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Oh Dear! The Red Paddle Co SUP bubble

We were guilty of this too. First thing we noticed when we pumped up or Red Paddle Co inflatable stand up paddle boards was what appeared to be a little bubble on the under side of the paddle board, just behind the center fin. Did we push the pump nozzle in too hard? Did we pump too hard? Now that I think about it, the explanation is pretty darn obvious!

“We often receive calls from worried customers that their board is de-laminating on the bottom of the board by the centre fin as there appears to be a small bump in the fabric. However this is all part of the construction of the board, as this is where the threads of the drop stitch material have been cut away so that the valve can be inserted inside and therefore allows you to pump up your board.”

For 2013 Red Paddle Co have tried to solve the, albeit minor aesthetic issue, by moving the valve to underneath the center fin to cover the majority of the bubble bump. It won’t be completely hidden, but it’ll satisfy many who catch a glimpse of it and think the board is about to explode – which most certainly won’t happen either if you check out their SUP durability testing video.

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About the author: Julian Kidd
I have been an avid stand up paddle boarder since 2009. I retired from a decade of professional kiteboarding to focus on SUP. Green Water Sports grew from this love of all things SUP. As well as being a keen paddle boarder, I'm a football fan, closet petrol head, web tinkerer, husband and father.