Buying a Second Hand Surfboard
Buying a used surfboard for your child is the absolutely the cheapest
option but it is easy to pick a bad board if you are not careful.
Remember you only get what you pay for so that really cheap board is
probably not the best choice.
The two major things to check on a
used surf board, once you found the size and shape needed, are the fins
and whether or not the board is water tight.
Tips to
help select a used surfboard...
Fins - Check carefully around the fins, especially
where the fins are attached to the board. If they seem loose at the base
there could be problems. If the fins are non FCS fins and show signs of
cracking the board should be avoided because water could get in.
If the board has removable
fins, just make sure that all of the plugs or boxes are firmly attached
to the board.
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 because
the dings will allow water to get under the fiber glass layer into the
foam of the board. If a board has dings that have been repaired
correctly, you are not likely to have further problems with the
dings BUT you never know. So a rule to remember is as the number of
dings go up the price should go down.
Board Discoloration - Surfing on a board that is taking on water
will lead to discoloration of the board. You will usually see a
brown spot. This could cause weakening of the board so
give the board a good overall check.
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 then do not buy it.
Check Thoroughly - Take your time, it is very
important that you check the board thoroughly before making a purchase.
Also, compare the cost of the used board to a similar new board to
determine if it is worth the savings!
More Information On Used Surfboards:
eHow -- How to Buy a Used Surfboard
Second Hand Surfboards For Sale - Extreme Sports
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