The 5 most important considerations when considering buying a paddleboard:

 

1. What else does the shop sell?  Are they focused on paddleboards or are they just looking to cash in on the latest craze?  You wouldn’t buy a motorcycle from a car dealer because usually one has no knowledge about the other.

 

2. Do the shop owner and employees go out paddling for fun? How often?  Do they race?  Are they actively supporting the sport – by promoting races and other fun paddle events - to insure that there will be a future for the sport?  What type of paddleboard do they paddle? 

 

3. What is the overall feeling you get at the shop?  Are they knowledgeable and courteous?  Do you feel like you are appreciated as a customer?  Do they have many different brands and styles to choose from.  Are they displayed in a way that you can see them?  Will they allow you to try the paddleboard out before you buy it?  Do they continue to earn your respect or are they comfortable to rest on their laurels since you have been their customer before?  

 

4. Paddleboard construction:  all paddleboards are not built alike. That low priced “good deal” board might not be around very long.  How many people do you know that bought bikes at Kmart that are just lying around the garage or rotting against the back of the house?  Your salesperson should be familiar with the different layups of the boards they offer.

 

5. Buying a used paddleboard?  It seems like a good idea to buy used since they cost less.  However, you are going to have that paddleboard a long time and you will also be taking way better care of it than the people who rented it did.  Just like buying a used car, sometimes you are buying someone else’s problems.  Look at how many patches it has.  Pick it up and see if it feels heavy.  Rental paddleboards get banged up pretty bad and some of them take on water before they get patched.