Surfboard Buyers Guide
Thinking of buying a surfboard? First you need to decide
which type of surfboard you need. This can easily be accomplished
by reading our comprehensive, all knowing beginners
surfboard guides. If you are not new to surfing then you
have permission to skip these guides and read on. We will
now pretend that you know what board you wish to buy, so where
to go from here? One of the main points is whether you are
going to buy a new board or second hand board. Lets take a
look
Buying A New Surfboard
You do not really need a guide for this. If you are 100%
sure of the board that you want you can get it from anywhere
- the local surf shop, by mail order or over the Internet.
The surf shop is the best place to buy a surfboard because
you can really have a good look at what you are buying.
- Check
any surface imperfections or small dings that may have happened
during storage. New surfboards should be in absolutely mint
condition - accept nothing less!
- Take the opportunity of chatting
to the surf shop staff about the boards to get any extra information.
- Also why not try for a cash deal. Many privately owned surf
shops will do you some sort of discount for cash if you are
lucky.
- Again, try getting reduced rates on surfing accessories
such as a leash. It is a tight surf shop that does not throw
in a couple of bars of wax with a new board!
Mail order or over the Internet is slightly different. There
will not be anyone to talk to about the board you want to
purchase face to face - a problem if you are not quite sure
if the board is the one you want. You will also not be able
to give the board the once over like you could in the shop.
However, if you do not have a local surf shop and you know
the type and dimensions of the board you want then it is a
great way to buy. Do check the board dimensions when buying
to make sure that you are getting exactly what you want. Also
check on shipping times, and hidden costs for shipping - international
shipping could cost a pretty penny! Try and buy from a store
that will let you return the board if it is not exactly what
you are looking for.
Buying a new surfboard means that you are going to be paying
top money, perhaps a second hand board is more suited to your
budget?
Buying a Second Hand Surfboard
This is the cheapest option for buying a surfboard, and can
be an excellent way to get a bargain board. However, it is
easy to pick a dog if you are not careful. Firstly bear in
mind that if a board is really really cheap then it is probably
not a lot of good. You need to be really careful when shopping
second hand. Here are the main points to check.
- Check for dings and cracks. Any second hand board will
have a few dings on it, and is not generally a problem.
A heavily dinged / cracked board is a problem, and should
not be bought (no matter how cheap it seems!)
- General Check - give the board a check all over, looking
for discolouring to the foam or any other signs of water
damage, delamination of the fibreglass and any areas that
will need attention if you buy the board
- Fins - check carefully around the fins, especially where
the fins are attached to the board. If the fins are non
FCS fins and show signs of cracking the board should be
avoided
- Repairs - these are not necessarily a problem if the repair
has been done correctly. Check the repair completely covers
the damaged area and that water is still not getting into
the foam inner (this will show as discolouration)
- Dirty Boards - if the board you are looking at is covered
with wax make sure that you remove the wax before buying
the board. Wax can hide a multitude of problems. If the
person who is selling you the board will not let you clean
it (I am about to go surfing on it or some other excuse)
then do not buy it.
- Take your time, it is very important that you check the
board all over to ensure you are not buying a dud
- Compare the cost of the second hand board to a similar
new board - is it really worth the savings? It might be
better spending that bit extra to get a new board you know
you can rely on.
Now you have checked it over - check it over again to make
sure you did not miss anything. If you have thoroughly checked
the board over and it is in good condition, the price is right
and most importantly the surfboard is the right surfboard
for you - permission to buy!
We told you to clean that surf wax off!
Ready
to buy? See the boards at our surfshop.
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