Used Surfboards

Choosing used surfboards over new ones can save you substantial cash, but not if you don't choose well. The wrong choice will only lead to poor performance and more money for repairs. Pick the right board and you have a great addition to your quiver.

Look carefully over a surfboard before purchasing. Used surfboards might have small dings or cracks. That's ok as long as they have been repaired properly. Feel the area to make surf it's not "soft", indicating water seepage and foam rot. Also look over any discoloration on the board. Some of this, most noticeably the yellow discoloring on a white board, is from UV rays and is mostly cosmetic. Again, feel those areas for water damage. More than a couple of minor ding repairs can indicate a light glassing job, which means you will end up putting your own dings in it fairly quickly. Surfboards with light glassing jobs should be avoided.

Pressure dings are circular dents with light cracking in or around the circle. These are usually only cosmetic, but feel for water damage. More than a couple of these could indicate light glassing.

Lastly check out the fins, especially around the base if they are glassed on. These can be difficult to fix and cost big bucks at your local surf shop. If they are removable fins check out the fin boxes to make sure they are not damaged.

For any damage consider how much it will cost to repair and if it's worth it. Ideally, used surfboards shouldn't have anything other than some minor ding repairs. Sometimes you can find like new surfboards that have been used only once or a handful of times. It may be the owner just didn't think it was a fit, but it could be a perfect fit for you. I remember one premium board that I purchased, used twice, and then sold. The buyer had it shipped from California to New Jersey and he still ended up saving a lot of money compared to buying the same one new.

So where can you find used boards? Start with your local surf shops. That gives you the best selection and a chance to check out the surfboards first hand. These are not necessarily the best deals as the shop usually keeps %20-%25 consignment fee, but you might find exactly what your looking for. The best deals can often be found on . If you want to avoid shipping charges then use the advanced search to confine the listings to your geographical area. Many surfboards are for "local pickup only". Another great resource is Craigslist.

Before you purchase that used surfboard check out some discount surfboards. Some shops offer huge savings on clearance/closeout models. In some cases you might be better off purchasing one of these discount boards even with the shipping charges. Either way you should end up saving some big bucks.

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