If you own a big-size rigid or hard shell paddle board, you might be aware of the consequences related to the storage of your paddle board for sure. Even if you have an inflatable paddle board without a backpack, you need to store it safely to ensure its longevity and protection.
Paddleboard storage is often overlooked by paddlers and they take it for granted and regret it later when the board gets damaged. Therefore, you must store your paddle board neatly and properly in order to safeguard it from damage, abrasion, denting, rusting and other damages off-season.
But, what is the best way to store a paddle board? Is there any paddle board storage idea?
In today’s blog, you’ll be going to explore not 1 but 20 amazing and surefire paddle board storage ideas that will keep your SUP, hardshell or inflatable, protected in the long haul.
Here’s a quick snap of what you’ll discover in this long guide post.
1- Why you should store your paddle board
2- How to store a paddle board
3- What are different ways to store a paddle board
4- 20 best paddle board storage ideas
Why it is important to store a paddle board?
Before moving ahead with the blog post, let us first understand why it is important to store a paddle board.
1. Ensure its longevity
The paddle board is surely an expensive watercraft equipment that costs anywhere between $200 to $500. So, if you don’t want your money to be wasted and to use your paddle board for long life, then you must keep it protected from damage, theft and other sorts of abrasion. If you are keeping your paddle board stored nicely and with care, it will not only enhance its life but also keep its stability, performance and speed intact and similar to that of a new paddle board.
2. Prevent it theft
theft is another common problem that happens globally. I am sure you don’t want your costly paddle board to get stolen by someone unknown or known to you. So, in order to prevent your kayak or paddle board, or any other watersport great you need to keep them stored and protected inside your home, store or garage. I also, won’t recommend you keep your paddle board outside, because there is still a chance of theft there.
Whether it is winter, summer or off-season, you must keep your paddle board stored indoors only, especially if you are living in an area where theft is a common crime.
People living in a posh or safe area, can keep their paddle board outside as well with a proper locking system and cover.
3. Prevent it from damage
The hull, nose and tail of a paddle board are the most important parts, which enhance the overall stability, ride, performance and speed. Paddlers take this thing for granted and they regret it later. Even if the hull, nose or tail, any one of these gets damaged or corrupted there is no point in using the board. Though you can use it it won’t give you the same performance as previously.
So, in order to enjoy a stunning ride without compromising the speed, stability and performance of your paddle board, you must keep it wisely and take utmost care of it.
The Hull, nose and tail being the most delicate part of your paddle board must be given especially attention. You must check the condition of these parts from time to time and if possible cover these parts with a soft cloth for better protection.
4. Off-season usage
During the off-season, especially in winter, you need to take more and utmost care of the paddle board. This is because of the snowfall and excessive cold, your paddle board might get damaged or wrapped into a pile of ice, especially if kept outside in snowy weather conditions.
Even if you are keeping it outside during the off-season, make sure you use proper storage ideas and cover your paddle board with a surfboard cover or a dry storage bag. This will keep it protected from abrasion and causing damage.
5. External environment factors
Many touring and tandem paddle boards are made with non-UV-resistant material, which might cause them to dent over a period of time if kept in direct contact with the sun or in a hot place. Also, the color of the paddle board might fade away over the course of time.
And in rain reasons, there is a chance of rusting of hard-shell paddle boards that are made with wood or feature some aluminium or steel construction.
Therefore, you need to store your paddle board wisely in order to keep them protected and safeguard them for long-term usage.
Can you store the paddleboard inflated?
yes, of course, you can keep and store your paddle board inflated. After all, it’s your paddle board and you can store it any way that you like. However, you need to keep them out of the exterior elements, because paddle boards are made for outdoor activities, but it does not mean they’ll do well indoors as well. Sun or excessive heat and break the PVC construction material of your board.
Even if you are keeping or storing your paddle board inflated, you should always shed it and protect it from sunlight. If your paddle board gets heated up, the air inside will expand and your paddle board might lose its look and feel. The overall design will change and you won’t enjoy the same stability, balance and performance.
Also, when you are keeping your paddle board inflated, make sure to keep it off the ground. The reason why you should be doing this is that SUP could come in contact with some sharp elements bottom and molecules found in simple dirt might hurt the overall look and feel of your board.
Also, your mice or pet might eat up your paddle board if you are keeping it inflated. So, make sure that you pay utmost attention to all these elements while keeping the paddle board inflated in the house, garage or store.
Here are some other tips to keep in mind while keeping the board inflated.
1. Store in cover
Even If you are keeping your paddle board inflated, make sure you keep it inside a big-size cover or a backpack that comes along. This keep keeps them protected even if you store them any way you want.
