· By Eisbach Riders
How to Store Your Surfboard or SUP at Home
Most surfboard and SUP damage doesn't happen in the water. It happens in storage — boards leaning against a wall, sliding off makeshift racks, sun-baking in a garage, or stacked on top of each other in ways that stress the rails and fins. A board that survives years of hard sessions can be ruined in a few months of poor storage.
This guide covers the right way to store different board types, and the rack solutions that make it practical at home.
The Core Rules
Keep boards out of direct sunlight
UV exposure degrades both the foam blank inside a fibreglass board and the PVC material of an inflatable. Heat causes delamination in fibreglass boards — the outer laminate separates from the blank beneath it, creating bubbles that are expensive to repair and impossible to fully reverse. Store boards in a cool, shaded space. A garage or shed is ideal; a south-facing balcony is not.
Don't lean boards against walls
A board resting on its tail or rails against a wall puts all its weight through a single contact point. Over time, this causes pressure dings, rail cracks, and tail damage. The board can also slide, fall, and ding other boards or objects below it.
Store horizontally, not vertically (for fibreglass boards)
A fibreglass board stored vertically, nose or tail down, can develop a slight bend over time due to its own weight. Store it horizontally on wall-mounted racks or padded supports.
Remove fins before storage
Fins left in the box catch things, get knocked, and stress the fin box unnecessarily. Removing them takes 30 seconds and eliminates a common source of board and fin damage.
Inflatable SUP Storage
Inflatables are more forgiving, but they still need attention:
- Deflate before storing long-term. A fully inflated board stored for months in a warm space can develop permanent creases or stress the seams. Deflate to about 25% pressure for storage periods over a few weeks.
- Roll or fold carefully. Roll from the nose toward the tail, keeping even pressure across the width. Folding along the same crease repeatedly weakens the PVC at that point.
- Store dry. Roll the board onto a dry surface and wipe the fin box and valve area dry before rolling. Salt and moisture trapped inside a rolled board encourages mildew and can corrode valve hardware.
Wall Rack Options
The most effective wall-mounted solution available is the GNARWALL board rack — available in vertical, horizontal and multi-board configurations to suit any space from a small flat to a dedicated board room.
A proper wall rack is the single most impactful storage upgrade you can make. It keeps boards off the floor, protects rails from contact damage, and frees up significant floor space — particularly relevant for anyone with more than one board.
Which Rack for Which Board
| Board Type | Recommended Rack | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SUP (inflatable or hard) | SUP Wall Rack | Wide arms support the full rail width |
| Surfboard (horizontal) | Surfboard Hangers | Best for longboards and mid-lengths |
| Surfboard (vertical, space-saving) | Vertical Tip-Down Rack | Needs less wall width, suits shortboards well |
| Multiple boards (3+) | Multi-Board Rack | Stores several boards in the footprint of one |
Further Reading
Shop at Eisbach Riders
The most effective wall-mounted storage solution for surfboards and SUPs: the GNARWALL range, available in vertical, horizontal and multi-board configurations for any space from a small flat to a dedicated board room.