Care and Maintenance

Sun Damage

Beau Lake epoxy boards are constructed of a beaded foam core enclosed in an epoxy fiberglass skin. These foam cores hold gas and air; when they are not on the water, prolonged exposure to direct sunlight raises their core temperature. This can cause gas expansion that puts excess pressure on the fiberglass epoxy skin and could lead to delamination where the epoxy skin starts to peel away from the foam core.

• Remove the bubble wrap included with your shipment — it can cook your board if you leave it on when the board is outside.
• When it’s not in use for long periods, keep your board protected from direct sunlight.
• When it’s not in use, protect your deck pad from direct sunlight.
• If you absolutely must leave your board in direct sunlight for a while, use a reflective bag (not a board bag).

Pressure Protection

With extreme changes in temperature and elevation, pressure can build within the foam core. Vent plugs allow air to escape freely through a watertight GORE-TEX seal. This helps prevent delamination and water damage. Beau Lake vent plugs are maintenance-free. Once they’re installed tightly, they never need to be adjusted. Simply check your vent plug periodically to ensure it is secured tightly and clear of debris that could block the venting.

Dings & Water Damage Protection

Beau Lake boards are constructed from a foam core enclosed in a fiberglass epoxy shell. Extreme force on the shell may cause pressure dents, cracks, and dings to occur.

Pressure dents are small, concave indentations. They can occur from knees, elbows, or any items exerting too much pressure on a small area. Other than a small dimple, they cause no harm to your board.

Cracks and dings are typically caused by extreme blunt force, and they can open up the foam core of your board to the elements. We recommend that these be repaired and sealed watertight immediately. Failure to do so weakens the overall structure of the board.

Water damage will slowly add weight to your board as water seeps into the core through unrepaired cracks and dings. This can cause discoloration, especially when sun exposure is combined. All dings should be repaired and sealed before your board goes back in the water.

There are many epoxy ding repair kits sold online and in hardware stores, but we recommend taking your Beau Lake board to a fiberglass and epoxy specialist for repair. If you’d like to repair it yourself, only use a fiberglass–epoxy ding repair kit.

Transportation

There are many types of vehicle rack systems for transporting your Beau Lake board. We love the ISLE Surf & SUP soft racks and straps. However, with any rack system it’s important to carefully read all instructions to make sure it is appropriate for paddleboard transport.

• Only use straps recommended for paddleboard transport.
• Use pads to protect your board and your vehicle.
• Place your board face up on the racks. The fin should face towards the front of the vehicle.
• Do not over-tighten the straps, as this can damage your board.
• Leave adequate spacing between the front and back racks.
• Watch your speed — having a large board on your vehicle can introduce wind shear.

Fins & Fin Box

All Beau Lake boards come with standard removable fins and/or centre fin box. These are standard boxes that will accept your included fins or any other standardized aftermarket fin.

Always keep your fin box free and clear of sand and debris, and never over-tighten the screws. In some cases, you may notice your fins fit tightly in the box and can be difficult to install. Don’t worry; fin boxes gradually widen over time and you can use some sandpaper to remove any excess resin from either your fin or the interior of the box for a better fit.

To install your centre fin box, remove the screw from the aluminum plate and slide the plate toward the front of the box. Set the fin into the box and depress it flush to the deck, using the brass pin protruding from the sides to slide it into the track. Once the fin is secured, slide the fin plate back to align in the fin hole with the hole in the plate. You can now place your screw into both holes and tighten snugly with a flat head screwdriver.