You don’t need much to start boogie boarding. You only need to make sure that you have the best boogie board that suits your skill level and riding goal. If you want to learn how to wax your boogie board properly, how to remove air bubbles, and how to repair your damaged board, then read on!
How Do I Make My Boogie Board Better?
Your boogie board can only last you as long as you take care of it properly. While it is not a machine that you can tune up to make it better, there are ways to make sure that your board is always in tip-top shape.
For one, you should always check for damages. If you banged your boogie board or if you collided with a rock or a reef, you should inspect for cracks right away. Repair your board as quickly as you can because continuous seawater or sun exposure can damage it more.
You should also learn how to properly put and remove wax on your board. Your performance will get better and your time on the water will be more enjoyable once your boogie board is properly waxed.
Should I Wax My Boogie Board?
Boogie boarders have different opinions on whether you should or should not wax your board. Some riders prefer to boogie board sans the wax especially during regular wave rides, but others prefer to wax their boards in strategic locations where your body makes contact with the boards.
There are really no strict rules on how, where, or when to use wax on your boogie board because it usually comes down to your preference. However, if you are taking on big waves and there is a big chance for you to get wiped out, then waxing your boogie board is the better choice.
Do You Really Need to Wax a Boogie Board?
Waxing your boogie board would be very beneficial for you especially if you know that you will be taking on bigger barreling wave conditions where the chances of wipeouts are very imminent. The wax will help you stay on the board and will reduce the likelihood of you slipping off of your board.
Waxing your boogie board is often a matter of preference especially for beginners who practice in areas with small waves. However, as you progress in the sport you would be taking on much bigger waves so it would be helpful for you to learn how and where to properly apply the wax early on.
How Do You Wax a Boogie Board?
There is really no universal way on how to wax your boogie board because the application does vary from rider to rider. But if you got your hands on a new board then the first thing that you should do is to get rid of the polyethylene wrapper and use a wet cloth to rub the deck especially on those areas where your hands will go like the nose and the rail.
You should take the time to do this because new boards tend to be very slippery because of the industrial protection applied to them. Next, get a dry cloth and give the board another good scrub to make sure that the slippery sheen is completely off from the board.
Once this is done, you can get a piece of tacky wax to start applying it on your board. Remember to do light strokes of the wax on the areas that you would be grabbing and where your body would come in contact with.
Where Do You Put Wax on a Boogie Board?
The general rule is that you should put the wax on the spots of your boogie board where your body will make contact. As such, you should wax the spots where your hands and forearms will go such as the nose and along the rails. You should also apply wax on the areas where you will put your chest, lower abdomen, hips, and elbows.
Some riders prefer to apply the wax directly into their wetsuits and hands. However, this is not really recommended because it is not as efficient compared to directly applying the wax on your board. Aside from that, it reduces the quality and lifetime of your wetsuit.
Which Side of a Boogie Board Do You Wax?
Always remember to apply the wax on the topside or deck of your boogie board. This is the side from which your ride your board. The purpose of waxing your board is that it will keep you from sliding off of your boogie board and reduce the chances of wipeouts in case you go through big waves.
You shouldn’t apply wax on the underside of your boogie board as this might cause your board to slow down in the water.
How Do You Remove Wax From a Boogie Board?
There are several ways on how you can remove wax from your boogie board. The choice really comes down to which materials are available or what you personally prefer as a dewaxing method.
The Warm Water Method
- You can pour warm water to soften the wax on the deck of your boogie board. The water doesn’t have to be boiling, and it just needs to be hot enough that it can easily melt the layers of wax.
- Use your hands to make sure that the warm water spreads throughout the length of the board.
- Wait until the layer of wax is soft enough that you can start scraping it using a wax comb or a wax scraper.
- Once you successfully scraped off the wax, use fresh water to rinse off your board.
The Blow Dryer Method
- If you think that the hot water method is too risky, you can use a blow dryer instead. Start off by setting a low temperature on the hairdryer. Do not point the hairdryer directly at the board. It is better to point it at an angle to the wax.
- Do not aim it too close on just one area. Instead, remember to move it around from one area to another.
- Wait until the layer of wax is soft enough that you can start scraping it using a wax comb or a wax remover.
The Towel Method
- If you don’t trust yourself with hot water and a hairdryer is not accessible, you can use a towel to help remove the wax from your boogie board. You just need to use your towel to scrub back and forth the boogie board until the wax is off.
- The friction created by scrubbing the towel will soften the wax. Once the wax is soft enough, you can just easily wipe it off with a towel.
- You can use a wax comb for those areas with wax that just won’t come off even after you rub the board.
These methods are very doable, even for beginners. However, kids would need adult supervision in doing some of it. Try one or any combination of these methods in removing the wax from your boogie board.
Why Is There a Bubble in My Boogie Board?
