Inflatable SUP Care Guide
Caring for your Diver Mon Art SUP Board
The Diver Mon Art inflatable stand up paddle board is designed and built to happily outlast years of fresh water and ocean adventures, but only if you treat it right between paddles. Salt, sand and sun are what actually age an SUP, not the water itself. A few simple habits after every session are all it takes to keep your Diver Mon Art SUP looking sharp and paddling like new. Here's our full guide to inflatable SUP care: rinsing, drying, storage, quick checks and how to protect the marine illustrated art you fell in love with in the first place.
Rinse after every session, yes, every single time
Hose the board down with fresh water on both the deck and the hull as soon as you're done, paying extra attention to the fin box, the valve and the D-rings where salt loves to crystallise. Left to dry, salt is abrasive and slowly works away at the seams and the drop-stitch bond that gives your board its rigidity. A two minute rinse is the single highest value habit for the long term life of any inflatable paddle board, salt water or fresh. We recommend drying it in indirect sunlight especially here in Australia where the UV is significantly higher, this will drastically reduce fading.
Dry it out completely before it goes back in the bag
Rolling a damp board into its carry bag traps moisture against the PVC and invites mildew, so stand it on its rail in the shade until it's properly dry, then wipe down the valve area with a cloth before you pack up. Skip the direct sun for drying heat is harder on the material than the water ever was, and it's the same reason we say never store an inflated board on a sun-baked deck.
Deflate it, roll it loosely, store it cool and dark
Air expands as it heats up, so an inflated board left in a hot car or on a sunny deck puts real strain on the seams as the internal pressure climbs. For anything longer than a day or two between paddles, let roughly half the pressure out, roll the board loosely rather than compressing it tight, and tuck it away somewhere cool and out of direct light using the Diver Mon Art carry bag and pump that came with it. A loosely rolled board stores better and unrolls happier, than one crushed into as small a package as possible.
For long term storage we recommend removing it from its bag every 6 months and inflating it, then deflate and store again. Prolonged storage such as years at a time can form permanent crinkles in the SUP. Hopefully you are using your board enough so this wont be an issue.
Give it a once over before every inflation
Run your eye over the seams, the valve seal and the fin box each time you set up. A hairline issue caught early is a five minute patch job; the same issue ignored is a board you can't take out again. Keep the repair kit clipped inside the carry bag rather than sitting in a drawer at home, so it's always exactly where you need it.
Carry it, don't drag it
Walk your board down to the water rather than pulling it across sand, rock shelves, concrete or a boat ramp. Dragging is by far the most common cause of hull wear on an inflatable SUP, and it's entirely avoidable, grab the carry handle, take the extra ten steps, and your rails will thank you.
Protect the art (because let's be honest, that's half the reason you bought it)
Every Diver Mon Art board carries an a beautiful marineillustrated design, seahorses, sharks, turtles and the rest of the reef crew bonded into the deck rather than stuck on as a decal. Rinsing, shade and gentle handling are what keep that artwork looking as vivid as day one. Skip solvents, petrol-based cleaners and harsh detergents entirely, fresh water and a soft cloth are all it ever needs. UV will fade any pigment given enough years of direct sun, so the same shade rule that protects your seams protects your artwork too.
Inflatable Pump Hack!
For those of you who are lucky enough to travel or if you just want to spend less time pumping and more time paddle boarding we recommend using the Ride Engine Pump. This is small, lightweight and extremely portable which I keep in the car and it can pump a SUP dozens of times on a single charge.
CLICK HERE For Electric Pump
Quick reference: inflatable SUP care checklist
- Rinse with fresh water after every paddle, especially in salt water
- Dry completely in the shade before rolling it up
- Never store an inflated board in a hot car or direct sun
- Deflate to roughly half pressure for anything longer than a day or two
- Roll loosely and store somewhere cool and dark
- Check seams, valve and fin box before every inflation
- Carry it, don't drag it
- Fresh water and a soft cloth only, no solvents or detergents
Look after the basics and there's no reason your board won't be good for years of calm mornings, weekend adventures and everything in between.