2. Keep it clean
Make sure you clean your paddle board every once or twice a week with a soft cotton cloth and water. This will keep the dust away and your paddle board will look neat and clean.
Can you store the paddle board vertically?
Yes, you can keep your paddle board stored vertically. In fact, most of the paddlers opt for this technique because of the following three reasons. Space, Number of kayaks and Security.
Space
Space is the most precious thing when it comes to the storage of paddle boards, especially if you are keeping your iSUP or hard shell paddle board at home. By keeping your paddle board vertically you can gain much more storage space for other items that come along with the paddle board.
A paddle board stored vertically will use less space at home as compared to the SUP stored horizontally. This will give you ample space and room for your furniture, living room, more storage and keepsakes. Plus, the hull of your paddle board will always be protected if it is stored vertically.
Numbers
Another great benefit of keeping the paddle board vertically is that you can store multiple paddle boards without occupying much space. For example, you can keep multiple fishing paddle boards, solo paddle boards, or even tandem paddle boards nicely tucked together.
Security
Vertically keeping your paddle board is always the best option when it comes to security and safety. A vertically kept paddle board also don’t need a kayak rack or trolly for its safety. Plus, it won’t tip from the bumps of movement.
When keeping your paddle board vertically, you should keep the following things in mind.
Can you store the paddle board in the garage?
Yes, you can also keep your paddle board in the garage. Here are the ways by which you keep your paddle board in the garage hassle-free and without worrying about any damage or security issues.
1. Use a wall mounting system
A wall mounting system is the best when it comes to keeping your paddle board in the garage. You can buy a folding or a J-style wall-mount paddle board that can be folded and kept anywhere when out in use. Wall mounts are generally made with tough steel material with cushioned arms to hold your paddle board tightly without causing any harm, dent, ding or scratch.
You can mount the rack on the wall by setting up the space between them and as per your needs. Generally, racks come along with the mounting system, accessories and gears, allowing you to easily affix them on the wall.
The only drawback of this system is that it is time-consuming and not beginner friendly as such.
2. Use a pulling system
The next paddle board storage idea for the garage is to use a pulling system that comes with hooks, and rubber-coated hooks to prevent your paddle board from scratches. There are durable straps as well to ensure that your SUP is a safe and secure upside.
You can mount the pulling system with the minimum tools that you will find in your home or garage. Since most of the pulling systems are made with robust engineering, you can keep the weight limit up to 125 lbs or more. This is more than enough to hoist 2-3 paddle boards made with hardshell or PVC construction material.
Apart from paddle boards, you can also keep surfboards, big-size kayaks, wakeboards, windsurfing boards, bikes or cycles as well.
3. Use a foldable style rack
Now here comes one of my personal favourite paddle board storage idea for garages that personally uses. The folding rack system is the best paddle board accessory that you can buy. They are not only affordable but also easy to use, store and clean. Plus, they can be used for a variety of different watersport gear like wakeboards, fishing kayaks, small-size pontoon boats and a lot more.
Folding system racks are the easiest to use. You don’t need to mount them. Simply unfold the rack, keep it on the ground and store your paddle board upon them. Within 5 minutes, you can make this process happen and keep your paddle board in the garage with utmost safety.
You can also leverage this type of rack to clean your paddle board.
Best paddle board storage ideas for 2023
1. Freestanding rack
The first on this list of paddle board storage ideas is to use a free-standing rack. These racks are easy to move and give you a portable option for storing multiple and different types of paddle board. You can also carry and store these racks anywhere in your home or garage when they are not in use. Freestanding rack with coasters offers the additional benefit of positioning paddle boards throughout the area.
From your camping paddle board to river SUP, you can keep any type of paddle board on such racks without worrying about causing ding, dent or abrasion. Expansion and mobility are the two ultimate benefits that a free-standing rack offers. These two capabilities make them best selling storage rack for paddle boards.
Speaking about durability, most of the free-standing racks are made with aluminium construction material, making them durable and long serving in life.
2. Paddle board cover
If budget is your constraint and you are looking for an easy-peasy paddle board storage idea, a paddle board cover or a surfboard cover should be on your list. The paddle board cover will give total protection to your board when it comes to long-term storage.
With the covers, you can keep your paddle board stored either horizontally or vertically without damaging the hull, nose and tail of your paddle board. The paddle board covers are made available in various different sizes ranging from 10 feet to 15 feet and more. Depending on the size of your board you can opt for the best cover that ensures total protection.
Most of the covers are made with marine construction and polyester premium fabric for all-weather protection. They are also UV resistant, tearproof, and waterproof and will keep your paddle board protected for a long time.