The appearance of a bubble or air bubble on your boogie board is often caused by a) friction against the sand, b) too much direct sunlight, or c) lousy workmanship. Because boogie boarding is usually done close to the shoreline, you would often crash on the edge of the sand which can cause a bubble to appear. Letting the board sit out in the sun for too long can also result in a bubble forming on top of the boogie board.
If the bubble is small and sealed, experts recommend that you leave it alone. While it can be annoying, it won’t get in the way of your activity.
However, if the bubble gets noticeably bigger and water starts to get into it, you should repair it quickly as this would cause a lot of damage if kept unrepaired.
How Do You Fix an Air Bubble in a Boogie Board?
If there’s a big air bubble on top of your boogie board and you can see water starting to get into it, you should fix it right away. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Make sure that the boogie board is thoroughly clean of all sand, dirt, grime, and moisture especially the area where the bubble is located. Wipe your board with a towel and place your board in a dry area. Make sure that the side with the bubble is facing upward.
Step 2: With a razor or a small knife, make an X shape incision through the bubble. Do this lightly and make sure that you will not slice through the foam.
Step 3: Carefully peel back the corners of the coating and look for any raised form in the area of the bubble.
Step 4: If you notice any raised area in the foam, take a razor or a knife to carefully and evenly shave the foam. If there is no raised area, then there is no shaving required and keep the area as is before doing the next step.
Step 5: Choose a hot glue that is specifically made to adhere to foam. Use a hot glue gun to apply the glue to the foam and the corners that you peeled back.
Step 6: Put the flaps back into place and make sure that there is no excess glue around the area.
Step 7: Use something heavy and put it on top of the cut and let it stay overnight to make sure that the glue is completely dry.
Step 8: Once you are sure that the glue is completely dry, add another layer of glue to the X cut and allow it to dry.
Step 9: Once everything is dry, use fine grit sandpaper to make sure that the platform is smooth from any ridges or imperfections.
Can You Repair Boogie Board?
It is normal for boogie boards to be damaged may it be from crashing waves, direct sunlight, or wear and tear. Depending on how grave the damage is, you may be able to repair your boogie board.
While the majority of damages on the boogie board may be repaired quickly, there are those instances that may cause too much damage on your board that it may not be reparable.
How Do You Fix a Broken Boogie Board?
If your boogie board has suffered from too much damage caused by collisions with other boards, reefs, or rocks, or sun deterioration, you can use the hot glue method or the Sponge Rez Repair to restore your board.
The hot glue method uses, well, hot glue and a putty knife. It is usually used to repair perforations, cracks in the base of your board or to reattach corners that may be peeling off your board. To do this method, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Make sure that your boogie board, especially the repair area, is clean and dry. Use a clean towel to make sure that there is no sand, dirt, grime, or moisture on your board. Also, remember to keep your board away from direct sunlight.
Step 2: Choose hot glue that is specifically made to adhere to foam. Use a hot glue gun to apply the glue in the damaged area. Make sure that fill the gaps with glue and keep applying until the repair area is completely coated.
Step 3: Before the glue completely sets, use a putty knife to scrape off any excess glue. Use the knife to smooth out your application.
Step 4: Place a heavy weight on the repair area and let the glue completely dry off.
Step 5: Use fine grit sandpaper to smooth out any ridges or imperfections.
As for the second method, the application and steps are basically the same but instead of glue, you can use Sponge Rez. Sponge Rez is a kind of resin that dries and hardens under the sun which makes it great to use especially for boards. Sponge Rez also doesn’t set as quickly as hot glue which gives you more time to smooth out the repair area. Follow these steps below:
Step 1: Make sure that your boogie board, especially the repair area, is clean and dry. Use a clean towel to make sure that there is no sand, dirt, grime, or moisture on your board. Also, remember to keep your board away from direct sunlight.
Step 2: Choose Sponge Rez and make sure that it fills the gaps or cracks on your board.
Step 3: Once you are done with the application of Sponge Rez, you can leave your board in a cool and dry area for 30 minutes and wait for the resin to completely dry and harden.
Step 4: You can use sandpaper to smooth out any sharp edge created by the resin.
Can You Fix a Snapped Boogie Board?
If a boogie board is completely snapped in two, it might be hard to repair them by yourself especially if you are not an expert. Damage this big may not be repaired by just using hot glue or Sponge Rez.
If you think the damage is too much for you to repair on your own, you can bring your boogie board to a store that deals with water board sports so they can inspect the damage.
How Do You Glue a Boogie Board?
If you want to use glue to repair a crack on your boogie board, you should first make sure that the glue that you will be using is specifically made to adhere to foams. Next, make sure that the surface of your board and the repair area is completely clean and dry.
You can now then squirt hot glue on the damaged area. Make sure that you also get in between the cracks. Before the glue completely sets, use a putty knife to smooth out your application. Hot glue dries very fast so you should be quick with the use of your putty knife.
You should then place something heavy in the repair area. This will ensure that the glue will dry completely. Lastly, you can use sandpaper to smooth out any ridges or imperfections caused by the hot glue repair.
