How to care for your river surfing board-Epoxy board care guide

Epoxy Board Care Guide

There is no warranty on Badfish epoxy surfboards—once they are in your hands, it’s up to you to take care of them. The good news? They’re relatively easy to maintain. Here’s what you need to know:

Ding Prevention and Care For Your River Surfboard

Your Badfish surfboard is constructed with an EPS foam core and fiberglass laminated with epoxy resin. Dings are part of the game in river surfing, but with the right care, you can minimize damage and extend the life of your board. When repairs are needed, materials are inexpensive and widely available.

Prevention Tips

Epoxy boards are high-performance but fragile. Handle yours with care and it will last for a long time.

• Avoid drops and impacts: Don’t drop your board or set it down carelessly.
  

• Protect it from heat: Never leave it baking in the sun or sitting in a hot car.
  

• Fix dings promptly: Surfing with an open ding allows water into the core, which shortens your board’s life.
  

Minimizing Damage to Your Board At the Wave

• Watch your surroundings: At Scout Wave, the concrete features become more exposed as flows drop. Be extra mindful of the nose and rails. If you're still dialing in your surfing at low flows, consider using a foam board to avoid dings from pearling.
  

• Use a releasable leash: This helps you stay connected to your board and reduces the chance of it getting banged up.
  

• River smart: Swim your board to shore and tow it behind you instead of paddling it to shore and riding it up onto rocks or gravel. This protects your fins and fin boxes.
  

Ding Repair

Minor dings can be repaired right at the river with products like Sun Cure. For major damage—like cracked rails or punched-in fin boxes—call Garlic Mike for professional local repairs: Garlic Mike – (719) 920-7046

Feeling handy? Fiberglass repair can be a fun DIY skill. YouTube is full of great tutorials to get you started.

Pressure Dings

Pressure dings are shallow dents in the deck from your feet. They’re completely normal—and actually a badge of honor.

• They show you're shredding: These dents form where you stand most often. Some pros even create them intentionally for better foot grip.
  

• Want to avoid them? Adding an EVA foam traction pad can provide a cushion between your feet and the deck.

Delamination (aka “Bubbles”)

Delam bubbles form when heat or water causes the fiberglass to separate from the foam core. They’re tough to fix, so prevention is critical.

• Fix small dings ASAP.
  

• If you see water bubbling out of a ding: Position the board so the ding faces down and let it drain overnight before repairing.
  

• Never leave your board in a hot car or direct sun.

Epoxy Boards Offer Peak Performance At a Price

Epoxy boards deliver unbeatable performance thanks to their light weight and stiffness. Yes, dings are the inevitable price you pay—but they’re nothing to fear. In fact, learning to repair your board can become part of the fun. We are always here to help so feel free to bring your board in to the Surf Shop or hit us up via email or phone for repair advice!