3. Paddle board backpack
The next paddle board storage idea will allow you to carry, and store your SUP anywhere without breaking your back or shoulder. Most paddle board comes along with a backpack allowing you to easily carry the board anywhere on your journey.
These backpack feature two shoulder straps, carry handles and multiple storage points allowing you to carry additional gear and tools for paddle boarding. You can deflate the paddle board, roll it up and stuff it inside the backpack and store it anywhere in your home, car trunk, garage or cupboard as well.
The only drawback of such bags is that they are suited only for inflatable paddle boards for lakes, rivers, touring and fishing purposes. You cannot think of carrying a hard shell or sold paddle board on this backpack.
4. Cart, wheel or truly
If you are looking for an effortless way to carry and store your paddle board, you can opt for a crat, trolly wheel system. Once you have this system, you’ll wonder how easily you can manage your paddle board transportation.
These carts are very stable and solid, so you can even carry your stand-up fishing kayak in rough terrain easily. You can also use a cart system from carrying luggage, wakeboard, surfboards, bike or cycle from one point to another.
Most of the wheel systems are made with rubber bumpers to protect the hull from dings, dents or scratches. You can also trust the wheel system when it comes to storing your paddle board in your home, store, garage or back alley.
5. Trailers
Paddleboard trailer or kayak trailer makes transportion of your watercraft from home to your ideal paddling destination and back home again convenient and easy. Just upload your paddle board, strap it around, and take it to your paddling spot.
Besides carrying and transportation, you can also use the kayak trailers for storage of your paddle board. However, they’ll occupy more space and make storing daunting for beginner-level paddlers.
Although trailers are very heavy and bulky to carry, their robust design and heavy engineering make them flexible, and easy to assemble and dismantle within minutes.
On top of that, kayak trailers are made with aluminium and steel construction materials, making them extremely durable, tough and rock solid. This will ensure long-lasting protection for your paddle board, kayak or surfboard.
6. Strapping system
Simple easy and affordable, this is what our next paddle board storage idea is all about. The strapping system is a perfect low-cost solution for you to get your paddle board stored without any hassle either in your home or at the garage. This storage idea will keep your floor space free and protect your paddle board from getting it damaged or stretch.
The strapping system comes along with adjustable straps that will allow you to adjust the storage height of the paddle board and the size of the slings opening. Also, with the quick-release buckles, you can take off and on your SUP easily. There are additional loops as well to offer better protection and stability to your paddle board.
On this strapping system, you can store different types of paddle boards including fishing paddle boards, paddle boards for dogs, paddle boards for surfing, yoga paddle boards and many more.
I personally loved this type of paddle board storage idea because it can be hung from a wall or ceiling. You don’t need to buy any other gear or accessories as everything comes loaded with this strapping system – bolts, heavy-duty stainless steel, screw and a lot more are included.
7. Hanger or wall strap
here’s another affordable paddle board storage idea that will just cost you $50 to $70 bucks and ensure long-lasting protection to your paddle board. The paddle board or kayak wall straps is a go-to solution that is suited for both indoor and outdoor storage of paddle boards.
The wall straps are well designed with the idea of making paddle board or kayak storage easy-peasy. The straps are made with nylon material and offer long-lasting protection and durability to your watersport gear.
It comes along with stainless steel base with multiple mounting holes that will allow you to easily mount your kayak or paddle board on your chosen wall. You can simply take off and on your paddle board with a buckle, which makes loading and unloading easier and more comfortable. Yes, you can adjust the height as well.
Since the straps are made with foam padding material, your paddle board will be kept protected for a long time.
8. Wall mount
Storing a paddle board with the wall mount is the most amazing paddle boarding storage idea that will not just keep your board safe but also save your floor space. A wall mount system helps to get your tandem paddle board or lake paddle board up off the ground and out of the way.
The arms of the wall mount system are padded with thick cushioned material which is added benefit and ensure that your kayak or paddle board does not get any scratch. After all, you pay good money for your paddle board and you don’t want to get it damaged or scratch while hanging it on the wall.
Besides, the wall mounting system also comes along with adjustable straps and belts, allowing you to mount your paddle board depending on it size and shape. You can simply snug the straps down for a more secure fit on the wall. Since the wall mounts are made with heavy-duty construction material, you can be assured of the safety of your board.
9. Paddle Board Hanger System
A paddle board hanger system is the best storage idea that will save your room space and ensure maximum protection to your ride. With this system, space will never be a problem for you. You can store your paddle board overhead and out of the way.
Different types of paddle boards can be stored in a hanger system which includes: fishing paddle boards, beginner paddle boards, paddle boards for dogs, paddle boards for kids and so much more.
