Aircooled Board Jacket as it offers more padding than your average sock. Plus it has a handle so it’s easy to walk around with. The best thing though about this board bag is the innovative tail vent that allows air to circulate on hot days, thus prolonging your board's life and minimising the risk of melted wax, which believe me...sucks. Another great aspect of having a board bag is that it can double up as a suitcase. You can literally throw all your clothes, wetsuits and toiletries into the bag, chuck it in the car or under the plane, and off you go! 

However, if you’re more a sock person, then the Mystic Boardsock will do the job just fine.  It’s not going to provide as much protection, although it does have a 3D mesh nose protector, but it will minimise scratches and keep the sun off your surfboard. Additionally, you can put on the sock, and then place the board in a board bag, allowing for greater protection and peace of mind.

 

Whichever way you look at it, a ding is inevitable. But at the same time, if you’re not receiving any holes in your surfboard, are you really ripping!? Just a thought. 

Shop our full range of surfboard repair products here

@wetsuitoutlet

Written by Sam Quennell

 

Updated on 1st June 2023

Originally published on 16th January 2019 in Surfing

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