Going for a second hand surfboard can be a cheap and excellent way of buying a board. I bought my minimal second hand and I haven’t even thought about regretting it.
It can take a long time to find the right board for you though, buy a peach and you’ll be as happy as Larry but get your hands on a turkey and you’ll wish you just went out and brought a spanking new one.
Things to look for when buying a second hand surfboard:
Dings and cracks – If you’re buying a used surfboard, then it’s going to have some dings, if they are small and aren’t causing any major harm than that’s fine. Major dingage and cracks however, may cause big problems, so they all need to be carefully looked over. They can lead to the board becoming water logged, discoloured and even possibly breaking. Check that if they’ve been repair, it has been done well. Cracks around the fins will need to be looked at very carefully.
Delamination – This is to surfboards what rust is to cars; once it’s got a hold, you’ve got a big problem. If a board’s lamination is failing you will find soft spots or bubbles. The lamination is what keeps the board’s foam core protected, so if it starts to weaken, then this can cause the surfboard to take on water, weaken, become discoloured and heavy, which will make it useless for surfing.
- Only buy boards if you can see it in person, buying it online without viewing is a big mistake.
- Make sure the wax has been removed from the board. Wax can hide a lot of problems, so if you can’t see the board naked then do not buy it.
- When looking over the board pay close attention to the fins.
- Make sure you’re getting a good price for your board compared to the new price.