The only drawback of the hanger system is that it allows you to store a maximum of two paddle boards. There are pulleys and latches attached to the hanger system that makes lifting the hardshell and sold paddle board easy.
Also, the rope locking system will prevent unwater release of the SUP, while the heavy-duty construction ensures the long-lasting life of this storage system.
A hanger system is also an ideal fit for small-size kayaks, surfboards, wakeboards and other solid watersport gears and rides.
10. Store the paddle board in the cupboard
The next paddle board storage idea is to keep it inside your cupboard. If you own an inflatable stand-up paddle board, then you can easily deflate it, stuff it inside the backpack and keep it entire backpack in your cupboard. However, you must have big size cupboard in order to store your paddle board hassle-free. You also need to make some adjustments to your clothing and other stuff inside your cupboard and make space for paddle boards.
11. Store it beneath the bed
If you have a king-size bed in your home with elevated bottom and small space beneath the bed, you can also keep your paddle board there.
Tips On How To Store A Paddle Board Safely
Now that you have got some paddle board storage ideas, it is now important to understand how to store a paddle board properly and safely so that it does not get damaged.
Following are some tips that will help you with paddle board storage safely and hassle-free.
1. Clean the board before storing it
The first thing you need to ensure before storing your paddle board is to clean it in and out. If you are having an affordable or cheap stand-up paddle board, you can simply rinse it with fresh water and clean it with a cotton cloth. But, if you are having an expensive paddle board I would suggest you clean the board with soap water or shampoo for proper cleaning before storing it away.
If you were riding your paddle board on the ocean or saltwater, you should take even more care in cleaning it.
2. Dry it
After you have washed or cleaned your paddle board with water, there is not need to hurry about storing it. First, you need to dry it and store the SUP board. This will ensure that your board has no moisture left in. In order to do this, you can simply keep the board outside and in sunlight for few minutes and then store it.
Make sure you also remove the paddle board accessories and keep it separately.
3. Double check it
Paddle board, especially touring paddle boards are expensive stuff and you don’t want them to get damaged or broken. So, make sure you double-check your paddle board for any damage or scratch before storing it. Check the hull, tracking fins, tail, bottom of the board, bungee lacing system, nose, and other parts carefully with an eagle eye.
Don’t make any mistake of ignoring the damage as it will cost later.
4. Evenly distribute the weight
If you own a rigid or plastic-made paddle board you need to think about the weight distribution. Storing your paddle board vertically leaning against a wall is a big no-no as all the weight of the SUP will flow towards the nose and tail section, which might get broken later on. It is advised to store your paddle board horizontally and ensure that the weight is evenly distributed at both ends.
Check the bottom of the hull which is a more important area than other parts because the weight will be centred in this particular area. Over time this will cause pressure and your paddle board hull might get damaged. It orders to avoid this, you need to make sure that the weight is getting evenly distributed.
5. Add protection
If you seriously want to store a paddle board with 100% protection and safety, you need to add a double layer of protection to it. I know the fact that paddle boards are made for outdoor activities, they are like other watercraft like fishing kayaks, tandem kayaks, surfboards and a lot more. However, the sun can damage the paddle board material if they are made with plastic and PVC material.
Therefore, you need to go the extra mile when it comes to the storage of paddle boards. You need to protect it from the UV rays of the sun, espeicly when you are keeping a paddle board outside of your home in the hot summer. You can use a protective spray like 303 UV Protectant that will safeguard your SUP against sun rays.
6. Storage of the SUP accessories
Your kayak may be the biggest and most expensive item in your kayaking collection, but it’s important not to forget about your gear and accessories. You should take care of them just like you would your kayak.
This includes all paddles, kayak clothing, seats, and additional accessories. Before storing them away, give them a once-over to look for any tears, rips, or dents. Once they’re in good condition, rinse them off with fresh water and allow them to air dry.
7. Add a lock system
This one is especially important if you’re storing your kayak outdoors. Storage locks will secure your kayak in place and prevent theft. Storage locks can also be used as tie-down straps for transporting your kayak on a vehicle, so you get the best of both worlds.
FAQs About Paddle Board Storage
It is important to store your paddle board adequately to protect them from getting damaged by heat, UV rays, weather conditions and other sorts of bruise in the form of dings, dents and more.
You can store a paddle board in the garage with the help of a freestanding rack, paddleboard cover, strapping system, and wall strap.
You can store a paddle board on the wall, you need to use a freestanding rack system or place the paddle board vertically leaning towards the wall. I would prefer the first option as it is safer.
Yes, it is fine to hang the paddle board on the walls, provided that you can good safety rack and ropes to hold the paddle baord tightly for a long period.